MM P51 Build
#1

Sorry ahead of time for the fact that the build pics will not be great quality, or at least not as good as I wish they would. I will be using a really old camera, as I destroyed my good one while using it as a cam on my rc car. The kit came nicely packed, although unfortunately it was another $30 once I got it from the post office, for whatever reason Canada decided. In the box was my solite, and a small bag containing the plane. Hard to believe it will become so much larger. So far, I have built the left side of the fuselage. I wish I could do more, but I have to be up early.
#4

The issue is the shaft is not easily reversible, but I may be able to get an e-flite shaft in there. I have an e-flite 920kV, but I may have to go for a 10 inch prop,
and I am somewhat afraid that 10 inch would look a little large, but I'll have to see the finished product. The ESC I'll using is a 30a ESC that came with another plane from HK, and it will be used with a 1300mah 3s.
#5
#6
#7

Yep, a Turnigy 9xr...if only I knew about the Pro. Even so, it was good time, I somehow broke my 9x antenna, had to superglue it. I did so at an angle so I could turn the base of it to adjust the angle of it in a way, but I can't adjust the actual angle. Not even sure how it broke. I was flying the Mini Switch, ran out of battery and went to land in the field of snow. There was a small snow mound, caused by strong winds, and the warmer weather caused to to harden a bit, instead of fluff snow. There were a lot of them scattered about, but didn't think they would pose a threat. Well the left ski hooked into the mound, and the ski exploded into pieces, ripped the whole landing assembly with it. Luckily no damage to the plane itself. I had to walk through the 3 feet high snow to get the plane and when I got back to the house, I found the 9x's antenna broken. I didn't tap it against anything.
#8

So I'm progressing pretty fast, or at least I feel I am. I have the whole fuselage together, or at least up until it states to start gluing. I had a little mishap while gluing. I put it all together and then took off the left side of the fuselage to glue, starting with gluing the pieces into the right side and then glueing the left side on top. I guess I put a little too much pressure and broke a part. I used some wood glue to fix everything up, and using the other parts around it, as well as the stringers, to help the part glue in a proper manner.
I will be posting pics soon.
I will be posting pics soon.
#9

And some pics. I have now formed the sheetings, although they are not glued yet. The front one has a slight warp near where the canopy will be, although very slight. Gluing it down will probably remove the warp even more, as the elastic is putting downward pressure, rather than pulling the sheeting down.
Also, this is a better camera, although the lighting still doesn't allow for a amazing pic.
Also, this is a better camera, although the lighting still doesn't allow for a amazing pic.
#10

Most recent: While covering a wing, I finished the top of one side, and while flipping the wing over, caught the wingtip on the corner of the workbench snapping part of the wingtip off. Then I had to stop covering, make repairs, wait for glue to dry....ugh!
#13

I'm lucky to have surgical level hands. I have the main wing together. One of the spars broke where the retract mounts go through...but the manual even said that it is highly likely they will break and can be glued, so no big deal
#16
#19
#21

I can't for the life of me use this solite covering. I have managed to cover the horizontal stab, but I don't know how to go about wrapping the fuselage. If I iron down a strip and use the heat gun to shrink, it pulls away from the edge and wrinkles up. Am I supposed to do halves, or a whole piece?
#22

Piper,
Here this helped me a ton!
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=711624
Also, there are a lot of youtube videos.
Here this helped me a ton!
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=711624
Also, there are a lot of youtube videos.
#23

Well that's not a good thing. I really don't want fixed gear, looks bad on a warbird. I orderd some of the GWS from Mountain Models, though they are backordered.
I can't for the life of me use this solite covering. I have managed to cover the horizontal stab, but I don't know how to go about wrapping the fuselage. If I iron down a strip and use the heat gun to shrink, it pulls away from the edge and wrinkles up. Am I supposed to do halves, or a whole piece?
I can't for the life of me use this solite covering. I have managed to cover the horizontal stab, but I don't know how to go about wrapping the fuselage. If I iron down a strip and use the heat gun to shrink, it pulls away from the edge and wrinkles up. Am I supposed to do halves, or a whole piece?
#24

I messed up bending the wire for the retracts (figure I should, though I don't have them yet). I couldn't bend it close enough, tried to redo it and snapped the wire.
Last edited by thepiper92; 01-20-2014 at 05:58 PM.
#25

Piper,
Here this helped me a ton!
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=711624
Also, there are a lot of youtube videos.
Here this helped me a ton!
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=711624
Also, there are a lot of youtube videos.