FMS 1400MM P40B

[Shirty]

Nice pics mate. :)

[Grossman56]

So, what's your critique on her Pat? Any nasty habits to watch out for? I hear she doesn't tip stall, which is a huge bonus.

Tell us!!

Grossman56

[crxmanpat]

Ease into the throttle on takeoff. Torque roll is typical for a warbird, but handled easily by the rudder after the tail is up. You only need half throttle to get airborne. Also needs a little right rudder when going WOT after a slow fly by. Landings are a breeze, 1/3 throttle for a nice two-wheel touchdown, power off and let the tail sink, then full up elevator to keep the nose pointed up. I fly off a badly rutted dirt field (new geotex runway going in soon though), and she handles the bumps like a pro. Five flights so far and not a single nose over on landing.

The scale retracts are AWESOME!

[Grossman56]

Sounds good!!
Geotex eh, isn't that one of the ten commandments, thou shalt have Geotex on thy runway. If it isn't, it should be!!

Grossman56

[Racer686]

I was doing all my control surface throw settings today and when I got to the rudder, I realized that the tail wheel was off centre. I ended up centering it with subtrim, then mechanically centering the rudder. But now I have 5mm less throw in one direction compared to the other. How did you guys approach this?

[Shirty]

Mechanically centre them both mate, at your servos centre point. Especially important for rudder imho, and check your end points and travel on your radio. :)

[Racer686]

Mechanically centre them both mate, at your servos centre point. Especially important for rudder imho, and check your end points and travel on your radio. :)

Any idea how to do that with the tail wheel? The wheel is on a retract. Is there a screw or something to loosen the wheel from the retract so you can mechanically centre it?

Thanks,

Peter

[Shirty]

Yes, I'm pretty sure it's the screw in the collar at the bottom of the shaft, you need to remove the servo to get at it. I havnt touched mine since I got it, it's been over a year but I'm sure I had to remove it to centre it. Worst case, use your sub trim for the tail wheel and mechanically centre the rudder.

[Racer686]

Yes, I'm pretty sure it's the screw in the collar at the bottom of the shaft, you need to remove the servo to get at it. I havnt touched mine since I got it, it's been over a year but I'm sure I had to remove it to centre it. Worst case, use your sub trim for the tail wheel and mechanically centre the rudder.

Worst case is what I've already done and it's led to a decrease in motion. I'll look for the screw, thanks.

Peter

[ryramZ]

Any idea how to do that with the tail wheel? The wheel is on a retract. Is there a screw or something to loosen the wheel from the retract so you can mechanically centre it?

Thanks,

Peter

If I remember right it's a servo with a trough for an arm that receives a pin from the strut. You may be able to adjust the servo arm to get close to center and trim the rest. After that mechanically center the rudder and next you may have to play with differential or end points or travel adjustment to even out the throw.

If it's a steering tiller much like nose gear often are then the same principle applies just you may have to get there differently.

Best regards
Ryan

[Racer686]

If I remember right it's a servo with a trough for an arm that receives a pin from the strut. You may be able to adjust the servo arm to get close to center and trim the rest. After that mechanically center the rudder and next you may have to play with differential or end points or travel adjustment to even out the throw.

If it's a steering tiller much like nose gear often are then the same principle applies just you may have to get there differently.

Best regards
Ryan

Thanks. I'll take a closer look.

Peter

[saint]

Love it.... I am a 46 yo disabled vet who is looking to fly one of these bad boys.... anyone recommend a good simulator that will at least get me to where I can fly one of these without destroying it? Love the art and the work all of you have put into your planes. Fantastic!

[Shirty]

Thanks for your service Saint.

Try either real flight or Phoenix, either are good sims and you can get from your local hobby store most likely. these are the two most commonly used sims.

[tdevince]

I like Real flight, but it doesn't have the same left turning tendency at take off that the model will. You can modify the stock airplane in the simulator to have a little left turn on the tailwheel to help give some of that effect, but its not quite like the real thing.

[Grossman56]

Hey Saint, Yes, first of all thank you for your service. So what is your experience level?
If you are a beginner, these are not for you, but the good news is that it doesn't take too long to get there. The Sims help a lot in the sense of getting to know what controls do what and a rough idea of how to do maneuvers. Then, you need to pick up a good trainer and work your way through the steps and gather experience. We, collectively here on the Forum are more than willing to offer advice and guidance to get you there.
The first plane I bought was an FMS P51D, Big Beautiful Doll. Then thought the better of it and bought a HobbyZone Supercub to learn on, progressed through that to the Freewing Pandora and then into warbirds. In hindsight, if I'd have tried to fly that P51 with only Sim experience behind me, it would have been lining the garbage can a long time ago.
As it stands, I've flown her and my two other P51's very successfully along with my FMS 1400mm Pitts as well. Crawl, walk run. Take your time!!
If you can, join a club and get some buddy box time as well.
Take a serious look at the E Flite Apprentice. We got ours so my wife could learn to fly and it is a superb first plane, I wish I would have got it instead of the Supercub, the wife flies it very well and last season was her first.
We currently have 11 planes and have not lost one, everyone of them is still flying.
Keep in touch and please don't hesitate to ask questions of anyone here!!

Grossman56

[Brandon Moon]

Got an email notice yesterday of this from Rich Baker. totaly unexpected and very flattered and humbled :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gspz4MOsFsg

[OV10]

Crawl, walk run. Take your time!!
If you can, join a club and get some buddy box time as well.
Grossman56

Excellent testimonial Gman

[Grossman56]

Way to go Brandon! Excellent job on the pilot!!

Grossman56

[saint]

Thank you all so very much. Yes have never flown. Live in Yucca Valley ca. so we have nice dry lake bed to take advantage of when the time comes. Will do the simulator then get the trainer. Thank you all again for the awesome advice.

[Shirty]

Awesome Brandon. Very cool.

Saint I'll just reiterate what the boys said, spend a lot of time in the sim, till you don't really have to think about what you are doing. Ideally, you want to get to a stage like driving a car, where your subconscious does everything automatically. Spend plenty of time practicing take off and landings too. Definitely start with a high wing trainer (something that looks like a Cessna), till you get the hang of it. Best of luck, and as the boys have said, feel free to ask questions. (There are no stupid questions btw, best to ask and get it right) ;)