Scale Build Off - Scratchbuilt 96" P-38 Lightning

[William_Conway]

That is a crazy nice build. I'm sure pretty much everyone on these forums is jealous! Would you mind either making a forum post about the fowler flaps, or just uploading them in more detail? Building an AB A330-200 which has the fowler flaps, and you have the solution to my dilemma!

 

[joker24458]

You, young man, have crazy mad skills! Scale build off? I think you have a great shot at winning.

Haha, thanks.

Sounds like you need to rent a U-haul

Lol I was thinking about that option. Might rent a trailer, we'll see.

I'd like to see a Bf-110 in this scale. It's a rare design on here, and It'd look awesome alongside that 109 and with the P-38's capabilities.

A 110 would be awesome! I may not build that model myself but I would love to see someone else do it.

Excellent build and show-n-tell. If he starts doing these using build-over plugs, or frames, I will be taken back a few years for sure.

Many congrats on the feature! We need to see some paint on this bird!

Thanks willsonman! Paint should be coming sometime in the next week or two. Still have quite a bit of work to do on it though.

That is a crazy nice build. I'm sure pretty much everyone on these forums is jealous! Would you mind either making a forum post about the fowler flaps, or just uploading them in more detail? Building an AB A330-200 which has the fowler flaps, and you have the solution to my dilemma!

Thanks! I will post more pics of the fowler flap mechanism once I get the outboard ones installed. I don't want to say too much but there is also talk of FliteTest content about my flap mechanism.

 

[willsonman]

So, possibly doing a building series session on your flaps? That would be cool. Paint...Keep in mind that the build-off closes in 19 days!

 

[joker24458]

So, possibly doing a building series session on your flaps? That would be cool. Paint...Keep in mind that the build-off closes in 19 days!

I think it would be an episode, not sure how well it would work out as a build session at FF if that's what you're talking about. The techniques for the rest of the plane build would be better suited for that environment, but still not the best I think.

Yes, the deadline is coming up quick, need to get working on the Lightning......

 

[bpw823]

I have access to CAD and a laser cutter, but I don't have as much of the workspace and I don't know all the techniques for that large scale Foam construction. Also, where did you get the plans for the lighting with all of the cross-sections?

 

[Tirick]

This is an inspiring build!

I have to ask, as I may have missed the detail through admiring the images. Is the entire surface cardstock over formers, or do you use peeled DTF in key (or even all) areas? I am toying with designing a similar build (not a P-38, although it is terribly tempting) and I would love some advice.

Thank you,
Tirick

 

[joker24458]

I have access to CAD and a laser cutter, but I don't have as much of the workspace and I don't know all the techniques for that large scale Foam construction. Also, where did you get the plans for the lighting with all of the cross-sections?

The key is to find a 3-view (if you choose to build from a 3-view....if from a set of pre-existing plans, then this shouldn't be a problem) that includes the formers (cross section of fuselage) throughout the fuselage and showing the placement of each former. Here is the 3-view I used: https://www.homefly.com/reference/p38.htm

 

[joker24458]

This is an inspiring build!

I have to ask, as I may have missed the detail through admiring the images. Is the entire surface cardstock over formers, or do you use peeled DTF in key (or even all) areas? I am toying with designing a similar build (not a P-38, although it is terribly tempting) and I would love some advice.

Thank you,
Tirick

Peeled DTF/FliteTest foam all around. Peel one side of the paper off and curl it on the edge of a table (with the paper side facing away from the table) to make it contoured. Then "wrap" the foam around the formers. I may (key word may) be doing content with FliteTest in the future on building techniques, so I won't go too much in depth right now. If that doesn't happen, I will likely write an article about it using my next big build as an example.

Good luck on your build! I would love to see it when you start building it.

 

[Tirick]

That is great, thank you! I will be starting the design in Blender, then printing the sections/parts out in a program designed for paper modeling. Might start a thread once I have something tangible.

I'm very much looking forward to your fully finished pictures myself. I love the P-38 and from when you've shown so far you've nailed the design.

Thank you
Tirick

 

[slowfly]

You have SINGLE-HANDEDLY changed the hobby. Most modelers NEVER bother to build to "scale weight"... But you've done it.
Can I ask you a few questions?

1. Is ALL the foam Dollar Tree stuff?
2. Do you peel paper off BOTH sides?
3. What glue do you use?

Thanx much: Stacey

 

[joker24458]

You have SINGLE-HANDEDLY changed the hobby. Most modelers NEVER bother to build to "scale weight"... But you've done it.
Can I ask you a few questions?

1. Is ALL the foam Dollar Tree stuff?
2. Do you peel paper off BOTH sides?
3. What glue do you use?

Thanx much: Stacey

Thanks for the kind words, Stacey.

1. Yes, all FLiteTest/DTF foam. Just has a couple wood and carbon spars.
2. Yes, paper off of both sides. Inside paper comes off first, then bend the curve into the foam (with the outer paper skin still attached; this will prevent the foam from breaking in half while you bend it), then remove outer paper.
3. Mostly hot glue for this build, I find it to be easiest to work with due to the short drying time (but I can also see why longer drying times would be helpful) except for a bit of CA and Foam Tac. I will probably try some gorilla glue on my next build to keep it a bit lighter, as I suspect that the hot glue did add some unnecessary weight to the build.

 

[slowfly]

Because of your foam builds, the three remaining balsa kits I've got are going up on eBay this weekend...
I've made one scratch Fokker DVIII build. From now on EVERYTHING will be foam.
1mm Depron is great stuff.

 

[rockyboy]

Because of your foam builds, the three remaining balsa kits I've got are going up on eBay this weekend...
I've made one scratch Fokker DVIII build. From now on EVERYTHING will be foam.
1mm Depron is great stuff.

*head swivels around*

Balsa kits?

PM me?

 

[William_Conway]

Glad they made an episode on it! Definitely worth the wait. Are the bottom of the wings on your p-38 open? Trying an A350 and I think that I will have to make channels in the under-wings for the music wire.

 

[joker24458]

Glad they made an episode on it! Definitely worth the wait. Are the bottom of the wings on your p-38 open? Trying an A350 and I think that I will have to make channels in the under-wings for the music wire.

The inboard wing panels are fully enclosed while the outboard wing panels are undercambered (open on bottom). Without the undercambered outboard sections, I believe that the Lightning would not be able to fly nearly as slow as it does, which was a necessity for me taking into account the size of the indoor venue I flew it in.

The flaps on the A350 (which is a beautiful bird by the way, can't wait to see your RC model of it) are slightly different than those on my Lightning. If I can find some time I may try making a flap system that is lower profile so you can fit it in slimmer wings, such as that of an airliner. I may even try to tackle making double slotted fowler flap systems more like what many of the larger airliners use.

Regarding the P-38 build, I am coming up on the last few weeks of the school year so I will be quite busy with schoolwork (more so than I have been in the past few months) and studying for exams, etc....my new goal is to pick up the build again after school is out and to finish it before FliteFest.

 

[willsonman]

Hey, I commend you on prioritizing your school work! I'll happily wait to see this completed at the expense of good grades. Seriously, we will have to meet up again at FF. You kind of caught me off-guard last year during my S-39 build and I wish I had taken more time to talk. Us builders have lots to talk about.

 

[William_Conway]

The inboard wing panels are fully enclosed while the outboard wing panels are undercambered (open on bottom). Without the undercambered outboard sections, I believe that the Lightning would not be able to fly nearly as slow as it does, which was a necessity for me taking into account the size of the indoor venue I flew it in.

The flaps on the A350 (which is a beautiful bird by the way, can't wait to see your RC model of it) are slightly different than those on my Lightning. If I can find some time I may try making a flap system that is lower profile so you can fit it in slimmer wings, such as that of an airliner. I may even try to tackle making double slotted fowler flap systems more like what many of the larger airliners use.

Regarding the P-38 build, I am coming up on the last few weeks of the school year so I will be quite busy with schoolwork (more so than I have been in the past few months) and studying for exams, etc....my new goal is to pick up the build again after school is out and to finish it before FliteFest.

Thanks for the response, the A350 might be the prettiest airliner ever! It's got a special place in my heart after seeing a model of it when I visited the airbus headquarters.

I've been developing my own slotted flaps for the A350, as the entire trailing edge of the wing moves as opposed to the split fowler flaps on your P-38. Most models of airliners use hinges, like the real things, but a lot of the time on models they are HUGE in terms of scale.

I might try 3D printing some slimmer hinges, and multiple prototypes for the wing shape. I've got a laser cutter and 3D printer at my disposal, so there will be no lack of prototype builds!

I'll keep you posted if begin to work anything out, but as you said, exams are coming and that takes a TON of time. I'll try to have a 1/30 scale (or larger) ready for the summer, as I'm not able to come to Flite Fest this year. If you do find a way to build slotted flaps without the use of hinges, please tell me, as they are a waste of weight and everything thing about them is aerodynamically irresponsible.

Thanks for all the incredible builds and great ideas!

 

[Inteous]

Hey joker, i am trying to build a scale MiG-15 in sections (ribs) like you did with this one, i got the ribs all cut out but how did you do the spars connecting the ribs? did u cut one long piece of foam and bend it? or did u cut it in that bent shape? also how strong are the ribs with the spars?? thanks!

 

[JohnnyJiuJitsu]

I have the Nitro models P-38 Balsa kit still in the box. 1 day it will come to life. The 90 in wingspan is going to be a challenge to store. Good luck with your project. Looks awesome!

 

[joker24458]

Hey guys, checking back here. To start off, don't get excited because the Lightning isn't done yet .....but I have started working on it again. Not sure why I have been putting it off for so long, I guess once in a while you just need a break from those long projects, I'm sure someone reading this can relate. Looking back, the time I had from when I actually started the build in February to the target completion time in mid-March, that was a near-impossible time span. Enough to get it flying but still quite far from completion. I should have started building earlier and dedicated more time for it right from the get-go instead of trying to cram it all in the last few weeks. Lesson learned there.

I was going to build another plane for NEF this year (1:5 scale A-10 was the plan - that translates to 11 ft 6 in wingspan ) but that won't be happening. Since I missed the deadline for this past build off by a long shot, I've decided that I will take my time on the rest of the Lightning build and make it better than it would have been if I rushed it. I am determined to finish it for NEF this time.

Here's all I've done so far....

I rushed the landing gear last time; the main gears was/are solid but the nose gear was not. Since the real Lightning had a free-rotating wheel (pilots steered on the ground with differential thrust and brakes) I decided to replicate that to keep things more scale, and probably more so to save time and weight. It worked, but definitely wasn't the best; turning while taxiing would put stress on the nose gear and weaken it. Another issue I was concerned about was that the 8 servos would overload the 3amp BEC built in to the ESC's, and that a 9th servo would only contribute to the problems (fortunately, I never experienced this in flight because I rarely, if ever moved all the servos at once). I have now completely rebuilt the nose gear, with the result being much sturdier than before and also steerable with its own servo. I have also solved the BEC concern by making a little DIY servo PDB, running five servos off of one BEC (through the PDB) and the other four off of the other BEC (through the RX). Now, the BEC's are each only getting half the amp draw as before on the single BEC which has provided for much more peace of mind.

Also I will be putting a satellite in there for some extra security, I've never had any issues with Lemon RX (even the DSM2 ones) but just to be safe.....

I plan to do a little update every weekend; schoolwork will likely stop me from working on it during the weekdays (and if I have any time I will be out flying anyways ) so I'll put in some work every weekend. Combined with Thanksgiving and winter break, it should be done by NEF fairly easily.