Tired-Iron's P-38 Build

[Aros]

Hmmm......

Ah come on! Child's play for someone with your skills... ;)

[TiredIronGRB]

Ok.........I don't quite get the "pin" and it's grooves. I don't have my struts but would you please explain what I'm looking at there.......thanks in advance, Andy

You don't need to do that, the pins that come on the struts work perfect. I had taken the struts off my P-51 and the pin stayed in the retract so I made those but replaced them when the parts came in.

[PlaneCrazy]

I couldn't wait until the parts to come in so yes, that is "Iron Ass" tits up in the background...this worked out really good on the mains, I may even try to get the 3.35" tires to work.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]n36386[/ATTACH]

This is the pin to adapt the P38 retract to the FW strut.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]n36385[/ATTACH]

Will probably have to go with the FMS P51 3" wheels...probably...maybe not.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]n36384[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]n36383[/ATTACH]

The Robart 2.75" compared to the FW P51 3.35".

Ok.........I don't quite get the "pin" and it's grooves. I don't have my struts but would you please explain what I'm looking at there.......thanks in advance, Andy

[TiredIronGRB]

Hmmm......

[Aros]

Alright you have impressed me with your mods...Now let's see if you can take it to the next level... ;)

The tell-tale drag struts above the oleo... :)

[Aros]

Yep I went with the Robarts for the same reason...Love the diamond tread and detail. Now I need to catch up with the awesome oleo strut mod.

[TiredIronGRB]

Never mind, I get it. Nice work!

Back after 30 years, welcome back. It's a great time to get back in.

You say Dynams are your trainers, that's great, just know the 38 is definitely loaded higher than the Dynams. My advice is to consider loading up the Dynams to bring the weight up and get used to the higher speeds required to fly them safely. Also if you can get sim time with some heavier acting models that will help.

The Dynams are so lightly loaded and floaty I just don't want you to get caught off guard.

Kind regards and great job on the mods!

Ryan

Thanks, the last plane I had was a profile with a glow engine, rudder and elevator only. Things sure have changed, my first plane was a Cox Stuka control line.

[TiredIronGRB]

Here you go...

[ryramZ]

Never mind, I get it. Nice work!

Back after 30 years, welcome back. It's a great time to get back in.

You say Dynams are your trainers, that's great, just know the 38 is definitely loaded higher than the Dynams. My advice is to consider loading up the Dynams to bring the weight up and get used to the higher speeds required to fly them safely. Also if you can get sim time with some heavier acting models that will help.

The Dynams are so lightly loaded and floaty I just don't want you to get caught off guard.

Kind regards and great job on the mods!

Ryan

[ryramZ]

I'm a little unclear on how you did the nose strut drilling.

[TiredIronGRB]

what made you go with those? were the FMS not clearing?

They fit but I just like the detail of the Robarts.

[TSHobbies]

what made you go with those? were the FMS not clearing?

[TiredIronGRB]

I finally finished the strut swap and after trying several different wheels I have decided on the Robart 2.75" on the mains and the 2.5" on the nose.





Very nice detail and texture on the Robart wheels/tires.

[ruffneckx1]

You " DA MAN " :cool: :cool:

Woody

[TiredIronGRB]

That does look great.Im assuming it wasnt possible to use the stock steer arm?

I thought about milling out the P51 strut and sliding the P38 steering arm up ino it but that would have weakened the strut considerably. I used the straight section of a throttle spring because of it's tensile strength.

[TSHobbies]

That does look great.Im assuming it wasnt possible to use the stock steer arm?

[TiredIronGRB]

That's a lot of work but the payoff is that it looks absolutely incredible. I sure wish it came with those oleo struts. I am tempted to follow your lead but I don't think I have the patience and skill.

The mains are easy...the nose, not so much ;)

[Aros]

That's a lot of work but the payoff is that it looks absolutely incredible. I sure wish it came with those oleo struts. I am tempted to follow your lead but I don't think I have the patience and skill.

[TiredIronGRB]

The nose gear was a job...



To make the rod to steer the nose wheel I used a straight section of a spring, to keep it from twisting in the strut I drilled holes at 9 and 4 o'clock then drove the rod through which put a bend in it and keeps it from moving...this was a pain.



I cut the stock strut off at the flat, then tightened the P51 strut on the stub.



I used the 2.5" Robart on the Nose and will use the FMS P51 3" wheels on the mains.



The nose gear is a little stiff so I will cut a couple coils off the spring inside the strut, the main will need the spring stretched as they are about a quarter of the way compressed from the weight of the plane.

Here's a short video of the gear deploying and steering.

[Grossman56]

Great idea Tired Iron, really dresses her up!

Grossman56