Cambrian P51 - finished it at last!

I've noticed a few people on here have either just built, or are building some of the Cambrian Funfighter range, seeing as I just finished mine I thought I'd post a pic or two. It has yet to see its maiden, fingers crossed I'll be able to get over to the flats sometime next week.

I originally had this pegged as a quick build, but in the end it took me 5 months, oh well, there is no rush. I've still got the majority of the good flying weather ahead of me, that is the way it is supposed to go isn't it?

Thanks to those that helped me during the build, mostly with covering and painting advice.

She is powered by a OS25FP which has sat in a box since the eighties but runs on my bench jut fine. AUW, dry is 2lb 10oz, needing just a smidgen of lead under the tail to get her to balance.

There are some more pics in my gallery.

Edited By Robin Kearney on 15/06/2012 21:41:59

nice one, looks great,

dont worry about 5 months, I bought mine at weston park last year, still isnt complete, 12 months down the line ! need to finish painting the wings and install radio gear

let us know how she flies

Hi Robin,

I wouldn't worry about the 5months to finish the build, I've taken 12 years lol! okay so most of the time it was in my loft waiting to be finished. Let me know how your's flies please, still gutted how much lighter yours turned out compared to my late 90's version of the Hurricane.

Mine is also finised and I will post photo's on here later.

Look's like your pilot has done some flying before you with all those kills clocked up down the side!

Nice model and well finished Robin - she looks great.

Great fun these fast as anything and really agile!

BEB

Here is some photo's of mine finished this weekend after being stored since 2000. She's on the heavy side 4lbs!

Tony, that looks lovely, really nice finish. I drew the line at adding the exhaust stacks but now, looking at yours, I'm thinking I ought to put them on!

Love the bit of staining behind them too.

Good luck with the maiden, I'll report back when mine has flown.

Thanks Robin, I didn't notice your's didn't have the exhaust stacks from your photo's, yours looks excellent though. Hope all goe's well with the Maidens.

Where did you get your decals? I had to hand paint mine!

Good Luck

Edited By Tony H on 16/06/2012 14:45:53

I bottled hang painting them, although I might have gone for a simpler scheme had I gone that route! Mine came from Pyramid Models, they do a large range for lots of aircraft and all in various sizes. Thoroughly recommended.

r.

Wow. They both look great. Looks like I'm in for some competition! I'm still struggling with the fairings on mine! I've primed the wings and can't wait to get the plane into the garage and fire up the compressor for the top coats. Not looking forward to painting the roundels- I know I could use decals but I might as well practice painting roundels on a plane I'm not super protective over!

Quick update. Maiden flight or near flight, the plane is too heavy at 4lbs I need to reduce the weight a little and put a 40 sized engine in! I will say this for it, it's one hell of a strong plane 3 hard hand launches and one hit a bush and almost no damage. The guys at my site where amazed I could keep trying it again after such hard hit's.

She live's to fly another day.

They certainly are strong, there's virtually no flexing in the fuselage. Infact I've just decided to seal the balsa with polyC and paint directly on top rather than polyC/glass (as I did for the wings) to try and keep the weight down. The issue with fitting a 40 will be that they're longer

I expect an outrunner would fit nicely though! Although I'm not sure it's a "proper" Cambrian funfighter unless it's got a glow engine it....

I think I might get my half finished plane on the scales (with all the radio gear, engine etc etc) and see what the estimated all up weight is!

Ben,

I think you're right about the 40 I may go for a powerfull 36 or 32 and try to lighten it a bit. The Plane caused a bit of a stir at the flying site they loved it, Everyone was offering to try to get it in the air.

I reckon you need the weight under 3lb's to comfortabley hand lanch it with a OS25LA with 0.6hp.

Cambrian FunFighters must be IC to be a true Cambrian FunFighter!

Tony, sorry to hear it has worked out too heavy, but I like the idea of putting a hot 32 or similar in it.

Alrhough having said that if you were seeing the kind if wind we had today you could probably slope it, even at 4lbs!

And as for Bens suggestion of putting a outrunner in it, hush man!

r.

We had some wind which I welcomed for the first hand launch and landings only about 15mph though. It needs about double the power at this weight. It very nearly took off but the bush got in the way at the end of our strip.

There is some minor damage to the wing dowel but thats about it, quite amazingly strong. My girlfriend took some video which I hope to upload in the coming weeks. Show's just how strong it was , it even cart wheeled down the strip at one point only breaking the prop!

I've managed to squeeze in a OS46LA without adding any extra weight, so I will see how that goes later this month.

I have no idea how you've managed but good effort. That's going to be ballistic unless you go for diameter not pitch on the prop! I've heard of them flying nicely on .15-.18 motors so a 46 is going to be crazy.

I think hot landings will be order of the day!

Thanks,

The plane will still be 4lb's ish so it's stall speed should be much the same, I was thinking either a 10x7 or 11x6.

What do you think?

I had to cut the firewall clean off and then shorten the nose by about 12mm so it would be the same length overall as the engine is longer.