Announcement

**paulrkytek** · 2026-06-11T13:27:34

https://youtu.be/-EDAfE7dQVI?is=X8IlKY_QPvybQjk0 updated with sound system and the full rat tail logo

**Hugh Wiedman** · 2026-06-11T16:58:26

Finished Re-Powering my 1700mm FMS P-51 Red Tail. Installed an EFlight Power 60 (same motor in my 60" Beast Bi-Plane). Fit nicely and an 80 amp ESC is supposed to be adequate for it (same as the stock ESC), but I had a spare FW 130 Amp 6S ESC lying around from when I converted my 2 F-18's to 8S, so put that in it just to be safe. The most difficult part was props and spinners. The Stock 4 blade setup was 17" but reports existed that that setup would come apart using anything other than the 360Kv hampster wheel that comes stock. It also weighs a whopping 312 gr, no wonder it flew like a dog!

I was able to find 4" 2 blade spinners from Extreme Flight (aluminum back plate and plastic cone) and a 4" 3 blade all aluminum spinner from ZYHobby in China (surprisingly quick shipping). Finding decent props was also difficult. Tried a Master Air Screw 16X7 (Power 60 recommends a 2 blade 15X7 to 17X7) but that prop was also too heavy at 110 gr with a 20mm thick hub (supposed to be for both electric and gas but looks more like for just gas to me). So I contacted my Xoar "go to" Sales manager in China and she made me 2 17X17 two blade beechwood electric props in black with yellow tips and 2 16X7 three blade electric props black with yellow tips. Would have loved to set it up with a 4 blade, but couldn't find the right spinner (although Xoar would have made a 4 blade for me). Of course when it's in the air, no one will notice whether it's a 4, 3 or 2 blade prop as it "screams past them"!

I've had Xoar make me many different props (that can't be found in the US) and they always come through, only 4 weeks from order to arrival in Miami! They ain't cheap but IMO are the best electric beechwood props available, each meticulously balanced! The Xoar 3 blade weighs 65 gr, with a metal reinforcement sandwiched around the hub.

On the bench with an SMC 6S HiV 5900 mah fully charged, the 17X7 Xoar 2 blade pulled 96.6 ah and 2453 watts (I'm sure it will be less when flying free), the 16X7 Xoar 3 blade pulled 95.5 ah and 2368 watts, but the 16X7 3 blade Master Air Screw could only muster 77.9 ah and 1721 watts. I could hardly hold the plane down at fully throttle with either Xoar prop, but with the MA Screw there was a noticeable difference. I guess to get full benefit for the Power 60, it needs to turn up to 470 Kv and the MA Screw was just too heavy for it.

I did have to add an additional 3 ounces of lead in the motor compartment to make up for the stock heavy 4 blade to balance around 125-130mm.

Now to get it in the air! I think it will transform this aircraft just like it did when the Britts stuck a Merlin Engine in it!