Official Nexa 2108mm P-38 Lightning ARF Thread

[rifleman_btx]

Any word from Motion when the lightning will be back in stock?

Gonna put two rcgf 10 cc re stingers in, spoke with Glen there, He'll set them up for scale rotation. 1.9 hp at 12k rpm..potential for nearly 4 hp

Dude that would be epic! Can't wait to see it running!

[Weldo J. Melvin aka: hotscary]

Here is the latest and greatest link at MotionRC (as of today), for the Nexa P-38 Lightning Olive Drab 2108mm (83") Wingspan - ARF. (https://www.motionrc.com/products/ne...rf-nxa1013-001). I just received mine yesterday. The list price is now $829.00, and does not include electric retracts. Basic wire struts are included, which of course, I won't be using. Greetings to the Hobby Squawk community! wjm

[Twowingtj]

Welcome to Hobby Squawk! Looking forward to hearing more about your build and setup.

[Weldo J. Melvin aka: hotscary]

Thank you Twowingtj for the kind welcome. I will have a boat-load of good and bad regarding my recent purchase of the Nexa P-38 Lighting 2108mm in the coming weeks. Cheers! wjm

[Aros]

Welcome to the Squawk, as a former owner of this model, I look forward to your future reviews/posts/pics/vids. Good luck!

[Weldo J. Melvin aka: hotscary]

Thank you Aros! I am still in the process of acquiring the necessary goodies to complete the build. wjm

[Aros]

If you feel like it, you can check out my YT channel and search for "Legend Models P-38" and I have videos of her flying...(Same exact model, different name).

https://www.youtube.com/@toddbreda

[PilotTony]

Thinking about buying one of these, anyone else have any maiden info?

[Aros]

She flies fantastic. Build is so-so (check for QC issues, some of my formers were not glued in) but once she's built soundly she flies superb. CG, throws by the book if I recall. Gentle lady.

[Johnboy151a]

I just picked up one of these planes from a club member. Anyone finish setting one up with gas engines? Been a little talk her about it, but nothing really posted.

[rcpilot54]

Anyone building the Nexa P-38? The flap install is a nightmare. Has anyone got them working? Can deploy them but no matter what I fo after a couple cycles they don’t fully come up. The bell cranks and sliding set up introduce a lot of slop in the controls. They won’t fully raise back up. No matter what I do there is a little binding I can hear the servos buzzing in the open and closed position.

[Aros]

My buddy built this model for me back around 2011 or something like that and by FAR it was the most difficult aspect of the build. We never, ever could get them to behave with full close and open. Here's a video where you can plainly see the flaps unequal and unable to fully close in flight. Great flyer though!

[Johnboy151a]

Is there any benefits to setting this airplane up with counter rotating props? Can you tell the difference in flight? Anyone running gas engines?

[Aros]

Mine was set up for counter rotating props...One, for the scale factor and two, I believe it helps with the torque/left pull on takeoff...

[Monster 3056]

I hope this gets to the right person.

I am building the Nexa P-38 and you're right there is so much slop in the flap bell cranks there is no way to get them properly deployed or closed. I took all that junk out and converted them to split flaps, each flap direct to a servo. They are solid now. the initial flap set up leaves much to be desired. Their recommended package includes 2 blade props but the nose cone is for a 3 blade prop. I would like to put a 3 blade prop on but what size? the 2 blade prop is 12x8. I saw a saito conversion chart that equates an 12x8 two blade to an 11x8 3 blade. Is that correct? will the Admiral GP5-770kV motor be enough to give the model speed? the recommended esc is 65A I will change that to 80 or 90 right out of the gate. has anyone flown this with a 3 blade prop.

No help on this from Motion RC.

At this point I am stuck. I know a 3 blade is less efficient than a 2 blade and I want the model to fly with authority. I'm thinking a more powerful motor is needed and also and 80A to 100A ESC instead of the 65A they sent. Who has flow this and what size 3 blade / motor / ESC was used?

Any help is appreciated.

[Aros]

I hope this gets to the right person.

I am building the Nexa P-38 and you're right there is so much slop in the flap bell cranks there is no way to get them properly deployed or closed. I took all that junk out and converted them to split flaps, each flap direct to a servo. They are solid now. the initial flap set up leaves much to be desired. Their recommended package includes 2 blade props but the nose cone is for a 3 blade prop. I would like to put a 3 blade prop on but what size? the 2 blade prop is 12x8. I saw a saito conversion chart that equates an 12x8 two blade to an 11x8 3 blade. Is that correct? will the Admiral GP5-770kV motor be enough to give the model speed? the recommended esc is 65A I will change that to 80 or 90 right out of the gate. has anyone flown this with a 3 blade prop.

No help on this from Motion RC.

At this point I am stuck. I know a 3 blade is less efficient than a 2 blade and I want the model to fly with authority. I'm thinking a more powerful motor is needed and also and 80A to 100A ESC instead of the 65A they sent. Who has flow this and what size 3 blade / motor / ESC was used?

Any help is appreciated.

This was my setup 9 years ago. Dualsky 470Kv motors swinging Master Airscrew 16x10x3 counter rotating props with Castle Edge 100A ESCs and 20A Pro Amp BEC with a Spektrum AR9020 9ch RX.

Flew fantastic with that combo.

[Monster 3056]

wow!! thanks for the quick response. 16x10x3 prop? Man that's big, I had no idea. no overheating issues and it flew with authority? do you remember how much it weighed all up? I have two Turnigy 4250-500kv motors I had for another project plus the two Admiral 4220-770kV motors Motion RC sent. Which of those two do you think will work or should i just look for a 470kV motor? My apologies for all the questions but I'm not up to speed on the specifics of electric setups. I was planning to get 100A ESCs in any event, I didn't think the 65A ESC they sent would cut it. I'll also be running an independent battery for the receiver, my thought being if the ESC craps out I can at least glide back home.

I also have the Phoenix A-26-- - 16.5 lbs all up weight with two 4s 5000 Mah. I run it with 12x8x2 props both spin in the same direction, no torque issues to date. It has two rimfire 46's and a hobbyking 80A ESC. have had it for years and it flies like a dream and with authority. thank you again for your help. Manny

[Aros]

I don't have the data anymore but that combo stayed well within limits. Also, rounding the MA 3-blade tips cut the size down a touch. 770Kv would be a bit underpowered to me. The 500s should be much better. I also wouldn't suggest lower than 85A ESCs plus the redundancy like the RX battery is a good idea. I'll see if I can find the AUW later today.

[Monster 3056]

Thanks for the quick response again. I just want to be sure about the prop size. I saw a previous post (16 Dec 2020) and i thought it indicated rimfire 1.20's with the 16x10x3 props. was that a different P-38 manufacturer? just want to be sure we are on the same page:

470Kv (or 500Kv in my case) 100A ESC, separate battery for the receiver/servos, 16x10x3 props. that's the combo right?

By the way I will be using the recommended 14.8v 5000 Mah battery (2 of them). I do like the idea of connecting them parallel so both motors draw from the same power source. My A-26 is set up like that. In essence the 2 motors draw from one 14.8v 10,000 Mah source.

Thanks again for your advice. I'm also beginning to see that the retract doors are going to be interesting to get working. I was intending to use micro servos and a sequencing unit for the gear and doors.

[Aros]

Do you mind directing me to that post in 2020? Truth be told this is a model I had many years ago so I want to be sure I am correct in the specs I am offering. I had the Legend Models P-38 which was VQ which is now Nexa. It should be the same model I had (regardless of the brand name).