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

[Grossman56]

Looks great my friend, what's the flight schedule? There's a nice field here in Wyoming, coincidently right where Dave and I fly

Grossman56
(Dangerous Dan)

[Aros]

Thanks! Well not sure Wyoming will make the tour, lol!

hopefully sometime in July!

[Aros]

Time for invasion stripes!

(The finished product pics are of someone else’s model. That’s what I am shooting for).

[f4u ausie]

I think aros. U were born with a rattle can in your hand.. invasion stripes r just the best finishing touch

[Elbee]

Time for invasion stripes!

Aros,

Big Beautiful Bold Invasion Stripes are intrinsic requisite.

Best, LB

[Aros]

Oh the pains we go through for beauty. Afraid of overspray I ended up masking the entire fuse off.

[Aros]

So bummer, this time the painting did not go off without a hitch. Immediately, the paint started dripping. And that's with the usual really light first coat! I tried painting over the dripping (letting it thoroughly dry first) thinking after a few coats it would go away but it made it worse. It only happened to one side thankfully, but still ticked me off. I tried taking a photo of it but it was in low lighting so I had to mess around in Photoshop to bring out the drip detail (see below). So I guess I need to ask gurus like Elbee what they would do to fix it. I assume sanding the spot down flat and spot painting? If so, what grade of sandpaper? Appreciate any help! We can't have such insolence on this beauty! What are we? Commoners??!!

[Aros]

You can see the drip line pretty good in this shot...

[f4u ausie]

I would call that a hanger. Not a drip.. I'm an auto painter if U didn't no aros.
Hanger being from left to right,but going down..
A drip being up to down.. in basic terms.. that first light coat (which is the correct process,,I call it a dust coat..). Was a dot heavy.

U can fill while painting
,, but only if U flood with paint,and turn the panel so it's on the very top... .but be careful U will fix it or??? It... 220 dry and then maybe 600 wet, using a block to take the lump away lb will chime in I'm sure,, when he gets his ar?? Outa bed.. and I'm in noddy land.. b4 repainting use your cleaner to shine it to see if run is gone...
If I had a ,$$ for every repainted panel. But could still see the run good luck..

[Elbee]

@Aros,

Will send you PM.

Best, LB

[Aros]

Thank you f4u ausie and Elbee for your help! I will attack it tonight or tomorrow. The wings turned out perfect! No runs or drips.

[Elbee]

Aros

Your new Delta Tau Chi name is...eh, Runny.

[Aros]

I'll take it!

Operation Invasion Stripes is complete. Short of some light touch up work she's done. I have a buddy who knows his way around an airbrush who is going to do some wonderful realistic weathering for me and she is done, done!

[Elbee]

@Runny

There's nothing that says Warbird like Invasion Stripes.

Great work, she's lookin' quite formidable.

Best, LB

















Aros

[Aros]

Thanks Elbee!

I got put in touch with someone who owns and flies 3 of these models so he gave me several tips. First off, there is going to be a little reinforcement inside the fuselage hatch area required. Some fiberglass and/or CF to line some of the areas he defined to be a bit too thin. I also need to find a good CG balancer for this big girl. Third, I need to have the power system bench tested. He's a bit dubious about a 130A ESC. Obviously I can't have this bird getting overamped on any level of flight.

Also, the spinner will have to be "perfectly balanced" before flight. One of his earlier ones wasn't balanced just right and he said the whole plane vibrated like crazy!



Other than that, fly her like a P-51 wants to be flown. I'll be practicing flying Mustangs on my simulator(s) A LOT before I gather the courage to maiden her.

A LOT.

Accepting any and all contributions to the "Aros Shot of Whiskey Before Maidening" fund.

[Elbee]

Aros

I have been toying with the idea of hamming together one of these.

The foamies are difficult for me to pinpoint the CoG.

I like this idea a lot as it is quite accurate, though a bit fiddly.

Anyway, check it out and tell me what you think.

Best, LB

Vanessa_CG_Machine.pdf

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-qcZahbxbI

[Grossman56]

Looks like a great idea to me Elbee, I'll be looking into that myself, thanks

Grossman56
(Dangerous Dan)

[Aros]

Thanks Elbee I'll look into that!

[rclad]

I built a Vanessa rig for my first giant scale plane, and it worked great. Since then I just use the same method as for full scale planes: a spreadsheet with moment arm calculations. You just get the weight and CG for individual components. That CG is used to get the location in the plane, and from that you can calculate the moment arm. Once you set up the spreadsheet, it does all the work for you - just punch in the numbers. Doing this first before the radio installation helps to avoid placing heavy items like batteries in the wrong place and potentially having to reroute cables, move battery trays, etc. The spreadsheet is only as good as the numbers you enter, but I have found it to be super accurate.

[Aros]

Small update, it’s been a minute.

I heard from a few different sources who thought my 130 amp ESC would not be enough to power my system. I bench tested it yesterday and was quite pleased that not only is it adequate, At top speed it didn’t even breach 100 amps!

It dawned on me that maybe the folks I inquired about the ESC didn’t realize I wasn’t planning on running a 2-blade prop. I am running a less efficient but much more scale 4-blade prop which answers as to why the amps didn’t even get close to red lining.

And let me tell you, there is NO lack of power! At full throttle it was quite intimidating holding on to her!

I made my own wing and tail bags for her today. All that’s left is CG and the courage to fly her.