Top Flite P-40 Warhawk

[bonsairick]

Great build! Also checked-out your cowl flap build video - very nice. I'm working on the same bird. What size pilot did you use 1/6? I assume it's full body? And where did you buy it? Thanks for your great videos.

[PatBALEX]

@bonsairick Thanks...The pilot is a 1/7 full body from Centry Jet Models I got from Tower Hobbies...

[maestrimq]

Excellent work..we should thank you for posting such of great job. I have the same plane,The video of me flying it is in my channel you can check it there.

[TcrRCvideos]

Beautiful scale features. I have the .90 P-47 by Topflite, and a video on here starting it.

[WarBirdMan1]

Getting her ready to fly?

Is it possible for me to get some photos or views on how you did the sliding canopy and the cowl flaps?Thanks

[q8bug]

Nice plane, cool on off switch but be careful doing rolls and spins with this thing, the G's might actually shut down the plane :) Sweet model overall.

[WarBirdMan1]

How long was the built? Complicated build? Has she flown yet? How does she fly is so?

[HelplessMammal]

Wow, over 6000 views. People really like a P40. Building a Top flite P40 as well with a YS 1.40. I like the sliding canopy and custom exhaust. Considering yours is so scale ever consider going with a 3 blade prop?

[PatBALEX]

@HelplessMammal Yeah, a 3-blade prop. is a good ideal but I want to get it in the air frist...If nothing goes wrong I'll have it up Labor Day weekend.. Look for it...

[chevypower1930]

About as top of the line scale 90 size as you can do man.. looks great

[NoMoreAmerica]

Has she flown yet and how much does she weigh? I got a saito 100 and an os 91 pumped sitten in my stash to use up. How does it fly?

[PatBALEX]

@NoMoreAmerica Maiden flight soon...But I hear they fly smooth...And it weighs 13lbs...

[NoMoreAmerica]

Hey Im also building a top flite P-40. I was wondering How you did your sliding canopy, your cockpit kit, and tailgear. Thanks.

[PatBALEX]

@NoMoreAmerica I used the canopy that came with the kit..I made a wire frame to set the canopy on and squared brass tubing for the rails...The cocpit kit and the tailwheel I got from Tower Hobbies...

[zaiuswasright]

Great idea about the copper tubing! I might just try that myself! I assume it was sweat soldered? So far, I have a four stroke 100 and century jet retracts with tailwheel too.

[zaiuswasright]

I am just getting ready to begin my own P-40 from TF. Have you flown this yet? I would definitely like to see this fly! How did you do the exhaust? Where did you get the wheels?

[PatBALEX]

@zaiuswasright I plan to fly it this summer at my club's Warbird meet...This P-40 has a prototype home-made exhaust..I used 3/8 copper tubing, elbos and flex-pipe I got from the hardware store...The wheels came from Tower Hobbys..

[luix78]

exellent work!!!! it looks realy good! just add the panel lines and ribbets with some smoke with aerograph on the exhaust to complet it! it's gonna look real! use a film of barnish to protect the job for the fuel oil! then get a flat finish with a kitchen fiber with polishing compound!

[PatBALEX]

@luix78 Thanks!!!! It did have panel lines and ribbets at one time got stored away for a few years...Restored it and almost ready to fly...

[phippsa3]

Any flight video yet?

Looking forward to seeing this one in the air ;-)

[PatBALEX]

Almost had it up last year but some bugs got into it.... Bugs are gone now so I'll be flying it this summer...

[phippsa3]

@PatBALEX

Good to hear.

Yes ive been overhauling my fleet over the winter months. Been between 0-4 degrees here for the last few months, so definately no flying.

Lovely model you have put together there.

Good luck with the maiden.

[PatBALEX]

Thanks!! Been snowed in here in Cleveland...Working on my planes too...Got 5 of them ready to go...

[phippsa3]

@PatBALEX

Im just readying my yt/kmp Spitfire and Fw-190.

Getting a Laser 150 for the spit as the Saito120 thats in it sticks out the bottom of the cowl.

Which retracts have you gone with on the P40. mine has the Robart twists with robo struts. Still have yet to fly mine also.

I hate the cold :-(

[PatBALEX]

Robart 90 degree rotate puematics with robo struts.....

[dorvman]

Did you custom make that sliding canopy or did you buy it as a kit or what? I would like to make a sliding canopy for one of my planes but have never done or know how to do one. Thanks

[PatBALEX]

The canopy is custom made..My first one..Cut out the canopy and use wire to line the inside and hold the shape...Use squared brass tubing to make the rails...

[dorvman]

did you use any kind of special servo, or half to modify a servo to get the kind of movement and travel needed to slide the canopy all the way back?

[PatBALEX]

No,no working mech. To keep it simple it works by hand...

[jballzzz]

This is waaaayy scale...nice job Sir!

Best wishes!

JD

[PatBALEX]

Thanks...Got all the bugs worked out....Will be flying this year....

[Corsairman22]

Beautiful Plane. This is TOC material. I've scratch-built and built a lot of kits, but none quite this gorgeous. Very well done!!!

[PatBALEX]

Thanks Corsairman...This plane helped me get through a bad divorse...It kept me out of trouble for the 2 1/2 years it took to build it....

[italianjobb]

Very nice work Patrick!! I copied your switch on/off idea on my Top Flite p-40 to..hope you dont mind..

[PatBALEX]

No, not at all..Let me know how it turns out....

[TatTude379]

You wanna sell your P-40?

[PatBALEX]

No, sorry...

[b1heqh54]

Great build sir.

[PatBALEX]

Thanks!!  Love your fiberglass work.....

[manuelbeltranmeza]

nice nice work, felicidades.

saludos desde México

[Paintballboy549]

Hey, i love the plane. My grandpa worked on these in the philipines during wwii. Seems fitting that itd be my favorite plane. Anyway id love to know about that exhaust system and the functioning cowl flaps. I have a top flite kit here that has been sitting for years just waiting to be built. Could you send me a message on how you did it? Thanks alot, Tommy

[nebutch]

Nice job! I'm currently working on the same kit, as well. The thought of the working side exhaust system had crossed my mind.. it's great seeing that someone's already successfully done it. Any tips, per chance..?

Also, great idea with the gun sight/switch. I'll definitely be "borrowing" that idea.. :P

[PatBALEX]

Thanks!! Let me know how it turns out....

[gernestj]

That's a nice piece of work, the P-40 has always been a favourite. Is there a flight video coming?

[PatBALEX]

Yes...I will have a flying video soon...Just have to finish the flaps and balance it....But still unpaking from move,need time...Thanks.........

[ooganblat]

you do a great job with ur planes... if i were u id think about adding lights...(nav landing!, and beacon... maybe even strobes)

[PatBALEX]

Thanks...Just moved...When I get my shop up and running nav. and landing lights will go into my L-4 before I cover it...

[indy0334]

How much does your p-40 weigh, and how does it fly?

Thanks J

[PatBALEX]

It weighs 13 lbs. and it will be flying this summer. Things are moving slow for me...I finaly got my T-28 up and flying Saturday..

[phippsa3]

Love that on/off switch gun sight. Hope you dont mind if i pinch the idea for my Topflite P-40.

[PatBALEX]

Go ahead...Help yourself..

[hornitpilot]

nice plane you did a great job!!! two thumbs up I had a top flight P-40 years ago we spent many hours flying

[PatBALEX]

Thanks hornitpilot!! I'm looking forward to seeing your B-1 fly...Imagination,skill and love is what makes these projects worth while....

[MTEXX2]

nice job. never seen working cowl flaps : )

[PatBALEX]

Thanks MTEXX2... They're not hard to do. A light coil spring holds them open. Air-speed closes the cowl flaps. Keep it "simple"...

[JoseKagan]

I'm speechless!!!!!!!!!!

FINALLY!!! someone made an exhaust system which actually looks scale. However, the bottom is like a white finish which looks after market unpainted. But yet I realize thats a scale detail. Also, why are the wheel rims painted rainbow colors? lol

[PatBALEX]

Thanks JoseKagan....On most P-40s the wheel rims had covers on them. Some were plain, some were painted. But that was a good question ....

[JoseKagan]

Don't you want to change them?

[PatBALEX]

Not now.. Maybe later....

[brettwrb]

Nice looking, I like the gun sight switch! What is it covered with, or is it a composite plane? P-40 & 51 are my 2 all times favorites.

[PatBALEX]

Thanks brettwrb..It's a build-up kit. All balsa covered with 3/4oz. fiberglass resin. Next years project will be a TF P-51 Mustang with full working exaust stacks, real metal finish and a Tuskegee Airman paint job...Some people have been pushing me to do this for a long time.....

[flyboytha1]

It's About Time I Get Me Another War Bird, Looking Good My Man, A Work Of Art.

[PatBALEX]

Thanks Flyboy ! This is a long-time project and I plan to finally fly it this year...