Official Black Horse 1724mm Dornier DO335 Pfeil ("Arrow") Thread

[MrSmoothie]

All that I lack to complete my build and to be ready for the maiden flight is the aft TruTurn pusher spinner. I’m hoping to get that this week.

Are you going to maiden with the 16 x 10 x 3 props, or did you decide on something else?

By the way, am I the only one who noticed that on Motion's site, the rear propeller is mounted backwards (so that it fits in the standard spinner cutouts)? Kind of funny. Hey Kids, don't try this at home!

[MrSmoothie]

OK Gang, here's the link to my RCGroups Build Log: https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show...k-Horse-Models

There hasn't been much interest to start. I guess there are two dozen of us with the plane and we all know who we are!

Making good progress in the shop today but what I've posted is a few days behind where I actually am in the process.

[Oxotnik]

Nick, I’m glad that you’ve found my trials and errors and musing helpful. I’ve enjoyed the build. There have been no bad surprises. I’m looking forward to following your build. I’d started a Black Horse Do-335 thread on RCG, but there hasn’t been much interest.

All that I lack to complete my build and to be ready for the maiden flight is the aft TruTurn pusher spinner. I’m hoping to get that this week.

[Twowingtj]

MrSmoothie Feel free to post the link to your log. No policy against it that I'm aware of.

[MrSmoothie]

For anybody that's interested, I decided to start a Build Log for my Do335 over on RCGroups. Not sure if it's cool to post a direct link to it or not (what is the Hobbysquawk policy on that?).

I'm documenting my basic build as well as where I'm deviating a little from the instructions. A shout out to Oxotnik for "paving the way" so that I have fewer mistakes that I have to go back and correct!!! Also, I do want to add that I find the advice, ideas and opinions to often be more helpful/serious here on the 'Squawk.

As I proceed, my modifications and detail additions will get more involved. Some things you have to do right from the start, however, as they would be hard to do after a maiden.

[Oxotnik]

Sieg hiel!

Downwind, very nice.

[OV10]

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Got the German pilot in.

Another outstanding "office" mod

[downwind3zero]

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Got the German pilot in.

[Oxotnik]

I had a couple PMs, asking about the warbirdpilots.com pilot that I’m using. So, having nothing else to do this evening, while I’m locked inside, keeping the plague outside, I decided to open up the cockpit to take some photos.

You can see in the photos how I cut the seat and the floorboard for his legs. I ran a balsa stick through the bottom of his parachute harness, to keep him pulled down in the seat, and Velcro on his back to keep him pulled back in the seat. When cutting holes in the plastic, cut carefully as the plastic is VERY thin in places and will actually rip, as it’s being cut. Cut very slowly and steadily.

I did not glue the cockpit nor the canopy in place. Instead, I used #2-56 buttonhead sheet metal screws to secure them to the fuselage. I used 5 screws for the cockpit and 6 screws for the canopy.

Before putting him back in the cockpit, I removed his life vest, since he’ll be flying Defense of the Reich missions and not over the English Channel or the Med. In one photo, he’s wearing the vest, and not in the other photo.

[MrSmoothie]

Assuming one wants to do a scale scheme that actually was applied (as opposed to a "what if" scheme, had the Pfeil reached operational status), there are really only two color schemes: RLM 81/82 or RLM 70/71 splinter, with RLM 64 undersides. Markings were very similar -- just difference in code letters and prototype numbers for the most part. If/when I repaint, I'll be doing RLM 81/82, since I accidentally purchased 29 oz. cans of each color (BEHR latex) one time, when I thought I was getting the usual sample size!

EDIT: I found another source that looks very well-researched, and the indicate upper surfaces originally specified as 70/71, but probably 80/81 or 81/82 by the time the prototypes were completed. Often, late war Luftwaffe colors are best-educated guesses on the part of historian/modelers on a nerd-level far above my pay grade! An even better example are ME-163 colors -- almost entirely guesswork and interpretation of photos.

The Do335 at the Udvar Hazy (restored by Dornier) appears to be 81/82.

[Oxotnik]

I’ve been chatting with a few folks offline and repaints have come up. As I was doing some very basic internet searches for information on the Do-335, I found this reference to some paint schemes, with the RLM colors specified.

http://www.rlm.at/cont/profil15_e.htm

[OV10]

The other benefit of using serial LiPo set ups is the better heat sloughing which in the long run helps to increase longevity with better IR's over time.
I replaced my whole LiPo support structure with 2&3S 5000mAh packs whereas I can do any combo of higher voltage(4-12S)

[Oxotnik]

TJ, glad that you finally got started on your 335. We've gotta keep the war effort moving ahead. I did receive my 6S-8AH battery. I went with 3S-8AH batts and soldered up a series connector. Two things that I like about the coupled 3S batts: (1) if I loose a cell, only one 3S battery has to be replaced. (2) Since a 3S is much slimmer than a 6S, I can offset the batteries. So, the bottom battery slides all the way to the firewall and the rear one is back a bit (there's not enough room for a 6S to slide all the way forward to the firewall.

[Creative RC]

Oxo, with that big prop and big and long black front spinner, it is one menacing looking war bird. I half expected the pilot to wave when I saw how realistic it appears. Anything with feathers and anyone on the ground will most certainly be afraid of it. Heads will turn. Look forward to reading your flight reviews and how this power setup performed. Like a rocket comes to mind.

[Twowingtj]

Oxotnik Looks awesome! Have you gotten the 6S 8k lipo yet? If so, do you think it will balance within range?


While I'm impatiently waiting for the motor for the Black Horse Gilmore to arrive, I got started on my 335.

Wing servos and horns in. Put on a set of Robart 3 1/2" diamond tread wheels. They work fine. Had to shorten the axel bolt and install 3 ea. 5mm washers as spacers for the tire to clear the strut. Also found out that one of the retract mount blocks was milled a little too deep, causing the retract to bind a bit when retracted. A couple of washers under the wheel end of the retract put it back where it shound be.

[Oxotnik]

For you guys that may be ordering TruTurn aluminum spinners. I special ordered the pusher motor spinner from TruTurn and am having them anodize it black. The tractor spinner, however, I found on the shelf of my LHS. It’s also a TruTurn, although it’s a little larger than scale. To blacken it, I grabbed a rattlecan and of Krylon Fusion all-in-one Matte Black, and it went on to the aluminum spinner beautifully.



I’m getting close to having her flight ready!!!

[Oxotnik]

All I need is a the aft pusher spinner and my 335 will be ready to fly. The waiting is friggin' killing me! :-/

Have I mentioned that I put a full-body WarbirdsPilots.com Luftwaffe pilot (1/7 - 1/8 scale, 10" tall) in the cockpit? He looks great in the cockpit, one hand on the yoke, the other on the throttle. For the full body pilot to fit, I cut leg holes under the instrument panel and his fee straddle the wheel well. I did take his boots off though. Please don't tell Goering. He'd probably burst a blood vessel if he knew that a pilot was flying out of uniform. I also had to cut the seat out of the pilot's chair, to let the parachute hang down.

https://www.warbirdpilots.com/produc...lot-figure.htm

The pilot was a bit pricy, but he looks great in the cockpit.

[Oxotnik]

Thanks, Callie. The 335 is now properly marked. :-)

[downwind3zero]

Yes, that's correct. I did get this one for the front : TT-3103-B and had them slot it for MAS 3 blade.

[Oxotnik]

Thank you very much!

You're welcome. BTW, you could go a little smaller diameter if you wanted. I think that the stock red plastic spinners were 3 1/8" dia, and a 3" would probably look just fine, too.