P-47D Thunderbolt

After more than three flying seasons, this plane crashed at the beginning of 2020, due to elevator servo disfunction. Because there was a lot of wind and the crash occurred in a field about 150 m from the runway in an allowed flying area a fire destroyed it almost completely. Because this was one of my favorites I will probably configure a new one out of spare parts for season 2021.

The Republic P-47 ‘Razorback’ Thunderbolt was an outstanding fighter, both in the bomber escort and ground-attack roles. It was the largest and heaviest single-engine fighter built during WW2. It was the last in a series of aircraft that began in 1936 with the Seversky P-35 and included the P-43 Lancer in 1940. Common to all these aircraft was their designer, Alexander Kartveli. In the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, he produced an aircraft that brought the formula to fruition and made up for less successful earlier attempts. A total of 15,634 Thunderbolts were built in several versions. The ‘Razorback', as the first models were called by pilots and ground personnel, was employed intensively by the USAAF and RAF.

This is a highly scaled, lightweight RC-controlled model from FMS. The P-47 Razorback 1500mm adds a slew of innovations to a proven platform. Based on the original 1400mm P-47, the 1500mm model features a 99% scaled control surface, landing gear cover, cockpit interiors, plastic cowling, gun turrets, retracted landing gear, and panel lines. The plane's original oil paint has been replaced by water-based paint. It's built with a lighter and larger EPO 52 foam, making the plane lighter, giving it impressive flight performance without weakening the airplane's strength. New CNC-processed shock-absorbed front landing gear with the latest 2016 FMS electric retract. A new KV650 motor with Predator 70A ESC. All servos are now metal gear digital servos.

Modifications

Used different types of weathering techniques to improve the look of this model. Oracover ironing film on top of the foam to change the look of this model. Added my own Decals inkjet printed on Testors White Decal Paper. Added Spektrum Airspeed, voltage, and Flight power telemetry. Put in Spektrum with AS3X technology 9 channel RX. Used a separate UBEC from Castle Creations and an Optipower Ultraguard battery with fail-safe switch PCB. Installed a sound module Aspire from MrRCsound with two Dayton Audio Exciters DAEX225CT-4 and the Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp sound to maximize the allowable sound pressure to 84 dBA at 7m distance

Aircraft Characteristics after Modifications

Scale: 1/7
Wing Span: 1.5 m
Length: 1.3 m
Flight Weight: 4.2 kg
Wing Aera: 38 dm2
Wing Loading: 110 gr/dm2
Wing Cube Loading: WCL 17.9
Power: 6S 5200 mAh
Motor: 1x 4258 KV650 Outrunner
Propeller: 1x 14x8 4-blade
Stall Speed: 44 km/u
Sound Pressure: < 85 dB(A)/7m

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B-17G Flying Fortress

Second World War Bomber B-17G based on the silver version 2 from HobbyKing with a 1.85 m span. This plane is called “Little Ukkie” and is based on “Chuckie” and “The Short Arm” both planes witch flew In England 1944 with the 486th Bomb Group from the eight Air force, This aluminum colored plane with the Victory sign on the wings bombed strategic sites in Germany and in northern France before D-Day, and after 6 June 1944. The 486th Bomb Group is part of the 834th Bomb Squadron and lost no aircraft or personnel on its first 100 missions. Probably because the allies reached total air superiority over Europe middle of 1944.

Mods

Used different types of weathering techniques and used Oracover ironing film on top of the foam to change the look of this model. Added instrument photo and 2 pilots inside the cockpit and a Norden Bombsight and interior photo in the chin turret. Modified landing gear with other tires. A retractable rear landing gear. Added Spektrum airspeed, temperature ESCs, flight voltage, and power telemetry. Installed Spektrum 9 Ch with AS3X gyro technology RX. Used a separate UBEC from Castle Creations and an Optipower Ultraguard battery with fail-safe switch PCB. Installed a sound module Aspire from MrRCsound with two TT25 transducers and the B17 Multi-Engine Sound to maximize the allowable sound pressure to 84 dBA at 7m distance.

Aircraft Characteristics after Modifications

Scale: 1/17.3
Wing Span: 1.85 m
Length: 1.4 m
Flight Weight: 4,0 kg
Wing Aera: 47 dm2
Wing Loading: 85 gr/dm2
Wing Cube Loading: WCL 12.4
Power: 3S 4400 mAh
Motor: 4x KV850 Outrunner
Propeller: 4x 10×7 3-blade counter-rotating
Stall Speed: 40 km/u
Sound Pressure: < 85 dB(A)/7m

Links

Spektrum – Meaningful Telemetry for Airplanes
B-17G – Aspire Sound Unit Test

Videos

Photos

MrRCSound – The Aspire Sound Unit Test

Tested the MrRCSound Aspire module with one TT25 installed in the foam battery compartment of my B-17G Flying Fortress. First I have tested the Aspire Sount Unit in the B-17G with a single Engine file of a 9 cylinder Wright Cyclone motor

Because the Multi-engine sound files of the 9 cylinder Wright Cyclone motors are not available at this moment, I have used the Multi-Engine sound file for the Consolidated B24 Liberator with 4 14 cylinder radial Pratt & Whitney motors.

And also because the TT25 was very hot I have mounted a cooling element on the element and modified the audio output of the Aspire card at about 75 %. Still, the sound pressure is very high, measuring about 97 db A at 1m. The test was successful. I'm satisfied with the result.

More information about this Aspire sound card and TT25 transducer you will find on the website of MrRCSound and in the RCgroups.

www.mrrcsound.com/aspire-info
RCgroups Aspire sound unit discussion

Photos

Spektrum – Meaningful Telemetry for Airplanes

I am using a Spektrum DX9 Black Edition Transmitter in mode 2. The DX9 possesses a number of class-leading features. Easy programming, 250 models. The centerpiece is its incredibly advanced voice and vibration alert system.

I am using the AR9350 9 channel as RX. This is a new generation of Spektrum™ AS3X® with Artificial 3-aXis stabilization. The AS3X System works behind the scenes to stabilize an airplane in whatever attitude you command. A. small aircraft behaves like a bigger one and can the more wind influence. This multiLink receiver gives you the protection of as main receiver connected to two satellite receivers. By mounting the smaller satellite receivers away from the main receiver in different orientations, the odds of all of them experiencing signal reflection at the same time are reduced to a statistical impossibility.

This RX has built-in Telemetry capability. This telemetry module keeps tabs on the quality of the signal coming to the receiver and send this information back to the transmitter where it is represented on the LCD screen and logged o the SD card.

I am using a Flight Pack Energy Sensor is designed to measure battery capacity used. By measuring the current the sensor determines how much capacity has been used by your electric power system. This is more accurate than a voltage sensor. Every 60 secs the TX-voice gives the used capacity. When the capacity of the battery is 30% the TX gives a repeating audio alarm you have to clear (push clear button). After this alarm, you have enough capacity to perform a safe landing (if necessary one go-around).

I am using an airspeed sensor (a pitot tube-based pressure measurement which measures airspeed from approximately 20 km/h to 300 km/h. I am using a switch to get the TX-voice telling me the actual speed at the moment I like to know this information. But more important is a vibration alarm when airspeed drops within a safe zone just above stall speed. This is a very good landing aid. Try to stay just above this alarm until you are about 1m above and at the beginning edge of the landing strip. Flare at stall speed when the plane is maximum 50 cm above the field and gentle land the plane and let the plane slow down on the airstrip or the grass field.

Offline, all telemetry data logged on the SD card can be viewed and analyzed on a Windows PC with the Spektrum Telemetry viewer. Some examples are added to the Spektrum photo link on this page.

Landing Gear – Modifications for Grass Fields

What makes the best Warbird for grass landing? Something with bigger and particularly sturdy wheels/landing gear. The Eflite P-47D is a tail dragger and with the factory retracts and stock wheels, nose overs are occurring on take off and landings, especially when the grass is not short. A good thing is, the landing gear is wide and there are possibilities to modify the landing gear to improve stability and take flying precautions to successfully take off and land like a scale plane, also on a grass field.

I have exchanged the 2,5″ (5 cm) wheels with Dubro 3″ (7,5 cm) lightweight wheels. It’s possible to retract these wheels. They fit the openings in the wings. Use a copper bus 4-3 mm to adjust the inner diameter of the wheels. Grind away some plastic at one side of the wheel to fit the wide of the wheel on the landing gear.

I change the inclination of the landing gear to use longer bolts and spacers. The wheels are now 2 cm more to the nose of the plane. This makes a real difference.

Take off with Flaps 1/4 out. Give full elevator up before gently apply throttle to get the plane moving. Apply full throttle only when the plane is already rolling through the grass.Take off with a gentle slope. Retract the landing gear when the plane is airborne. Flaps up when leveling the plane.

Landing with maximum 1/2 flaps deployed, and with a relative fast final approach. (approx. 45-50 km/h). Start losing speed when you are 1m above and at the edge of the grass landing field. Flare when the plane is 50 cm above the field, but keep 10% -15% throttle so air keeps flowing over the wings and the plane will not tip over. Retract the flaps when you have landed. If you like to taxi, don’t stop the plane first on the grass field. Always taxi with full elevator up and flaps retracted.

Photos

Weathering – To get a real Warbird Look

These washes from Vallejo come in medium size 35ml Bottles. There are 12 different colors. For this model I have used 505 (Light Rust), 515 (Light Grey) 517 (Dark Grey), 519 (Olive Green), 521 (Oiled Earth). They are water-based and so thin with water. The wash itself is made with an acrylic resin so that the surface tension of the wash behaves like a solvent-based material, but it has the benefits of clean-up and dilution with simple water. The wash itself dries in around 15-20 minutes depending on the temperature and humidity of where you are working with them. You can also layer washes on top of each other as well. You could suffer some light deterioration of the original coat of paint.

I started with the panel lines. With a small paint, the 517 and brush carefully fill only the panel line. Let 2-3 minutes drying, then use a cloth to wipe away some wash. Wipe carefully in the direction of the panel lines. The idea is, less weathering is better and you can always add some more in a second layer.

The second step is washing the olive green surfaces. With a brush paint the 519 and apply this wash on the surfaces. After 30 to 60 seconds wipe most of the wash gentle with a cloth. Repeat if you like more wash. In the middle part of bigger areas, you best remove more to get a lighter effect. If the wash is to dry to remove use a little water or isopropyl alcohol to remove more. On the lighter surfaces at the bottom of the plane use the 515 wash with the same technique.

The third step is to add some details like dark gun strips (517), rust areas, add some chipping with silver acyl paint. Most details you do not wipe with a cloth. Just apply a little and let it dry.

The fourth step is to paint some elements, like paint the machine guns silver, and dry brush the motor part behind the propeller with some silver strips. You can paint the cowl internally black. I have added I yellow tape inside the front of the cowl and use some varnish to fix the tape.

Fifth step. If you finish the weathering and you are satisfied with the result, you can apply a clear varnish by aerosol. Do not overdo because this only adding weight to your model.

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I started to add modification information, tips, and tricks, additional photos, videos, and construction reports.

When you click the menu " Tips Tricks" you will see a clickable list appearing with the Modification, Tips Tricks pages. In the future, I will add more and more of these information pages. If you click a category in the sidebar the information pages and posts with that category will be listed.

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If you like that I create an information page concerning one of the mentioned mods in the Posts, please make a request at the bottom of this page. I will try to make the information page and will put your request on my priority shortlist.

Please be patient, because I’d rated be flying!
Patric Dietvorst
Aerial Concepts Belgium
Member of the Lier Aviation Club

Aerial Concepts Belgium

Flight Simulation, RC-Aircraft, 3D-printing

P-47D Thunderbolt

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B-17G Flying Fortress

MrRCSound – The Aspire Sound Unit Test

Spektrum – Meaningful Telemetry for Airplanes

Landing Gear – Modifications for Grass Fields

Weathering – To get a real Warbird Look

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