Official FMS 1400mm P-51D V8 Thread

[mikeonb4c]

Where I fly, NW Wyoming, we're 5000 feet up, so the performance is a bit different than if you live near sea level. When I took her to Muncie for NEFI a few years back, WOW, she really moved out.
I started with the stock 540kv, then tried a 580, not a lot of change, finally put the 650kv that comes stock with the P40 in her with an 85A Mantis ESC and again an improvement. If I'd gone from the 540 to the 650 I'd have noticed a great improvement. Since then, a lot of my planes are flying with the same setup. BTW, my P40 has a 6s system in it now, the same one as the FMS P47 Razorback, flies very scale although you have to update the prop and spinner, don't ask me how I know
Grossman56
Dangerous Dan)

Ha ha love that. I think I'll see how I get on with stock as this was a $260 purchase unflown and until/unless I seriously fall in love with it I don't want to be pouring money in just yet as I've got enough other planes to be fooling around with (in particular the Avios Tucano which, after modifying nosegear and engine mounting bolts should now be a durable beast, and I'm really wanting to get to know it) . But by all accounts and although its been out for some years, the P51 is a very nice flying beast, so I may well at some point make the investment you suggest. Someone has already put an 80amp ESC in the plane - do you think that'd cope with 6s power? When you're flying 6s in the P51 Mustang 1450mm what Mah capacity do you use (I'm thinking CG and flight duration as two considerations of interest)? Incidentally, I just did a density altitude calculation for 5000ft ASL if the temperature is 35C (which googling suggests it can be in NW Wyoming in summer). The answer came out at 8600ft - I can imagine just how different your warbirds might fly (and land) at an altitude like that!

[Grossman56]

Ha ha love that. I think I'll see how I get on with stock as this was a $260 purchase unflown and until/unless I seriously fall in love with it I don't want to be pouring money in just yet as I've got enough other planes to be fooling around with (in particular the Avios Tucano which, after modifying nosegear and engine mounting bolts should now be a durable beast, and I'm really wanting to get to know it) . But by all accounts and although its been out for some years, the P51 is a very nice flying beast, so I may well at some point make the investment you suggest. Someone has already put an 80amp ESC in the plane - do you think that'd cope with 6s power? When you're flying 6s in the P51 Mustang 1450mm what Mah capacity do you use (I'm thinking CG and flight duration as two considerations of interest)? Incidentally, I just did a density altitude calculation for 5000ft ASL if the temperature is 35C (which googling suggests it can be in NW Wyoming in summer). The answer came out at 8600ft - I can imagine just how different your warbirds might fly (and land) at an altitude like that!

So you're clear, my P51 has the same motor that comes in the FMS P40, namely the 650kv and I use a Mantis 85A ESC.
My P40B Warhawk (Tomahawk in the RAF) has the stock 6s system that comes in the FMS P47. A few years back some friends of mine were flying their brand new P47's at AMA HQ in Muncie, flew too close resulting in a foam plume, one plane survived but they couldn't tell who's was who, so they both continued to fly. Long story short, one loser one winner. I bought the loser's 6s motor and ESC and installed it in my P40.


Grossman56
(Dangerous Dan)

[Grossman56]

So, with the loss of BBD, I now have enough pieces to possibly put Shangrila back together. Have started in on her and making good but slow progress, always waiting for glue or paint to dry.
as you can see, she's a bit dusty where I left off a few years ago and a bunch of sanding marks as well. But the green I put on it was a good sanding base and I still have a lot of the original color, figured I'd work on the electronics first now that I have the wing attachment solved. Got the tail wheel reinstalled and found some gear doors. I had to get creative with the clam shell door as one of the pins was broken off. Got the vents reattached after sitting on the dresser for or 3 years. Scary! Like having ghosts show up, like the Tigercat was.

Grossman56
(Dangerous Dan)

[Grossman56]

Got all the electronics figured out and installed, I forgo what a rat's nest these old birds were.
The last time this airplane flew was 2019 and she's sat in pieces ever since. I used her as an experimental fuse and wings to cover the deep panel lines aka Chris Wolf but as I couldn't get the wings to attach to the fuse, I thought that was the end, I just didn't have the heart to throw her out. Good thing...
Got the olive drab over the dark green and WOW, now THAT'S the way to paint, the dark green varies the O.D. color, just amazing.



The canopy is still in dark green until I mask her off. I removed it to get at the cockpit and replace the pilot. He was another misfit from the Spitfire days that Dave was going to toss out, He fits perfectly, I'll have to transfer him from the RAF to the USAAF, but that's no biggie.


Decals are on order as well as a replacement cowling ring, but the old one shows her off good enough for pictures.
Wait til the decals and the chalks are applied.
I wonder how many of these long since discontinued P51B's are still out there?

Grossman56
(Dangerous Dan)

[Grossman56]

Got all the electronics figured out and installed, I forgot what a rat's nest these old birds were.
The last time this airplane flew was 2019 and she's sat in pieces ever since. I used her as an experimental fuse and wings to cover the deep panel lines aka Chris Wolf but as I couldn't get the wings to attach to the fuse, I thought that was the end, I just didn't have the heart to throw her out. Good thing...
Got the olive drab over the dark green and WOW, now THAT'S the way to paint, the dark green varies the O.D. color, just amazing.



The canopy is still in dark green until I mask her off. I removed it to get at the cockpit and replace the pilot. He was another misfit from the Spitfire days that Dave was going to toss out, He fits perfectly, I'll have to transfer him from the RAF to the USAAF, but that's no biggie.


Decals are on order as well as a replacement cowling ring, but the old one shows her off good enough for pictures.
Wait til the decals and the chalks are applied.
I wonder how many of these long since discontinued P51B's are still out there?

Grossman56
(Dangerous Dan)

[davegee]

Hi Dan: P-51 looking great! Is this going to be Col. Howard’s paint scheme?

davegee

[Grossman56]

I was seriously considering that, but the problem is that the new cowling is red (Tuskegee P51D is the only one available) and red tends to bleed through everything so to make things simple, I'll stick with Shangri-La.
Lots of cleaning up to be done. The exhaust stacks have to be reinstalled, I can't believe I kept them but hey every once in awhile, I do something right! The battery hatch always sat funny so hopefully it won't be too much of a distraction.
Me at Muncie with her.

Grossman56
(Dangerous Dan)

[davegee]

Shangri La is an excellent choice!