2 Mustangs in 2 Weeks

[Mitch]

Hi Guys,

Plan to go to Denver in a couple of weeks and although I have a lot on my table right now I decided to bite off more!

Since my Guillows P-51 flew well in my school yard, but faired poorly in contest, and ended with a crash that I feel is not worth repairing... "Miss B. Haven" will be retired to my Garage...

I plan build 2 new Mustangs. P-51 B from Easy Built and a new improved version of P-51 D from Guillows (built for contest flight mode)



Here are the plans:

Side view... The Easy Built is about 2 inches shorter!


Wingspan is about the same


Tail looks to be the same size

So here is the plan. Build the Guillow model as LIGHT as I can. I will use only fuselage frames, and remove some material. Use contest balsa and make new wings with half the ribs and new tail with similar construction as Easy Built.

I plan to enter both models in FAC scale. They NEED to fly for 20 SECONDS! Then I will see the score on the overall MODEL!

Mitch

LET THE CONTRUCTION BEGIN!

PS Although MOST Easy Built kits are PRINTED, I bought the LASER CUT version, so things should go together quickly!

[Mitch]

Not much today: DAY 1
I am VERY tired and it is NOT a good thing to work with balsa when tired. Hope to get GOOD REST tonight and a good start tomorrow.

Here are the Fuselage Frames Side by Side:

Easy Built on left. Guillows on right

The Easy Built kit will be definitely smaller, although they list it as 1/16 scale.

I plan to NOT use the Guillow cowling so I made a frame B0. B0 is under the cowl (1/16 sheet) I will cut it in half and make notches latter.
I think I will build the Guillow kit with ALL Guillow parts. (EXCEPT FOR STRINGERS) When parts are assembled, I will lighten the structure!

11 days until I depart!

Mitch

[shawn32671]

great so far, can't wait to see your progress

[SpiceMan]

Hi Mitch. Great choice ... a Laser Cut Kit! As you know, I'm building the Cessna 170, which was Laser Cut. Talk about precision fit ... I loved it!
I see you're under a construction "time limit", and was wondering what you're planning to use for glue? If you've been following my post(s) on the Cessna, you're probably aware that I used MEDIUM CA ( that is balsa wood compatible, from your good hobby shop ). That stuff works GREAT and cures within about 5 seconds. Just some food for thought.
Good luck with the build!!!

[Mitch]

Hi guys... got a nap and did a bit of work... post tomorrow on that.

I use Elmer's white glue for the most part. I have built a 400 P-51 in a weekend with CA but I do not like the stuff.

BE CAREFUL using CA Use in well ventilated areas. I am allergic to it and have VERY BAD affects from it. I do use it sparingly when I have too.

Sooooooo... Since I use white glue... and NEVER seem to have enough clamps or pins(for 2 models NO less), I built the tails tonight over the past few hours.

Tomorrow Fuselages and Wings... on a time table... PLUS I have about 4 other models to finish and 3 to repair!!!

Mitch

[SpiceMan]

Okay Mitch ... thanks for the feedback. I'll be watching the progress on your build.
SpiceMan.

[Mitch]

Day 2:
Built up the tail pieces late last night:

CHANGE I used 1/16 square in the Guillows tail. I will be sanding down the D and C parts to match. Moreover I will remove more material to reduce the size of those parts.

Working of Fuselage:

CHANGE Made frame B0 and extended A parts. I will make a removable nose piece.

I will also be removing material from frames:

I am building this model to fly in a contest. My "Miss B. Haven" was built exactly as per plans and flew with Guillows Rubber and Prop. She had a few nice flights in my local school yard. But preformed poorly against FAC competition!

"Miss B. Haven" weighs 100 g AUW

Mitch

PS: I ordered more Silver paper and contest grade Balsa from Easy Built... Hope I get that by next week!

[Mitch]

End of the DAY:

Built up the Fuselage:

A bit longer with that B-0 installed. I removed as much wood as I dared in the frames and the SIDE KEELS. (The Easy built Kit does NOT have side keels)
Removed wood from TOP and BOTTOM keels (aft of the peg mount). The first 3 frames I left alone. Need the strength and weight forward is NO problem.

I'll install stringers tomorrow (contest wood)

If you are wondering why I spending so much effort at getting this plane flight ready... My first flying model was Guillow's, I believe Guillow's makes the best SCALE models... maybe not the best fliers, but in my opinion the BEST looking! Someone told me I need to make better models than Guillow's... I think I need to make Guillow models BETTER! I hope to go to as many flying events as possible, and hope to always have at least one GUILLOW's model flight ready!

Mitch Keep Building, Keep Flying, Keep Happy!

[Wildpig]

If you are wondering why I spending so much effort at getting this plane flight ready... My first flying model was Guillow's, I believe Guillow's makes the best SCALE models... maybe not the best fliers, but in my opinion the BEST looking! Someone told me I need to make better models than Guillow's... I think I need to make Guillow models BETTER! I hope to go to as many flying events as possible, and hope to always have at least one GUILLOW's model flight ready!

Mitch Keep Building, Keep Flying, Keep Happy!

I like your attitude, Mitch.

Emphasis added by me.

[Mitch]

I was adding stringers in the fuselage last night. Took a look at the wing ribs:

EasyBuilt on left Guillows on right (Even numbers only)

Change So here is what I plan to do. Drop the odd number ribs, but I also decided to cut my own ribs... a hybrid between Guillow and EasyBuilt.

I think a proper airfoil shape will be key to success. I planned to go to a new shape and now found my templates!
So today I plan to finish the Fuselage and start the Wing! Mitch

PS. My Guillows Me 109 that won 3rd in mass launch will be entered in FAC scale. This new Mustang will be entered in mass launch! Don (who lost his airplane after following it for 7 minutes on a MC) helped me get the correct washout in the Me 109. The Mustang "Miss B. Haven" wing was SO STIFF he could not get any washout in it, we even heard a "crack" at his attempt to add washout. That wing was build as per Guillows, my 109 was lighter!

[Mitch]

L1's get installed:

Change I decided it would be easier to build a new tail with ALL contest balsa. I will make the Stabilizer 10% larger as per recommendations from this forum... also the Easy Built Stab is larger.

ALSO: I picked out my color scheme:


So the nose block and Spinner painted red, Red paper on wingtips and tail...Colors are easier to work with than Silver paper... AND lighter!

Mitch

PS: I am on vacation, but I have to work a day job all next week, so all my efforts will go into completing the Guillow's P-51!

[Bill Gaylord]

You're motivating me to build another P51 Mitch. I love my Guillows, but have wanted to build a lighter one also. The Herr, as well as your Easy Built look attractive as a light electric conversion subject as well as ff. I have a pack of Coverite silver synthetic tissue if you want to experiment with it. It's the type that uses Balsarite and is ironed on. I'll probably never use it, as I've become an admitted plastic iron-on covering bum. It has a good silver color and is probably more opaque than most tissues.

[Mitch]

Thanks and NO thanks to the IRON-ON paper

I think the Guillows model rates a 9 for scale looks, with my NEW wing I hope she will be a 10.

I am disappointed with the SCALE looks of the EASY BUILT. The Fuselage is about 7/8 scale to the rest of the plane, the tail does not look right, BUT I like the airfoil shape to the wing!

I forgotten about the Herr Kit, I will check that out someday. I have 2 more sets of fuselage parts for the P-51... was thinking of an F-82, but just might keep building P-51's...

Work for the day... Rebuild the tail. I used 1/16 x 3/16 with 1/16 stringers. Built to the OUTSIDE line of the Guillow tail!

Added GUSSETS at every corner, then stringers. ALL stingers are glued into notches of the 3/16.

I am using up the wood from the Easy Built kit...

COLOR CODE:
Pink = Very Light
Yellow = Light
Red = Medium
Orange = Heavy

There are 4 stingers of orange in fuselage, the rest are red. They are not long enough to run full length, Yellow in back

Stabilizer Orange frame with red stringers
Rudder Yellow frame with yellow stringers

Easy Built Weighs ALL there wood then color codes the ends. The strips and stingers are cut from those sheets. You only get enough to build the model. I cut from the NON colored end so I always know what I am working with...

Mitch

[Mitch]

4 PM and I need to do some chores... Pinned up the Rudder:

After it dries and gets a light sanding I think I will drill out a lightning hole in the fwd part of the rudder. That is a piece of scrap 1/16 Guillows wood.
I know some D models had this and some do not, but the Guillows model has it and I want to keep to the plans of Guillows as much as possible!
Even though I am making changes I will represent this as a GUILLOWS model... with better wood!

Mitch

[Mitch]

End of the day: Most of the stingers are in the fuselage... Just a reminder to you all... You do NOT have to go to these extra efforts to fly...

Here is a pic of "Miss B. Haven" in her heyday... built from the box as per plan with kit rubber and prop:

My new P-51 is going to fly in a contest... I will be happy if she flies for 20 seconds... BUT I WANT MORE! My Me109 flew for 38 seconds!

Mitch