GWS P-38 Build Log and Review

[rcdude07]

Coming soon to my build table: GWS P-38. GWS US asked me to help with a project of theirs. They sent me a kit or two for free to build in return for at least 10 pictures and some video (hopefully) within 2 months of getting the pic.

According to the tracking number the kit will arrive Wednesday.

 

[SnowDog]

sweet...love the P-38....subscribed!

 

[rcdude07]

Since I don't know which version of the kit (no power system or one with power system (brushless, or brushed)) I'm getting, I can't order electronics. I'm hoping it's the version with the GWS BL2208 brushless motors as it'll make that decision a little easier for me.

I decided I'll be naming the plane after my wife, not a scale name that I can find, but one that sounds scale. When I started my P-40E build she asked me "You going to name it after me?" My response was "No, this plane was used before that was popular/the norm. P-40 aircraft in the AVG were given numbers." So the other night I remembered this and told her I'll be naming the P-38 after her and she swore up and down she didn't remember the conversation about the P-40.

 

[SnowDog]

sounds awesome, I'm sure your wife will like that...now you just have to come up with an appropriate graphic for her!

 

[rcdude07]

sounds awesome, I'm sure your wife will like that...now you just have to come up with an appropriate graphic for her!

If it's the silver foam, just going to do a simple red text, thinking cursive. If it's the green foam, thinking white or yellow text, not sure about print vs cursive.

To add some color, I like this CS with the engine art. I also found a pic of this one out in the field during the war. So if I end up with the green version, I may go this route.

 

[rcdude07]

Initial Unboxing Pics

FedEx showed up just before lunch time! :grrreat: :banana: :tomcruise:

Initial unboxing pics:
-a box in a box
-no damage to either box
-GWS included a GWS hat (looks like it has a neck flap to prevent sunburn)
-Also included are 4x GWS 9gram servos
-2 BL2208 motors with props included (not sure if counter rotating or not)
-Green color model (it'll be getting D-Day stripes and the CS I posted earlier

Need to go through and inventory it all tonight, and order what I need tomorrow (initial gut is 2x 25A ESC (with this motor that is recommended), cable to plug two ESCes into one battery (headsuphobby.com), servo extensions for ailerons, additional 3S 30C batteries.

 

[rcdude07]

Unboxing Pics

Took everything out last night and took inventory of the contents. It's all there per the manual. Also test fit the left and right wings and booms to the main wing. The horizontal stab did not easily slide into the slots in the booms easily, so I'll have to do some tweaking there. The foam feels like stryofoam cooler foam. The horizontal stab is not clearly labeled top and bottom, so I'll have to do a little investigation. There are indentations for panel lines on one side (which makes me think top), so I'll need to look online for pics before I get there.

Since I'm naming this bird after my wife, she has vetoed the yellow mouth scheme because she doesn't like the mouth. So I'll be working with her to get a scale-ish scheme.


I found 25A ESCes at Hobby Express (formerly the man's Hobby Lobby) at a reasonable price, so I'll get my orders done today.

 

[SnowDog]

wow that looks like quite a detailed user manual!

 

[rcdude07]

wow that looks like quite a detailed user manual!

The pictures speak louder than the Engrish (Chinese and English translations). And each step appears to have its own picture.

$95 worth of parts included 2x 2200 30C 3S lipo packs were ordered today. Heads Up RC is already shipping the wires (a nifty battery y-cable for 2 ESC support was needed and this is only place with one) and batteries. Hobby Express (formerly Hobby Lobby) got my business with 2x eRC 25A ESCes. Given the stock motor/prop combo, I'm estimating around 5-6 minute flight time per pack.

Now I'm hunting for acrylic paints to match the green, a long with a grey for the bottom of the plane, white and black (want D-Day stripes on my plane to add color/orientation help).

In the mean time, here's the training video on the P-38. I found very informative and useful.

[video=youtube;Q_DqFAbtrps]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_DqFAbtrps#t=0[/video]

 

[rcdude07]

Be listening to TheCrashCast for a special announcement from GWS US in regards to SEFF 2014 and the challenge TheCrashCast is doing. *hint: if you like GWS planes or want one, word on the street is there's going to be a deal on non-powered kits (aka airframes only) prior to SEFF.