New FMS P-39 or Flightline LA-7?

[Loneflier]

WOW, MRC is killing me. I love the new FMS P-39 in the military color camouflage, and the new La-7 from Flightline. Both are similar in price, but the La-7 is a good bit bigger wingspan. Both are 4 cell power, and both are pretty unusual planes for RC models. I know I will eventually get both, but not at the same time. Just have to decide which one will be first.

Come on MRC--I am really looking forward to your flight reviews of these once they come in so I can make up my mind! :D  

[olwarbirds]

RE: New FMS P-39 or Flightline LA-7?

I am really liking that LA7, I do wish it was a 1400mm so it was same size scale as the rest of my soon to be rapidly growing 1/8 th scale hangar. I did have all those 980mm warbirds and they are great. The prob is my failing eyesight, lost perspective on my 980mm P-47 at high speed and it rapidly became a pile of foam carnage. I really like that size for transport and they do fly like their alot bigger models. Least i will still get to see them since several of my buddies inherited them. I have no doubts you will enjoy both of them... DJ

[Alpha]

RE: New FMS P-39 or Flightline LA-7?

Both planes are very fun, as Oldwarbirds said. I'm partial to the La-7 though, mostly because its landing gear is larger, wider, and more robust than the P-39s, so the La-7 can operate on my shorter grass field or dirt runway if the main paved runway at my field is full. The P-39's wheels, and the retract units themselves, are noticeably smaller than the La-7. Performance wise, the La-7 is faster and has more vertical. It also has the option of going to a two blade prop if I wanted even more speed, although frankly I prefer the stock scale prop for a mixture of performance and scale fidelity.

Also, the La-7 is a Russian bird, which sets it apart from the other Allied aircraft which frequent my field. "White 27" was flown by Ivan Kozhedub, the leading Ace among all Allied pilots in the war, so that's the decal set I used. But the other decal sets can be used also. In fact some of the decals, like the red stars, could probably be used to model a Russian P-39. They were very successful with the aircraft.
[hr]
Here are two photos comparing the FMS 980mm/1100mm retract unit to the FlightLine 1100mm retract unit. FMS is on the left, Flightline is on the right. The loose trunnion is Flighline. Flightline's wheels are taller, and Flightline also uses a metal U-shaped plate which is screwed on top of the mounting face to further reinforce against wide wall flexing.

[Loneflier]

RE: New FMS P-39 or Flightline LA-7?

Both planes are very fun, as Oldwarbirds said. I'm partial to the La-7 though, mostly because its landing gear is larger, wider, and more robust than the P-39s, so the La-7 can operate on my shorter grass field or dirt runway if the main paved runway at my field is full. The P-39's wheels, and the retract units themselves, are noticeably smaller than the La-7. Performance wise, the La-7 is faster and has more vertical. It also has the option of going to a two blade prop if I wanted even more speed, although frankly I prefer the stock scale prop for a mixture of performance and scale fidelity.

Also, the La-7 is a Russian bird, which sets it apart from the other Allied aircraft which frequent my field. "White 27" was flown by Ivan Kozhedub, the leading Ace among all Allied pilots in the war, so that's the decal set I used. But the other decal sets can be used also. In fact some of the decals, like the red stars, could probably be used to model a Russian P-39. They were very successful with the aircraft.

[hr]
Here are two photos comparing the FMS 980mm/1100mm retract unit to the FlightLine 1100mm retract unit. FMS is on the left, Flightline is on the right. The loose trunnion is Flighline. Flightline's wheels are taller, and Flightline also uses a metal U-shaped plate which is screwed on top of the mounting face to further reinforce against wide wall flexing.

OK-I am sold! Looking forward to the La-7 coming into stock and ordering one! I fly mostly from a grass field, so that really helped make my decision. I am surprised to see that the La-7 is faster than the 980 FMS P-39 too. Just another bonus!! (But I still plan to get the P-39 at a later date. Just too cool to pass up! Unless someone comes out with an 1100 or 1400mm P-39 first! :D )
Thanks for the information Alpha!

[Alpha]

RE: New FMS P-39 or Flightline LA-7?

I'm happy to help, Loneflier. Both are excellent planes but especially since you're flying "mostly from a grass field", the La-7 is the more durable choice. If/When you add the P-39 to your fleet, you'll enjoy that one, too.

[olwarbirds]

RE: New FMS P-39 or Flightline LA-7?

I like that its Russian how unusual, now how about something from the Italians. Maybe the ferrari of warbirds the Macchi :)

[Shirty]

RE: New FMS P-39 or Flightline LA-7?

Are there any pics of the la7 you guys could post? Very keen to see it. Thanks. :)

[olwarbirds]

RE: New FMS P-39 or Flightline LA-7?

Shirty here is the link to it http://www.motionrc.com/flightlinerc-la-7-1100mm-43-wingspan-pnp/ if you cant get it to come up let me know and I will post the pics individually ... DJ

[Shirty]

RE: New FMS P-39 or Flightline LA-7?

Cheers mate got it. Holy ...., That looks nice. I generally fly the bigger stuff, but that looks so good it's almost enough to tempt me into getting one anyway. Give me one of those at 1400 or bigger, I couldn't resist.

I've not heard of flightline before coming to this site, is it a new brand or just a rebadge or something? Very impressed with the flightline models I've seen so far. Love they fact they give you a few options in power setup, decals etc. man I hope we get these in oz from somewhere. The p38 is a no brainer, I have to have one of those and if they keep making birds like that and this one, I'm gonna be poor, but have a lot of very nice planes lol.

[OV10]

RE: New FMS P-39 or Flightline LA-7?

Shirty,
When Alpha put out the P-38 announcement thread, in his first sentence of the first post are his exact words about Fliteline.
"Motion RC is proud to announce FlightLineRC, a new brand of warbirds developed in partnership with Freewing Models."
Best regards,

[Shirty]

RE: New FMS P-39 or Flightline LA-7?

Ahh, that explains it. If freewing are involved, no wonder. I've zero concerns about quality with freewing. Thanks mate.

Now just tell me where I can buy them lol. ;)

[Alpha]

RE: New FMS P-39 or Flightline LA-7?

We're working on that for our friends down under, Shirty. Ideally a regional distributor will take them on!

[Shirty]

RE: New FMS P-39 or Flightline LA-7?

That would be awesome. I probably can't wait that long with my "must have that plane mental disorder" , certainly not on the p38, but I'm sure I can call in a few favours from some of my USA mates if needed lol. ;)

Flightline, freewing and fms are killing my wallet this year. So many nice new releases that I like, or are missing from my hangar like the p38. (Or a decent spitty, hint hint)

I love these 1400 or bigger foamies because I can throw them around and just have fun with them, and not stress like I do with my bigger balsas about breaking one. (A big issue if you have to buy it in the states like some of mine, simply for cost of freight and timeframe as you no doubt know).

This one looks fantastic mate. You just hardly ever see Russian birds that aren't scratch built, and they made some excellent warbirds that look really nice in the air. Hope sales dictate a 1400 odd size is worth a go, I'll get one for sure.

[Airzipper]

RE: New FMS P-39 or Flightline LA-7?

I was wondering if the "stock" version motor could handle an 11x9 3-blade prop, since the "high speed" motor is only 1mm wider and can handle a 12x8 2-blade?

[Alpha]

RE: New FMS P-39 or Flightline LA-7?

Hey there Airzipper, which 11x9x3 do you intend to use, specifically? I haven't tested the setups on any propellers other than the intended FlightLine ones, but I can see what additional comparative data I can obtain.

[olwarbirds]

RE: New FMS P-39 or Flightline LA-7?

Shirty, I would help get a P-38 to you brother just yell.

We're working on that for our friends down under, Shirty. Ideally a regional distributor will take them on!

As normal, you guys are awesome..... DJ

[Shirty]

RE: New FMS P-39 or Flightline LA-7?

Hey thanks dj. I'll add you to the long list of my yank mates who are happy to go shopping for me. ;-)

Cheers buddy, that's a really nice thing to offer. Good on you mate. :)

[Airzipper]

RE: New FMS P-39 or Flightline LA-7?

Hey there Airzipper, which 11x9x3 do you intend to use, specifically? I haven't tested the setups on any propellers other than the intended FlightLine ones, but I can see what additional comparative data I can obtain.

Hi Alpha,

I was tinking of the prop from the FMS 1400mm Sky Trainer (I have the G-KEMY V2). It is a solid 11x9x3 prop, however, not an assembled prop/backplate. This should compensate for some of the "extra weight" of the 3rd blade.

[Alpha]

RE: New FMS P-39 or Flightline LA-7?

I haven't tried that prop/spinner combo on the La-7. At the very least you'd need to use the Sky Trainers prop and spinner, since the La-7's spinner backplate cannot accommodate a solid one piece propeller. The key then becomes if the Sky Trainer spinner fits the LA-7's motor shaft, which I don't think it will. Firsthand testing for these sorts of cross-manufacturer customizations is the only way to be sure.

[Airzipper]

RE: New FMS P-39 or Flightline LA-7?

Thanks for the insight Alpha. I was thinking of experimenting with using a prop-nut washer as a "backplate support", then using a second prop-nut washer to sandwich the propeller in place with the actual prop nut. I hope this makes sense... I have used this method on other airplanes with success.