Official FlightLine 1600mm B-25J Mitchell PNP Thread

[Oxotnik]

FedEx sez that my Mitchell Bomber will be landing on my porch tomorrow. <happy dance>

For what it's worth, I want to say that I really, really appreciate getting preferential treatment (meaning getting one of the first aircraft), for committing to buy and putting my money down early. Another toy airplane company, whom I won't name, but whose initials are Horizon Hobby, have pissed me off more that once on preorders. Their 1.5m FW-190 is an aircraft that I REALLY wanted, and I preordered as soon as I was able to do so. I was probably in the first 10 to preorder. Then, before I got mine shipped to me, local hobby shops had them on their shelves. I think that hobby shops had them a whole week before I received mine. I know that HH values its brick-n-mortar distributors and wants to keep them happy, but it sucks how they handle preorders. I'll never preorder anything else from HH, and I rarely buy any of their overpriced SAFE products any more, anyway. Semi-rant over.

I remain very comfortable pre-ordering from Motion. Thank you, MotionRC, for taking care of your loyal customers!

[Fast N Light]

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

[handyman220]

RE: measuring the CG. You want the CG to be as low as possible. Low wings typically are CG balanced upside down. Vice Versa for high wings. Mid wings... use your best judgement. On initial setup, I typically will balance mine with the gear retracted, then with the gear extended, to see how much the CG moves. It shouldn't move much gear up versus down.

I received the notice that my B-25 is inbound. Happy day!!! :-)

Must be my lucky day also, received a tracking notice for my B-25 today!

[Oxotnik]

RE: measuring the CG. You want the CG to be as low as possible. Low wings typically are CG balanced upside down. Vice Versa for high wings. Mid wings... use your best judgement. On initial setup, I typically will balance mine with the gear retracted, then with the gear extended, to see how much the CG moves. It shouldn't move much gear up versus down.

I received the notice that my B-25 is inbound. Happy day!!! :-)

[Larry D]

Thanks for the update Tom!!

[Tom]

We received the second shipment of B-25 which were shipped from the factory weeks after the first shipment. Since this second shipment did not go through TWO different customs inspections, it arrived before the first shipment. The first shipment is still sitting waiting for the CPSC customs exam. This second shipment is a small batch. We are in the process of sending these out following the date/time you ordered. In other words, the first person who ordered the B-25 will get the first one, the second person who ordered will get the second one,...... This is a small shipment but I want to get some out into your patiently waiting hands! We'll ship the remainder as soon as the second customs inspection takes place.

[Grossman56]

It might have been covered earlier in the discussion. Does one balance this plane rightside up or rightside down with gear up or gear down?

I would think that it would balance right side up like the Tigercat. Low wing airplanes like the typical WW II fighters balance upside down, high wing and shoulder wing, right side up.



Grossman56

[helipil0t]

would i be correct in assuming on the B25 that the centre of gravity is measured with the wheels in the retracted position.

[Spad Driver]

AAARRRGGGHHHH!!!!....
Jeremy Solt's just released a couple of flight video's about the B-25 at his northern Utah airfield.
Great video's by the way.
but to have one soo close to me...
And yet so far away ...

[Oxotnik]

I'm a fan of FrSky X8R and S8R receivers, and the telemetry modules that go with them. Even though the B-25 probably doesn't need a a stabilizer, a stabilizer doesn't hurt anything. About the only noticeable difference is that a stabilizer seems to add more expo. So, I just don't program much expo through my transmitter if running a gyro. So, I think that I'll do an S8R, with xbus expansions to get 16 channels. Each control surface servo will likely get its own channel. Nose wheel steering, too. Differential thrust. I'm sure that I'll also run a voltage sensor and a GPS sensor, neither of which take up much real estate.

I've got an assembly bay ready for the B-25, whenever she finally gets here.

[Gilatrout]

Hello everyone. As we close in on shipping for the B-25 here on the US side I’ve had several requests for measurements on the B-25 battery bay. Below is a 6000 pro pack, standard 5000 admiral, and a 4000 admiral. For customers that choose the 4000 I do recommended adding a little nose weight to hit the molded CG marks on the wing. For the 6000 you can slide the battery back and hit the CG. Be aware the battery compartment does get a little tight with the large battery. The CG on the wing is spot on so use that for your first flights. For customers that like it more tail heavy move it back slowly because it doesn’t like being tail heavy just like any WWII aircraft. Let’s use this post for any customers that would like additional pictures or have any other questions to ask away 😉 once again I can’t wait to see everyone receive this model and start customizing. Also for customers that like a more neutral center of gravity, I find the B 25 greatly benefit from a Gyro in slow flight and cross wind conditions. I have personally set up the model on our lemon 10 channel gyro with telemetry. The great thing about pairing it to this model as you can plug the XT 60 telemetry wire straight into the factory wiring harness.

I wonder, if like the cougar, there might be enough space under the battery deck? In any case, I definitely plan on running at least one satellite remote receiver

[desertdrifter7]

It might have been covered earlier in the discussion. Does one balance this plane rightside up or rightside down with gear up or gear down?

[desertdrifter7]

Wesley, thank you. Your pictures were very clear and very telling. I will be flying with the Admiral 5000 and I can see by your pictures that a combination receiver/gyro is the best possible solution, other than not using a gyro (which is not a solution for me.). I still think it might be possible to run the receiver on the roof of the bombay area.

[Merry Boozer RC]

Hello everyone. As we close in on shipping for the B-25 here on the US side I’ve had several requests for measurements on the B-25 battery bay. Below is a 6000 pro pack, standard 5000 admiral, and a 4000 admiral. For customers that choose the 4000 I do recommended adding a little nose weight to hit the molded CG marks on the wing. For the 6000 you can slide the battery back and hit the CG. Be aware the battery compartment does get a little tight with the large battery. The CG on the wing is spot on so use that for your first flights. For customers that like it more tail heavy move it back slowly because it doesn’t like being tail heavy just like any WWII aircraft. Let’s use this post for any customers that would like additional pictures or have any other questions to ask away 😉 once again I can’t wait to see everyone receive this model and start customizing. Also for customers that like a more neutral center of gravity, I find the B 25 greatly benefit from a Gyro in slow flight and cross wind conditions. I have personally set up the model on our lemon 10 channel gyro with telemetry. The great thing about pairing it to this model as you can plug the XT 60 telemetry wire straight into the factory wiring harness.

[ridgerunner]

No it flies just like any other model, just a little rudder in the turn to stop dragging its tail but that is all and seems to be the same for any model with twin fins. Stop worrying and just fly it when you get them.

no m8 you don’t notice it to be heavy at all, it takes of so easy even without flaps and the landing is a breeze, floats in even with next to no throttle, just come down in a decent landing slope, comes in with a bit of speed but bleeds of as your about to touch down, I use the low rates on the elevator all the time with 20% expo as I fly it scale. 6s 5000 admiral all the way forward was spot on for me.

Thanks for the feedback. As I said, the B-25 is my favorite plane in the RealFlight simulator. This one is *very* tempting, (as is the X-Fly B-1), but I really need to build and fly the models I already have accumulated before I can justify buying another.

Thanks again!

[Elbee]

I'm waiting for mine along with ya'll. Although I bought mine, it's actually a Christmas gift from my fiancée so I am not allowed to open it until Christmas!(Oh I will be working her pretty good to let me build and fly her before Winter...Lots of feet massages in my future, lol).

Aros, it was suggested to me when I was in a similar situation that I invest heavily in a femininely styled wrist or neck ornament.

It had to be made from precious metals and rare rocks in order to seek balance, fairness, and harmony within the Realm..

I did so and was rewarded with early returns and rewards beyond my imagination.

I am of the belief that you are worthy of such things and thusly deserve to discover the wonder of new flying devices before said Holy Celebration.

It is therefore imperative that you undertake this quest, IMHO, my son.

Best, LB

[Markopolo]

At more than 3kg, this one is heavier than the 2000mm B-24. To those over on the other side of the pond who have flown this, Does it feel heavy in the air?

no m8 you don’t notice it to be heavy at all, it takes of so easy even without flaps and the landing is a breeze, floats in even with next to no throttle, just come down in a decent landing slope, comes in with a bit of speed but bleeds of as your about to touch down, I use the low rates on the elevator all the time with 20% expo as I fly it scale. 6s 5000 admiral all the way forward was spot on for me.

[redbarn]

I'm starting to think the inspectors are actually B-25 fans.

[marwady]

Good things are worth waiting for.

Although I wish this aircraft would arrive sooner, I will say this.

I own a few Flightline warbirds and I am very happy with the quality.

Looking through the pre marketing info on the B-25, I can see some real improvements in this model. Glad to see a company not resting on its laurels and engineering some nice innovations.

Looking forward to getting mine soon.

Also, I'm very impressed with Motion's customer centric approach. Almost impossible to find these days.

Cheers 🥂

[desertdrifter7]

Tom, thank you. I am chagrined in that I have watched the build video multiple times to pass the time while waiting for my plane to arrive and have seemingly missed that measurement. Thanks for your input IanB and the picture of the battery bay. You are right, it is quite tight with the battery, blue box, and receiver in it. I might opt for a Spektrum AS3X receiver though I think there is room for receiver and gyro, even if I have to relegate the receiver to the top of the bombbay. As for gyros, I guess you would say I am a wimp. But I enjoy the build, the looks of the plane in the air, and landing them without incident. I don't have the skills requisite for loops, rolls, etc and after 35 years of being an ICU nurse I don't need any additional stress in my life. I think I can fly good enough to bring a plane safely down in the event of a gyro failure but hope and pray I never have to find out. Happy flying.