Official FlightLine 1600mm B-25J Mitchell PNP Thread

[Gilatrout]

Sigh thanks for the update.

In a couple of days we lose one of our flying fields for a couple of months to the Balloon Fiesta. At least I won’t be tempted to fly it before I get my graphics, weathering and crew installed.

[desertdrifter7]

Tom, Ouch. That means only 4 orders/containers were surveyed in 3 days. That's incredible in the negative sense. Bureaucracy at it's finest. Thank you for the update. It's better knowing than not. I appreciate it, even though the news wasn't great, and I am sure the others waiting do as well.

[Tom]

Update - As of this evening, we are now 12th in line to be inspected.

Unfortunately, the wait is MUCH longer than expected 🤨. At this point there is a possibility the 3rd shipment of B-25 may arrive before the first. It looks like the total transit time is going to end up about 3 months by the time this container arrives. Normal is 4-5 weeks right now.

[tab28682]

Update - The B-25 shipment is now 16th in line to be inspected. I've been told this type of Inspection does not take place over the weekend so we remain 16th in line as of Monday morning. It looks like 2 to 4 exams per day are taking place at this location. Given the current pace, I can only guess we'll see the container between Sept 8th - Sept 12th. I wish I had better news.

Tom, thanks for going the extra mile to keep us up to date on the situation. You guys are awesome; the US government, in this case, much less so....:)

It's not like I don't have plenty of models to fly and work on........

[Jdcrow]

Purchased mine June 27th 5PM PST. No tracking email so far...

Some additional help with the scale rims would be appreciated.

Is there room for Robart 3.5" and 2.5" tires? The actual Robart ODs are approx 88mm and 63mm. FL OEM tire ODs previously reported at 85mm and 60mm above.

Could someone share the precise front and main axle diameters and rim width at axle? eg caliper accurate to +-0.01mm

i had an old file for some F-14 Main wheel hubcaps. Expanded the dimension to 50mm to see how they would fit.

Cant wait to print out a scale wheel set

[desertdrifter7]

Well, as I hunker down just north of Tampa, Fl I am acutely aware that I am not nearly as excited waiting for the storm to arrive as I am my B-25. I am hoping the government officials get off their dead ... and onto their dying ... and just gitter dun quickly. Be safe, all my fellow Floridians.

[Elbee]

Over G Welcome to Hobby Squawk, Sir. Presuming you have a B-25J on order, I am looking forward to your finished model pictures and more. Best, LB

[Over G]

Thank you for all the updates, At least you guys are up front and honest about all the issues that may arise. Ive seen some negative post about the delay which are uncalled for because this is out of everyones control. I will just sit back and wait patiently. I feel we rc guys and gals are just lucky to have a company striving to keep putting out this cool as heck stuff. Many thanks from this old guy....

[Larry D]

Has anyone had a problem balancing the B-25 ?? I’m balancing it upright with gear down and even with a 6000 Admiral Pro it’s still tail heavy

I have had no issues in balancing mine on the exact CG points located on the underside of the wings. Balanced with a 6000 HRB, 5000 Admiral and a 5200 SMC. All were balanced wheels down. If you haven't already done it, go back a few pages and look at Wesley's photos for battery placement. I found they were dang close. Don't know if you are trying to balance right side up or upside down with fingertips or if you are using a balancer. I balanced right side up, wheels down, finger tip.

Great flying airplane. If you have ever flown the Freewing P-38, it handles very similarly, but it's a bomber. In a left to right approach pattern I would suggest - watch the speed when you make the turn from base onto final. Keep it up ... but not too much. Mine seems to like to stall with a pronounced left wing drop. Easy recovery however assuming you have the altitude. Did not notice a drop of the right wing turning from base to final doing a right to left approach.

[rlcamden]

Update - The B-25 shipment is now 16th in line to be inspected. I've been told this type of Inspection does not take place over the weekend so we remain 16th in line as of Monday morning. It looks like 2 to 4 exams per day are taking place at this location. Given the current pace, I can only guess we'll see the container between Sept 8th - Sept 12th. I wish I had better news.

This is why I absolutely love this company...transparency! You guys are the best, even when there are hiccups. Keep up the good work to fuel our addictions.

[Evan D]

Congrats Oxo!

[Tom]

Update - The B-25 shipment is now 16th in line to be inspected. I've been told this type of Inspection does not take place over the weekend so we remain 16th in line as of Monday morning. It looks like 2 to 4 exams per day are taking place at this location. Given the current pace, I can only guess we'll see the container between Sept 8th - Sept 12th. I wish I had better news.

[Oxotnik]

Here's my Maiden +1. She flies well. It took me a while to get her nicely trimmed in. No wind today and half flaps did not slow her down enough. I landed with full flaps on flight 2, and liked full-flaps landings. The two landing on the Maiden were way to fast, and the second was an ugly landing. The full-flap landings were at a good speed, and the descent and touchdown were very predictable.

[desertdrifter7]

Tom, thank you for straightening that out. It doesn't get the planes out quicker but gives us some hope that we can get our planes maybesometime within the next two weeks. I would've bought the B-24 but for 2 issues. One, having to buy upgraded landing gear for a $450 plane because of issues with the stock gear. Two, having to remove the whole wings for transportation unlike the B-25 and the P-38.

[SanExup]

For what it's worth, I am project manager and I've been waiting for two large shipments that are comprised of four containers that came from Europe. It has taken longer for them to get to me from the west coast to Wyoming than it did to come from Europe through the backed up drought stricken Panama Canal. And then there's Yellow Trucking that ceased business. Coming through the canal or not, using Yellow or not, the impacts to ports and trucking in the US are real. And I am sure the disruptions are impacting Customs as well.

[Tom]

I apologize for the confusion. I meant the container WAS accumulating storage fees while it WAS waiting for the first inspection. The container was discharged from the ship on the west coast 7/31. Unfortunately, on August 1st, it was immediately put on hold by customs for a VACIS exam. This was the first exam. The container waited (in storage) for the exam to take place. The VACIS exam took place August 9th or 10th. There were no problems or issues during the exam (as I would expect).

After that first exam was completed on August 9th-10th, we hoped to quickly get the container on rail to Chicago so we would finally receive the container. Nope! US Customs put the container on hold for an "intensive exam". The container was put in storage again waiting for the second exam to take place. I found out Monday evening the second inspection was finally scheduled for Tuesday August 22nd. It took 11 days for them to schedule the second exam. Tuesday August 22nd rolled around and I was told we were number 29 in line for the exam. As of today, August 24th, we are 20th in line for the exam. Apparently the 22nd was the date we had to start waiting in line as opposed to the date the exam was actually taking place.

I'm pulling my hair out. This shipment has been in the USA since 7/31 and we're at the mercy of US Customs who don't seem to have the same sense of urgency.

[desertdrifter7]

Quick update on the B-25 shipment. The container is still waiting for the customs inspection. It is now 20th in line. At this point, I'm thinking we are going to be receiving this in the beginning of Sept vs end of August. This container left Freewing 6/20 and this is the most frustrating wait ever. I know all of you are frustrated waiting for this container. We're equally as frustrated this is taking so long. Of course nobody stores a container for free so we are likely accumulating a $200-300 per day storage fee while waiting for the first inspection and now waiting for the second inspection. As soon as the inspection is over, I'll let you know. We'll ship these out as soon as we receive them.

This message is confusing in that you stated "likely accumulating....while waiting for the the first inspection." I hope you had your tenses confused because the way it is written you are still awaiting the first customs inspection. Yes, this is more than frustrating. For something "promised" the end of July, it is starting to sound like mid to late September now.

[Evan D]

I’m able to balance mine with 5200, 5800, 6000 and 7200…

[William Gregory]

Has anyone had a problem balancing the B-25 ?? I’m balancing it upright with gear down and even with a 6000 Admrial Pro it’s still tail heavy

[marwady]

Quick update on the B-25 shipment. The container is still waiting for the customs inspection. It is now 20th in line. At this point, I'm thinking we are going to be receiving this in the beginning of Sept vs end of August. This container left Freewing 6/20 and this is the most frustrating wait ever. I know all of you are frustrated waiting for this container. We're equally as frustrated this is taking so long. Of course nobody stores a container for free so we are likely accumulating a $200-300 per day storage fee while waiting for the first inspection and now waiting for the second inspection. As soon as the inspection is over, I'll let you know. We'll ship these out as soon as we receive them.

Tom,

Thanks for keeping us updated.

To be clear, does this container have to go through 2 inspections before you take delivery?

Just setting my own expectations.

M