P-51D Mustang - Completed model

Here she is, complete with pilot. One thing I learn from this is to never, I repeat, NEVER, use domestic tissue again. Japanese is so much better. This stuff shrinks in weird ways, is not easy to apply and the finish is lousy.


I love the lines of that wacky Dick Baxter prop - which is pretty much as per plan. I used a yoghurt pot rather than a coffee cup.







Weight without rubber was 8.8g. Prop on its own weighed 1.8g. Here is a photo of two prop centre shafts. The top is a ramp type of freewheel clutch, the bottom has a Garami-style latch. They're both smooth, but the ramp is more compact so I used it because of the spinner. Spinner was made out of tissue pva'd to paper. Cut out a semi-circle and made a cone out of that.




Power is one 1/8" loop. So far, I've only given her ~150 turns. Stab adjustment was required, but no ballast at all (thus far). All indications are that she's a good flyer! Need a good day to try her out properly.


A very enjoyable build.

Free Flight Postals

Postal events allow competition without the formality of a meet. Each modeller sends in scores by a certain deadline, usually a series of times. Many are run on an honour basis - and I certainly don't know anyone who'd cheat by sending in false times - what's the point? In any case, weather conditions are not the same for everyone. So in my view, postals should not be thought of as "real" competitions.

Click here for a super list of some free flight postals. I was sad to see that the 2008 Tiny Gliders Postal had few entries because it is one of my favourites. The plus side is that Alexandre Cruz did a great job of keeping it going and there is good reason to anticipate that it will be bigger and better in 2009! If I find out the new website for it, I'll post it here.

Finally, how on earth did this patent get granted by the US Patent Office in 1975? There's no way it was novel or inventive at that time!