August 2007 107
AS DID MANY who wandered into the local hobby store for
the first time and drooled over the beautiful lines of a P-51
Mustang hanging from the ceiling, I wanted to be a P-51 pilot. I
was willing to cough up whatever it took so I could have my
very own RC Mustang.
Thank goodness the store owner took me aside and
explained that the P-51 was not a wise choice for my first radiocontrol
model. He eventually talked me into the boxlike, highwing
trainer with the spindly landing gear. Boy, was I happy he
did!
Twenty-five years later I still drool at the sight of the P-51,
but now I am a competent, experienced modeler who can
handle this aircraft. However, that’s not all that has changed in the past
25 years.
Giant Scale P-51: have it your way—kit, ARF, or ARC!
[[email protected]]
Radio Control Giants Sal Calvagna
Also included in this column:
• New 45cc gas engine is easy
on the wallet
• First flights for a Gee Bee R-2
racer and 1/3-scale Sopwith
Pup
Lou Zackman Jr. (L) with his RTC Top Flite Mustang and Steve
Pescetti with his ARF Top Flite Mustang. Both are powered by
Zenoah G-45 gas engines.
Steve Pescetti’s P-51, with gear and flaps down on final
approach, comes covered in film.
Lou Zackman’s Mustang was slightly modified to improve its scale
outline and then covered with fiberglass cloth.
John Braun’s kit-built, modified P-51B is finished in a unique
World War II German color scheme.
Available at Hobby People, the Thor 45cc ignition gas engine
comes with ignition module, muffler, and mount.
08sig4.QXD 6/22/07 12:29 PM Page 107
Radio systems, engines, retractable landing-gear systems, and the
availability of accessories have improved to help modelers achieve
their goal: successful and reliable operation of their airplanes. In
addition, if you wanted a Mustang model in years past, you had to
build one. Your choice was limited.
Fast forward to the present and have times changed! Great Planes’
Top Flite Giant Scale P-51 Mustang is offered in three flavors: kit form
(build it yourself), ready-to-cover (RTC—finish it your way), or ARF.
In this month’s column I’m happy to be featuring all three versions!
Each type spans 84.5 inches and has a wing area of 1,245 square
inches. The RTC and ARF models come ready to accept Robart
retracts. Both feature built-up, fully sheeted wood construction.
The ARF comes covered in MonoKote and can be
completed in 25-30 hours. The RTC version and the basic kit
version allow the modeler to make modifications before
completing and covering. All three products fly well and
undoubtedly please their owners.
John Braun Sr. of Staten Island, New York, built the P-51B
shown. It features an unusual color scheme and John made the
following comments on this model.“We wanted something different so we decided to start with the
Top Flite P-51 and convert it to the earlier P-51B aircraft. One thing
led to another and we decided to be extremely different and model this
project after the unusual ‘captured’ version of the P-51B.
“We completed the airplane in early April and took first place in
the military category as well as Best of Show at the annual Richmond
Model Flying Club static show in New York. At first glance, many
were confused to see such a well-recognized aircraft from American
aviation history disguised with German markings.
“Some asked if it was scale while others mistook it for a
Messerschmitt or Focke-Wulf. This led to a number of discussions
about how this aircraft came to be. I thought I would share some of the
researching the project.
“Because of the sheer size of the Allied air
offensive upon Germany, it was inevitable
that a certain number of combat aircraft
would fall into the hands of the Luftwaffe. In
fact, both sides of the conflict conducted
intense intelligence on all crashed and
damaged enemy aircraft that happened to
come down in their own territory.
“In Germany, the Luftwaffe put the
recovery of crashed aircraft into a widespread
system. Reparable aircraft were put back into
the air; others were used as a source of spare
parts, recycled fuel and lubrication oils, or
ammunition. Everything was collected,
sorted, and directed to special units operating
the captured aircraft or gathering technical
intelligence.
“A variety of British and American
airplanes found their way to the famous KG
200 where they were used for a variety of
‘black’ operations or in a much-lessmysterious
fashion as specialized transports.
Other aircraft—especially fighters—were
used for pilot education and demonstrated by
special Staffel to frontline fighter units.
“Our model resembles the T9+CK version
which had a long career in German hands. It
was initially tested in the original olive-drab
paint scheme but with German markings and
undersides repainted in yellow.
“It circulated between various fighter units
as a practical aid, teaching how to use the Fw
190s to their best advantage in combat against
P-51s. Later the original paint finish was
stripped off, presumably to match the
improved performance of bare-metal USAAF
machines that appeared toward the end of the
conflict.
“Although it was limited, we found
documentation that there were versions of a
white-and-yellow color scheme. At the risk of
not be completely true to scale, we decided to
go with this combination since it is much
easier to replicate than flight metal.
“The entire airframe was fiberglassed and
painted with latex paint. Panel lines and rivets
were added, graphics were cut from vinyl,
and the finished product was clear-coated
with a satin finish. The airplane weighs
roughly 20.5 pounds with a Quadra 52 and
Robart retracts.”
Big Daddy’s Pup: Pictured is Britt Hubert of
Hauppauge, New York, and his newly
completed 1/3-scale Balsa USA Sopwith Pup.
The Pup is only available in kit form and is
not designed for the beginner.
The model spans 9 feet, has a massive
4,428 square inches of wing area, and can
accommodate a 2.7 cu. in. or larger engine for
power. The Sopwith Pup was a favorite for
World War I pilots. It was maneuverable,
easy to fly, and possessed none of the bad
habits the Camel had.
The Pup is finished in the unusual
checkered scheme of Captain J. Mitchell’s
C417 in the No. 3 School of Aerial Fighting,
at Bircham Newton Airfield in Great Britain.
One of the photos shows the takeoff of the
large model’s maiden flight.
45 CDI Gas Ignition Engine: Available at
Hobby People, the Thor 45cc ignition gas
engine comes complete with a Walbro
carburetor, ignition module, aluminum engine
mount, high-volume aluminum muffler, spark
plug, and velocity stack. The engine powers a
20 x 10 or 22 x 8 propeller at as much as
9,500 rpm. The price for this engine is
$299.95.
For more information visit the Hobby
People Web site at www.hobbypeople
