2025 Flite Test Forum Challenge: WWII Design & Build

[Zephyr1]

@Zephyr1 Are entries still being accepted? I have a design for a P-75 that I've been working on that I might enter.

Yes! Please go ahead and submit it and create a design thread!

 

[Mr Man]

We should do these competitions every year.
Maybe even do a “plane of the month poll”.

 

[Firestar119]

I am officially entering my P-75 Eagle into the challenge
Thread link: https://forum.flitetest.com/index.p...her-p-75-eagle-designed-by-firestar119.77083/

 

[telnar1236]

If you're still taking entries, I'll throw my hat in the ring too with a Bell P-59 Airacomet. I've always thought the design looked like it should fly exceptionally well at RC scale, and this would give me an excuse to build one.
Also, a question. Can we include 3D printed parts to improve the plane's appearance with STLs and gcode provided? Nothing that would be required to build or fly the plane but just small aesthetic details or things like servo driven retracts that can't really be built out of foam. Didn't see this competition until just today or I would have entered earlier.

Here is my entry:
Telnar1236
P-59 Airacomet

FTFC'25 WWII P-59 Airacomet designed by Telnar1236

I didn't see this competition till today, but it looks like they're still accepting entries, so I will be building a P-59 Airacomet. I've always thought it looks like it should fly great and it fits the bill of a WWII plane that never saw combat. The jet inlets should be plenty big to allow for...

forum.flitetest.com

 

[Zephyr1]

If you're still taking entries, I'll throw my hat in the ring too with a Bell P-59 Airacomet. I've always thought the design looked like it should fly exceptionally well at RC scale, and this would give me an excuse to build one.
Also, a question. Can we include 3D printed parts to improve the plane's appearance with STLs and gcode provided? Nothing that would be required to build or fly the plane but just small aesthetic details or things like servo driven retracts that can't really be built out of foam. Didn't see this competition until just today or I would have entered earlier.

Here is my entry:
Telnar1236
P-59 Airacomet

FTFC'25 WWII P-59 Airacomet designed by Telnar1236

I didn't see this competition till today, but it looks like they're still accepting entries, so I will be building a P-59 Airacomet. I've always thought it looks like it should fly great and it fits the bill of a WWII plane that never saw combat. The jet inlets should be plenty big to allow for...

forum.flitetest.com

Excellent! The earliest jet in Warthunder! It should fly great!

 

[FishbonesAir]

You talking about the XP-50? View attachment 246511
If so, that is awesome!

Yes, that's the one. Neat aircraft, though only prototyped.

 

[FishbonesAir]

If you're still taking entries, I'll throw my hat in the ring too with a Bell P-59 Airacomet. I've always thought the design looked like it should fly exceptionally well at RC scale, and this would give me an excuse to build one.
Also, a question. Can we include 3D printed parts to improve the plane's appearance with STLs and gcode provided? Nothing that would be required to build or fly the plane but just small aesthetic details or things like servo driven retracts that can't really be built out of foam. Didn't see this competition until just today or I would have entered earlier.

Here is my entry:
Telnar1236
P-59 Airacomet

FTFC'25 WWII P-59 Airacomet designed by Telnar1236

I didn't see this competition till today, but it looks like they're still accepting entries, so I will be building a P-59 Airacomet. I've always thought it looks like it should fly great and it fits the bill of a WWII plane that never saw combat. The jet inlets should be plenty big to allow for...

forum.flitetest.com

Definitely not an official answer , but as a builder I wouldn't mind. My public library has a 3D printer, and only charges pocket change to cover filament.

Capt Fishbones

 

[Morgan G]

This might be a silly question but do we actually need to bring this design to FF25? Or does it just need to be done by the time FF25 rolls around?

 

[Mr Man]

Just done by March I believe.

 

[Zephyr1]

If you're still taking entries, I'll throw my hat in the ring too with a Bell P-59 Airacomet. I've always thought the design looked like it should fly exceptionally well at RC scale, and this would give me an excuse to build one.
Also, a question. Can we include 3D printed parts to improve the plane's appearance with STLs and gcode provided? Nothing that would be required to build or fly the plane but just small aesthetic details or things like servo driven retracts that can't really be built out of foam. Didn't see this competition until just today or I would have entered earlier.

Here is my entry:
Telnar1236
P-59 Airacomet

FTFC'25 WWII P-59 Airacomet designed by Telnar1236

I didn't see this competition till today, but it looks like they're still accepting entries, so I will be building a P-59 Airacomet. I've always thought it looks like it should fly great and it fits the bill of a WWII plane that never saw combat. The jet inlets should be plenty big to allow for...

forum.flitetest.com

Sorry for the delay in response but 3D printed arts are absolutely allowed. I plan on printing the air intakes for my Do 335.

 

[Zephyr1]

This might be a silly question but do we actually need to bring this design to FF25? Or does it just need to be done by the time FF25 rolls around?

No, nothing needs to be brought to FF25 or done by FF25. It just needs to be done, with proof of flight with a build log by March!

 

[Mr Man]

How do you all think I should do the vertical stabilizers for the shinden? It's going to be mini sized.

 

[bwarz]

not a full commitment at this time, but if I can I'd like to take a shot at a Vultee XP54 or XP68...

 

[Morgan G]

How do you all think I should do the vertical stabilizers for the shinden? It's going to be mini sized.

foamboard and oversized i'd say, then you can shave them down over time to see if they can be made more scale.

 

[Mr Man]

foamboard and oversized i'd say, then you can shave them down over time to see if they can be made more scale.

I’m mainly thinking about landing. It’s a bit small for good looking landing gear, and the vertical stabilizers hang down from the bottom of the wing:

 

[Mr Man]

Should I just put oversized ones on the top? Cause I want to belly land this bird.

 

[Morgan G]

I’m mainly thinking about landing. It’s a bit small for good looking landing gear, and the vertical stabilizers hang down from the bottom of the wing

Yes I see your point, you could embed a skewer or popsicle stick into the vertical stabs to strengthen them and then have wheels on the bottom. That would give you tail gear and then nose gear is just basic bent metal rod with a wheel on it which gives you tricycle landing gear so on landing you don't damage the rudders. I would say definitely aim to have the rudders a bit more above the wing and less below, I think a test model would help you find out what the best amount is for this, as in cut away at the bottom of the rudder until you can't do more and then just translate that ratio of rudder (vertical stab but that is longer to say) above wing to rudder below wing to your final design.

 

[Mr Man]

Yes I see your point, you could embed a skewer or popsicle stick into the vertical stabs to strengthen them and then have wheels on the bottom. That would give you tail gear and then nose gear is just basic bent metal rod with a wheel on it which gives you tricycle landing gear so on landing you don't damage the rudders. I would say definitely aim to have the rudders a bit more above the wing and less below, I think a test model would help you find out what the best amount is for this, as in cut away at the bottom of the rudder until you can't do more and then just translate that ratio of rudder (vertical stab but that is longer to say) above wing to rudder below wing to your final design.

The problem with shortening the bottom of the rudder is that upon landing, the prop won’t clear.

 

[Mr Man]

Here’s the J7W2 Shinden:

 

[Mr Man]

And now a turbine version: