400 series Fight for Germany

[Mitch]

Thank You for your interest in my quest. The first 2 planes that will enter this challenge are the P51 and FW190.

I decided I will attempt to fly 2 planes at a time. I am using this site for your input and advice as I have not been too successful in the past to get these planes to fly. I have built them for flight so I have left off details that would not survive. On the contrary I have done some things that has added weight, but I wanted to do it anyway.

I hope you will enjoy viewing my planes.

I hope to get these planes to the field and balanced soon.

I have Don Ross' book. I have tan rubber but its 3/16 not 1/4... so I think I will use the rubber in the kit for now.

Since this is an experiment I crunched some numbers and I believe the P51 will win hands down... Less wt, More ws and wing area, and longer rubber.

Mitch

PS After all 6 + 1 (Kitbash Ta-152) I will take the overall winner and attempt to fly it with tan rubber and any other advice I get from all of you!

[Wildpig]

Those are some fine looking models. Did the nose art on the P-51 come with the kit?

I have Don Ross' book. I have tan rubber but its 3/16 not 1/4... so I think I will use the rubber in the kit for now.

What kind of rubber came in the kit? Gray or green? If it's green,throw it out, it will bust after 100 turns.

Since this is an experiment I crunched some numbers and I believe the P51 will win hands down... Less wt, More ws and wing area, and longer rubber.

Sounds like fun.

[Mitch]

Thanks...



The Girl Came from a Pin Up Calender. Photo copied, trimmed, and doped in place.



The interior is painted and will accept Guillows 1/16 Pilot. (Without Rubber Motor)



A picture to record her undersides... I think she will suffer some "Battle Damage"

... I have grey rubber, will use 4 strands, lubed, 1.5 X hook to peg. 1 knot for trim test, 2 knots for flight test, 3 knots for challenge of the aces.

Mitch

PS On Ship I am a Mate working 4 on 8 off, at home I am still working... I have 2 part time jobs plus taking care of house... I'll try to get to the field this week.

[Wildpig]

... I have grey rubber, will use 4 strands, lubed, 1.5 X hook to peg. 1 knot for trim test, 2 knots for flight test, 3 knots for challenge of the aces.

Sounds like a good plan to me.
Hope you don't mind me asking all these nit picky questions, but.... I noticed a small screw in the nose of the P-51. This holds the nose block on??

Off topic: So shipboard, 4hrs on duty, 8 hrs off. ? If you don't have the "graveyard" shift, that might work out to be a decent schedule. 8 hrs. during the day to build models.

[joecrouse]

VERY enviable covering job. I have about 4 planes sitting here to be covered. I HOPE i can do as well.

[Mitch]

Thanks for the compliment on the covering... The P51 is covered in silver lite paper, put on dry with a glue stick. I really wet it down because the silver finish paper is different from all the other colors. All my models in this series are covered with lite tissue. I really like the silkspan Guillows gives you and would use that if I was going to paint.

About those little screws... Here is a pic of what is under the cowling... By the way the cowling was painted then little pieces of red electrical tape...



As Don Ross says... You can spend as much time on a detail as the entire Airplane... I did not spend much time on details as these Airplanes are built for Flight Testing and I will fly them and I expect they will be DAMAGED.

Mitch

[Mitch]

Hey Guys,

The weather cleared up towards late afternoon, so I went to the field for balancing...



The P-51 took two pinches of clay with two pennies layered inbetween...

The FW-190 Only took one pinch of clay!

Here are the number:

P-51 total 76g, 15g ballast, 61g plane = 20% of wt is ballast
FW 190 total 78g, 13g ballast, 65g plane = 18% of wt is ballast

I think my math was not correct on the 109 / Spitfire I divided ballast into wt of plane, not TOTAL wt for % of TOTAL... my BAD. I'll have to recheck those numbers!

Anyway Both plane glided 12 paces and the P-51 just seemed to glide soooo nice

I think this fly off is going to be VERY close

Another interesting note, Before I started this flight testing I was very incouraged with the Bf109's numbers, even with the short ws.

Now with the Bf109's preliminary flight test over and the gluide test of the FW190 I am not so sure...I think the FW will do well...

Historical Point. The FW was developed to support the 109 (The German's mainline fighter) but in many ways the FW surpassed the 109.



Mitch

PS I did my gluide test behind the batting cage as there was a Soccer Team practicing on MY AIRFIELD

[Wildpig]

Your Spitfire weight is 112g, ballast 35g=31%
1:1 scale Spitfire Empty weight 5090 lbs, Merlin engine 1640 lbs= 32%
You're right on with the construction of that Spit.

[Mitch]

VERY GOOD test flights of the P-51 with some Guillows Rubber...



Model was banking to left so I added trim tab...



I got a young helper today...



So I was able to get some pics of the model flying...



On the last flight the trim tab was reduced quite a bit and she flew over 100 feet!

Mitch

PS. I am looking forward to putting some REAL POWER to these models!!!

[Pauli72]

Awsome Mitch!
Good luck with the upsized 1/4in tan rubber. How many strands ar you going to use? That Mustang should really haul the mail at full military power.

Just a heads up, that tendency to initially bank due to the direction of prop rotation really became pronounced when I upgraded to beefier rubber in my kit#1005 Hellcat & #1002 Stuka. The trim characteristics were different under the increased power for the first 10 seconds or so. You'll see it's easily corrected, but just something to watch out for out of the gate with the bigger motor.

Great pictures by the way!
Luck
Pauli

[Mitch]

Thanks so much,

This is the first time I've really gotten these planes to fly! It is so cool! Just when the plane is coming in... She stays off the ground a bit more...

Good thing SeaFair is over in Seattle, and the Blue Angels are gone, My P-51 rules the skies NOW!



The SIG rubber I have is 3/16" , planning on 4 stands, 1 + 1/2 hook to peg length. The Guillows rubber now barley reaches the hook.

I will go easy on winds and work my way up... just waiting for SIG lube.

Mitch

PS. I think the FW will be a good flyer... When I get them all trimed in I plan to launch two at a time for a DOGFIGHT

[Wildpig]

Very nice. I like the photo of the P-51 in the climbing left-hand turn.
Glad to see you got some help

Are you keeping a log of the flights? Just curious.

[Mitch]

ENEMY MISIDENTIFICATION!!! I NEED TO STUDY MY WW2 Profiles...

The above Airplane is the Bf 109!!! All other pics are of the P-51, but not the one above!!!

I was looking at pictures in my camera and zoomed in... I can definatley see the distinctive shape, position of stabilizer and a faint + on her side...

I spoke with my Dad this morning (Retired Flight Engineer)... and he says "Never mind how they look, you need to put those canopies on for the " Proper Airflow"... I said "Okay Dad, I'll work on it". Was watching a video on the P-38 and they said it was very important to close the window. After the canopy is shut, there is a window that rolls up about 6 inches. If this was not secured the airflow would be upset over the tail!

All future powered test flights will have canopies attached.
I am still trying to design a good way to attach the spinner.
I have only taken a few brief notes to myself during flight tests, no offical Flight Logs.

Mitch

[Wildpig]

Better listen to Pops.

What type of aircraft was your dad an FE on?

[Mitch]

Okay Guys here is my VERY FIRST video on YOU TUBE!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSGAo5O3IJs