HOB P51D - Radiator?

[Mojo]

I am wrapping up my House of Balsa P51D build. It has been a pretty enjoyable winter project.

I was wondering what everyone thought I should do with the radiator (scoop) on the bottom of the plane. With the stock plans, the air goes into the scoop and doesn't go anywhere.

On mine, I drilled some hole through the wall of the scoop. These will allow the air to pass through the radiator and into the tail section of the fuselage.

Was this a bad idea?

Assuming not, where should the air come out of the fuselage? Should I drill some holes or remove some covering somewhere? If so, where?

Thanks for your help!

-M

[xmech2k]

Well, you know where that air exits on the full scale P-51?



Of course I wouldn't have the door open that much on my model, but perhaps doing something like that would act like a venturi and pull more air through the fuselage, assuming there's an opening in the nose for cooling air.

[BroncoSquid]

Here are some pics of the mustangs cooling system. The door was used to regulate the flow of air through the radiator.

[CHELLIE]

Originally Posted by Mojo

I am wrapping up my House of Balsa P51D build. It has been a pretty enjoyable winter project.

I was wondering what everyone thought I should do with the radiator (scoop) on the bottom of the plane. With the stock plans, the air goes into the scoop and doesn't go anywhere.

On mine, I drilled some hole through the wall of the scoop. These will allow the air to pass through the radiator and into the tail section of the fuselage.

Was this a bad idea?

Assuming not, where should the air come out of the fuselage? Should I drill some holes or remove some covering somewhere? If so, where?

Thanks for your help!

-M

More Air Flow is always a good Thing Just Make sure that your Motor , Esc and Battery get good air flow over them, Take care and have fun, Chellie

[Mojo]

How did I know you were going to say to add the rear port?

I was hoping to avoid any major last minute mods, perhaps I crossed the rubycon when I drilled those initial holes.

I will investigate how difficult it will be to add.

If I must punt: Are there any serious problems with opening a small hole in the tail of the plane (inline with the airflow) ?

[xmech2k]

My Apprentice and PZ Corsair just have a line of holes in the belly aft of the wing to let out air. I can't find good pics of it to link here. Just a series of 3 fairly large holes, they get smaller as they go aft.

[Mojo]

Yeah, those same three holes are in my PZ Wildcat, which is what got me thinking about the P51.

Perhaps I should add holes like that to the P51.

I am surprised that the air passing through the fuselage and getting directed downward (through those 3 holes) doesn't adversely affect the aerodynamics of the plane.

[xmech2k]

Well, those holes at the bottom are quite larger than the intake holes, at least on my planes, so i don't think you get a ram air effect forcing the air out, but more a venturi effect, where the air passing across the belly of the plane draws out air from the fuselage.