Peter Budd

Hi, just come on to this forum. Can't believe you have not had a reply yet. I built a giant scale top flite p51 several years ago and is still going strong. I have a DLE 55 in it and it's perfect. Extremely reliable, never fails to start once primed and plenty of power. Nice and slim so fits under the cowl with a Pitts silencer, which doesn't silence much but then we are not noise sensitive here. So I would say the 55 is good choice for your p47. Oh and they are cheap if you can get one from the Chinese suppliers in the uk on ebay. pete

No experience of fb, but I've recently completed my first jet and am very pleased with out. Jet legend F15 kit version as I didn't want a trainer. Very easy to fly and no scary tip stalls. Two months on and am ripping up the sky with a k140..

SR71....yep, I'll second that, but thats the cyprus way. Last time I discussed the lack of sticking to sensible safety rules I was told that this is a dangerouse sport and we sometimes have to accept that things can go wrong. I fly and behave in the pits as I did in the UK and am always very aware of what is up in the air.

Hi Cyril Just seen your post.  I also live in Cyprus and am in the final stages of building the 84" Topflite P51 Mustang.   Where do you live / fly.  We could get together if you want to bounce ideas as there isn't much modelling info here.  I sometimes fly at the salt lake near Akrotiri but visited the Nicosia club the other week as I don't want to wreck my mustang with the salt.   Cheers Pete

1) mode 1   2) Tadcaster North Yorkshire although now live in Cyprus and here no-one flies mode 1   3) Tadcaster North Yorkshire   4) Club Instructor

Thanks Dan and Tom, yes I have already been following Alex48 thread...wow.  I have now decided on the Top Flite Giant Scale.  My local model shop in the UK (before I came to Cyprus) had one in and having had it for a while it was at the old price £220...bargain.  It should be heading its way now somewhere in the Atlantic and should arrive here in a few weeks.   I have also started a thread about engine choice on RCMF but there is a huge bias for Zenoahs.  Again budget is a big factor and I was considering a Zenoah 38, MVVS (same shape as a glow), or one of the cheap chinese ones that Als hobbies sells.  Zenoah 38 is looking the favourite at the moment as I want time proved reliability with simplicity...your thoughts?

Thanks Jan, very useful. Am now considering the Topflite Giant Scale P51.  Have downloaded the reviews and the build manual and I should have no problem.  Cost could become big though by the time I've bought retracts, motor and radio aswell so still waiting for blessing from the boss. Pete

OK, you may have seen from my last thread I am looking for a large enough warbird for petrol power.  I have looked at the H9 but I simply don't like the plastic film covered finish of ARTFs.  I want to glass it and airbrush the detailing.  ARTF is out the window then, so am considering now the Giant Scale Mustang by Top Flite at 80+ inches or the YT at 70+ inches.  I know the YT is sort of ARTF but it doesn't have the horrible plastic film finish.  So has anyone built either of these.  Opinions and advice much appreciated.  I don't want to bite off more than I can chew with the Top Flite so here is my building experience to date.  I have omitted ARTFs   Flair Pupeteer Warbirds Hurricane Hacker Spitfire (fibreglass fuzz and foam wings...69 inches) plus various smaller balsa kits.   Is there a build thread anywhere for the top flite, here or elsewhere.  I can't seem to find one.  I have downloaded the manual and am ploughing through that at the moment.   One last point...budget is a big decider too.    Cheers Pete

Cheers Dusty Will do Pete

Hi Dusty, thanks.  I'm civvie in Cyprus...not sure what ops is though.  I think 2kg is limit by air anything heavier comes by boat.  Johnathan, I did consider a H9 so I may have another look at it. Pete

Mustang would be my first choice I'd guess as I have a spitfire and have had a hurricane in the past.  I think Fighter aces would be ideal but also expensive by the time I've kitted it with retracts aswell.  I don't have the skill or time to build from a plan.  They would aslso have to be able to post to BFPO address. Pete

I have a bit of cash at hand now and want to build a petrol powered warbird.  I don't really want an ARTF as they usually have a horrible finish.  I also don't have the time to build a full trad kit.  I have a Hacker spit already with a 120 fourstroke at 69 inches and would like something like that sort of thing....ie fibreglass fuzz, foam wings etc.  Something I can experiment on with my airbrush and weathering skills. Any advice on what would be suitable.  I want to keep the engine size as small as i can to keep the whole project as cheap as I can.  I would be looking at something like the MVVS 26cc engine or similar. Cheers Pete

Well success at last.  I have now used 4 battery packs...about hours flying on and off and can hover, albeit drifting around a bit.  I can more or less land it where I want, although everyhthing goes pants when its facing towards me.  Don't know why when with fixed wing I'm fine.  I can move around the sports hall at will also, but only moving forwards and bacvkwards and side to side.  So keep practicing eh?  Simulator was invaluable...only the cheap 19.99 one but it got me used to what the heli would do.  So you can fly a heli on mode 1.....I would have done this sooner if peolple hadn't tried to put me off saying it was difficult or impossible.

Thanks for all the help everyone.  I am working for the forces here and coincidently a model shop has just opened up on the base.  There is a cypriot guy working there who knows his helis.  He's had a look and the spinning was caused by the giro switch set to reverse.  I thought I had to reverse it on the transmitter.  He is also going to set it up for me....hopefully, just waiting for him to get back to me.  He said it would be easy and more responsive to fly if the throttle controlled the pitch and the blades spun at full rpm all the time like a real heli.  Makes sense I guess.  At the moment nothing is set right...so much for the settings provided by the manufacturer for the spectrum.  Fingers crossed. He cant really help me fly it though as no-one here flys mode 1, so its steady as I go. Pete

Cheers Paul, will have a fiddle tomorrow