Top Flite Giant Scale Spitfire ARF
#453
Hi,
Mine was pretty easy. Turned out great, too. I needed two canopies to do it, though.
https://youtu.be/3vQ3eopMI18
Mine was pretty easy. Turned out great, too. I needed two canopies to do it, though.
https://youtu.be/3vQ3eopMI18
#460
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Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: , MD
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Thanks!
I got the tailwheel retract installed and working properly, that was a pain! The air cylinder had to mount under the cockpit. Between my budget and the best local hobby store gone, in many cases I have to use what I have and make it work. Not always the easiest solution. I decided to pass on making doors, too much of a pain, so I've modified the existing cover to allow for a smooth transition.
Also, Installed the DLE55RA, servos and air tank. I'm waiting on my wire and connector order to come in to finish up the electronics. Not much left I like the plane, the cowling is the only thing that keeps me from wanting to do another one. I'd like to try out the H9 or maybe the ESM next. Keep hoping that Top Flite will do a Hurri or Typhoon.
I got the tailwheel retract installed and working properly, that was a pain! The air cylinder had to mount under the cockpit. Between my budget and the best local hobby store gone, in many cases I have to use what I have and make it work. Not always the easiest solution. I decided to pass on making doors, too much of a pain, so I've modified the existing cover to allow for a smooth transition.
Also, Installed the DLE55RA, servos and air tank. I'm waiting on my wire and connector order to come in to finish up the electronics. Not much left I like the plane, the cowling is the only thing that keeps me from wanting to do another one. I'd like to try out the H9 or maybe the ESM next. Keep hoping that Top Flite will do a Hurri or Typhoon.
#462
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It's just about done, preliminary balance appears to need another pound in the nose. No doubt because I added a retract tail wheel, a hatch with the switches behind the CG and of course the head turning Flight Lt. Probably fly her early next week.
#463
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Not sure if anyone is still following but I suppose to help others who may assemble one of these planes, I'll add some more information. Over the weekend I performed the initial ground tests and it became apparent very quickly that the DLE55RA was overheating (on board telemetry). It then developed vapor lock and died and refused to start until cooled down. With a little research it became apparent that this is a well known issue with this motor. The consensus is to add a heat shield between the muffler and the carb along with adding an intake stack to draw cooler air from the fuselage. I've done these mods and plan to add some baffling to the cowling as well. I also sealed the carb stack to the firewall using a plumbing washer. BTW, my DLE55 side exhaust with a B+B type muffler in my Yellow spit runs so cool you wonder if something is wrong, temp in the air is 100 degrees F. Anyway, here are some photos
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#464
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MkII, I've been following your re-build with much interest, I can't believe this Spit has actually started as a TF ARF! Now it really looks the part. DId you relocated the L.G. per the full size location?
TIP: To help with the air flow inside the cowl, you should open the space in between the dummy exhaust stacks, it will create a vacuum sucking hot air out. it was the only outlet on my BT Spit with a Moki 1.8
Good points on the DLE55RA baffling & vapor lock issue, I had to feed cool air into the carb via the turbocharger scoop on my Ta152
JG
TIP: To help with the air flow inside the cowl, you should open the space in between the dummy exhaust stacks, it will create a vacuum sucking hot air out. it was the only outlet on my BT Spit with a Moki 1.8
Good points on the DLE55RA baffling & vapor lock issue, I had to feed cool air into the carb via the turbocharger scoop on my Ta152
JG
Last edited by JGrc; 07-28-2015 at 09:48 AM.
#465
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Thanks JG, no I didn't go crazy and change too many things. I moved the radiators out to a more scale location and cleaned up the cowling (a real pain but worth it). My goal was to make it look more like a real Spit but keep the mods and extra parts to a minimum to save time. I'm not as motivated to build or spend months and months in the shop like I used to be.
As for cooling, there really isn't any way to open anything up in there. I completed the baffle work yesterday and need to rebalance it. Hope to get it out for ground tests tomorrow and if all checks out, it's first flight.
Here's the baffle work, hopefully this will strike a nice balance between scale appearance and functionality. If it doesn't run properly it won't fly, pretty simple.
As for cooling, there really isn't any way to open anything up in there. I completed the baffle work yesterday and need to rebalance it. Hope to get it out for ground tests tomorrow and if all checks out, it's first flight.
Here's the baffle work, hopefully this will strike a nice balance between scale appearance and functionality. If it doesn't run properly it won't fly, pretty simple.
#466
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Today was a success, first flight went off without incident. Best of all, the mods to aid cooling worked perfectly! It now maintains temps between 165-170 degrees in flight and no more vapor lock, even with today's 90 degree temps. The only issue was on the second flight one of the radiator scoops departed the plane. Thankfully we found it, I kind of expected it since I wasn't happy with the way I mounted them but I figured I would try what I had. I think I've solved it, will know more this weekend. I do need to work on getting the elevator throws and expo dialed in, as with most Spits, it's a bit sensitive on the elevator and I haven't found the "feel" I'm after. The overall balance seems fine, I'm set slightly nose heavy. The Robart wheels really effect the balance, about 3-4 clicks of elevator trim as the gear is changed either up or down.
Here's the Spit with my recently sold SEAC Thunderbolt II
Here's the Spit with my recently sold SEAC Thunderbolt II
#472
I noticed the muffler had worked loose, although no noise change in the air so not sure , will add extra baffling
55ra if perfect power, a kolm 155 ? Really ? That's over a big motor in a carf spit let alone one 20" smaller
55ra if perfect power, a kolm 155 ? Really ? That's over a big motor in a carf spit let alone one 20" smaller
#473
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Berlin, GERMANY
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Can someone tell me how wide the cowl is? I was wondering whether Zenoah 62 will fit into the cowl. I do have a bow intake for the carb, so it should stick much less than a standard carb. This is the engine setup I am talking about is here in this link a bit below.
#474
You do realize that Top Flite has discontinued this airplane, right? Too bad because I still enjoy flying mine and would buy another if I could. Maybe they'll bring it back someday!