Official FlightLine 1600mm P-51D Mustang Thread

[Aros]

Congrats Aros! Thumbs up on the repaint.

-GG

Thanks bud! Although, I must confess, the highly reflective nature of the paint does seem to lend itself to more gatoring susceptibility. I've only had her out in the direct Sun a few times, and never for all that long, and only maybe mid 50 degrees for the most part. Admittedly, it's nothing major, but those cells are becoming a tiny bit more pronounced than I would like. Nothing much I can do about it, just kind of live with it, knowing it's the nature of the EPO beast. You don't even notice unless you are inches away.

Something for some to consider if wanting to go with a highly reflective aluminum/silver finish.

[GliderGuy]

Congrats Aros! Thumbs up on the repaint.

-GG

[nuts-n-volts]

OK... Don't go crazy on me as I know this is very debatable across all us crazy modelers. Just some fun history on the paint...

You wouldn't be totally wrong if you used OD Green or British Dark or Medium Green. In '43 the 357th FG received their 1st batches of early Bs with OD Green overall/Gray undersides straight from the NA factory. The nose bands and wing stripes were white during this time as there hadn't been any directive and much was carried over from the 4th FG. In February of '44, the Army ended that manufacturing color requirement and the planes were released in natural metal. Feb '44 also allowed the squadron colors on the nose and spinners. In just a couple of months, as the planes came overseas and since they would be seeing more action over Europe, the crews camo'd the planes again, mostly in the British greens, as that was typically all they could get their hands on. But, OD was also used when available. Some were painted on the upper surfaces only giving the 1/2 and 1/2 look. Bs, Cs, and Ds all had different green variations of the "1/2" look as well as the "overall" look, some even having different greens on the same plane. The D Day stripes also varied from plane to plane, as to exactly when they were applied, how they were applied, and/or how modified. Many times the stripes were simply applied by hand. Again, it was all because of fighting a war and literally using what was available. Cool thing is, this Group was really the only FG doing this stuff as they were the 1st active Mustang Group in the 8th AF. Makes for a cool representation any which way you go. The last Ds of the 357th delivered late in the war were pretty much all natural as there was really no more point for camo.

Since most all the photos are in black and white and because the shades are fairly close, good luck figuring out who was painted what. I talked at length with Bud when he was at Reno one year and while he admitted to his fading memory, he also remembered that the colors were all over the place.

[Aros]

Thanks Gents! Dan, sorry to hear about your birds. It never sucks less whenever you crash or lose a model, no matter how many times it happens. Price point and time investment can make it worse for sure, but crashing just stinks.

I always follow the RX recommendation for antenna placement. So far so good. Other than the occasional gremlins that make your plane look like it's going through final stages of a seizure, usually it's from losing orientation or some Dumb Thumb moment. No matter the cause...BOO HISS!

[vrosi1963]

The silver looks way better than the i have no choice flightline arf green , will get one later this year and respray it silver . Preddy or Whisner possibly or ridge runner Pierce McKenna

[jetfool]

Dan,
What radio did you end up with? I have always used Futaba but looking at the Spectrum 8e. Most of our members are using this now and I like a lot of the features. Still using my 7c Futaba after 14 yr and never a problem.
Best Regards, Rex

[Grossman56]

amen

[jetfool]

Aros,
Like you're re=paint. Always nice to make it your own from everyone else at the field.
Best Regards, Rex

[Grossman56]

Looks good Aros, btw, is that an actual runway !?!?
Sure beats the school right?
You sound like me, had a lot of prangs last year, I think my poor old DX8 finally gave up the ghost. I pranged my Pitts and my Blue Angels Bearcat along with my brand new Avanti and worst of all, my trusty first plane, Big Beautiful Doll. Had absolutely no control, just frustrating to have to watch them pile in. At first I just couldn't figure out why until the Bearcat just flew itself all over the map before the inevitable.
Now with the new radio, I was browsing through the manual (A rare thing for me) when I came across a section that said words to the effect that they 'recommend' that the antennae be vertical to the angle which you hold the radio. Here I've been flying with the antennae straight out for a decade!
Now, I don't know whether this was the cause or part of the cause, but I've got several flights on the RV8 now with absolutely no problems, so maybe....

Grossman56
(Dangerous Dan)

[Elbee]

Flew the maiden today. Like advertised, she's a real jewel.........enjoy her hopefully for many flights to come!

Aros,

Lookin' Good.

Best, LB

[Evan D]

Congrats!

[Aros]

Flew the maiden today. Like advertised, she's a real jewel. I did have to give her a ton of down trim (hmm, my 6S 5000 is smashed all the way to the front) and left trim for some reason but once trimmed out she was a doll. I've been really gun-shy with the hobby lately as I just got through the worst crashing phase in my entire 35 years in the hobby (mostly jets). So much so I was beginning to question my skill. So I kept the flight short and when I was going for a touch-and-go, I decided to take the win after a successful landing (albeit as I wasn't planning on landing, I didn't have flaps so she was a little hot and gave me the ceremonial wing tip salsa as my reward).

I suspect the second flight will be even better now that she's trimmed. I did note the tailwheel wants to drift right so I will have to fix that. I'm used to having to give right rudder with warbird taildraggers on takeoff, so needing to give left rudder threw me off.

Looking forward to getting Callie's decals, get her all pimped out and enjoy her hopefully for many flights to come!

[n99jh1]

Ramosser hub! Do tell. What are your specs and performance plans?

[GliderGuy]

Hi NW81….
Read back up several posts regarding the paints. It’s already been addressed.

Lots of good info…you’d be advised to read all the P-51 posts.

Good flying.

-GG

[nickwildman81]

Woo Hoo! The EU Warehouse finally has stock! Ordered mine today along with the drop tanks. Can't wait!

Funny, as I only picked up a FMS 1700mm P51D a month ago that needed a bit of work even though it hadn't ever flown. Subsequently I'm going to do a repaint of the FMS Mustang now as I'm not keen on the Red Tail livery.

What is the best paint/finish for a bare metal look?

Mine is due in a week. Hopefully customs are kind!

[Aros]

[Eddie P]

Ramosser hub! Do tell. What are your specs and performance plans?

[nuts-n-volts]

Keep it going... watching with interest!

[n99jh1]

Scale Diameter Propeller progress:

After botching the first attempt I finally got a nice spinner backplate. I first machind the knob on the front face, then attached 3 prop retainers so that I could chuck the backplate on my lathe.

The hole that was originally meant to attach the backplate to the propeller hub was opened to 32 mm dia. so that it fits on my Hacker C50-13XL motor.

[Aros]

Thank you sir!