Warbirds Replicas P51 Mustang

[Graham R]

Thanks Ron, I was also going to add that.

 

[Nigel Sharp]

Looks like the dihedral brace is up against the rib at the end of bay 1.  Perhaps thats preventing a close fit. Bit of fettling required on those ends might be possible. Don't go mad remove a little at a time using sanding block.

[Trevor]

Yes, I seem to remember having to shave a bit off the ends of the dihedral brace.

[Jonathan S]

Ron, 

I am not 100% sure.  I think it might be the prongs impacting on the skin. 

Now I have confirmed its wrong I can take a better look, the prongs are not hitting the walls. 

[Paul Johnson 4]

Look at page 28...

[Jonathan S]

 I did trim it just not enough I think. 

Will have a fettle at the weekend. 

 

thanks for all your help guys 

[Jonathan S]

OK got bored and took a look, Paul was right is impacting on the skin, given it a sand and its much better will do a bit more tomorrow to get a final fit.  Some skin has been sacrificed to get a good fit but should be able to repair it quite easily.  

Then the fun of sorting out the flap servos and then covering the wing will be done....... 

[Jonathan S]

All,

Need some advise, getting close to doing doing some covering of tail, flaps etc while I finish off the wings.  What brown paper do people recommend I have some but it has ridges any idea where to get the best stuff from? 

 

Jon

[Paul Johnson 4]

Hi Jonathan,

Tesco has some which is quite good, usually in amongst the wrapping paper section, stay away from the 'lined' type. It will show through the paint.

 

[gillyg1]

Jonathan -i use the brown paper that the car body sprayers use for masking up. So pop down to your local car spraying shop and see if they'll let you have some ? 

[Trevor]

Just to tidy off my Mustang project, I’ve now uploaded the July diary entry to my website: Mustang July Diary

 

I haven’t had a chance to fly it again since the maiden outing earlier in the month so apologies to followers of this thread who may get a sense of déjà vu when reading it.

 

Trevor

[Tim Kearsley]

Returning to the P51 build after a period of no activity, due to flying, gardening, idleness etc.....  So, attaching the aileron servos to the servo hatches - has everyone done it the "proper" way, with hardwood blocks for the servos to screw to, or has anyone gone the savage way and glued the taped servo to the hatch?  Just asking.....

[Trevor]

Belt and braces for me - servo screwed to wooden blocks but also stuck to the hatch with servo tape just in case one of the blocks breaks free.

[Paul Johnson 4]

Trevor, if one of those blocks breaks free there won't be a lot of the airframe left due to the required force to remove it!

[Paul Johnson 4]

Jonathan, tesco brown paper...

[Tim Kearsley]

Having returned to the P51 build after a break, I've been progressing quite well..... until now.  I'm in danger of making a right mess of the wing fairings.  I've got the thin ply bases and rear shaped balsa piece in place OK, but the triangular stock is another story.  How exactly do you make the saw cuts to assist it to bend? To be more concise, in what direction do you cut from - downwards or upwards?  I'm even considering cutting the triangular stock into short lengths and completing the proper profile with filler! 

[Andy Gates]

Cuts go along the the side to be shortened, in this case the lower side.

Where the curve is tighter cut slots closer together and more of them, and visa versa for more gentle curves.

[gillyg1]

I do the same as Andy, plus spray triangular fillets with a water mist to aid plyability / suppleness, using wood glue - pva / alaphatic, pin in place, leave to dry over night, then fill/shape as required.?

[Tim Kearsley]

Thanks chaps, I'll have another go. 

[Jonathan S]

Small update

I managed to drag the small people out of the house today to get myself some Tesco's brown paper.  Progress has been slow due to family holidays but back on the horse again.

 

Trying to get the wing finished and the flaps and ailerons covered in the next week. 

 

Quick question.  What angle should the flaps extend to ?  I seem to remember 55 degrees but cannot seem to find it in the forums.

 

thanks

Jon

[Paul Johnson 4]

55° is both doable and what the real P51's flaps move to, BUT at that angle they are huge airbrakes too. So, you will need some throttle comming in or it will slow and stall very quickly if you're not careful.

As it is your first warbird give the range of movement that far and add the angle you use gradual increments till you're used to it.

 

[Jonathan S]

Paul,

Thanks for the quick reply.  I am just checking I have the full range of movement on the flaps,  so Max flap I will check to see if I can get 55%. 

 

Second question when you are covering do you cover the inner (curved) bit of the Flaps ?

 

thanks

Jon

 

[Paul Johnson 4]

Yes.

[Paul Johnson 4]

On 23/08/2021 at 06:24, Paul Johnson 4 said:

55° is both doable and what the real P51's flaps move to, BUT at that angle they are huge airbrakes too. So, you will need some throttle comming in or it will slow and stall very quickly if you're not careful.

As it is your first warbird give the range of movement that far and add the angle you use gradual increments till you're used to it.

 

Double checked the real one is 50 not 55

[Jonathan S]

Paul,

thanks I can get 55 now 9n both un covered but will cover and re check.    

Jon