This is based on a tangent to Al Rabes P-51 Articals . Read several times , Digested Anylised and Absorbed !
Later with My MB3 ( Martin Baker )
This Adhered Strictly to Als Formular . Aerodynamically . Fuse was Formers Planked . Came out at 5 ton ,
or about 71 Oz. ( Sopme Clunker wood here & there , no ' special finishing ' brushed on Humbrol Enamel .
Just come up with ' Like being a pasenger in ( on ) a Speedway Sidecar . Old Analogy was
' Like in a dodge 440 with a stuck throttle in the rain on a skidpan doing a precision driving test '
Great Fun , but hardly relaxing . ( Recreational = geddit )
As his comments were about chopping of his wingtips , we decided to too . Ended Up 50 span , about 20 Oz. Sq. Ft .
Only Change was to sit the pushrod on the inner hole at the elevator . As Expected ( Started with Even Movement )
One wouldve thought this'd all be to much . 65 ft of .018 and a G 51 with a 10 x 6 three blade made it work , though
without the interconnected rudder harsh applicationin the wind in the top of the hourglass or maybe into the clover
could have ' sprinting practise . Immediate . on the agenda for the day . Walking to the field ( warm up ) helpped there .
Tried a 10 x 4 three blade with a 8011 Torp .40 thrown in , to help in the gales . Not the grunt of the 51 , so I grabbed
a G 40 much latter , when one came up . Itching to do another , But Profile . 40 same Dimns , same with ST 40 & 51 ,
or pulled out 20 % ( 60 span ) we cannot decide . The latter would be more practical as a ' big ' comp stunter .
But the attraction of the orriginal was it wouldve blown of Valentino Rossi . No Problem . To Heavy to fly over 5.0 / lap.
usually 4.5 for the wind . Entering Bunts from 45 deg. inverted was a test of faith . But essentially you wondered if it
was flown by computor or if there was a little man inside of it , as ' the bottoms ' were so consistant , considering
the planform , wings and tailplane , were scale .Moments too . shortish nose . carried lead with the Torp. .40 .
This sucker NEVER hit the deck , in 100 odd flights . Id took it back to the wings ) tossed Fuse . Gave them away
wwhen I moved from Wgp .
THEREFORE
We Had MOTIVATION to see the next itteration ? was more butterfly like . wing loadingly .
Thus the P- 51 We Added Span , ( used Scale Planform / outline , iF I recall wright )
Abandoned Full Sheeting of wing , Strived For LIGHTNESS , Tissue Covered and empenage .
simplicity - sheet flaps ( 1/2 Sht .)
Had some good hard 1/4 sht , an offcut , I split end to end , and just got Four Spars , 3/8 tapered to 1/4 , with the grain along them . Nice Firm 1/4 x 1/2 T.E. caps .
Nearly all the rest of the wood IS 4 / 6 Lb , Not My Usual Fare . Normally go for grain and toughness- not soggieness .
ANYWAY , the clipped tips arnt clipped , maybe the Fuse is a bit scrawny , Fins to Tall , I went for a ' H ' ( see the Whittingtons ) will trim of the last bay .
That About Cover it . But I havnt put in a movablew rudder. Dont Like the Extreranal Linkages . Must put it on hinged so I can try it, I suppose . Almost there .
So Its Designed after thoroughly contemplating Al Rabes , but built to a differant concept . More Conventional F2B aerodynamics ( Airfoil ) addap[ed to
the P-51 Airframe .
The Only Real Fancy Trick , is. Ive Dropped the Leading Edge at the Centerline , to get the assymetril / lifting Airfoil through the cenatre bays.
Al's perscription there , approached differantly . My Hurricane it was the T.E. that was dropped . Result is a flatter underside adjacent the fuse , on both .
Emough Drivle for Now.
A Few Pictures of shiney Silver ones , so you can see how the shapes fit together / run into one another .
A Side Shot , shows the kinky underside in the reworked radiator , I Didnt Use . Small Canopy / Fairing going Half Back . Flatter Top Deck Arond / aft cockpit .
The Nose .
The Wing Tips ( Not Stock P-51 ones here )
They Give You a fair idea of the canopy too , the fairing here DOESNT run all the way back to the fin .
Getting a bit carried away here ( wanna black'n'Gold sea fury ) Miami 73'
http://s126.photobucket.com/user/richbonneau/media/Miami%2073/Top-39_edited-1.jpg.htmlSame Aeroplane Later , note the Tail Plane is NOT Clipped , another of the reasons we went with this , wont bother to show the Ridiator used at this stage just here .