Official FlightLine RC 1600mm P-38 Lightning Thread

[rckruser]

I think the P-38 could fit a 4000mah (or less) 6s battery. A 5000mah, 6s might also fit but the CG might be hard to achieve.

To Couchbr

Neither the 4 or 5000 6s option will give you the increased flight time you can get with 2 3000mah 4s Admiral's.
For a while I flew mine with 2 3600mah 4s HRB batteries. They barely fit. Flight time was ten minutes. Sadly, the HRB's swelled after half a season and no longer fit. I no longer use HRB batteries.

If you are thinking of using a single 4 cell, you would need one with at least a 70C rating to match the performance of 2 4 cell batteries with a 35C rating on each one.

Out of curiosity, I tried putting two 4000mah 4 cells in the plane. No go. Doesn't fit. A 3000 and 4000mah do fit with room for CG adjustment. This would provide 7000mah capacity which should be good for 9+ minutes of mixed flying.

Bernie

[Evan D]

So you didn’t try the 6S mod?

[Grossman56]

Hi guys:
Didn't see this until much later, like this evening. First, I haven't owned the P38 but what I did do to my Tigercat was went two Kv 760 motors and bought the prop shafts and spinners for the B25, the shafts lined up perfectly with the motors and I had to drill new holes for the motor mounts (Oh yeah, order them as well as the motors direct from FMS). Once I knew the shafts would fit, the rest was straightforward. Much better designed spinners as well as the metal piece to fit over the prop blades just makes more sense, now a bolt holds it all together instead of a small screw.
Excellent performance, much better than stock, I had to trim a bit of the battery hatch away to fit the 3600 and 4000 4s batteries in, maybe that's the same case with the P 38.
Also, the prop blades for the B 25, F7F and the P 38 are the same.

Grossman56
(Dangerous Dan)

[Shempy]

172 skyhawk

[Twowingtj]

I've had mine since 2016. I've used two Admiral 4S 4000mah since day one. I trimmed some of the foam ahead of the aluminum spar to get the CG.

[Elbee]

Twowingtj

Great to read your voice, Sir, it's been a minute.

Best, LB

[Twowingtj]

Elbee Thanks!

Haven't been as active on the Squawk as we used to. I still check in to see what's happening. I do miss the days when more of the "old crew" were keeping things lively.
It's still the best forum format out there.

[vrosi1963]

After 8 years of flying this p38 several times a year off a paved surface, i dont like the wing attachment design, I wish for a V2 type like the New B25 has i think it is time for some spinner inspections for cracks, no issues with any part of the plane so ,very nice flying plane, I have been using Admiral 4S 3000 and they seem to puff up after about two years and need a better lipo options

[Aros]

Wow it’s been 8 years since this model was released?! How not only this model but time flies. Mine is still in great shape, never crashed. Wonderful flyer.

[GliderGuy]

As a precaution, everyone having the older version of the P-38....you should consider changing out the prop/hub assemblies with the current version. The original prop/hub version was subject to cracking, and I lost a blade on take-off, once. Luckily, it happened just at lift-off and inches high...so she rolled over and skidded to a stop on her back. Minimal damage occurred.

I fly her every time I go out....first I fly the EDFs and then finish off the day with the P-38. She's a blast to fly. Many, many flights ago, I replaced the prop/hub assemblies with the current version....no cracking issues since.

-GG

[vrosi1963]

As a precaution, everyone having the older version of the P-38....you should consider changing out the prop/hub assemblies with the current version. The original prop/hub version was subject to cracking, and I lost a blade on take-off, once. Luckily, it happened just at lift-off and inches high...so she rolled over and skidded to a stop on her back. Minimal damage occurred.

I fly her every time I go out....first I fly the EDFs and then finish off the day with the P-38. She's a blast to fly. Many, many flights ago, I replaced the prop/hub assemblies with the current version....no cracking issues since.

-GG

And what lipos do you like for the P38 . time for some new ones

[GliderGuy]

I’ve had good service from this battery…. Admiral 3000mAh 4S 14.8V 35C LiPo Battery with T Connector

Currently out of stock.

A similar type from SMC if available will also be good.

https://www.smc-racing.com/

-GG

[Craterman]

Hey I just 'acquired' the silver Flightline P38 today. It only had a few flights on it and has upgraded landing gear. All of my planes are allied green, and I want to paint this one as well. Since I didn't put it together, is it going to be too much of a headache to dismantle it and paint each section, or should I just paint it in one piece? Is there anything I should watch out for?
Craterman

[xviper]

Hey I just 'acquired' the silver Flightline P38 today. It only had a few flights on it and has upgraded landing gear. All of my planes are allied green, and I want to paint this one as well. Since I didn't put it together, is it going to be too much of a headache to dismantle it and paint each section, or should I just paint it in one piece? Is there anything I should watch out for?
Craterman

Download the manual. That will show you how it went together so you can backward engineer taking it apart.