Official Nexa 1500mm P-47D Razorback "Touch of Texas" (Balsa ARF) Discussion Thread

[Ilson Dave]

Hi, I'm thinking of buying this great looking P 47D.
Quick question - I watched with interest the YouTube Motion RC review of the Nexa P40 Warhawk were he used the Admiral GP10 motor and 6S battery spinning a great looking 3 blade air screw prop. The Warhawk really flew great and I wondered if this set up would fit the P 47D as its all in stock unlike the FMS motor set up the Merry Boozers used.

[CF-105]

Are there any thoughts about putting a Saito FG-14C or perhaps a Saito FG-21 into this Nexa P-47? Any info or thoughts on this would be great. I really like the nexa p-47, but i want my next build to be gas 4stroke. I want to make sure it's got plenty of power.

I'd check cowl dimensions to see what would fit. If they recommend a 9cc 2-stroke I would guess the FG-14 would do the trick. Generally a 4-stroke produces less power than a 2-stroke of the same displacement.

To Long-Love-RC: If you have a electric-powered balsa model that you have flown a fair bit and are comfortable with, you might consider converting that to gas to get your feet wet. Get a suitable engine, known for reliability. That'll minimize the risks, and you'll be better prepared to handle any in-flight emergencies.

[bkp1300]

bkp1300 I'm glad the FlightLine power system suits your flying style well. Which servos did you end up installing in your Jug?

Sorry to get back to you so late Alpha.....I went with metal gear 30g Flightline servos in the fuse, and 17g Flightline servos in the wing.

[Laury415]

I am making up my mind to try gas powered RC plane. I am trying to decide what will the first balsa plane with gas power. This P-47D seems very interesting.

But I lack experience on gas power. Before jumping in, I would like to get some advices from this forum.

1. how much weight difference between gas powered and battery powered model?

2. any disadvantage shall I be aware of for gas powered model, comparing with battery powered one?

3. Is there any important flying characteristics between foam-battery-powered model and balsa-gas-powered one?

4. what is the typical tank capacity for P-47D? what is typical flight type for the tank in choice? Say I just fly it normally, not crazy fast.

5. what are essential accessories i should buy? To make working with gas powered balsa model easy.

6. how hard to fix balsa model? I feel it quite easy to fix foam model, but obviously I know little about balsa one except some rubber-band powered balsa model, which is too flimsy and super easy to damage.

Thanks a lot!

I started with foam/electric planes, then got 2 gas/glow balsa planes as a present and now that's all I like to fly. So I'll try to answer your questions but admitting I'm a little biased.

1) Generally I find electric/battery weighs more. An electric motor weighs less then a gas/glow motor, however the battery/batteries weighs more then a fuel tank

2) There are advantages and disadvantages to both.
Electric is simple and clean, but you have limited flight times, and as planes get bigger electric becomes more expensive. I.E. 60 size electric motor = $100, 80 amp esc = $100, 2) 5000 6s batteries = $100 each/$200, total $400. Compare to a 60 size gas/glow engine = $200, std size servo = $20, receiver battery = $30, total $250.

Electric plane will fly about 5-8 minutes depending on throttle management, gas planes can fly 15 minutes, glow about 10 minutes. There is a mess to clean up with glow, not as bad with gas. Gas/glow is much more of initial set up compared to electric.

3) There have been great improvements in foam planes, so they fly light and good, but in my opinion balsa planes just fly way better. A balsa plane is generally heavier then foam. Heavy planes handle wind better, fly more solid, and feel more real in the air. A heavier plane also requires more speed when landing, and tip stalls can happen.

Be aware a foamy ARF is different than a balsa ARF. A foamy ARF usually comes complete except a receiver and battery. A balsa ARF often needs control surfaces attached, tail feathers attached (epoxy), servos purchased separately and installed, engine/motor gas tank or esc installed, linkages installed, and batteries and receivers installed.

4) This size plane should take a 8oz - 12oz tank, but the tank is included. Gas tanks are always plastic, sometimes clear, sometimes not.

5) You will need a throttle servo for either gas or glow. You also need a receiver battery which typically can be nimh, or life batteries. The battery usually is permanently installed in the plane. Either of these are about $30 or less. An electric starter is a good idea for safety.

Glow is simpler but messy and glow fuel is more expensive then gasoline $30/gallon. Glow comes in its own bottle but you will need a pump to get it from the bottle to the plane tank. You will also need a glow driver to start the engine. .

Gas engines are more expensive but generally run better, are more fuel efficient, and gasoline is cheap $3.00/gal. You will need 2 stroke oil (need it even with 4 stroke engines). I use good quality oil like Redline and premium gas, but its still significantly cheaper then glow fuel. I always use an optical kill switch and a separate ignition battery but its not mandatory. You will need a gas can, and pump to get the gas from the can to the plane tank.

The good news is once you buy this stuff it will work for all your fuel planes.

6) Like everything there is a learning curve to fixing balsa. Yes foam is easier to fix, but its hard to fix foam to make it look like new. When you get good a fixing balsa you can fix it to look like new. Everything with balsa can be fixed, but sometimes you have to know when it's not worth fixing. Working with balsa is relatively easy because its a light wood. The bigger issue is usually fixing the covering to make it look good. The covering (Ultracote, Monokote, or others) is a adhesive backed plastic heat shrink material.

I hope this helps

[406PIlot]

I am making up my mind to try gas powered RC plane. I am trying to decide what will the first balsa plane with gas power. This P-47D seems very interesting.

But I lack experience on gas power. Before jumping in, I would like to get some advices from this forum.

1. how much weight difference between gas powered and battery powered model?

2. any disadvantage shall I be aware of for gas powered model, comparing with battery powered one?

3. Is there any important flying characteristics between foam-battery-powered model and balsa-gas-powered one?

4. what is the typical tank capacity for P-47D? what is typical flight type for the tank in choice? Say I just fly it normally, not crazy fast.

5. what are essential accessories i should buy? To make working with gas powered balsa model easy.

6. how hard to fix balsa model? I feel it quite easy to fix foam model, but obviously I know little about balsa one except some rubber-band powered balsa model, which is too flimsy and super easy to damage.

Thanks a lot!

Good luck getting an answer. I asked a simple engine question about the Nexa p47 weeks ago. I'm still waiting for an answer!!!

Best I can tell you gas / balsa generally fly heavier and land faster.

Balsa is much harder to fix than foam. Not impossible by any stretch but foam you can simply slap on some foam tac and call it good. Balsa requires a bit more work, but can be can be fixed in the event it needs to be. Usually balsa requires some sort of replacement balsa or fiber glass etc. Balsa requires much more modeling work compared to foam.

[long-love-rc]

I am making up my mind to try gas powered RC plane. I am trying to decide what will the first balsa plane with gas power. This P-47D seems very interesting.

But I lack experience on gas power. Before jumping in, I would like to get some advices from this forum.

1. how much weight difference between gas powered and battery powered model?

2. any disadvantage shall I be aware of for gas powered model, comparing with battery powered one?

3. Is there any important flying characteristics between foam-battery-powered model and balsa-gas-powered one?

4. what is the typical tank capacity for P-47D? what is typical flight type for the tank in choice? Say I just fly it normally, not crazy fast.

5. what are essential accessories i should buy? To make working with gas powered balsa model easy.

6. how hard to fix balsa model? I feel it quite easy to fix foam model, but obviously I know little about balsa one except some rubber-band powered balsa model, which is too flimsy and super easy to damage.

Thanks a lot!

[406PIlot]

Are there any thoughts about putting a Saito FG-14C or perhaps a Saito FG-21 into this Nexa P-47? Any info or thoughts on this would be great. I really like the nexa p-47, but i want my next build to be gas 4stroke. I want to make sure it's got plenty of power.

Anyone? Would really like to get some info on these possible power options in this Nexa P47.

Thanks.

[406PIlot]

Are there any thoughts about putting a Saito FG-14C or perhaps a Saito FG-21 into this Nexa P-47? Any info or thoughts on this would be great. I really like the nexa p-47, but i want my next build to be gas 4stroke. I want to make sure it's got plenty of power.

[James]

Alpha quick question on all these new nexa planes I know this is a big ask but would it be possible in the future to offer a power system as a second part number for guys wanting a turn key ARF? So for instance the Nexa P-47 it could come with the Flightline Corsair prop and motor esc combo and all the servos to complete the model and it’s sold as its own part number for like $199 or however much it comes out to and then a guy knows he has everything to complete the model. On that same thought would it be possible to have you make a scale prop to complement any new Nexa model the Corsair prop blade are perfect it would just need a different hub to make it a 4 blade. This could also be an upgrade for guys with the Corsair that want a 4 blade prop?

I second this motion...

[Merry Boozer RC]

Alpha quick question on all these new nexa planes I know this is a big ask but would it be possible in the future to offer a power system as a second part number for guys wanting a turn key ARF? So for instance the Nexa P-47 it could come with the Flightline Corsair prop and motor esc combo and all the servos to complete the model and it’s sold as its own part number for like $199 or however much it comes out to and then a guy knows he has everything to complete the model. On that same thought would it be possible to have you make a scale prop to complement any new Nexa model the Corsair prop blade are perfect it would just need a different hub to make it a 4 blade. This could also be an upgrade for guys with the Corsair that want a 4 blade prop?

[Ron1950]

If anyone is looking for the 5060 300kv motor i found them in stock at rc castle. Only took about 2 weeks to get it also. A good 6 s motor

[Ron1950]

Mine is done also without any big problems. Waiting on the fms 5060kv300 motor from china. The tracking i got on it said exception. Returning to sender for security violations. The guy resent. So wont be here before mid nov.
now maybe you guys that build arf’s alot can tell me the secret to getting the wing hold down bolts drilled correctly. I measured but was off slightly lol and yes my wing bolts were to short also. Some 3 inchers cut to about 2.75 in worked well

really nice plane ill buy more nexa planes as i get room

[Alpha]

bkp1300 I'm glad the FlightLine power system suits your flying style well. Which servos did you end up installing in your Jug?

[theoldALFER]

Thanks Wes
toA

[Merry Boozer RC]

Guys, is the pilot figure a full body or partial?
I’m thinking about using in one of my warbirds. A picture would be appreciated. Thanks.

Here you go 😉

[theoldALFER]

Guys, is the pilot figure a full body or partial?
I’m thinking about using in one of my warbirds. A picture would be appreciated. Thanks.

[Steelon Steel]

i really need to put my Touch of Texas together. You guys are doing great work!

[Merry Boozer RC]

Maiden plus five flights today on the Nexa P-47. After a scare on maiden takeoff due to not mechanically trimmed very well on my part, I found this model to be a great flyer and got some attention at the field today. She is rock solid and tracks through the sky like a scale aircraft. Running an AR673T receiver with gyro settings low and its awesome. Slows down nice on approach and is predictable. Once got through maiden jitters, was very enjoyable to fly. Have the FMS Corsair 4 blade 17 inch prop on order as the 18 inch three blade prop chews through the grass when taxiing so in my opinion its too big of diameter for this airframe. Luckily my field has an asphalt runway so no issues with prop clearance there. But I will say this power system is killer on the P-47......

what a great looking build great job on this one its my absolute favored to fly currently.

[bkp1300]

Maiden plus five flights today on the Nexa P-47. After a scare on maiden takeoff due to not mechanically trimmed very well on my part, I found this model to be a great flyer and got some attention at the field today. She is rock solid and tracks through the sky like a scale aircraft. Running an AR673T receiver with gyro settings low and its awesome. Slows down nice on approach and is predictable. Once got through maiden jitters, was very enjoyable to fly. Have the FMS Corsair 4 blade 17 inch prop on order as the 18 inch three blade prop chews through the grass when taxiing so in my opinion its too big of diameter for this airframe. Luckily my field has an asphalt runway so no issues with prop clearance there. But I will say this power system is killer on the P-47......

[Merry Boozer RC]

Finished my assembly of Nexa P-47. Overall it was easy assembly with just one hiccup. The wing attach nylon bolts are not long enough. Went down to the local hardware and got a couple so no big deal but Motion might want to look in to this. I went with the Flightline 1600mm Corsair motor and 18" three blade prop combo. Running an Avian 80 amp ESC and Spektrum AR637T so I can get SMART telemetry during flight.
Will report back with flight impressions after the maiden....

Great job on the assembly I was going to use that same power system at first until I lucked out and was able to get the other I’m using now. Definitely going to order extra props if and when they come back in stock. You are going to love the way this one flys she is a beast