Pete Builds the Pica P 51 - D Mustang

   Pica 1/5th near scale Mustang build  part one

 

 Back in 2020 the start of  Covid lock down  I dug the Two 1/5th scale Pica kits I had tucked away in my garage One being the Mustang the other a Spitfire kit  bought years earlier, as I had just completed a 1/6th Mick Reeves MK16 spitfire  I choose to start the Mustang, some two years later  I  got to run up the Moki 210  Engine   in the  garden..  so here are pics taken during my build  not blow by blow,   Maybe not in the correct order, I  spent hours looking at Mustang pics & forums  and I came across  a complete  Mustang Build topic on  RCU build by Szempruw link  I found this to be of great help during my build, I know much about Spitfires, Hurricanes & Wyverns  etc,  If you read  my blog of  models I have built & they have all flown..  Very little Knowledge regards Mustangs  I never intended to do as much detail as I have, although  the cockpit is very sparse as regards all the levers & trimmings  can't be seen in the air or from 5 mtrs static Judging.. I once spent a long time doing  a Spitfire  Cockpit  turned out as I had not submitted a photo the  two F4c  judges were  not interested  the only F4c comp i have entered .. others Being Clubman, F4H,  and Standoff scale...  Adding a few rivets  or screws I could not help myself  as it does change from a toy plane to a  near scale model one..  I have tried to make my model look like Kermit Weeks version  of Cripes A' Mighty 3rd..  The weight of this  model with the  Robart  Pneumatic retracts  + 51/2" wheels  all up =  is 22lbs  Cg 1.5" back from plan, others recommend 1 inch in front of the main spar, the author of the plan  put the cg nose heavy for the   Inexperienced pilot I read, add to that a full tank of fuel  at the forward tank position I believe would make flying difficult it may fly?..   Because those with a very much rearward CG   DON'T for long.😢.

After starting  this Build I discovered my son had just purchased A 3D printer,😊  I seconded him  into making scale printed parts  the  radio & battery  Gunsite  Prop & spinner   + I got him to make parts for a friends Typhoon build,  all the parts are his first efforts,  He's the wiz not me, Thankyou son.

 Apology for the strange arrangement of the images  for some reason  they don't stay in place  when setting out draft , ie neat   layout and order  did mange a few 3in a row  then the layout fought back???..    Click on Images to Enlarge.....   To read other posts  Click on More posts

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Actually above, this is the 1/6th scale version  built by Dave Knott as a club model,  He confirms it flies really well  cg is back 1.5 inches from plan position..

              The following photos are of the build,I started with the rudder & fin a lot of lighting holes.      

Rudder & fin simple jig to for litho plate trim tab  actuator, the 1/5th scale Pinking shears made by a club mate for Dave Knott's  Hawker Hurricane F4c model rib tapes, I borrowed them when I found out the Mustang rudder  has doped fabric covering on it .
                                  

                                                                     

                                             Rib tapes added  to rudder, Tail plane & elevator completed too                                                  

 framing up the fuselage as per instructions

 Next job is support & invert the top fuselage  Add top formers & engine bearers, 3/8" wing seat

Left photo of tail wheel retract  assembly made after  reading though  the RCU Mustang topic by

Szempruw, temporary fitting position  of my version

 Tail wheel former made from 3/8" ply note slots for  closed loop steering.

Rear sheeting completed  

Not over happy with the cowl so decided to  split the cowl below the spinner & fair in the top  using  3/4  balsa planking  rough shaped  section on the bandsaw, temporary fixed engine and  140 mm dia spinner  sanded  balsa to match contour

 stainless steel silencer homemade   actually it was for a Hawker tempest  but rehomed here,

balsa rebated to flush fit lower cowling I did this mod before  I checked out where the panel line were

 Doh!  

next stage is the  removable air scoop build and hollowing out the blocks of balsa as this part covers the wing bolt access 

 I also opted to open up the rad & oil cooler vents

 The next action is to make the scale panel louvers to help ventilation as i did not like the kit version ..

 Balsa rebated to flush fit vent

for some reason the images won't place 3 inline

 Next job was the  exhausts theses from  carbercomposits.com  Marking out positions on fuselage cut out to insert  covers, I fixed in position though  the 3rd  exhaust outlet  using hex drive servo screw.

 Blue foam called into action to shape molding for instrument panel using  epoxy carbon cloth

 

 Callie graphics Instrument panel
The start of making opening canopy after much debate, I started the internal frame using Balsa and carving to shape  It's not easy !! & again using idea's from  the RCU forum.. I completed all the cladding in litho plate  and temp fixed the complete canopy on the fuselage before separation  for that purpose a fine blade razor saw was used ..

 side panel template

 canopy glue used to attach pane

                               

 test fit

 the front section was screwed in place  

 These parts 3D printed by my son 

 

End result  Battery & radio.. 

rear spar added

                                                                                                                  

joining both halves

 flap

 RRDS  for flaps   hard laminate lined ply box

start of wing sheeting 3/16" balsa

 pushed for space here 

  Shear webbing both side of main spar out to wing tips   flap & aileron & retract unit  temp fitted, Ribs reinforced  around   retract mounting

 Marking  parcel tape to lay up carbon fibre  doors

 Wing sheeting top first then turned over bottom sheeted using kit jigs for washout..

 Door cut to shape  position marked on balsa  
 ready for opening  up wheel bay

  carbon lay up curing Resin

  Door Air ram ball link connector

  

 litho, wheel rub  protector

Outer & inner door

complete wing including wing tips 
2oz glass cloth then one coat epoxy resin light sand smooth  then  rattle can spray several coats 

 

high build acrylic sanded  using wet & dry  between coats  to a finish ready for panel line tape 0.005 chrome  nail striping tape (bought via that  well known  auction site) next another coat of  std primer  when dry sand back  to reveal tapes  add any rivets  raised or spot welded ..   use a pin to tease out an tape end pull back on itself  and admire the results  you may wish to leave tapes,  Choices choices..  

       

 Door and air ram  in place with bit of fiddling.Below is the tail wheel that was purchased from Dave Tilbury bespoke parts   items available here link.

 problem loading  photos now so going to be a part Two.. Here