MUSTANG P-51

This is an aircraft that I modelled many many years ago and I always wanted to make another to F4B standard.

I have the plans for the Brian Taylor 60" span model.  I spoke to Brian about the scale accuracy of those plans - he said I shouldn't build that version as his 69" version was far better.

That's all well and good but the fuselage length of the P-51 is almost as long as the span is wide !

I spend two or three years considering what it might be like trying to fly a model that size. My P-40 was a large model but the fuselage was relatively short, I have read of much larger models being flown but of the ones I have seen flying none of them had the sort of performance that I desire from my models.

What finally got me started building was seeing a radio version of the Taylor 69" at the '05 Nationals - it looked big and weighed 12 lbs but as all radio fliers seem to have little control over the weight of their models I decided that I would start building regardless.

Careful wood selection and monitoring of all the component's weights should make my model around 71/2 lb.

Yes, it is very long !

Glass fibre cowl - from Brian Taylor.

Retracting tail wheel mechanism hand made.

Ample room in there for a bellcrank.

The servo is for the retracting tail wheel.

Wing with flaps loosely placed.

The wing Drop Tank servo in position

The undercarriage mounts -  I've bought the Unitract mechanisms.

No photograph here but the Fin and Tailplane are also complete.

Additional tasks at work, a change of job, holidays and some studying have meant that little progress was made through the 2007 so the model wasn't  ready for the British Nationals '07. Doh !

I'll try to devote time to the remaining construction.

The retracts are now fitted.

How about this for a colour scheme ? ? ?