H.Dale

My Feedback: (3)

How much weight did you have to add?

tevans55

A LOT! I did not weigh it. I put the plane on a balancer and put an epoxy cup on the nose and filled the cup with lead shot til the plane balanced. Then I added epoxy to the cup and mixed it up and poured it around the front of the cowl. I do remember it was about 3/4 of the epoxy cup was filled with shot. Hope that helps.

H.Dale

My Feedback: (3)

I am using the ESM landing gear but having problems with the stock wheels hanging up in the wheel wells. Did anyone else have the same problem and how did you correct for it?

Thanks.

Hal - Spitfire Brotherhood #45

Mpizpilot

My Feedback: (45)

every ESM plane I've had has had this problem. I just remake my own wheel wells using balsa

Duplicator41

My Feedback: (1)

Or get slightly smaller wheels.

Cheers,

Mpizpilot

My Feedback: (45)

man, I must have done something wrong. To get mine to balance at 107mm I had to add 2lbs 10oz.

Emil The Swede

You do not need to have the CG so far forward. I first tried 110 mm on mine. It became a bit nose heavy. Then I tried 117 mm and it was great. You need a lot of extra weight for those extra 10 mm.

Mpizpilot

My Feedback: (45)

I thought I read that 107-110mm was the sweet spot? So 117 is the number?

Emil The Swede

I have read that to, so that is why I started out with 110mm. Since it became a bit nose heavy I moved it to 117. The manual states 120mm and that will probably work to. She needed 300 grams just behind the prop and weighed 6200 grams in total.

Mpizpilot

My Feedback: (45)

Ok, ok, im moving it back to 117. Just bought a IBEC so I'll be able to get rid of the ignition battery and switch as well.

tevans55

Not to throw a wrench in the works but, i have had 2 of these Spitfires and they were very different in their tail setup. The original KMP version used a split control rod back to the elevator and control rod to the rudder with a small wire tail wheel. The ESM version has pull-pull setup to the tail surfaces and a huge wire for the tail wheel. I say all that because the instructions for the 2 planes had very different CG locations and I have always wondered if it was due to the changes in the tail weights on the 2 versions. Both of my planes have flown well with different CG's. I have always been suspicious that the incidence is off a little bit on the Spitfire as a number of people have commented that their planes fly best with some down elevator. Good luck and I hope this helps. If you look really close in this photo you can see the amount of down elevator I fly with.

Mpizpilot

My Feedback: (45)

Cg set now at 115. Split the difference. Removed the ignition pack and switch along with 18oz of lead. First time using an IBEC and so far really like it. I did get my butt kicked though when I was running the engine first time around. I kept have my rx pack leads getting real hot and melted two plugs. Finally traced the problem to a cowl screw that went through my throttle servo wire. My dumb fault. Got that fixed then had the engine running for 5 minutes when it shut off. Wasn't drawing fuel, would only pop. Was getting ready to take carb apart when I found the ball link has broke at the carb arm. Fixed that and finally everything seems ready for flight now.

kittykatjaz

Well over the weekend I finally have my ESM Spitfire flying. It is fitted with a DLE-30 and 18x10 2B Mejzlik prop. We clocked it with a radar gun on the brand new engine at 206 kph down the strip. This thing really flies fast and when the engine loosens up a bit for that extra few rpm it will be really interesting to get the max speed.


I initially had cooling problems with the DLE-30 but replacing the 17x10 Biela 3 blade with the 18x10 2 Blade Mejzlik and a bit of cowl tweaking sorted this out. After the first solid flight and a bit of surface travel adjustment it is brilliant to fly. Fast, precise, smooth and highly manoeuvrable if needed. Landings were straight forward no issues with nose-overs though you could see it is light on the tail. The gear is standard and has not been raked. C.G. is set precisely at 110mm. About the only thing I will try is a fraction more down thrust on the engine as it has the tendency to pull up under full throttle, though it is not that bad.


During the build I had to use shorter standoffs which recessed the carb slightly into the firewall and the pitts muffler is a J-tech for a Aeroworks Cessna.


Overall I love this plane, it is an absolute blast to fly with the DLE-30 fitted. I had a few flights over the weekend being chased and chasing a Focke Wulf 190 of the same scale also with a DLE-30. Both are so equally matched and it sure was a head turner for the spectators.

Jaz

tevans55

Beautiful setup Jaz! Would love to see a video when you get her up to speed! Might make me convert from my DLE 20.

oldtimer4759

G'day all.
Just getting into my second Kit, (dont ask what happened to the first one) I have noticed a few small differences between the kits, but on both kits the wing does not fit square in the Fuselage, what I did was to measure the back of the wing saddle and mark half, same at the front of the wing, then rested the wing in place, the marks dont line up, out by at least 5mm plus, so I twisted the wing and lined those marks up with the centre join of the wing, it was not a smooth fit, used a tape from back edge of the Fuselage to outer end of the Aileron slot, with everything lined up it was still 5mm out,
the flaps on this kit are a better fit, I had to put a temp spacer inside the tail when I glued the Tail Feathers on, just behind the tube joiner, makes them fit better, I am using 2 servos for the Elevators, with push rods, but Pull, Pull for the Rudder.
just waiting for my engine to arrive, DLE 35ra same as the last one, this kit is going together a lot faster, I can still remember most of what I did last time, plus the things to look out for,
re the CofG, I had my previous model set at 100 to 105, yes it took more weight to balance it, also raked the wheels forward, moved the fuel tank back all to help with ground handling, but at that CofG it flew beautifully, plus it was very nice to land, (give it heaps of flap), I also have the P-51, it flew well but it could be a "B" to land, as I moved the CofG forward it improved its landing habits, have quite a few flights on it now, very happy with it.
will still be a few weeks before the Spit breaks ground, am looking forward to it, they just look so nice in the air,
Oldtimer

H.Dale

My Feedback: (3)

tevans

Where did you get the canons for your Spit?

Hal - Spitfire Brotherhood #45

w1nd6urfa

My Feedback: (4)

I concur - I've measured the root incidence at +2.5 degrees and no washout at the tip, hence the nose up tendency at speed and tip stall at low speeds

kittykatjaz

That's about the same amount of down elevator both my ESM Spitfire and my Pica 1/5th Spitfire need to fly level. Plus others I have seen around the place. I think you will find it is a Spitfire trait.

Have a look at this video at 5:07 and you will see it on the real thing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=FzsJBjbCyvM Jaz

w1nd6urfa

My Feedback: (4)

Jaz,
Nice video, but I don't see any down elev at 5:07 ?

Anyways, full size planes use elevator trim not stick pressure for level cruising

w1nd6urfa

My Feedback: (4)

As per Paul Monforton the full size Spit has +2 deg root incidence twisting out to -0.5 at the wingtip.

I have yet to see an ARF model that correctly, therefore the "trait" you mention?

kittykatjaz

What I noticed is the ends of the elevators not being level with the stab as you can see in this screen grab.



I am far from a Spitfire or aviation expert, it is only observations that I have noticed on mine and others planes that I have seen.

H.Dale

My Feedback: (3)

Tevans

How did you spray the stacks on your Spitfire? From the pictures I have found nearly all of them had the white soot on the edges. Yours are the closest I have seen to the real thing. I was not able to feather the edges like you have done.

Hal
Spitfire Brotherhood #45

w1nd6urfa

My Feedback: (4)

I hadn't noticed that, excellent airbrushing TE !

RCSYNDROME

Hi there. I have it like this. If you moved to 117mm from 110mm then the plane should become more nose heavy....

maxmb339

Hi Guys,


Please some information about the ESM Spitfire 72.5. My model it is powered by a ASP 180 FS, total weight it is 7120 gr and the C.G. position it is at 117/120 cm. The weight seems too high, but I had to add much to have the right CG. I do not know why so much weight. It's normal ? my position C.G. it's right ? Please watch this movie:


https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=J9ly0G-rkTA




What do you think about it ? what advice can you give me? I'm afraid to take the first flight. Many Thanks for your help. Best Regards