Christchurch and District Model Flying Club
 

A lightweight P51 mustang

By mike roach

Some time in 2009 Ivan Pettigrew sent me a free copy of his Shoestring plan and this lovely little model fitted right into my self-improvement class (I really did need to be able to fly better).

While I was at Chilliwack, Ivan very generously let me fly his own Shoestring and while he was giving me tips on flying technique, we both commented on how realistic it looked flying around against the sky and the mountains, and we agreed that a single-engined fighter, built to the same standards, would be just the job. So here's the start of mine: a Mustang drawn up to 1/8th scale (55" span) with a minimum structure and a ladder-type fuselage. The motor is a 3536/1100 from George at 4-Max and the spinner is not quite large enough at 3.25" diameter, from falconsrcss on eBay. (Excellent delivery and service from both, by the way)

The tail surfaces and wing are pretty well as per the Shoestring, as is the basis of the fuselage. It will have to have lots of curved formers, sheet covering and planking round the curvy bits (no, I don't want a profile model thanks) but at first it will have no UC, just a strengthened air scoop for belly landing. There are areas of longer grass at our field that will cushion the arrivals. Later on I might try the new e-flight servo-less retracts, providing it all works!

Step by step progress so far

back to Contents

[Home] [Chairman's Chatter] [Editorial] [Terry Sullivan] [Goodbye!] [Fly Diary] [Wessex League] [Bubble dancer E] [DLG] [Auction night] [C&F 2010] [Sketching] [Mustang]