Top Flite P-51 Dough!!!!!!

[midnightdreamersr]

to set the stage for the story: typical saturday at the field wind, what wind. drug out the p-51 that a buddy of mine wanted me to fly. put it together fulled it up, checked the batteries and all looked good. turned the radio on and checked controls, then noticed a control link on the rudder broke. after a short time looking i found one, replaced it and re centered it. after that wanted to go over and check everything, which i did.........but, as i was checking i looked at the carb sticking out the side of the cowl, thought i should check that too....next thought, ive never had those bolts come loose before.....what happened... didnt check them. remember that it will come up again soon. satisfied with everything pushed it out to the flightline and fired it up. taxed out and made a beatifull takeoff. noticed it was alittle outta trim no problem, gain some altitude and fix it, its not bad. on my climb out and first turn flip the switch for the gear to get them up......no gear movement. ok the other switch....no movement. crap i know i hooked them up...didnt check that. no prob ill get it trimmed and fly for a bit and land and investigate. now im completeing my first lap around the feild, but havent quiet made it back to the runway about 250ft high. motor starts spitting and sputtering!!!!! ****!!!!!! now what. fighting trim problems and gear problems.....motor quits!!!! two thoughts, turn and maybe stall it and crash it...or point the nose down and get it on the ground wherever i can (nice to have alot of room to fly). which i figured would be the best to do since gear was down. well went halling by the end of the runway, no prob still lots of room. well after all long way away, and hard to see, made to be what seemed to be a amazing landing gear one the ground and rolling out, but way outta room now. long story somewhat short, hit the really high cut and flipped it up on the nose. walked quite away to get it and this is what we saw. first off, left gear ripped out of the wing, not real bad though considdering. then notice the carb hanging off the side of the cowl by the fuel line, ****!!!!!!! just enough to piss you off. got it back to the flight line and found out the gear was on the other switch. i did get something right, they were hooked up, they however work real well if you flip the right switch. DOUGH!!!!

[midnightdreamersr]

i will be rebuilding the gear well and show you some pics. here is what i have so far.

[midnightdreamersr]

ok, have one side of the gear rail glueing back together and had to make the other side outta new wood. also have the support for the new wood glueing in. here is a couple pics.

[thewrap]

Hey what kind of retracts are you using and is this the 120 version.

[fastford]

so let me guess that was the 1/5 top flight arf? My gear did the same thing lack of glue and burned ends on hardwood. Doesnt look to bad. good luck with the repairs

[midnightdreamersr]

yes this is the top flite 1/5th scale arf. this is another reason that i dont like arfs. they dont take the laser cut burt edge off the parts before they glue gun the parts together.

it should be an easy repair and will be very strong after the repair.

[midnightdreamersr]

here is what i got done tonight. working on the other side rail. this one seems to have taken all the stress. should be able to get this finished up tomarrow. epoxy just takes forever to dry, cant get alot done until glue dries. here are a couple pics.

[midnightdreamersr]

i am so close now....could almost be flying it this weekend. i have the other rail in and all other wood glued in and close up. after the filler drys and i get it sanded monokoted and build a new gear hatch cover it will be done. here are some pics.

[midnightdreamersr]

ok, wrapped it up tonight. its DONE!!! finished sanded and covered. new holes drilled and gear alined and hatch cover mounted. time to go fly. here are the pics.