Bomber is coming along ever so slowly. Getting down to a shorter list of things to complete. Next task is to get the electronics hooked up for the engines and bolt them in. Belly pan needs to be mounted after the battery tray is secured - still thinking about this.

No cockpits this summer - running out of time.  Three-bladed props are just for show right now - break in will be done with a couple of two-bladed wood props .

Things I have learned:
1) working with an ESM product feels about the same as shoving bamboo shoots under your fingernails - several club members may disagree 
2) two engines are exactly twice the problems but three times the work
3) no matter how big a plane you are building, it is a guarantee that there will be at least one area where you cannot get your hand.
4) did I mention I don't like ESM?
5) I am so glad I started making my own servo leads several years ago ($$$$$)
6) cell phones take crappy pictures
7) ESM is ... oh yeah, I already mentioned them, didn't I?

She's a beauty!  Looking forward to flying escort.

WOW!! That looks cool. I remember getting up onside a B-25 at an air show when I was a young teen. Tighter than one would think for a fair size plane. Perhaps that is part of the issue getting your big paws in there

Well, as some know, the B-25 made it to an actual flying field on August 4th and they can attest that it actually exists ( Hurricanes on the other hand.... ).

Had the engines running (ooooh, the sound of two engines was great), made multiple tweeks and worked out some minor problems. Just before getting the guts up to actually try a take-off, three of the eleven Power HD 1501 servos on board decided to fail at the same time - two flaps and one elevator).

Tested one of the failed servos on the bench and it started to catch fire right before my eyes - very impressive. All servos have now been pulled from the plane. Replacement servos have been ordered but it may be a few weeks before delivery.

Oh well, it was a start and I learned a few important things about the plane in the process. 1) Damn plane won't slow down on asphalt (think I'll like grass better ) and 2) with one engine out, I will have to just put the other at idle and leave it there and land.

administrator wrote on Aug 14^th, 2012 at 2:14pm:


SC-0253MG. They have metal gears, are digital and have a torque of 83.3 @ 6.0 volts. Designed for 30cc planes but they will work well on the B-25 - control surfaces are actually quite small. Biggest surface would be the flaps and I will have one servo to each of the four sections.

Hopefully they are not self-igniting like the Power HD's.

Steve Mosher wrote on Aug 14^th, 2012 at 12:22pm:


according to the weather channel there are at least 2 hurricanes on the go right now, so nya, nya, nya...... and RMA.

Look on the bright side Steve, better then the servos failing in the air  and or catching fire up there!!! 

Fingers wrote on Aug 14^th, 2012 at 3:58pm:


You are right about that, Sandy. I think I've figured out what happened - after sitting in an ESM fuse for a few months, they caught the ESM virus.

Back in business!!! Might actually see this plane at a field near you yet.

Good stuff Steve, better safe then sorry!