American Design
The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range single-seat fighter aircraft that entered service with Allied air forces in the middle years of World War II. The P-51 became one of the war's most successful and recognizable aircraft.
Local Construction
This model was done in Sketchup, designed to be built quickly without too many details. Still you should find it at about an 8 or 9 in terms of scale. Idealy you will need the following:- FFF
- EPS 1-1/2 inches
- Tin or Aluminum
(For Templates) - A hot wire cutter
- A canopy
(or some carving skills)
- A low temp hotglue gun
(and some glue) - A heatgun or hairdrier
P-51D with Sketchup
Build Logs
There are no build logs as of now. Check here on Wattflyer for updates
Building this Model
- First download and print out this pdf file.
- Transfer the rudder stabilizer onto FFF.
- Transfer the fuselage parts onto FFF, each part is 1/2 of the section it represents. Flip the pattern and line up the green colored top to continue the section.
- Transfer the spinner (x2) and airfoil patterns onto tin or aluminum.
- Make sure the edges of the metal templates are smooth enough not to catch a finger nail, take care not to cut yourself. I sand down the edges with some 300 grit sand paper
- Cut up some stock EPS to match the sizes of the wing and spinner.
- Attach the airfoil patterns to the ends of your EPS stock
Hotwire out the wing.
(It's easiest with two people, start outside of the template and finish outside the template. Go slow and steady. Sometimes it helps to number the inside so both people know where the other is on the cut, good communication is key).
- Reverse the template to cut the other wing
It's important your wings match in shape or you will have a hard time trimming and it may roll funny. Don't be afraid to throw out a bad wing. It happens all the time.
- Cut the nose spinner by mounting each template on two sides of a piece of wood to form a "U" Drill a hole in the middle of your U and in the block that will be the nose.
Hot wire around the nose templates and then spin the U.
- Continue until you have a shaped spinner
- If you are using the Blue DOW FFF, it is possible to roll the foam without adding heat. You will be able to roll the foam away from the covered side. Otherwise use a hairdrier or heatgun to warm and then bend the fuse shapes onto the profiles
Glue as you bend, low temp hotglue works best
- Carve up or purchase a canopy
- Mount hardware, wings, and control surfaces your favorite way
Keep the battery as close to the thrust line as possible, or mount directly to the top of the wing.
- COG is about 1/3 the distance back from the leading edge of the wing, balance upside down.
- The wing may need to be stiffened.
The best way for me is to fiber glass the bottom with light weight glass and foam safe resin
A carbon fiber spar works well, but does not protect the bottom
A Layer of tape across the bottom works some but is the quickest and may offer some protection.