Official FlightLine 1600mm P-51D Mustang Thread

[Elbee]

Grossman56 davegee

Nicely done, gentlemen.

Best, LB

[Davegeee]

Grossman56 davegee

Nicely done, gentlemen.

Best, LB

Thanks, LB! Dan and I are working on a another scale printed part but it is too early in the development to "unveil" it yet. Stay tuned...

Cheers

davegee

[Elbee]

Thanks, LB! Dan and I are working on a another scale printed part but it is too early in the development to "unveil" it yet. Stay tuned...

Cheers

davegee

Dave,

Bet I can guess what it is.

I know I would do it without hesitation.

Best, LB

[Davegeee]

Here are a couple pics with the completed canopy reinstalled in the cockpit. Winds still too high to try any outdoor ground or flight testing. Watching for better weather, whenever that is!

Davegee

[Hugh Wiedman]

Danger Dan and I have been working on some detail scale improvements to the cockpit area of the new P-51D Flightline airplane. I modified a pilot figure sized in the correct scale more or less, and Dan did his masterful job of painting it. The pilot came from Max Grueter. Had to chop him off at the waist for this iteration to work, but it should, for now. Not much room to make a full size cockpit but that could be a subject to consider down the road. For now, it should be fine for the maiden and initial test flights to dial everything in.

I'll attach a few pics just after I glued him into the cockpit just now. I did add some scale detail like printing up Dan's creation for a scale N-9 gunsight, wiring for the helmet and mask microphones, and simulated phone jack cords colored black and red. Found a P-47 control grip that I made the right size to fit in his hand and added a hardwood dowel to serve as the top part of the stick. Suffiicient for now, I think. This pilot represents First Lieutenant (later Major) Richard "Pete" Peterson of the 357th FG out of Yoxford, England in WWII. He was one of five triple aces in the unit, he with 15.5 kills. In this 1944 photo, Peterson is on the far left, with Leonard "Kit" Carson next to him and then Johnny England, and Clarence "Bud" Anderson on the far right. Great pic of them!

Cheers

Davegee

WOW, what masterful work. Simply amazing, his eyes look so real! How about a stogie in his mouth still smoldering waiting for take-off with his mask off?

[Davegeee]

WOW, what masterful work. Simply amazing, his eyes look so real! How about a stogie in his mouth still smoldering waiting for take-off with his mask off?

Yeah, Dan does amazing work on these figures. I am especially taken with how realistic the leather A-2 jacket looks. The faces as you say are amazingly real looking for a printed piece of nylon. Back then, I bet most all of them smoked and they had the convenience of the flare gun smoke port on the left side of the fuse that they used to clear out the smoke from their cigarettes or cigars or throw the butts out when they were done.

Could be an idea for a future pilot to hook up a small tube that runs to his mouth so he can blow out cigarette or cigar smoke, though. Duly noted! Hope you're having a good summer in the Miami area. You guys have a great field down there when the weather cooperates!

Cheers

Davegee

[Davegeee]

While still too windy to fly, I did take HHH out to the field for the taxi tests, range checks, and basically getting used to this new airplane. It seems to handle pretty well for the windy conditions, but at least I have some of those ground maneuvers under my belt to be ready to take off for real the next opportunity that comes with decent weather for a maiden flight.

I took a few pics of it too, and I really like how it looks outdoors for the first time, and the accuracy and detail that Flightline has done with this new airplane. I just hope mine will fly as well as some of the many pilots who have given reports on its perfomance as a brand new addition to the RC warbird fleet. The one photo of the plane taken from the right front shows a curving streak of "oil" from the oil breather in flight and the curved path it took along the right side of the fuselage as it followed the flow of air over the wings. It was on every WWII P-51 that I know of, and was usually wiped off on the ground when they returned. These days, owners and pilots have extended that breather tube several inches out of the fuselage where it flows out and away from the airplane not to mess it up.

Cheers

Davegee

[GliderGuy]

Davgee - She is beautiful.

Set just one mm of down elevator with neutral stick and neutral trim. Set the flap/elevator mix per the manual.

1mm as measured by the fuselage elevator fairing area molding.

Be prepared to feel “THIS IS FUN!” about 30 seconds into the first flight. No bad habits!!!

-GG

PS Love your sky! We are covered with Sahara dust haze.

[Grossman56]

Great pics Dave. Man, I'm starting to understand how Callie must feel, seeing her work on such great airplanes! So cool to see my little guys in all these birds. Just like in all things art, every one is an accumulation of knowledge from the last ones. The mold was a little rough on that particular one, we'll have to play around with the setting per Elbee, he's a great pilot for the inventory and one I'd like to experiment with at some point.
Meanwhile, the new P-40 wings arrived from FMS. I'm totally blown away with the packaging, long tubes of bubble wrap and they didn't go cheap on it either. Got the airplane apart and installed the new Vertical stab that I've had kicking around. Also got into the new battery hatch that was a left over from the Hardway P-40. This is another discontinued airplane. Guess thats what happens after you've been in the hobby a while. Have to get all my discontinued planes out and photographed together.

Grossman56
(Dangerous Dan)

[Davegeee]

Davgee - She is beautiful.

Set just one mm of down elevator with neutral stick and neutral trim. Set the flap/elevator mix per the manual.

1mm as measured by the fuselage elevator fairing area molding.

Be prepared to feel “THIS IS FUN!” about 30 seconds into the first flight. No bad habits!!!

-GG

PS Love your sky! We are covered with Sahara dust haze.

Thanks, GG! I think I have the settings set ok per the manual. I always set up Flight Modes on my planes so I can usually easily correct any minor trim adjustments needed to get a good flight path. We'll see...

I did one highspeed taxi right into the teeth of the wind and didn't have any control difficulties, but I'll be taking off for the maiden in much lower winds, if not calm conditions. But from your excellent admonitions and those of others who fly this new warbird from Flightline, I hope I won't be disappointed in its performance, and will come down safe and sound. Winds have been tough here the past few days, fairly unusual for summer. But I'm hoping they'll calm down in the next couple of days for a good flight.

For someone who has lived "out west" my whole life, I really enjoy and appreciate the deep blue skies we have out here, especially in summer. We rarely have 90 degrees here in the summer and the humidity is very low for a comfortable feeling outside. We enjoy it.

Cheers

Davegee

[Davegeee]

Great pics Dave. Man, I'm starting to understand how Callie must feel, seeing her work on such great airplanes! So cool to see my little guys in all these birds. Just like in all things art, every one is an accumulation of knowledge from the last ones. The mold was a little rough on that particular one, we'll have to play around with the setting per Elbee, he's a great pilot for the inventory and one I'd like to experiment with at some point.
Meanwhile, the new P-40 wings arrived from FMS. I'm totally blown away with the packaging, long tubes of bubble wrap and they didn't go cheap on it either. Got the airplane apart and installed the new Vertical stab that I've had kicking around. Also got into the new battery hatch that was a left over from the Hardway P-40. This is another discontinued airplane. Guess thats what happens after you've been in the hobby a while. Have to get all my discontinued planes out and photographed together.

Grossman56
(Dangerous Dan)

Yes, your artistry is evident in every pilot figure you paint! I'm prouud to have your painted works in my cockpits. This is a far cry from those crappy OEM pilots from China. To me, it is worth the extra work to make some good and sometimes impressive changes from the stock foamie.

The roughness of the pilot print was disappointing, to be sure. I wasn't sure if you could save him but you did a great job cleaning up the less than perfect printing to make it presentable. It was even more surprising coming from Max Grueter as his stuff is usually firstrate. Maybe there is something on my end. I did change the settings that Elbee suggested but I might need to do a bit more on that score. For instance the stuff I did for you with those armored plates came out pretty smooth, and other pilots I have printed in the past month or two have been pretty clean and sharp reproductions. We'll figure it out.

I've got your armored back plates done and will drop them off tomorrow morning if I can, along with the prototype drop tank for you to check out.

Cheers

Davegee

[GliderGuy]

Davgee- I did my first flights on low rate. It’s fine and maybe a good idea.

But, soon you’ll be flying on high rate.

-GG

[Davegeee]

Davgee- I did my first flights on low rate. It’s fine and maybe a good idea.

But, soon you’ll be flying on high rate.

-GG

Thanks. I'm all dialed in at low rate for the maiden and first flights. Appreciate the tips. I still hope to do the maiden this week, weather and WINDS, permitting.

Cheers

Davegee

[GliderGuy]

Thanks. I'm all dialed in at low rate for the maiden and first flights. Appreciate the tips. I still hope to do the maiden this week, weather and WINDS, permitting.

Cheers

Davegee

Davgee-I can’t recall your battery capacity. At 75% power cruise and a good amount of full throttle mix and consuming about 3800 mAh of a 6000 mAh battery, 7:30 to 7:30 is what I set my timer to. Longer flights of a reported 12 minutes is possible with 50% throttle, which is still plenty fast. I like to keep a go-around reserve and have a shorter charge time. So 3800 to 4000 mAh consumed is my target.

After a week of strong wind, I got in 8 flights at sunrise today in 6-9 mph variable winds. 7 butter and 1 with a slight bounce. She has a way of making you look good!

-GG

[Hugh Wiedman]

Yeah, Dan does amazing work on these figures. I am especially taken with how realistic the leather A-2 jacket looks. The faces as you say are amazingly real looking for a printed piece of nylon. Back then, I bet most all of them smoked and they had the convenience of the flare gun smoke port on the left side of the fuse that they used to clear out the smoke from their cigarettes or cigars or throw the butts out when they were done.

Could be an idea for a future pilot to hook up a small tube that runs to his mouth so he can blow out cigarette or cigar smoke, though. Duly noted! Hope you're having a good summer in the Miami area. You guys have a great field down there when the weather cooperates!

Cheers

Davegee

I think back then all servicemen smoked, as well as most civilians! Interesting story (or not ), my father was stationed on a subchaser during WWII, small enough to avoid targeting by the Japanese looking for larger crafts. As a boy growing up on a farm in southern Michigan, he got to see the world and avoid milking cows, and spent more time fishing then fighting Japs. Most swabbies smoked lucky strikes and actually used them as barter money. Originally, Lucky's box was white with green lettering and a green circle. When the war came, green die was in such demand for uniforms they changed it to white and red, and ran adds that "Lucky Goes To War". After the war, my father and a buddy moved into a bombed out hotel in Manilla and set up a casino, making enough money to come home and get married. My father started an air pollution company in Chicago and by 1995, needed to sell it desperately (for reasons I won't get into to protect the innocent-assuming there are any). Research Cotrell, the largest air/water pollution company made a proposal to buy it. After weeks of final negotiations they were at a stalemate, so the President called my father and said lets meet at a bar and finish it or move on. My dad was very nervous when he walked in after work, and sat down. After a few minutes, he looked at my dad and said I think I know you from somewhere. Turns out he was a Marine in the Pacific and ran into my dad somewhere. A light went on and he said are you the guy that had that casino in Manilla? Yes he was. The man said that was the best time he ever had after the war in that casino. They traded war stories all night and then at midnight the man said it's getting late, gotta go. My dad thought "oh no", he's been stringing me along and asks what about the deal. The man then said, whatever you want for it, it's done, you draw up the agreement! WOW, don't tell me destiny or karma isn't real! Sorry for the diversion

[Davegeee]

Success with maiden of Hurry Home Honey today!

Hi All: winds were light and I got out for a very early flight shortly after sunrise. We have an East-West runway and this time of year the sun is Right off the end of the runway and burning your eyes. So, I took advantage of the high clouds that gave me a short time to be able to fly as the sun rose further up in the sky.

I had two flights on HHH this morning. Did some taxi tests, CG check (again!) and a momentary runup holding the vertical fin just be sure the new motor was up to flying today. It surged and I taxied it into position on our runway. I flew flaps up and applied some UP elevator intitally in the roll to try to get it straight down the runway as it took off. I didn't get enough right rudder in and it took off towards the left angling down the runway. Not pretty, but plenty safe. I then did a number o circuits as I checked trims. It was pretty good, a few clicks right aileron down, and a couple clicks elevator up.

The first landing came in pretty much as I planned, did a two-point, tail low attitude touching on the mains, and then settling down on the tail for a good rollout. I applied a bit too much right aileron and up elevator and it scratched the extreme back trailing edge of the right wingtip. No big deal, easily repaired. Working on that now.

The second takeoff was better, much better controlling the path down the runway, not perfect, but better than the first takeoff. Did a few aileron rolls, a low pass, and then came in for a landing. Same landing as before, although tracking was better and when I lowered the tail to the ground I had better control tracking it to a stop on the runway, pretty much stright ahead with few little oscillations.

Overall, a delightful warbird to fly.. I'll continue to refine my flying skills with this airplane, but I'm happy so far. I used low rates on everything today, but will soon start experimenting with higher rates as I get to feel more comfortable flying it. I've had a bunch of various P-51s over the years, this one might become one of my favorites. Although I don't think this plane needs it, I did fly with the gyro on for the two flights today. Will do some flights with it turned off soon.

Also flew my Freewing Cougar. Got its 65th flight today, and it is always fun to fly. I'll enclose a couple pics of the planes from this morning, after the flights.

[nuts-n-volts]

Good for you Dave. Glad to hear it all went well. It's one beautiful bird ya got there!

[Davegeee]

Good for you Dave. Glad to hear it all went well. It's one beautiful bird ya got there!

Thanks, nuts-n-volts! I look forward to getting a lot of flights on it in the future!

Cheers

davegee

[GliderGuy]

Excellent news! Glad it went well. Congrats!

With practice, you’ll eventually find the throttle rate application speed that’ll get her in the air so fast she doesn’t have time to yaw on take-off roll. So, very little, if any, right rudder is needed. It doesn’t look scale, but it sure is easy. Flaps help shorten the take-off roll, too.

-GG

[Davegeee]

Excellent news! Glad it went well. Congrats!

With practice, you’ll eventually find the throttle rate application speed that’ll get her in the air so fast she doesn’t have time to yaw on take-off roll. So, very little, if any, right rudder is needed. It doesn’t look scale, but it sure is easy. Flaps help shorten the take-off roll, too.

-GG

My Flightline Corsair 1600mm is like that. One of the easiest warbird planes to takeoff and land, for me. It really doesn't need a whole lot of extra right rudder on takeoff as it lifts off in very short time on the runway. I'm glad I got this P-51, I expect good things from it going forward.

Here is an interesting video I found online about an incident that the pilot of my plane, Richard "Pete" Peterson attacked and killed a German pilot shooting and killing helpless B-17 pilots in parachutes after the German had shot down the bomber. Witnessing this from his fighter, this was more than Pete Peterson could stomach. Watch the video if I can pull it up ok.

Here is the video from You Tube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vc_RJnXZ8Yo