Partly-scratch-built Racing Red Mustang

Michael · January 08, 2017, 02:35:21 PM

Ok, so much time between now and spring flying, that I just had to start building something else.

I was going to make a whimsical flying model of the Beatles Yellow Submarine, but in drawings and with a small-size mock build-up, the thing just looked wrong with wings.

I have an extra E-Flite 1.2 meter P51 Mustang wing, so I searched the internet for something different, and I found the plane in the photo shown here in this post.

The first step was to draw the plans in my head!

Michael · January 08, 2017, 02:36:45 PM

My investment so far is a sheet of 1/2" styrofoam, and I probably have everything else lying around. I hope.

I've started the fuselage first.

Michael · January 08, 2017, 02:49:22 PM

Good fit so far!

bweaver · January 08, 2017, 05:46:34 PM

Looks great Micheal.

I am going to do a project similar to this, but using both the wing and tail portion of the fuselage which includes the horizontal/vertical stabs and control surfaces, along with the canopy and air inlet for under the fuselage. All parts were salvaged from my E-flite Mustang.

Your build has encouraged me to get at it as soon as I return.

Michael · January 08, 2017, 07:19:21 PM

Quote from: bweaver on January 08, 2017, 05:46:34 PM
Looks great Micheal.

I am going to do a project similar to this, but using both the wing and tail portion of the fuselage which includes the horizontal/vertical stabs and control surfaces, along with the canopy and air inlet for under the fuselage. All parts were salvaged from my E-flite Mustang.

Your build has encouraged me to get at it as soon as I return.

Great!

Michael · January 08, 2017, 07:19:58 PM

Working on the aft-top fuselage.

Michael · January 08, 2017, 09:00:05 PM

Things are shaping up!

Anyway, this image shows how I'm building the fuselage. It will be sanded and hollowed out later.

piker · January 09, 2017, 10:00:07 AM

Cool!

When you design in your head, is it like an Etch A-Sketch? Don't give your head a shake!

Michael · January 14, 2017, 01:45:27 PM

So, I got thinking .......

Being a racing plane, I didn't want to have a tail wheel hanging down in flight, so I devised a retractable and steerable tailwheel.

Always wanting to make things as simple as possible, I simply attached a small electric retract to a swivel-type mount, made of plywood.

Michael · January 14, 2017, 02:04:06 PM

OK, here's my problem with the above; when retracted, there isn't room for the component to move left and right when the rudder is moved.

A solution might include a separate steering servo for the tailwheel, on a separate channel (flaps; I will not be using flaps), which is mixed with the rudder, but which turns off when the wheels are retracted, through another mix.

Does that seem right?

If I can't figure this out today, I'll switch to a fixed tailwheel.

Michael · January 14, 2017, 03:34:22 PM

Done!

A separate steering servo for the tail wheel (aux2) is mixed/controlled by the rudder, but the mix is turned on and off by switch A (retract/gear switch; in the same mix screen).

Works great!

Michael · January 14, 2017, 05:07:39 PM

Now that the pesky tailwheel is out of the way, normal building continues.

It's starting to look a little P51-ish, or maybe Mustang-ish, I'm not sure.

sihinch · January 14, 2017, 05:24:50 PM

Looks fabulous - ish!!!

Michael · January 15, 2017, 12:20:15 PM

More progress ...

I like this pointy spinner more for a racing plane.

Michael · January 15, 2017, 06:17:15 PM

Carving a canopy; front top held down with magnets.

Still more sanding to do. A lot more.