Official FlightLine RC 2000mm B-24D/J Liberator Thread

[Oxotnik]

LB, yes they originally had the B24 in both Olive and Silver. I got one of each and the silver was actually my favorite, although it got destroyed by a 1/5th scale turbine F16 at a flying event, no survivors.



Here you can see the fate of the Silver B24. I like the position of the port main gear up in the air above what's left of the ship.

Hugh, I've only flown my silver B-24 twice, on a cloudy day. I was having a bit of trouble seeing it against a cloudy sky. Was your green one easier to see when you flew it?

[Elbee]

LB, yes they originally had the B24 in both Olive and Silver. I got one of each and the silver was actually my favorite, although it got destroyed by a 1/5th scale turbine F16 at a flying event, no survivors.

Hugh, I do certainly recall the 'unplanned disassembly' of your beautiful B-24, though it is dreadful to see the photos once again.

Blue on blue incidents are never good, usually avoidable, and happen too frequently IMHO.

I trust those responsible were at the least apologetic.

Are/did you replace the Liberator?

Respectfully, Steve

[Elbee]

Hugh, I've only flown my silver B-24 twice, on a cloudy day. I was having a bit of trouble seeing it against a cloudy sky. Was your green one easier to see when you flew it?

Oxotnik, my guess is that it was easier to see by everyone with the exception of the 'fast mover' pilot. Best, LB

[Hugh Wiedman]

Hugh, I've only flown my silver B-24 twice, on a cloudy day. I was having a bit of trouble seeing it against a cloudy sky. Was your green one easier to see when you flew it?

Yes, the green and splash of yellow were very easy to see, of course until it ended up in pieces, and then it turned into a blur! I did not replace the silver B24 Elbee since I still had the olive one. Was planning on it, but never got around to it and ended up getting a bunch of other aircraft that came out and just kinda moved on. And the other pilot was not all that apologetic, his comment was just happens. And he had a spotter (I think it was Stevie Wonder) and decided to wow the crowd with a low high speed pass over the runway (which was against the rules for the event) despite the fact I had called "Landing", which he had acknowledged. He later said he thought I had already landed, the stupid . He then claimed he had about $2,000 in damages, the poor soul!

[Elbee]

Viper owner having a self inflicted pity party. $2K in damage? I buy that if the work was done at a Ferrari Dealership. Still hate to see your loss or any loss for that matter when it is avoidable. Best, LB

[seanepps67@yahoo.com]

Is anyone using exponential in their setup for the B-24’s?
if so what settings should I use with my SPEKTRUM NX8.
Thanks for any suggestions,

[RRHandy]

Is anyone using exponential in their setup for the B-24’s?
if so what settings should I use with my SPEKTRUM NX8.
Thanks for any suggestions,

I have said and always will believe that 100% throw with expo till the control surface is 1 to 1 with the sticks. Start at 40% elevator, 20% Aileron, 10% Rudder and add or remove as needed after test flight. No fumbling for DR switch and you have 100% throw when needed. You get low, mid and high rates by doing this and I teach my students that also with 100% success. SO yes.

[Elbee]

RRHandy, So smart, so logical, and so simple. Best, LB

[F106DeltaDart]

Put a few more flights on the B-24 today. Changed out the old clone rx for an AR8360T and put it on AS3X+. Doesn’t need a gyro, but it is nice for smoothing out the bumps. It’s been far too long since I had it up in the air, really does fly nicely!

[Elbee]

F106DeltaDart

She is a beautiful thing.

Best, LB

[F106DeltaDart]

F106DeltaDart

She is a beautiful thing.

Best, LB

Thanks LB! After a few years on the shelf (had been needing some nose damaged to be fixed from hitting a pothole), it was great to get it fixed and airborne again!

[davegee]

Put a few more flights on the B-24 today. Changed out the old clone rx for an AR8360T and put it on AS3X+. Doesn’t need a gyro, but it is nice for smoothing out the bumps. It’s been far too long since I had it up in the air, really does fly nicely!

This airplane brings memories for me, as my dad flew them out of England in combat in WWII. It was dangerous work and we lost tons of aircrew during those days, over 26,000 in the 8th AAF, alone. This is a great salute to all, most of whom have already passed, for the men who worked on and crewed this and the other airplanes against Germany in WWII.

[Hugh Wiedman]

This airplane brings memories for me, as my dad flew them out of England in combat in WWII. It was dangerous work and we lost tons of aircrew during those days, over 26,000 in the 8th AAF, alone. This is a great salute to all, most of whom have already passed, for the men who worked on and crewed this and the other airplanes against Germany in WWII.

My father grew up on a farm just west of Detroit and at night drove to Ford's B24 assembly line at Willow Run to help build them. He had some great stories and was amazed how fast they put them together. They used to lay bets on each one flown out whether it would get airborne or not. They were flown out by young kids with very little training and women. He thought the women were the best bet to get off in one piece.

When the US finally entered the war, he joined the Navy as he thought flying was a sure way to end your career quickly, especially after seeing how the B24 was put together. He couldn't wait to get off the farm and ended up seeing the world, an opportunity he wouldn't have gotten otherwise. His stories of the Pacific war are spellbinding, but no doubt all our other WWII vets have similar tales.

My admiration for these kids who risked their lives without a second thought and flew them is tremendous. We'd be lucky to get a single crew out of today's kids.

[davegee]

In the late 1970s I flew DC-8 freighters out of Willow Run airport hauling GM car parts for factories around the country. It was the same place where they built B-24s in WWII, and where they built the B-24s that my dad flew in Europe in WWII. Back then, it was an Extremely busy time, especially at night.

One of my favorite stories about the airport is that the assembly line for the B-24s was close to a mile long. In fact, the completed B24s would roll out onto the adjoining township. The political head of that township wanted to charge exorbitant fees to use their land. Henry Ford, who largely helped build and finance this facility, would have none of that. He had a huge turntable placed at the end of the assembly line. When the planes got to that point, they would turn 90 degrees and exit the building, just Short of the township line!

That turntable is still there, probably 80 feet in diameter and is a National Historic landmark. Quite a place!

[F106DeltaDart]

This airplane brings memories for me, as my dad flew them out of England in combat in WWII. It was dangerous work and we lost tons of aircrew during those days, over 26,000 in the 8th AAF, alone. This is a great salute to all, most of whom have already passed, for the men who worked on and crewed this and the other airplanes against Germany in WWII.

No doubt! I have tremendous respect for the crews and maintainers who kept these incredible machines fighting and flying. Used to enjoy listening to panels of bomber crews at Oshkosh growing up in the early 2000s. Not many of them left now unfortunately. Still keep in touch with a 98 year old B-17 ball turret gunner I met at the MN CAF. Pretty incredible guy, survived being shot down and was a prisoner of war, forced to march across Germany as the allies closed in. My HK B-17 is painted after his airplane.

The particular B-24 I modeled was a Pacific Theater airplane, based at Kwajaleinin the Marshall Islands.

Hugh, don’t underestimate the kids. They may seem weak now, but similar things have been said constantly throughout history. In the high point of the isolationist movement before US entry into WWII, I’m sure similar things were said e.i. “These protesting kids would never have made it in the Great War”.. If you ask an Air Force instructor pilot, they’ll tell you that the kids moving up into F-35s are doing things better than ever and constantly pushing the envelope. We saw 9/11 raise a generation of warriors who served tour after tour in the Middle East and endured brutal fighting for 20 years. I hope we don’t have another major conflict break out, but if it does, I have no doubt that many will raise to the challenge.

[Hugh Wiedman]

F106DeltaDart and davegee Well said, the history of these aircraft are part of the compelling story that make flying them so enjoyable. And you're probably right about the younger generation, just get my head in the weeds sometimes.

[Shagnasty]

Does this B-24 include a gyro? Don’t see it in specs, but see pilots saying it doesn’t need one. Comments?

[xviper]

Does this B-24 include a gyro? Don’t see it in specs, but see pilots saying it doesn’t need one. Comments?

No. The "need" for a gyro is with each pilot. I don't have one in mine but others may.

[Mike Dunn]

Has anyone removed the decals from the plane? What method did you use without ruining the foam/paint?

[Elbee]

Hey Mike,

Welcome to Hobby Squawk.

I do not own this plane, but if the decals are stickers, the only way I know to get those off is to pull those off.

This will peel away the paint down to the foam, no doubt, requiring sanding the surrounding paint smooth enough to add filler and primer and new paint.

If the decals are water-slide, you can sand, prime and paint over those just fine.

Check out Refinishing Foam Airplanes videos by the RC Geek on his "U"-Toob channel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQX9aXoNeVI

Best, LB