There’s some nice detail and graphics on the P-51 (above left), but more importantly the parts fit precisely and the plug-in main gear allows flight with or
Can’t claim any major inspiration, but at least it gives some eye candy that can orient the plane in flight, especially since the plane can be fairly zippy. The warbirds have all the graphics done for you, like the P-51 that represents the current three models in the series. It is EPS foam instead of EPO. It too, like the Zipper will be ready for flight after six assembly steps. The manual that comes with it docu- ments it and the other two warbirds in the series, the F4U Corsair and the Hawker Hurricane. These three, by the way, are no- ticeably larger than the Zipper
Only two tools are needed for either, a small Phillips screwdriver and an X-Acto knife. The X- Acto is needed for some very minor surgery on the ailerons and elevators. They have to be cut free from the wing. Part of the preparation will be the extra things needed to get the planes in the air. Motor, ESC and servos are already installed in both so an appropriate battery and a re- ceiver will have them airworthy. Both the
without the gear. An E-flite 2S 800 mAh battery (above right) had the JST connector needed to mate with the installed ESC. Gave a good 9-minute flight.
Zipper and the P-51 used Hitec’s Minima 6L receiver. It’s just the right size for both planes and has the connectors at the end of the receiver. That makes for a simpler hookup.
The ESC battery connector on both planes is a small red JST connector, so to save some trouble try E-flite’s smaller Li-Pos. They come with the necessary JST connector as well as the balance connector. Don’t count on one battery fits all, though. The Zipper requires a 3S 400–450 mAh Li-Po, and an E- flite 430 mAh battery (EFLB8002SJ30) fits the bill. Size counts here so it’s a necessity to check battery dimensions and the battery compartment area so the battery fits. There’s more latitude in the P-51 because it’s bigger, and surprisingly it only needs a 2S, not a 3S, Li-Po with 1000 mAh capacity. Couldn’t find the exact size with the JST connector so an 800 mAh 2S E-flite battery (EFLB8002SJ30) was used. Again, make sure the battery chosen fits the fuselage. So both planes were ready in a few hours
actually. The extra time for the Zipper in- volved agonizing over a trim scheme, then creating it, then applying it. The lesson learned here was keep it simple and it goes a lot more quickly, but I learned a few things along the way, plus the weather was, shall we say, a lot less than balmy here in the January Northeast so the extra time wasn’t much of a factor.
Before heading off to the field there’s something that needs to be repeated. Fit of the parts in both planes is excellent, and though mention is made of using CA to per- manently secure parts, it isn’t necessary. So in the off chance some damage occurs, it will be easy to replace parts with the replace- ments offered by Hitec.
Well just before loading the planes in the car, the last item to check is c.g. on both, control throws, and direction. On the Zipper there is enough room in the compartment under the canopy hatch to adjust the bat- tery position for the proper c.g. but putting it as far forward as possible gave the correct
This 3S 430 mAh E-flite battery (above left) was just right for the Zipper. It fit the compartment nicely and had the JST connector to mate with the installed
FLYING MODELS
ESC. Here’s how the Zipper comes (above right), in pure white. It definitely needs some color and graphics that require 90% of the preparation.
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