FFF: P-51D Plans / Build Log / Full Fuse

[TVCasualty]

Just finished up a sketchup model of the P-51D, ~38" wing span on this model. But I don't have anytime to build it now. Well, I could make the time, but the wife is doing a garage sale, so my den is off limits. Anyway I still have a bunch of planes to crash before I need to build another. So here are the plans! 17 Page PDF file, cut out and glue together. Any questions please ask.

The wing is the hardest part to make and is designed to be made from a solid bock in 4 sections. I like this method since you can control the airfoil perfectly. Just use the 3 airfoil templates to make wire cutting templates, something like flashing tin from Home Depot works well, don't forget to smooth the edge so the wire wont snag. Pull the wing sections and hot glue together. (I need two people to pull a wing, forces me to stay on good terms w/ the wife ) A fiberglass bottom or CF rod probably will be needed for stiffness on the wing. Aileron and flap lines are drawn close to scale so feel free to enlarge for more control. A KF airfoil plane would be neat to see as well, if anyone wants to go that route.

The Nose cone is done in a similar method, cut out two templates and make a U with each template on the sides, spin and wire some foam until you have a spinner, but make a few, just in case... See my 109 thread for more details.

The rest is just cut, roll, and past. Please note the offset line drawn inside the profile plates, it's offset 1/8" for the thickness of the FFF, so cut out the inside profile if that is what you are using... Depron may be a different thickness. I recommend low temp hot glue since it's fast, and you can use your hands as clamps. Each piece of the flat pattern represents 1/2 of the fuse, so don't cut the colored edge, just flip them over and continue the cut.

Didn't make a flat panel design for the canopy, I'll be carving mine from foam then pulling PET-G plastic one.


Post your some pics if you build it!
-TV

[TVCasualty]

Grrr a link to the PDF as one file, including the illusive "J" can be found here:
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showp...&postcount=159

[TVCasualty]

I sat on this one too long... Started cutting a few hours ago. Gonna call it a night. I plan an update tomorrow with some pics.

[TVCasualty]

Wow. It took too long to put this together, hopefully it'll be worth all the work. As I'd really like to see more models being done in this method. here is the build log: http://foamcasualty.com/blog_p51d.shtml

questions and comments welcome!

[FlyingMonkey]

Wow, TV, you're really going at this with both barrels blazing!


I love the work you're doing on your website. Great looking design, nice lay out so far. Looking forward to the more finished product.

[TVCasualty]

lol yeah I'm due to slow down any second here so I can get some work done on the house... It's tough to sit on the plans though, when I know how fast it can be built. btw I can tell no body has tried to build this one because it's missing the stabilizer in the plans.

[TVCasualty]

Whew! Finally finished the build log.

Great flyer! Questions welcome!

[FlyingMonkey]

when are you going to make a "pretty" one?


I think glassing and spackling would really dress one of these up....

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showt...hreadid=161218

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=193567

[TVCasualty]

It’s an honor to be compared in any way to J Morgan, for sure his scratchbuilts are some of the best foamies I’ve seen on the net. ...He’d prolly be pissed I called his models foamies. But your right, if this model was cleaned up, spackled, completely glassed, and then followed by a nice wet sanding I think it would indeed look much “cleaner.”

But here’s the thing, at least for me... Overall performance doesn’t seem to suffer at all from the rougher edges. Leaving out all that finishing work saves me time on the build. But it’s also not likely I will really get to show off this model as I lack a real flying field. And really, I hate finishing anyhow.

But then looking back, I wonder if it really would make that large of a difference. In the air, I am completely satisfied with the looks. Oddly, I’ve seen some really ugly birds look beautiful once they get airborne.

BTW, in the end I did end up covering that duct tape, it really did look low class, but it still serves it's function.

[TVCasualty]

...And now with youtube video goodness!

YouTube Video

not sure what the deals is, here is the plain-o link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atGcG0dZ9So

[FlyingMonkey]

your YouTube video is not working.

[FlyingMonkey]

great job!

just checked out your site, i really love the lay out.

you might looking into adding a "skip to last page" option though.

[TVCasualty]

Originally Posted by FlyingMonkey

great job!

just checked out your site, i really love the lay out.

you might looking into adding a "skip to last page" option though.

Yeah, I need a standardized code for that part, especially if I plan to make more build logs. It took so much more time to write in code over writing on here, even with a bunch of CSS tricks.

[magic612]

Originally Posted by TVCasualty

Yeah, I need a standardized code for that part, especially if I plan to make more build logs. It took so much more time to write in code over writing on here, even with a bunch of CSS tricks.

You could always write up the code with links to each page and just number them 1, 2, 3, etc., then paste the code at the bottom of every page. Just a thought...?