Building P-51D Mustang

[charliet615]

Any help would be appreciated. I'm building a Top Flite 1/5 Scale P-51D Mustang and i need some information on Engine Choice's. This Beautiful War Bird deserve's the bests engine i can put in it. So far, the only recommendation from Top Flite is the U.S. 41 cc gas. I would like to use a 4 cycle, perhaps multi-clyinder? Also, which is the best fuel choice, Gas or Glow Fuel?

[MX304]

I have several of those at our club powered with both gas and nitro. A multi cyl is hard to fit without hacking out the cowl. My personal choice would be gas, but a big four stroke would pull it around just fine. Make sure to keep the weight down because as they get heavy, the landing speeds go way up.

[dick hanson]

These models built by even very adept builders are simply put VERY HEAVY.
IF wishes were fishes -I would use a ZDZ50 with a carbon fibretuned pipe and whack out all the tail weight possible . But if you are following the kit -------put a 50 or 60 in it an learn to use a little flap and keep th speed up
No matter what you do -If you build it stock it will be in the high wing loading catagory
avoid the old chain saw redos -even if TF recommends em the power to weight really is inferior to more modern engines .
The do make a very pretty model when done -too bad the designers are not also good weight to strength engineers
TheP51 is a great aerobatic setup -if that plane weighed 15 lbs.-it would be a killer .

[Supermod56]

Saito 200 inline twin would be the ticket!! When I build mine that's what it will have under the hood. Horizon told me it would fit in the cowl with no mods. Another good choice would be the DA 50, there is a guy that makes a header to fit them that has the scale exhaust stacks, if you can stand the noise that would be cool too

Tom

[WangoTango]

Ours is 20 pounds with a G-62 Custom Kaleo muffler and a Mezlic 22-10. Flies great and lands slow and soft. Painted finish with Dan Parsons cloth and resin underneath. Robarts. (Mains and tailwheel) It's been a while since it's been up but I'm thinking about changing that little aspect real soon.
WT

[charliet615]

Thanks for you Input!!!! Charliet

[ultrasportpilot]

DA-50 all the way! Especially with a keleo-creations scale exhaust.

[Super08]

J'tec has just started making a smaller version of a wrap around pitts muffler that is designed to fit inside the cowl of the TF P-51 without cutting the cowl up. It fits the DA/DL-50. Here are some pics for another forum...

[Texastbird]

Wow, that J'tec muffler looks pretty nice. Are the engines getting enough cooling set up like in the picture? That is one clean Mustang without all the holes hacked in the side of the cowling.