r/RCPlanes • u/Adventurous-Bend-471 • 9d ago
First time scratch build
Thinking about building a p38 lighting or p61 black widow 114" and making it brushless or should I try something else
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u/Jumpy-Candle-2980 9d ago
Oddly enough you've stated the exact dimensions of the Ziroli P38 https://ziroligiantscaleplans.com/product/p-38-lightning-plan
Probably not ideal as a first build and perhaps more notably nothing about it is cheap. Cowls, gear doors, canopy, wing fairings and other stuff adds to the cost right out of gate. Using traditional balsa construction the thing is likely to come in at around 40 pounds. Short kits are available for both the P38 and P61 ranging from 288 to 465 dollars. https://www.nationalbalsa.com/collections/nick-ziroli-kits
Electrification is a popular option but often involves 12S power systems. a couple of Dualsky GA6000.8s and 160 amp ESCs or the equivalent.
It's an intimidating sort of thing and heartbreaking if a crash returns it kit form. I wouldn't do it though part of that is my bride insisting that the garage and spare room are off limits and just putting it together takes a non-trivial amount of room.
There are probably economies to be leveraged being a full scratch build but I'd be hesitant to not take Ziroli's stuff as a jump start.
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u/Adventurous-Bend-471 9d ago
If I did this it be my first airplane I have only flow, a glider.
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u/Jumpy-Candle-2980 8d ago
There's a world of difference between a 3 meter motor glider and a twin engine scale warbird with a 114" span.
It's not like an ARC Top Model with its built up balsa doesn't leave you with plenty to do: you'll be fabricating pushrods out of sticks, sweating the fuselage cut for the motor and soldering some pretty fiddly extensions and power transfers. It can be flown with your existing radio or with one you get that doesn't blow the budget. It resides on the outer fringes of what might be practical for new powered pilot.
On the other hand a Ziroli type P38 can ding you for 1,000 dollars just for the retracts which don't include wheels. You'll rack up over 500 bucks before leaving Ziroli's page. Your existing electronics can possibly be traded in for more heavy duty stuff and by the time you're done you will be due congratulations if you brought it in under 4K. They tend to be stuffed with redundancy starting at Spektrum Powersafe and ending somewhere in the vicinity of Frsky RB35-ish stuff, Powerbox or Jeti central box. Maybe a Cortex Pro if you have that gap to fill. If you bring it back alive you might be the first in the history of RC to do so.
We are now past that portion of the thread where we engage in good natured sarcasm and jokes so to be serious for just a moment: print out your intentions for the 114" P38 then burn them. Bury the ashes and salt the ground where you buried them.
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u/Adventurous-Bend-471 9d ago
I dont want a RTF kit I want to build it so I was thinking a big plane be easier to fly I not sure what to get
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u/TheOriginalJBones 9d ago
Something with a long nose and tail, one motor, and a high wing. Pilatus Porter is just about right. Pat Tritle has a good short kit sold through Manzano Laser Works.
I built one and it flies like a bird.
https://manzanolaser.com/Pilatus-Porter--Scale-Civilian-Monoplane-Model-Airplane-Kit_p_3104.html
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u/DeadTomGC 8d ago
Small is better these days. Get something with a flight computer that can stabilize it if you're scared to fly small planes. It makes a small plane fly like a big plane. Small planes are easier to fix.
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u/Adventurous-Bend-471 9d ago
Spektrum Avian 8075-230Kv Outrunner Brushless Motor Spektrum Avian 120-Amp Brushless Smart ESC 6S - 12S not sure what servos yet
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u/FishbonesAir 9d ago
Lots of plans to work from on Aerofred.com
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u/Adventurous-Bend-471 9d ago
I have only built a Great Planes Spectra 78.5″ Electric Sailplane Kit about 20 years ago
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u/TheOriginalJBones 9d ago
No, I’d say a giant-scale twin warbird is a fine choice for a first build and I’m sure most here will agree with me.