RSM P-51 finished at last!

[Larry Renger]

Here is my finished .15 size RSM P-51.  I have lagged working on this and it has dragged on for at least a couple of years.  First flights this week! 

Note that the motor control is an RC receiver. I modified a Hobby King cheapie car radio to be the handle.  I can switch to a timer for stunt flying, but first I plan to fly it in Profile Scale at the Sir Dale Kirn's Knights' Joust on the 9th of August.

Note the Bob Palmer style aileron drive.  This gives very linear response without needing a "cranked" control horn. 

[wwwarbird]

Note the Bob Palmer style aileron drive.  This gives very linear response without needing a "cranked" control horn. 

 Aileron?

[Larry Renger]

OOPS! Been flying too much RC lately.   Flaps, of course.

[Jim Roselle]

Larry,

What type of wing covering is that? Looks sharp!

Jim

[wwwarbird]

OOPS! Been flying too much RC lately.  

 R/C is bad!

[Larry Renger]

The covering is Coverlite, available from Tower or Hobby People and probably other souces,

It is an iron-on, but no adhesive. It ia really, quite tough, and lighter than Japanese tissue! Lasts for years in my experience. Stick it down with Balsarite, Stiksit or other heat activated adphesives.

I have used it for years with great success. 

[Larry Renger]

BTY, the pilot in the cockpit is Bob Palmer. This is his first "Olld Yeller" from the early 1960s. I have the photos in my file to prove it! Sadly, his profile photo is a more recent one, but the best I could do. I did a slope glider review of the plane in which I sculped a reasonable likeness of him from the photo of him on the wing.  I sold the model to someone who had been on his pit crew, and don't know what became of it.  

The review was in Model Builder or RCM, I would have to check which. It was a pretty good looking plane, but a real slug in the air! It also needed a lot of modification to be close to scale. I documented all the required stuff in the revew. It was still a toad.  

What do you expect for getting a free plane and money besides? Now the truth can be told!  I actually, I did put it all in the revaiew....politely.

This DOES NOT relate to the RSM kit! Another manufacturer entirely. The RSM kit flies fantastic and makes no bones about being exact scale. But it is good enough for profile scale, and that is where I will try it out first.  The only mod for stunt flying is to substitute a timer for the RC receiver, longer lines and a stunt handle instead of a modified car RC control unit.

I will probably fly it in both events.  

The RSM P-51 is a sport, profile mode with full stunt capability. The one I have built is 4 ounces lighter than the one with which I scored over 500 points without appearance points. I think it is going to be dynomite!    

[dave siegler]

Bob Hoover?   

[Shug Emery]

Looks mighty fine Larry.....trying to finish mine up. Need to get it covered.
This has inspired me.
Shug

[Larry Renger]

OOPS! Yes, Bob Hoover. 

[MikeyPratt]

Larry,
That looks great, nice job.
I do have one question.  Is the covering you used the same as the old Micafilm? 

Later,
Mikey

[Larry Renger]

No, sadly, you can't get Micafilm anymore. Coverlite looks like doped Japanese tissue but is remarkably tough. Good stuff!

[Randy Ryan]

Question, how is the flap drive lug attached to the carbon pushrod? it looks a little scary to me!

[Larry Renger]

It is wrapped very tightly around the elevator pushrod then glued on with JB Weld.  Since electrics have minimal vibration, it should be good forever.

[Phil Spillman]

Hi Larry, When I clicked on your first picture my instant remark was'" OOO nice"! Well now if was a real airplane with real nitro power...what would your guess be as to proper engine power, that is IC power? A .15 or perhaps .25 in.cubed?

[Larry Renger]

The kit is available either for electric or slime power. Check out rsmdistribution.com for the catalog. .15 modern or an old .19 engine would be appropriate.

BTW I put in a first flight today. Hoooeee! What a trip.  Too much elevator throw, too short lines (46'), tail heavy and me being tired from helping to clean up the field for next week's contest. But it got down with only scraped prop tips. Wow amount of power. 

I will continue to update this thread as I tame the beast.  I moved the battery 1/2" forward, will cut the handle line spacing down, and then will consider adding some noseweight.

I am going to go to 55' lines as I have more than enough power to handle them. I also have a 50' set already if the long ones are too much.

Being a 1/2A enthusiast, I can handle quick airplanes, but this one was beyond my skill! Thank goodness for my RC throttle handle!  Even so, landing was a disaster.....all four times.  I would get a little bounce, a big bounce then hit the throttle to go around for another try. That, at least worked great!

I did do a loop and wingover, but both very sloppy.

And I have to have it tuned in for 1 week from today! Wish me luck (and the intelligence to figure it all out). 

[Larry Renger]

I have found that the throttle control is nowhere as subtle as I hoped. With my standard stunt prop, at minimum throttle the model takes off like a scared kitten. This is going to take some work! It turns out that the steering circuit has exponential capability.  I may be able to rewire the unit to switch the steering knob with the throttle trigger and use that!

It is looking gloomy for having it all sorted out by Saturday.

I will go out tomorrow morning and see what I can achieve with the current setup. 

[eric rule]

Just returned home from day one of the Dale Kirn Knights Joust where I watched Larry fly the new P51-15 electric scale ship. Very impressive! Solid on the end of the lines and seemed to go where he pointed it.

At this point of time Larry has it set up for fun scale with some nice documentation so he should score well with it.

From what I saw of the flight characteristics I think he would do very well with this model in Advanced Stunt. Perhaps we can talk him into competing with the P51-15E in stunt. All he would have to do is to remove the R/C controller and replace it with a KR Governor and he will be good to go.