Official FlightLine 1600mm B-25J Mitchell PNP Thread

[Fast N Light]

I have completed the pre-flight fit-up and assembly for the scale rims with Robart tires. Several design changes have been incorporated into the rims as a result of the fit-up. Updated .STL files and guidance are posted on Thingiverse

My thanks to JD and others who helped me develop these

[Enzo_K]

At this point. I hope they find out why this is happening. If my speculations are correct. MRC leaving this issue unaddressed means there will be more great products from Freewing/Flightline, which should've been of great quality, being damaged in the future.

[Enzo_K]

My B-25 looks almost exactly like your photos across all parts, and worse in certain areas. I opened a ticket for a direct exchange, but was told that all foam planes can be expected to have gatored finishes and that I could just return it. No remedy would be offered.



Coincidentally, I ordered limited B-25 spare parts just to have them and they actually look great with zero of the gatoring evidenced on my full aircraft, so the MRC "customer service" response is pretty dismissive.

Sorry to hear about this. Keep talking to them. Attach more photos. I decided to keep the plane and received compensation. You can either do that or return it and get a refund.
The "foam planes can be expected to have gatored finishes" part is definitely BS. Small areas of imperfection might be acceptable. But the whole top of the wing, the fuselage is not a small imperfection. And it is definitely not caused by the manufacturing process.

Regarding the CS team from MRC? I can't say all of them. But 2 of their CS representatives have been straight out lying to me before, not once, but multiple times.

[Pboilermaker]

Have the same issue on MANY Freewing/Flightline products. Dating back as early as late 2021 (Been a Freewing customer for years, early 2022 or late 2021 was the first time I encountered this issue)

I have a whole story to share if somebody is interested. I will cut it short here: MRC CS is a joke. I don't wanna mention names. But if you are talking with someone's name starts with a D & an M. You are better off just rubbing it in.

This "Gatoring" issue has been going on for almost 2 years. And no one at MRC ever wanted to address it.

I am currently arguing with MRC about my B25. Screenshots from Arthur RC's video show how bad some of the "gatoring" is. Some of them are minor. Like my Ta152 and Mirage. You could probably deal with it. Some of them are just unbearable. Like my P38, B25 & A6.

My speculation on this is the "Gatoring" happened during sea transfers. Which I think MRC is in charge of, correct me if I'm wrong. Because none of the social media in mainland China have I ever heard about this "Gatoring" issue complain. Nor has any of my friends in China ever experienced this "Gatoring" issue from Freewing/ Flightline products. At least not on a large scale (small imperfections are acceptable, but this is way beyond).
Edited 1: I don't think it is caused by sitting at the US customs for inspections. As Arthur RC is located in France, and received his B25 in early August. Also, it doesn't explain past "Gatoring" on other models.

Here are some examples of the A6 and the B25. Open attachments to see more life-like gators! Lol


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ha95x_uqLn4

My B-25 looks almost exactly like your photos across all parts, and worse in certain areas. I opened a ticket for a direct exchange, but was told that all foam planes can be expected to have gatored finishes and that I could just return it. No remedy would be offered.



Coincidentally, I ordered limited B-25 spare parts just to have them and they actually look great with zero of the gatoring evidenced on my full aircraft, so the MRC "customer service" response is pretty dismissive.

[Aros]

Finally was able to do my maiden flight today. The plane handled beautifully. I bounced a bit on my landing but she took it without damage. Forgive the video. It was done with my gopro.

We will try to forgive the video but it actually takes one to view to forgive.

[desertdrifter7]

Finally was able to do my maiden flight today. The plane handled beautifully. I bounced a bit on my landing but she took it without damage. Forgive the video. It was done with my gopro.

[Aros]

Aros, Visited Portland in June of '88 for the Rose Festival and see the Indycar Portland Grand Prix. Four of Seven days, we made day trips from Portland along the Columbia River (as best we could) toward Seaside OR. We visited Astoria twice during that trip. As I recall, a very beautiful area and NNW Oregon was just amazing. Congrats on the move. I hope we are not losing you, Sir. Best, LB

You will have to come back out for a visit! And nope, not losing me, the beauty of working remotely!

[Jdcrow]

I ordered a set of 3 1/4 robart mains hoping the wheel diameter would be the same as the 3-1/2 to fit the 3DP B-25 wheels. Unfortunately, the Wheel was also smaller. I originally planned to use the factory tire, so once the B-25 parts become in stock at motionrc, i grabbed a pair. Some minor dissection and they fit on the 3DP wheels.

Ill CA them to the wheels just like we do for RC Cars.

[Elbee]

Aros, Visited Portland in June of '88 for the Rose Festival and see the Indycar Portland Grand Prix. Four of Seven days, we made day trips from Portland along the Columbia River (as best we could) toward Seaside OR. We visited Astoria twice during that trip. As I recall, a very beautiful area and NNW Oregon was just amazing. Congrats on the move. I hope we are not losing you, Sir. Best, LB

[Aros]

Thanks davegee! It's a beautiful part of the country and we feel blessed to move there!

[davegee]

Hey Neil! Sorry to say I am moving to Astoria so I won't have the pleasure flying with you again. You flew her like a champ. I can't wait to fly mine! Good luck to you and happy landings!

Hi Aros: be sure to say "hi" to Lewis and Clark for me when you move to Astoria! (LOL) Sounds like a pretty neat place. We had it on our plan to visit years ago on a trip up to your area, but plans fell through. Would still like to visit Ft. Clatsop and the Astoria environs someday.

Cheers

Davegee

[Aros]

This would be me. I've been flying mine almost every weekend since Sept 2. Video of my first flight is below. Sadly, no other videos since. The first flight as seen in the video was just a typical maiden and trim. She rivals my EC-1500 on landing- albeit with a little more weight. I seem to like 90% flaps for everything. Normally have two settings (three if you consider flaps up as one), but for this plane she seems happy to do scale with one. No more bounce (as seen in the video on my runway after using flaps. Don't think it will go as slow as the P-38, but she's good for scale bombing runs. I've been using a SMC 5300HV pushed all the way forward. I plan to put PBJ clothing on it, so going shades of blue instead of olive drab. Definitely one of my favorite planes! Glad to see everyone getting their B-25's now.

Hey Neil! Sorry to say I am moving to Astoria so I won't have the pleasure flying with you again. You flew her like a champ. I can't wait to fly mine! Good luck to you and happy landings!

[Elbee]

...rim...

FNL, Keep up the fine work, Sir. Best, LB

[Fast N Light]

Robart 2.25 nose wheel with stock wheel beside it.

Looking at the Robart website, it appears their rim for 2.25", 2.5" & 2.75" tires are identical. Therefore I am expecting that the rim I designed with a 2.5" tire will also work with the 2.25".
It looks like the tire shown on your nose gear is a Dubro low bounce tire. They perform well as a low bounce tire, but the rim diameter is too small to fit the rims which I have designed.

Updated .STL files are posted on Thingiverse with the modification I have made since I started fitting them to the B-25 model. Still a work in progress....

Front wheel from left to right, G16.STL printed rim, Robart rim & hub caps, Robart 2.5" tire, FlightLine OEM tire & rim



Main wheel from left to right G16.STL printed rim, Robart rim & hub caps, Robart 3.5" tire, FlightLine OEM tire & rim

[Spad Driver]

Robart 2.25 nose wheel with stock wheel beside it.
B-25 rim with B-24 tire installed under compression.
Spad Driver

[Spad Driver]

Correction!.
The dimensions I gave for the main rim is correct for both the B-24 and the B-25. But the axle shaft diameters are different.
the B-25 shaft is larger than the B-24's so I will be using the B-25's rims with the B-24's tires.
perfect fit!.
Spad Driver

[Spad Driver]

Fast n light Sir,
the Robart 2.25 rim is 26mm in diameter. The axle shaft width is approximately .5mm wider than the stock shaft. So use the stock axle width so there is less chance of the wheel binding.
The stock main wheel is 50mm in diameter. The width is 25mm with a 3mm rim. Axle shaft is 26.5mm in width. Measurements made with dial calipers.
The tires that I'm using will peel off the stock rims with a little effort and should fit on your rims when I have them made.
Some pictures of the difference between the stock wheel and tire versus the B-24 wheel and tire.
trying to show that the tires are the same physical dimensions but have vastly different stiffness.
The first picture is showing them under compression.
Spad Driver

[Fast N Light]

Gentlemen,
I put the Robart 2.25 wheel on the nose and it fits just fine and will use it until I can get the rims 3D printed.

Could you take a quick measurement of the OD for the Robart 2.25" rim? The 2.5" is 36mm. Hoping they are the same..

[Spad Driver]

Gentlemen,
I put the Robart 2.25 wheel on the nose and it fits just fine and will use it until I can get the rims 3D printed.
AND I think I found a solution to our tire problem.
Those of us that have upgraded our A-10's or B-24's suspensions have soft squishy tires already in our spare boxes!.
the tires off of the original stiff struts that we replaced are an exact match for the stock tires on the B-25's struts!.
And I'll bet they are available on MRC'S website as replacements for the A-10 and B-24.

[Elbee]

I've ordered the B-25 nomenclature from Callie Graphics. Has anyone found a good guide for placement for the nomenclature?

ZK, Callie Graphics has the 'Placement Guide".

Double check her website to see if it is offered as a PDF file or similar download.

If not, simply send her an email about the guide.

It is possible she has just been too busy to post it.

Possibly it will come in printed form with your nomenclature graphics.

Best, LB