Official FlightLine RC 1600mm P-38 Lightning Thread

[Evan D]

I don’t do telemetry and it may be a great thing… I simply have a timer that I adjust to have 3.8V/ cell when I land. 3.8 is what I use for storage and it’s also a great voltage to allow you a couple go arounds if needed.

[GliderGuy]

Me too Evan! The other aspects are:
-How short of a charge time do you want and
-How long do you want your barrerie$ to last

Example: I have enough batteries and chargers so when the last full battery is used, the first “used” battery is re-charged and ready to go again. A bit tricky to manage, but experimentation is the guide. I can fly continuously with quick pit stops to load in another battery.

The other thing to consider is HOW LONG DO YOU WANT YOUR BATTERIES TO LAST! Drawing down to a lower voltage will shorten the life of the battery as Evan points out.

I fly a lot, so long battery life (not run time) is important. I also stop at 3.8V minimum.

Last point….the voltage fall off is not linear. Once a certain voltage is reached, the voltage goes over a cliff. Thus, getting close to 3.6V puts you close to the cliff’s edge. Go over the cliff, and you rapidly damage the battery.

-GG

[Mark 2]

I’d like to get a Pacific silver P38 to go with my Allied green one, but it’s out of stock at the EU warehouse, has the silver P38 been discontinued?

[Magic]

Hello everybody, i enjoyed all the information you share here, since i bought this plane , 4 years ago i have been flyng just to reach the level of skill i feel i need to this great model, finally last week i made my maiden and i can say i am so happy¡¡¡
thanks a lot to share all your experiences it helped a lot , sorry for mi bad english.
kindest regards from Spain.

[Magic]

Actually, i have been difficulties for weeks ever in the take off, i suffered 3 crashes in this phase, it was then i started to study all the information available here, i saw my fault could be to use two old batteries 3300mAh direct to each engine, that could explain why the plane at the end of the run in the take of suddenly change direction for more of 90 º.
so i read some of you connect both esc together, so i did it , same with both batteries together and...... all is done the plane is going straight.

So i rebuild 3 times the plane but finally i achieved it.....i learned by the hard way

[Magic]

My p38 is totally stock, no changes except the upgrade from Motion RC in the gear, receiver s8R and tx radiomaster tx16s, when I discover how I will share some pictures.

it is the only p38 in the two rc clubs i are so it attracts the eyes of the everyone and gives me more pressure when I fly it

[Elbee]

Magic Welcome to Hobby Squawk, Sir. Congratulations on your first check flight and glad to have you onboard. Best, LB

[Magic]

Hi Elbee, thanks a lot for your kind answer, it is a real pleasure to participate , i already flight p38 13 times and i have been making my learning curve....some mistakes ( ever my mistakes )produced repair time at home but keeping flyng it after all

best regards from Mediterranean theather ¡¡¡¡

[dmechnic]

After 24 years out of the hobby I'm getting back in and likely 15-30cc to start off. I saw the banner while checking on my "What Tx should I get" thread and I am beyond excited. I will likely buy this and let it sit till I have skills. I have ALWAYS loved the P-38...actually teared up like a baby at the Air Museum in Seattle where they have one...absolutely gorgeous plane IMHO. I've had Royal's balsa kit for 30 years and rudders, elevator, and one outer wing is all that ever got built...was the wish of a young guy who never had the time or $$ to do it right. This is dream fulfilling, even if it is electric.

[Elbee]

dmechnic, Happy to read your back into the greatest hobby of all time....

You will not be disappointed with your Flightline P-38.

I, too, am back to our hobby after 30+ years away, though I've been back since 2018.

There are many good .40-.60 sized trainer aircraft out there.

I would research a local flying club in your area and get some recommendations and a tutor/instructor there to get you flying.

If not now, when? as they say.

Good luck and keep us in the loop with your journey and welcome to Hobby Squawk.

Best, LB

[Evan D]

The P-38 is surprisingly docile and as an electric no single engine worries.

[Magic]

Hello Again, I am so happy to having spent time to read all the post in this forum...this has saved my plane...

today i made two flights, ( 15 for the moment ) in the first i noted a different noice when i trothle up more than 50%, i checked spiners and in the second flight it was worse, made a conservative flight , perfect landing and checked at home, i remembered GliderGuy insisted in the relation change engine noice with cracks in basis of propellers and YES the result is clear cracks in both ....

just now i made the order new ones for MotionRC , just waiting one week and come back to the sky.

Thanks for the forum and thaks a lot for GliderGuy experience shared here, pure gold ....

Best Regards

[airotroy]

i'v had my 38 for several years now and really enjoy the docile flights and looks it gets at the field. Only complaint is one of the mains started failing. Not all the time but enough to force me to fly with gear down all the time. Finally bit the bullet and bought replacements. Now they work great and I still have one spare.. This is without a doubt my favorite plane and really glad they still carry the parts for it.

[MAKODS]

Need to replace front landing gear on P-38. New retract has a pin in it but new strut is all one piece, unable to place new strut over pin on retract. So does this mean I have to open up the new retract and remove the pin? This would totally make no sense.

[GliderGuy]

Need to replace front landing gear on P-38. New retract has a pin in it but new strut is all one piece, unable to place new strut over pin on retract. So does this mean I have to open up the new retract and remove the pin? This would totally make no sense.

May not make any sense, but yes…you must carefully take apart the servo and pay attention so you can put it back together.

-GG

[rcpilot54]

Colleagues rcpilot54 here again. This P-38 thread has been very helpful and I need some more help. I need to make the gear doors work. Pretty sure on how to hinge them but how to connect the doors (to servos?) so first the doors open then the gear come down. Doors stay open when gear is down and close after gear retracts. Any suggestions appreciated.

[Evan D]

Do a search...

https://www.hobbysquawk.com/forum/rc-airplanes/rc-propeller-airplanes/1978-official-flightline-rc-1600mm-p-38-lightning-thread?p=37117#post37117

[mdbennes19]

Hello all…having an issue with my flightline P-38 and was hoping you guys might have some recommendations. This aircraft has 4 flaps, two outboard and two inboard. For some reason one outboard flap is going the opposite direction as the other 3…not sure how to reverse that servo to be in line with the other ones. Any help would be greatly appreciated:) Thank you.

[Elbee]

mdbennes19, If the control rods have been removed from the servos, the errant flap's control rod and servo horn might be on the wrong side of the servo's swing. Unscrew the servo horn from the servo and rotate it to the other side of that servo. Be sure to and an end point check while you're at it. Best, LB

[Evan D]

Nope, contact Motion, FW put in the wrong direction servo.