Top RC Model 1/5 Scale P-51D Mustang "Blondie" Build

[Aros]

Doing a little research it definitely seems like some have the zinc chromate green inner gear doors and some do not. I suppose it's a preference thing?

Here's some various images showing some with and some without...

Choices! Choices!

EDIT: I just found a photo of the full scale Blondie and in fact does NOT have the zinc chromate green inner gear door color...That settles that!

[Aros]

Builder opened up the box today and sent me some pics. He said everything looks good but you can see in one photo the back of the seat was all bent out of shape and had to hold it up a little...He said good thing I am getting that premium full depth cockpit kit for it. Damn glad I did! He said he will be going through the documentation this evening and start on the wings tomorrow.

And so it begins!

[davegee]

Good eye! If you have a full scale replica of Blondie to go from, that’s very helpful in your build.

Your kit looks very well done and detailed. I built a CARF P-51D that I used strictly as a static display on a pole at the Mighty Eighth Air Force museum in Savannah. I didn’t have to worry about all the flyable parts like you have to; just a solid mounting bracket and external details. Your model has the markings already applied. I painted all of mine on, including the nomenclature with masks. I was very happy the way it turned out.

I’m looking forward to seeing progress shots as your bird advances down the assembly line!

cheers

davegee

[Elbee]

Aros.

I have always been partial to blonds and yours is no exception.

You might check again, but it does look like the 'strut door' is green zinc-chromate on the inner side..

You might already know that and are only concerned about the wheel door.

I am envious, she's a beauty.

Best, Steve

[Aros]

Thanks gents! davegee do you have any photos you can share of your CARF P-51? If it looks anything as good as the Corsair you did I bet she's a real beauty.

Elbee yup I have instructed the builder's wife (she's tasked with painting the green chromate, she loves to paint) the proper sections ONLY, haha!

[davegee]

Thanks gents! davegee do you have any photos you can share of your CARF P-51? If it looks anything as good as the Corsair you did I bet she's a real beauty.

Elbee yup I have instructed the builder's wife (she's tasked with painting the green chromate, she loves to paint) the proper sections ONLY, haha!

Hi Aros: I dug up a few pics of my plane Saucy Shirley flown by my late good friend Bill Getz in WWII. After completing 31 missions as a B-24 pilot, he volunteered to fly P-51Ds with the new Scouting Forces. They consisted of former bomber aircraft commanders who flew ahead of the bomber stream to report back things like" weather over target and enemy fighters.

[rclad]

Aros, have you estimated the takeoff weight with your setup? I have the same TopRC model, the unpainted version. I'll be putting a StinGR 120 in it with 12s 6200mAh packs. I weighed every part. I don't have the retracts yet, but if they come in at 2-3 lbs, then final weight will be well over 30 lbs. Not too happy that Gator-RC posted a weight of 24.5 lbs for this plane. I don't think a gasser could get airborne under 28.5.

[Aros]

Hi Aros: I dug up a few pics of my plane Saucy Shirley flown by my late good friend Bill Getz in WWII. After completing 31 missions as a B-24 pilot, he volunteered to fly P-51Ds with the new Scouting Forces. They consisted of former bomber aircraft commanders who flew ahead of the bomber stream to report back things like" weather over target and enemy fighters.

I KNEW you wouldn't disappoint! Just marvelous. Those photo-real pilots are truly remarkable! What a wonderful tribute to your late good friend and hero. Thanks for sharing!

[Aros]

Aros, have you estimated the takeoff weight with your setup? I have the same TopRC model, the unpainted version. I'll be putting a StinGR 120 in it with 12s 6200mAh packs. I weighed every part. I don't have the retracts yet, but if they come in at 2-3 lbs, then final weight will be well over 30 lbs. Not too happy that Gator-RC posted a weight of 24.5 lbs for this plane. I don't think a gasser could get airborne under 28.5.

My estimate was around 30 pounds, from what I gather, but a true AUW won't be known of course until she's all put together with batteries in place. I'll post the AUW once she's complete. Good luck to you! Any idea where you are going to find the retracts? I am having a HELL of a time finding any that are in stock and Gator said that they have no idea when they will be in stock. The Hangar 9 1/5 scale P-51 retracts and wheels are not available until sometime in January and I need to find out the bolt pattern to see if they would even work in this bird. Please let me know if you find any worthy electric retract set for this model!

[davegee]

I KNEW you wouldn't disappoint! Just marvelous. Those photo-real pilots are truly remarkable! What a wonderful tribute to your late good friend and hero. Thanks for sharing!

Bill Getz was a great and extremely successful guy in life. Passed away last year at age 99. The process of making realistic faces for these models isn't cheap, but really cool. I have done two of them for different pilots that are both in museums. You need a reasonable side and front view photo of what you're trying to do, and they can do it. Amazing!

I'll attach one pic I forgot to include with pics of the model. This is a 110 gal printed tank (done in 2018) and the scratchbuilt tubing that goes with the feed to the airplane fuel system. The tank design was made and printed by a friend of mine for this project for the Savannah museum.

Best of luck as you get going on your Blondie build. I Know it will be a gem when done!

Cheers

Davegee

[Aros]

A true piece of art. Thanks Dave, appreciate the support!

[rclad]

My estimate was around 30 pounds, from what I gather, but a true AUW won't be known of course until she's all put together with batteries in place. I'll post the AUW once she's complete. Good luck to you! Any idea where you are going to find the retracts? I am having a HELL of a time finding any that are in stock and Gator said that they have no idea when they will be in stock. The Hangar 9 1/5 scale P-51 retracts and wheels are not available until sometime in January and I need to find out the bolt pattern to see if they would even work in this bird. Please let me know if you find any worthy electric retract set for this model!

Thanks. All the best to you, as well, for a successful build and maiden. I'll be watching your progress.

I saw some builds that used Sierra Giant retracts. They seem to be top quality and true to scale, but use air rather than an electric setup. BigPlanes in the Netherlands and GreekJets in Athens list the TopRC retracts in stock, but shipping to the U.S. is either crazy expensive or not available.

I'm not keen on the TopRC retract set, because the tailwheel gear has a forked strut rather than the typical offset strut, but that's what I was planning to use. I have no experience with pneumatic retracts, or how well the Sierra retracts would fit. The electric retracts on my 80-90 mm EDF jets have been reliable, but I've never flown anything this big with retracts before, so I have no idea which route is best. I've seen plenty of failures with both.

[davegee]

A true piece of art. Thanks Dave, appreciate the support!

Thanks, Aros. I wanted to be sure that these 110 gallon drop tanks would be topnotch for this display where the airplane is mounted in a climbing bank attitude and the tanks are easily visible to the viewers from below. All the Scouting Forces missions were deep into German territory so they had to be sure the P-51s could get there and back ok. These tanks did the job!

Below is a photo of the display for the Scouting Forces with Captain Bill Getz' Saucy Shirley P-51D "climbing away" on top. We worked very hard on this display for many months which also has a large interactive computer monitor that the viewer can select several interesting short, descriptive videos.

Cheers

davegee

[Aros]

Thanks. All the best to you, as well, for a successful build and maiden. I'll be watching your progress.

I saw some builds that used Sierra Giant retracts. They seem to be top quality and true to scale, but use air rather than an electric setup. BigPlanes in the Netherlands and GreekJets in Athens list the TopRC retracts in stock, but shipping to the U.S. is either crazy expensive or not available.

I'm not keen on the TopRC retract set, because the tailwheel gear has a forked strut rather than the typical offset strut, but that's what I was planning to use. I have no experience with pneumatic retracts, or how well the Sierra retracts would fit. The electric retracts on my 80-90 mm EDF jets have been reliable, but I've never flown anything this big with retracts before, so I have no idea which route is best. I've seen plenty of failures with both.

Yeah I saw the Sierra Giant retracts but I don't want pneumatic, only electric. I did see GreekJets did carry the TopRC retracts but I can't find the direct product link anymore? Every time I go there and search they don't pop up. I sent them a message and they have yet to respond. E-flite has a set for their Hangar 9 1/5 scale P-51 which might work but again, I would need to verify bolt pattern and they are out of stock until sometime in January (allegedly).

It really shouldn't be this difficult to find retracts that fit this model and are in stock! Sheesh.

[Elbee]

It is easy to find retracts if you install peeyew-wmatics. (LOL). For the record, I've not had issues with pneumatic retracts other than having to fill 'em before each flight. Best, LB

[Aros]

Thanks, Aros. I wanted to be sure that these 110 gallon drop tanks would be topnotch for this display where the airplane is mounted in a climbing bank attitude and the tanks are easily visible to the viewers from below. All the Scouting Forces missions were deep into German territory so they had to be sure the P-51s could get there and back ok. These tanks did the job!

Below is a photo of the display for the Scouting Forces with Captain Bill Getz' Saucy Shirley P-51D "climbing away" on top. We worked very hard on this display for many months which also has a large interactive computer monitor that the viewer can select several interesting short, descriptive videos.

Cheers

davegee

LOVE THAT! Thank you for sharing. That must be rewarding for both you as the builder and the folks that run the display. Well done as usual.

[davegee]

Of about 100 pilots of the Scouting Forces in WWII, Bill Getz was the "last of the Mohicans" until he, too, passed away in 2023 at age 99. Bill felt a need to tell the story for all those who were no longer with us. He funded the whole project. Design and assembly was in Denver, Colorado at a facility that makes displays like this for tradeshows and other things. So, we had to coordinate between Bill in the Bay Area of California on one end, us in Denver, and the folks at the Mighty Eighth Museum in Savannah. Eventually it all came together. We had a full up demonstration of assembling the entire display at the factory, including the P-51 before we disassembled everything and loaded it into a U Haul truck. My wife and I had an uneventful trip from Denver to Savannah, and we set it up over the next day or two. We spent a few days in Savannah enjoying the town before flying home to Denver. I was very happy and honored to have a part of this tribute to the Scouts.

[Aros]

Finally got the notification last week that the retracts became available so I have everything needed to complete the build. My builder is currently working on the cockpit. It’s coming along! I love that this model has a sliding canopy to show off the beautiful work.

[Elbee]

Aros

Amazing detail work.

Glad to read the 'retracts' are no longer an issue for your build.

Truly looking forward to seeing this completed.

Best, LB

[davegee]

Finally got the notification last week that the retracts became available so I have everything needed to complete the build. My builder is currently working on the cockpit. It’s coming along! I love that this model has a sliding canopy to show off the beautiful work.

Nicely detailed cockpit. Even has the port on the left side of the cockpit for firing a Very pistol (flare pistol.) Most guys used them to put their cigarettes next to to blow the smoke out of the cockpit!

[Aros]

Thanks gents! Elbee davegee Appreciate both of your inputs. RC model warbird rock stars in my book!