LX B-25 Rebuild - Miss Mitchell

[Aros]

I just love those shots! And I remember when I had mine I agree, landings were so stinking easy. Never any stress at all.

[F106DeltaDart]

Also, I put in around 5 flights on the B-25 this weekend at BEST in New Waverly. It still surprises me how well behaved it is in the air. Has to be one of the easiest airplanes to land that I’ve ever owned. Even got to do some formation flying with an Eflite 1100mm P-51 that was a ton of fun (no pics of that flight though). Lee Ray shot some great photos of the Mitchell in the air over the event.

[F106DeltaDart]

DD......I'd like a pic or descript of how deeply you modded the batt tray area. I can just barely get a Admiral 4500 6S in there and that's after carving down the foam base about a 1/4 inch which leaves hardly any support below.
I would like to use my 5000 3S series setup but can't at present cause the hatch won't close.

OV10, I carved the floor away completely where the battery sits. The battery is actually supported by the nose gear door servo mounting bracket in the front, and the the support strut swivel mount in the rear. Hopefully this photo shows what I mean a bit better.

thisguy, I can’t remember the complete list of what all mods I did off the last year, but the ones that come to mind are changing the BEC to a Castle pro unit, reinforcing the pushrods, and using his procedure for setting up the brakes. My B-25 also does not have the support brace installed for the nose gear. The previous owner removed it, and Rich’s mods make it non structural anyways. My wiring is definitely a rats nest right now, I have everything it the top turret. Putting it in the bomb bay would work fine, but flipping this monster over is no easy task if you need rx access later.

[OV10]

I've liked the model so far. It is very well behaved in the air, and the FMS Tigercat power system gives it plenty of power and endurance on a 6S 5800. I have not flown it off of grass so far, but it should be fine. I did a few of Rich's (RCinformer) build mods including pushrod reinforcement, that I would highly recommend. Would also recommend ditching the stock BEC for a Castle Pro BEC. One of the issues that will need to be addressed on mine is the main gear retract mounts. They are getting more loose with each flight. I will likely need to do some surgery on the airframe to get these re-secured before any more flying.

DD......I'd like a pic or descript of how deeply you modded the batt tray area. I can just barely get a Admiral 4500 6S in there and that's after carving down the foam base about a 1/4 inch which leaves hardly any support below.
I would like to use my 5000 3S series setup but can't at present cause the hatch won't close.

[thisguy65]

I've liked the model so far. It is very well behaved in the air, and the FMS Tigercat power system gives it plenty of power and endurance on a 6S 5800. I have not flown it off of grass so far, but it should be fine. I did a few of Rich's (RCinformer) build mods including pushrod reinforcement, that I would highly recommend. Would also recommend ditching the stock BEC for a Castle Pro BEC. One of the issues that will need to be addressed on mine is the main gear retract mounts. They are getting more loose with each flight. I will likely need to do some surgery on the airframe to get these re-secured before any more flying.

The expandable white Gorilla glue may be very helpful. I've used it one on landing gear mount that came loose but could not remove it from the air frame.

How hard do you think it will be to re-secure them? With the new models having the Hobbywing ESC, really just need the motor at that point.

Off the top of your head, which of Rich's mods did you do? I'm curious about the nose landing gear support where he used metal tie wraps. Thought it may be easier to place the RX on the underside of the bomb bay and gyro (if need one) under the top turret. I would try to clean out the rat nets of wire

[F106DeltaDart]

Hey F106DD, How have you liked this model? Have the retracts held up to grass (if you are flying off of grass of course)? Any negative things come to mind to watch out for?

I've liked the model so far. It is very well behaved in the air, and the FMS Tigercat power system gives it plenty of power and endurance on a 6S 5800. I have not flown it off of grass so far, but it should be fine. I did a few of Rich's (RCinformer) build mods including pushrod reinforcement, that I would highly recommend. Would also recommend ditching the stock BEC for a Castle Pro BEC. One of the issues that will need to be addressed on mine is the main gear retract mounts. They are getting more loose with each flight. I will likely need to do some surgery on the airframe to get these re-secured before any more flying.

[thisguy65]

Hey F106DD, How have you liked this model? Have the retracts held up to grass (if you are flying off of grass of course)? Any negative things come to mind to watch out for?

[F106DeltaDart]

Another beautiful creation Micheal Congratulations.

Thanks Dennis!

[farmflyer]

Another beautiful creation Micheal Congratulations.

[Elbee]

Thanks Aros and Elbee! Its been a fun project, and I want to take what I've learned and give the same treatment to the F-86 next!

F106DD, Keep Killin' Me! I have 'new project envy'. Great choice. Best, LB

[F106DeltaDart]

Thanks Aros and Elbee! Its been a fun project, and I want to take what I've learned and give the same treatment to the F-86 next!

[Elbee]

Totally missed your reply! Yes. It was exactly as time consuming as it looks. It has taken about a year to get it finished to my standards. However, the end result was worth it!.

F106DD, Your work is simply 'outstanding". Wow. Bravo Zulu, Sir. Best, LB

[Aros]

Hey, better late than never!

Wow she is simply gorgeous. Well done my friend! Glad to hear the maiden was a success!

[F106DeltaDart]

Beautiful job on that flite metal! I have always wanted to do that to one of my warbirds. What's your thoughts on the process? Was it as time consuming and maddening as it looks?

Totally missed your reply! Yes. It was exactly as time consuming as it looks. It has taken about a year to get it finished to my standards. However, the end result was worth it!

I finally flew the maiden flight on Thursday, just in time to take it to the giant scale event at Bomber Field the next day. It flies great! The FMS power system was perfect for this model. No shortage on power, and it really slows down nicely with full flaps.

[Aros]

Beautiful job on that flite metal! I have always wanted to do that to one of my warbirds. What's your thoughts on the process? Was it as time consuming and maddening as it looks?

[F106DeltaDart]

Finally got the B-25 outside for our club’s Warbird Event this weekend! Still have a few wiring and battery compartment mods to go before the maiden.

[F106DeltaDart]

F106DD, WOW!! Gives me hope for my B-17 build. Bravo Zulu, Sir. Best, LB

Thanks LB! Good luck on your B-17, will definitely want to see photos of that project! I partially consider this covering job as preparing for whenever Flightline decides to release a B-29 :).

[Elbee]

Almost done, just a bit more aluminum to go!

F106DD, WOW!! Gives me hope for my B-17 build. Bravo Zulu, Sir. Best, LB

[Aros]

Wow, what a beaut! Great job bud!

[F106DeltaDart]

That looks really good, DeltaDart! Are you scuffing with Scotchbrite pads or going with a brighter polished finish? Either way it will look great in the sky. I did a similar treatment on my old FMS 1400mm B-25 but this LX is a much bigger beast.

Thanks Alpha! I will probably be polishing the finish. We kept the full scale Miss Mitchell pretty well polished most of the time.