trisdisp57

Just got back from a hobby shop. I couldn't stop looking at the beauty, it's just plane sexy looking. So me being me I picked up a top flight spitting mk ix. This thing is a beauty. Any advise, tips, concerns, comments. I'm gonna post pics as I go just gotta figure it out and charge the camera.

I hate auto correct Top Flite

trisdisp57

I have come to hate auto correct on my tablet so I will no longer use it. I picked up a Top Flite Spitfire Mk IX. I opened the box and first impression is... wow. that's a lot of wood. I comes with some plastic pieces like the cowl and it looks like part of the wings. I have taken out the instruction book to read and have looked over the plans. I cut apart some of the plans to make it easier to work on because the plans are bigger than my building board. so lets see if I can get the pictures to work

trisdisp57

Went an ordered a O.S. 65AX ABL w/ Muffler from tower hobbies. I also ordered the TF exhaust header O.S. 61sf/fx and the TF in cowl muffler .61-.75 for the P-51D Mustang to see if it would fit in the spitfire.

trisdisp57

today it was 63 degrees out so I went out flying with my wing man

It was calm when I lifted off but then a nice big gust of wind came up and stop my plane at full throttle. Lets just say it was it came down pretty hard.

I'll see if I can fix it later.

So because I couldn't fly that left time to build. Yesterday I got a delivery from the brown box truck that has been getting to know my address pretty well. I got my new engine O.S. 65 AX and a bunch of goodies for the spitfire. I also ordered the electronic retractable landing gear from horizon hobby. I thought I would try electric retracts because they were cheaper than the robart retracts in the plan. I did some research on RCU and a couple of other sites and they should just be a drop in fit for this kit with very little adjustment.


So I have read the instruction manual a few time and I'm going to follow along with them. I glued the sheating for the tail section of the plane and started to building the stabilizer. its pretty straight forward with the directions. The hard part is the piece identification is a little difficult to see on the balsa. so I highlighted some of the pieces and on others I wrote in the id's in marker. Rib S1 in the stabilizer was cracked but I glued it with medium CA. the Sheeting for the stabilizer I glued with wood glue and I put it aside to dry for the night. The pieces and mostly crunch die cut but come out pretty easily with a little cutting. I didn't get to do much but at least I finally started. If you want to see pictures of certain things or if you have any advice I will be checking this pretty often.

trisdisp57

I did hear that all Spitfire kits are pretty Tail heavy so I am trying to build it as light as possible without taking out the structural stability. They seemed to add some lightening holes in the stabilizer core that's not in the pictures in the instruction book. I assume that's to make it lighter. I am also using as little glue as possible. to not add anymore weight. I did use medium CA for the stabilizer.

C.O.

Subscribed. Love this plane. I have one in the process too. Have the horizontal and vertical done. All wing sections done and ready to join together but stalled at that point due to other projects and getting my kids planes ready. Looking forward to your build.

trisdisp57

hey C.O. please follow along.. You are ahead of me so please chime in if I have any questions or if I'm doing something wrong

Scratchie

I'm thinking about the TF Spitfire kit also, what have you found out about its flying/landing habits? The main gear is close together on a spitfire, I'm wondering if it's a handful to land/gusty winds?

bigtim

My Feedback: (13)

my first TF kit build came out a little heavy at 10.5lbs if I build another one I will try to do everything I can to lighten up the tail it took over a pound of lead to balance so keep that ail light.

Scratchie

Real nice looking plane. Did you add scale extra's that gave it the weight? How does it land, does it stall easily?

trisdisp57

Well I know I haven't been on here in a while a little update. While building the stabilizer and attaching the elevators I broke the wood because I glued in the hinges early so I have to order new wood from TF. It came in so looks like Im starting over again. New update and pics coming.

bigtim

My Feedback: (13)

it has all the extras,Robart retracts,flaps,cockpit kit,its also finished in water based poly and .56oz fiberglass and then its all paint no stickers.
it is a good flyer although I don't fly it any, I took a break to go back to school that I have finished, so I am resurrecting the fleet, my biggest issue is really the fuel tank area, and radio compartment, its very small I also wouldn't mind going with a larger engine and ditching some of the lead out front, I will keep a eye on this thread and when I get to the spit I will post some more.
I have now gone through a couple of planes and have a half dozen more to check out to make sure there ready for the field before I get back to the Spitty some old pics.

Scratchie

What engine is in it? Could a .90 and muffler fit inside the cowl?

TXAG96

My Feedback: (1)

Not sure about a .90 but here is a DLE-20 RA gas engine in the nose of the TF Spitfire.

Scratchie

can you please send some pics of the tail section? I know the Top Flite tali is enlarged about 19%, I'd just like some side views, top views and rear views taken from about 8-10 feet away - can't seem to find any. I really want to build the TF, but I'm worried that the tail would look too out of scale for my taste.

Thank you.

bigtim

My Feedback: (13)

mine is fitted with a OS 91 4stroke its a tight fit in the cowl if you look closely at my photo #3 the head just sticks out slightly I routed the pipe out of the bottom of the cowl using a inside header connected to a regular pipe and then the muffler it took some doing.

a couple of shots there Scratchie as for the tail its enlarged so you have better control as for looks its hardly noticeable and could be easily be reduced in size if thats your worry I built mine per the plans

Scratchie

That's a nice looking plane, Do you mind if I ask what the rft weight is - I would think that the OS .91 moves it around pretty well. Flaps?

bigtim

My Feedback: (13)

its right around 10lbs RTF a little over 8.5 with no lead in the nose but it needed a lot of weight to get it balanced out properly