Official FlightLine 1600mm P-51D Mustang Thread

[davegee]

I 100% agree!!! Once on the sticks, your brain says ENJOY! Absolutely a joy to fly!

-GG

This is really great news coming from experienced warbird pilots like yourself and others who have chimed in with their pilot reports for this airplane. These reports are informative and helpful.
I had 3 of the E-Flite 1500mm P-51Ds that I modified to early model Ds without the tail fillet on the vertical fin. Flew great once it was in the air, but the airplane had some tough piloting issues for takeoffs and landings. I never crashed it, but didn't feel that comfortable with it, either, for takeoffs and landings sometimes. Getting 3.5" Robarts to replace the hard OEM wheels was a big help, though. My last one I retired after 100 flights, that was good enough for me.

I might just go with a stock kit that Flightline offers, but I might play around with it some to make an early model D because I really like the way that it looks. But I am sure I am in the market for this aircraft kit as soon as I free up some room for it in my shop!

[Glazier808]

Personally after about 12 flights, I’ve went to no flap landings on the mains. Amazed at how “floaty” it still is without the flaps, but for me this is the perfect setup for a nice scale rollout without (most) of the ground loop effects… you still need to be rudder proficient, but this plane reacts gently enough that it’s quite easy to catch.

with that said I’m really loving the scale wheel landings with a nice straight rollout down the length of the runway. Finishes with a nice little gentle drop of the tail with very little control loss in transition.
Makes for some great looking landings!

I also wanted to add that I have the FMS 1700 mm P 51, I absolutely loved the way it flew, (already sold to another club member and had its re-maiden today) But there were a few things about it that I did not like

I feel like everything I thought needed improved has been done on this new P 51

Real Hinged surfaces
Plug-in wings
Better speed, great power!
The landing gear has to be seen to be believed
Oil dampened gear…. It actually dampens like full scale
A real life honest to God good looking pilot that’s the right scale for the plane!

there’s plenty of other things that I like as well, but that’s more of a personal preference not a reflection on how the plane is built or how it flies

I love the OD green🤙🏽LOVE IT!
I almost repainted my FMS in this exact scheme thank God I didn’t have to do that🤣

but note to all… i’m flying out of Las Vegas and we’ve had some pretty warm weather here and I already noticed some gatoring due to its dark coloration, Not too bad but a little, so I’ve started to cover my plane as I go out now cause I know it’s only gonna get hotter here in Vegas

[GliderGuy]

I 100% agree!!! Once on the sticks, your brain says ENJOY! Absolutely a joy to fly!

-GG

[Glazier808]

Another great day of flying! Got around 6 more flights today and I can’t say enough about how amazing this thing flys! Landings make you look sooo good lol.

We’ll it flies so good, that I had to let a couple of other club members take the sticks, cause they couldn’t believe how well this thing handled. They both walked away saying, “I’m not buying this plane tonight. I’m not buying this plane tonight. I’m not buying this plane tonight.” Lol

good luck with that!

love it!

[Aros]

6 flights on her…rather limited opportunities due to windy conditions. Having to wait until almost sunset for the wind to lay enough to be comfortable. Admiral 6S 6000 mAh battery…
Subjective Observations:
- 7 minutes at 1/2 throttle consistently leaves 3.96 volts in each cell. At 1/2 throttle, I bet she’ll go 10 min possibly longer!
- Definitely full rate control setting feels better.
- I’m finding 1/2 flaps on take-off gets you in the air quicker…feels better.
- More throttle on final with full flap is a surprise discovery. Coming in with more power lets you settle her on more easily. 5 clicks of throttle like the AL37 seem to feel about right.
- The landings are sooooo easy to make good ones.
Definitely loving this bird!

-GG

Love your input! I just sold a couple planes to make room and to pay for this one. She looks and sounds like a real beauty. FlightLine does it again!

[GliderGuy]

6 flights on her…rather limited opportunities due to windy conditions. Having to wait until almost sunset for the wind to lay enough to be comfortable. Admiral 6S 6000 mAh battery…
Subjective Observations:
- 7 minutes at 1/2 throttle consistently leaves 3.96 volts in each cell. At 1/2 throttle, I bet she’ll go 10 min possibly longer!
- Definitely high rate control setting feels better.
- I’m finding 1/2 flaps on take-off gets you in the air quicker…feels better.
- More throttle on final with full flap is a surprise discovery. Coming in with more power lets you settle her on more easily. 5 clicks of throttle like the AL37 seem to feel about right.
- The landings are sooooo easy to make good ones.
Definitely loving this bird!

-GG

[spanner76]

Got my order in, now the wait for it to arrive to Australia..

[xviper]

Hugh, your model customizations are always exceptional and extraordinary.

[Hugh Wiedman]

When I get it all together in a couple weeks, I'll post up a picture of what the nose looks like. I'd get the FL P-51 as an addition but I just don't have the room to store it. If I crash another plane, I may still get it. It's just that the FMS 1700mm P-51 is too good looking to get rid of.

Thanks Dave. I've learned (or leared in Minnesota ) it's always a good idea to follow your lead and advice, so keep me posted on your P-51 motor upgrade. My P-51 is also in too good a shape to trash it and it certainly flies well enough and looks great in the air. I've upgraded the cockpit a bit and got a sound system in it as well so it just has too much going for it! England did the first upgrade for the P-51 with the Merlin, so it's about time a Canadian figures out an upgrade to the FMS P-51.

[stitch]

Now waiting on there 63in. T-28!

[xviper]

When I get it all together in a couple weeks, I'll post up a picture of what the nose looks like. I'd get the FL P-51 as an addition but I just don't have the room to store it. If I crash another plane, I may still get it. It's just that the FMS 1700mm P-51 is too good looking to get rid of.

[xviper]

xviper. Late to the table as usual for me, but was interested in your thoughts on using the FL 1600mm nose and prop system on the FMS 1700mm P- 51. Have one also and for years been contemplating a motor upgrade but thought it would result in a prop and spinner that didn't match or look right. And I may be a tad lazy! Flies OK on a HiV 4400, but anything larger and it's flight characteristics degrade rapidly.

Haven't taken my prop off the 1700mm, but do the dimensions they gave you of the 1600mm one work? If so I'm looking at the E-Flight Power 60 470Kv motor (out of stock till April) as perfect for the 1700mm. I have that motor in my 62" balsa Beast Bi-Plane and think it could transform that FMS 1700MM.

Either way, the FL 1600 is definitely on my list!

Hugh, from the measurements given to me in this thread, the diameter of the base plate (of the FL prop assembly) where it's just in front of the cowl lip is about 4mm less, so only about 2mm all around. I can live with that. The only question mark is the length of the motor. It's a few mm shorter than the FMS motor, so I may need some shims to make up the space so that the base plate is situated the proper distance from the cowl without rubbing. The FL prop is 1" less diameter, but that's only 1/2" on each blade, so it won't be a glaring difference. I've elected to go with a 100A FW ESC even though the stock planes are running 80A - 85A. I want to make sure there's enough buffer due to the added weight and size of the FMS plane - might pull more amps to move it through the air.

I was also looking at that Eflite motor myself. It's a bit pricey and the length may be too much to fit inside the cowl. The prop base plate may have a large space to the cowl lip. Additionally, the stock FL P-51 prop is very high pitch (16 x 12 vs 17x 9 for the FMS). I worried that the much higher kv of the Eflite motor may be too much for the FL prop. I think that the stock FMS prop could be a problem if it were spun any faster. The original motor on these 1700mm FMS planes were 300kv. They very quickly upgraded them to 360kv. They are already known to explode if pushed too hard for too long - eg. My 1700mm FMS Corsairs. 2 of those blew up on a max throttle high speed pass and those were on the stock motors (360kv). When FMS went to the 360kv motor, I have a feeling they didn't do anything to upgrade the prop assembly. FMS was just hoping and praying that they would be OK. History has shown that any bit of imbalance became a big problem. I've taken great effort to balance every component of the FMS prop assembly and so far so good. However, I'm afraid to try it with the 390kv FL motor, hence the complete prop assembly from this new P-51.

When considering the Beast motor, keep in mind that the Beast used a 17 x 7 2-blade, single piece prop - much stronger by design. These 4 piece props are touchy. I think FL thought it through when they added that all metal, one piece "X" to clamp the blades down. It made the prop more explosion proof.

[Hugh Wiedman]

Next time someone has this plane out and handy, could you give me the diameter of the prop base plate (next to the cowl), please. One option to inject some zest into my old FMS 1700mm P-51 is to use this new FL P-51's propeller and motor. Since the motor is a bit higher KV than what's in the FMS and the propeller seems to be much more stout (metal reinforcement plate), much higher pitch and designed to spin at the given KV. However, if the base plate is too small or too big, I'll take that option off the table. (Not that these parts are available yet anyway.)

xviper. Late to the table as usual for me, but was interested in your thoughts on using the FL 1600mm nose and prop system on the FMS 1700mm P- 51. Have one also and for years been contemplating a motor upgrade but thought it would result in a prop and spinner that didn't match or look right. And I may be a tad lazy! Flies OK on a HiV 4400, but anything larger and it's flight characteristics degrade rapidly.

Haven't taken my prop off the 1700mm, but do the dimensions they gave you of the 1600mm one work? If so I'm looking at the E-Flight Power 60 470Kv motor (out of stock till April) as perfect for the 1700mm. I have that motor in my 62" balsa Beast Bi-Plane and think it could transform that FMS 1700MM.

Either way, the FL 1600 is definitely on my list!

[Evan D]

Yes, I have bought a EDF jet kit and a HOTA D6 charger from Banggood in the last couple months. Let me add I have not paid any tariffs on any of these orders.

[xviper]

I think AliExpress and Banggood will ship to USA.

[Evan D]

I think they are shipping smaller items to the US. I've gotten planes, parts and two large LiPo orders shipped no issue from other vendors in China...

[xviper]

I’m not responding for MRC, but from my personal experience the answer is “a few weeks to several weeks.”
It’s a significant task to store and catalog and do the data entry (web) for so many items!
-GG

Motion said 11 days ago that they had arrived or would be soon. But they have said that for months for the F-14 V2 parts and now say 2-4 more months.

Indeed on both quotes.
RC Castle has had parts for this plane and for the F-14 for some time now. Got the V2 wings on and operational (not flight tested yet).
As such, I have ordered all the power parts needed to convert my FMS 1700mm Red Tail to a "hybrid" FMS/FL vehicle. Ordered the motor, prop shaft, prop base plate, nose cone and blades. Should have it all in about a week. Will see how the install goes. Might need a few short "standoffs". Will use a Freewing 100A ESC.
Unfortunately, RCC won't ship to USA.

[Evan D]

Motion said 11 days ago that they had arrived or would be soon. But they have said that for months for the F-14 V2 parts and now say 2-4 more months.

[GliderGuy]

So when think have spare parts in??

I’m not responding for MRC, but from my personal experience the answer is “a few weeks to several weeks.”

It’s a significant task to store and catalog and do the data entry (web) for so many items!


-GG

[stitch]

So when think have spare parts in??