gary mark9

sorry about the crash at our field .I must have been out of town when that happen .I don)t think we will have anymore scale meets at our field because my friend John was killed on a motorcycle a little over a month ago and he ran the event but I am thinking about having as memorial flyin next year.

radfordc

My Feedback: (14)

Yes, I was sorry to hear that John passed. The crash probably happened 20 years ago...were you flying there back then.

kittykatjaz

Well today was flight four and five of the refurbished Pica Spitfire.


The first flight of the day went really went really well. More fast low strafing runs up and down the strip plus lots of loops and barrel rolls also thrown in. When it came time to land I found that once this plane gets into the ground effect it just floats along. I had to go around on the first approach as it did not want to settle. Second attempt was picture perfect on the mains then flaps straight up and the tail settled. The engine did stall right at the end when the Spitfire stopped rolling and it was apparent it is still getting a little hot.


The second flight was just as much fun as the first with more time spent getting used to this beautiful flying plane. No dramas at full throttle and tracks fantastic. On coming in to land when the throttle was low, flaps and gear down the engine started surging really badly, so much so I thought it was going to stall before final. Luckily it didn’t but it was still surging on approach which resulted in being too fast. When the plane was in ground effect I went to kill the engine and bumped the retract switch and up they came. So it was a belly landing! Good thing I followed the advice here and trimmed down the exhaust stacks so they did not get torn back.


On inspection it did little damage though very dirty. I had to zap the fibreglass chin scoop which cracked so later will make a new one. The engine surging I believe is due to being too lean and as it was later in the day it was also hotter.


I cleaned the plane, adjusted the low end mixture and will have flight six tomorrow. Hopefully this will be the end of the teething problems. Will keep you posted.


Oh, I reversed the retract switch so next time if I bump it while going for the kill it will not lift the gear.

gary mark9

yes I was flying there but was most likely out of town . I was one of the founders of our field at Hillsdale.

gary mark9

Hay Jas are you lousing power at full throttle if you are the high end is to lean? when you adjust one needle you may have to adjust the other one that is most likely how it works for me .keep posting it is good to read how your spit is coming . I got 8 flights on my fifth scale spit wed. man it)s good to be retired .

WARBIRDRCER

My Feedback: (22)

Jaz, anymore cool videos?

kittykatjaz

No more videos yet. I can only get my camera woman out every now and then.

This morning was flight six on the Pica Spit and one thing has become really very obvious. This Spitfire flies like its on rails. It is a magic plane to fly and even though Pica got a bad rap for the landing gear placement. With the C.G. at 5 3/8 it is light on the tail but landings on short shaggy grass are manageable. Much better than what was first anticipated via reading so many forum post topics on nose overs.

The flight today was great but I am still having issues with the engine. It ended up at around 5 minutes losing power then whilst up high I brought the power back and the engine flamed out. There was plenty of time to drop the flaps and line the strip up and it was a textbook perfect dead stick landing. The Pica Spit levels out and holds perfectly when in the ground effect so it is a pinch to land.

After all the work with the cooling it is coming down to the carburetor suffering from a vapor lock effect. This flight I ran the low and high mixtures up until it was just off the 4 stroking but it still died. There is very little air movement around the carburetor as I have everything forced around the head and cylinder but that residual heat from the muffler and engine is soaking the carb until it just gets too hot to function properly. Usually after 4-5 minutes full throttle flight time.

So anyone else here have this issue with the DLE-55RA and the vapor lock? If so how did you get around it?

I am going to think on this one for a few days but some thoughts are insulated baffle between the carb and engine. Building a box around the carb, trying to fit some special air ducting to force cold air directly on the carb or all of these?

The rest of the teething issues are sorted so once this has been fixed then it will be fast formation flying with a Yellow Aircraft Spitfire.

The photo today is my Pica Spitfire with one of the other club members Parkzone Spitfire. The little Parkzone Spitfire is a fun little thing to fly

Jaz

WARBIRDRCER

My Feedback: (22)

Jaz, I think the heat shield is the answer. If you can fabricate a aluminum shield and affix it between the exhaust and carburetor that should do the trick. I would also apply some Mr.Gasket heat tape http://shop.mr-gasket.com/inferno-shield-reflective-tape.html to the shield too. I have used it for many purposes and it works for up to 1000 degrees. It is not an aluminum tape; it is a woven material like asbestos use to be with a sticky backing. Amazing stuff for many uses, and this is one of them. Hope this helps.

gary mark9

Got 4 more flights on my spit today the wing was a little gusty but right down the runway so all went well

radfordc

My Feedback: (14)

Here is how I did a heat shield on a 20cc engine.

WARBIRDRCER

My Feedback: (22)

Thanks radfordc, a photo is worth a thousand words. Looks great to by the way.

gary mark9

Had 6 great flights on EMS spit yesterday

Prekin

My Feedback: (19)

Does anybody have some idea how to make scale exhaust? Or where to buy some for 83" B.T. Spitfir?

gary mark9

I used coppper tubing because I needed nose weight anyway so it saved me from haveing to add led to the nose.

Prekin

My Feedback: (19)

I think, that you have a round exhaust, haven´t you? I want to have a scale Mk IX. shape.

radfordc

My Feedback: (14)

Would this work: http://www.keleo-creations.com/index...roducts_id=170

It's for a Mustang...but they both have a Merlin engine.

ForcesR

Prekin, I got these MKIX exhaust stacks in 2012 from a company in the UK at the following address: www.artfbuilds.co.uk. If that does not work here is another link to a site operated by the maker of the exhausts Mike Skingle http://www.bmfaclassifieds.co.uk/detail.php?id=172331. I also thought you would like the Czech flag colors below the canopy of my kit built TF 60 Spitfire.

Roger

vasek

My Feedback: (4)

Prekin, I have bought these (resin) for the KMP Spit which has 73" wing span couple of years ago, but they just might be big enough (?) they measure 17cm from the first stack to the last one. If they fit, you might want to post this pic in the KMP/ESM Spitfire forum, I believe I bough them from a RCU member there. I don't remember who it was, sorry.

Check6

My Feedback: (427)

Just picked up a Pica Spitfire 1/5 th scale. Need a set of retracts and wheels. Anybody have a set they want to sell? Email is [email protected]
Thanks,
Fred

Prekin

My Feedback: (19)

I´ve just want to say thank you for your ideas guys. I´ve never expected so many answers.

SIX GUNS

Fred check the want adds here on RCU you would be surprised what you might find

rcmichael

My Feedback: (21)

Count me in! I just bought one of the last yellow aircraft Spitfire MK XIV's .

WARBIRDRCER

My Feedback: (22)

Spitfire Brotherhood Update, we now have 242 in our squadron.

Welcome to the Spitfire Brotherhood

242.rcmichael

Spitfire Brotherhood
Start Date: 12-28-2011
Current Date: 10-21-2014
Roster

1.Warbirdrcer
1.5 Talimena Kidd
2.tfarmer96
3.KP
4.Helijet
5.Brad3301
6.MajorTomski
7.Daddysam
8.FireBee
9.denoferth
10.Landeck
11.jcpenney
12.jet22b
13.funfly-RCU
14.flyingpiggy
15.glazier808
16.Super Chief
17.verbails
18.jetjockey 3
19.triumphman49
20.Trent Smith
21.rtigg
22.saito18
23.warbirdguy
24.stephanmk1
25.Rotten40851
26.kenair
27.aerofalcon
28.DGUY
29.dasintex
30.Chad Veich
31.Asanders
32.hy flyr
33.dgiokas
34.Capt Easy
35.Meschmidt
36.Cal Branton
37.Pitts532M
38.dennymo
39.lovehydro
40.YellowAircraft
41.flyingchef
42.thrawn150
43.j-d
44.tevans55
45.H. Dale
46.bonemadderek
47.flyntruk
48.discusmike
49.HAM639
50.redtail
51.barron
52.Saramos
53.discusmike
54.tclocs
55.Vasek
56.Saburo Sakai
57.Nordicz
58.Orvis
59.Tony Iannucelli
60.Lifer
61.Crash Bandicoute
62.CRJDriver
63.fytrjok
64.mad web tv scientist
65.David Bathe
66.77chickenhawk
67.stimul8tor
68.hockeypilot
69.JoeSpitfire
70.Flakbait
71.SIX GUNS
72.spadsriver09
73.ForcesR
74.rogera
75.Hairy46
76.markhamregular
77.JL636
78.wpdunn3
79.Warbird 1
80.Moparmaniac
81.moto-x
82.baldeagle
83.2001az
84.schulze rocks
85.Skopik
86.Syd Byrne
87.albsurfer
88.KiwiKid
89.shanksow
90.JORDY200
91.mistermnkim
92.SuchIsLife
93.RCdude13
94.wphilb
95.hal_bert
96.prgonzalez
97.bogeyp38
98.TwinTurboZ
99.Jimmy Skids
100. SafetyWrench
101. Peter OZ
102. CAPT John
103. tahfiet
104. Pakcikjo
105. marquisvns
106. TheEdge
107. ahgoodman
108. F4u5
109. rcnats
110. John Taylor
111. Larry Kruse
112. Jim Reynolds
113. skysnake
114. Spitfire7856
115. Eds Trek
116. P51Tom
117. Wayne
118. Jimm
119. SteveD-RCU
120. jln1320
121. Moggy
122. 108buzz
123. Tobbe
124. blkangus
125. Mark Franke
126. Phat Reliant
127. flygono
128. Ford34tom
129. Seamus OLeprosy
130. facia
131. catboater
132. Chucksolo69
133. Hooton Park
134. perttime
135. spura
136. oo7fly4fun
137. RPRCBuilder
138. Scratchbuilder46
139. jchtr3a/John Harrigal
140. DLap
141. Klap
142. Capstan
143. N1EDM
144. OldScaleGuy
145. C.O.
146. Michel Gravelle
147. TTRotary
148. ARUP
149. rebranger
150. davidhand
151. InboundLZ
152. Prekin
153. A6TEXAN
154. oh44007
155. DougB1
156. sailormc
157. ccostant
158. Dweed7944
159. maddog 71
160. Jaoa68
160.5 Agent E
161. Bumble.bee78
162. ddemarco
163. dshorrock
164. Emil The Swede
165. smkrcflyer
166. f16man
167. peterduplessis
168. Morgax
169. goph
170. TimJ
171. paladin
172. Motoman326
173. Quikturn
174. kahloq
175. dinodigger II
176. eagledancer
177. tom sandiego
178. raaf
179. Spitfire 1a
180. mogman
181. salisbug
182. dcwwcp
183. nirtza79
184. LKruse
185. Flyfast1
186. mpro326
187. oldtimer4759
188. AZThud
189. DavidAgar WA, USA
190. David’s Dad (In Memory and Honor of his service to Freedom)
191. Capt G NV, USA
192. GregorB
193.KaP2011
194. Hawkflyer
195. taygher
196. rupa Switzerland
197. Phantom pty Panama
198.GWarden
199.CNY_Dave NY, USA
200.Rebel Flyer MN, USA
201.Alex A&MMODELS FL, USA
202.sparky4lawndart CA, USA
203.Owl NC, USA
204.Jim Branaum TX, USA
205.speed20
206.Maverick47 CO, USA
207.patrnflyr TX, USA
208. Sean Curry FL, USA
209. K5054 Ottawa, ON Canada
210.XTRA230 Australia
211.Mpizpilot NY, USA
212.nayo
213.THEJADEGROUP IN, USA
214.Hawk131
215.karel47 Belgium
216.MarkJ59
217.ArmourGod
218.warbirdmustang KY, USA
219.nigeh-2013
220.Ram-bro NE, USA
221.DocYates AL, USA
222.Scratchie MN, USA
223.trisdisp57 NY, USA
224. TuskegeeCO, USA
225.Spadkun Japan
226.Scott Douglas United Kingdom
227.TerryW MI, USA
228.KittyKatjaz Australia
229.chandley43231 OH, USA
230.w1nd6urfa EllinikoAthens, Greece
231.DraganRi Rijeka, Croatia (Hrvatska)
232.takiss Greece
233.goalie40 Calgary, Canada
234.sfI
235.gary mark9 OH, USA
236.iceaxe Australia
237. Sisu KS, USA
238.Sewerdude IN, USA
239.Ram-bro NE, USA
240.sopwith flyer
241.bpoates25 FL, USA
242.rcmichael CO, USA

If you would like to join the Spitfire Brotherhood please send me a PM here from RCU, or just make your request on this thread. I will track and assign you a number.

Never can tell when you may run into another Spitfire Brother some where, so join now.

kittykatjaz

This is the heat shield I ended up fitting to the Spitfire. I made it from two layers of alloy cooking foil glued to one side of 3mm ply with wood being a good insulator. I also opened up the roof of the cylinder air intake to allow some fresh air to bleed into the crankcase area.

Flew flight 7 last Sunday and the heat issue with the carby seemed better but it developed an ignition problem resulting in a solid misfire. So never quite got to the 5 min mark.

Fingers crossed next flight I will know for sure if the vapor lock issue is sorted.

Oh this Spitfire is AWESOME to fly

jet22b

Brothers and Sisters
I just receive this link from one of my club member who love war birds like we do!!
You never know what you find in a barn!!!
http://www.aopa.org/News-and-Video/A...lot/f_talltale
Enjoy!!
Sonny
aka
jet22b