Cox P-51 Viper Conversion

[Gary Morris]

Here's a picture of my Cox P-51 Conversion. It really flies like a dream with elevator and aileron control using two Hitec HS-55's.
The speed controller is a Castle Creations programmable rated at 5Amps. Six Nicads rated at 120Ma power it for about 5 min. The moter is and ISP DX2 without carbon brushes. It's a blast to fly combat with the swallows! I just finished a Pico Tiger Moth and have had about a dozen flights on it, it too is a fantastic flyer although it isn't one to fly in the wind! The P-51 on the other hand does nicely in winds up to 12mph!

You can see it at: http://www.rcmicroflight.com/upload/P-51 Viper Conversion.jpg[/img]

[Gary Morris]

For some reason the pic didn't turn out :(

Here's another try!

http://www.rcmicroflight.com/upload/P-51Conv.jpg

Thanks, Gary

[Gary Morris]

And now here's the Tiger Moth, it too flies really well!

http://www.rcmicroflight.com/upload/TM1.jpg

[Qs-man]

Both look verry nice! They fly well? Hope so!
Have a question about the P-51. What is its approx scale? and how mutch is the wing area?
I am asking this because one of my three projects on my "drawing board" is a 1/20 scale mustang.
Sorry if I am asking "dumb" questions... just a beginner trying to learn and get into this micro R/C
:cool:

[Gary Morris]

Best I can recall the span is 20.5". This is just the cheapy WalMart Cox free flight electric converted to R/C. Cost about $15.00 Bucks, but flies like a plane costing alot more. I painted the fuse Silver and left the wings stock yellow. Flew it again today chasing birds, errrrrrr, they were chasing me? lol. Anyway it's really a ball to fly and with micro gear total cost for the plane, receiver, servo's and battery is a shade over $100.00 bucks! Not bad in my book!

Gary

[flyingbuddy]

Gary, could you do me a favor and weigh both planes, preferably in grams? By my estimation, the wing area is about 64sq".

[Gary Morris]

Don't know about grams but the Mustang weights about 4 1/2 ounces, the Moth, 8 1/2.
Some have built the Mustang with full house controls, i.e. rudder, elevator and ailerons, this just has elevator and ailerons. Didn't think rudder was necessary and was just added weight.

[frankenfoamy]

I am impressed! :eek: How did you squeeze 5 minute flights out of the 120s?

[miniman]

man, i saw that same p51 in walmart and told my sis i could turn that into a rc plane. now i was searching threw the wed and saw that u did the same thing i was going to do whn i earned enough money to buy it. im only 13, but i have all the equipment. wat kinda servos did u use and is the reciever a standered 1, or smaller? email me at sk8_pro0210@yahoo.com.

[miniman]

o ya, one more thing where did u place each piece of the rc equipment? as in the servos, reciever?

[Gary Morris]

I used HS-55 servos, about $20.00 each and a GWS Micro 4 channel receiver with a Castle Creations ESC. With good throttle management, ( I get it up fairly high, then cut the throttle back to about 1/2 I can get 5 Min on a good day, on a bad day about 3 1/2 min. There were complete plans to build this conversion on this website if your a member, if not I think the link that was listed above this reply is no longer valid :( If you can't find the link for building instructions put the elevator servo about and inch back of the wing. The 120ma 6 cell NICAD pack goes as far forward as possible, this made mine require no additional weight to balance. The motor is a stock IPS, the prop is the one that comes with the kit. Just heat up the gear on the front of the motor shaft til it's very hot then press the spinner and prop combo onto the shaft! :)
I hope this helps, it's worth modifying if you have some previous flying experience, if not I wouldn't recommend this as a first time project.

Happy Flying

Gary

[flyingbuddy]

I believe the article was in the June 2001 issue of RC microFlight.
The author, Dr. Mike Blott, provides an expanded article on his web site. There are two ways to get to it (that I know of.) The first is the link above, also try this: http://members.nbci.com/insandiego/RadioControlProjects.htm
Weight is a big factor in small planes, so try to get the lightest equipment that you can afford. The GWS (Grand Wing Servo) brand IPS motor and prop set are becoming available in many places, like Balsa Products (http://www.balsapr.com/)
Cloud 9 (http://www.rcmicroflight.com/cloud9rc/)
and Todds Models (http://www.toddsmodels.com/)
The GWS Pico servos are light and (relatively) cheap.
The FMA Direct (https://www.fmadirect.com/home.htm) SC-5 ESC (electronic speed control) is the cheapest, I mean least expensive, ESC that will do the job well. Click on "Store," then "Motor Controllers."
I hope this heads you in the right direction.

[flyingbuddy]

Excuse me, it was the May issue http://www.rcmicroflight.com/may01/index.asp
You don't show what part of California you live in, which is ok, but Dan Kreigh at http://www.flyifo.com/ is out in the Mojave Desert and he carries GWS products at good prices.