kenair

My Feedback: (10)

I'm enjoying the Spit pics.
I was down in Minneapolis last week, Hobby Warehouse had the giant TF Spit on the shelf, shop owner Tom says its $600.00. http://www.myhobbywarehouse.com/
cheers - ken

scubaozy

I just received the retracts and wanted to install them but it turned out that one of them is not working at all. It seems like worm drive is not moving and probably the motor is shutting down because it is blocked. Anybody have an idea about how to fix this? Should I risk loosing warranty and open it up? I must say that I am really disappointed with Robart electrics, I have another set in a corsair and it caused quite a few problems, too.

Shaun Evans

Hi,

I've always thought Robart electrics are a bad solution in search of an imaginary problem. Plumb those air retracts correctly, and they work season after season.

JeffH

My Feedback: (43)

I agree 100% with Shaun. I have never had a pneumatic system fail feom anything other than my fault.

lrb75

My Feedback: (12)

There is/was a problem with the robart electrics. If you switch on power to the gear a few time without cycling the gear the motor keeps jogging the lead screw tighter and tighter each time until the motor cannot run the lead screw in the other direction without hitting the current limit. You can manually turn the screw just a little and it will free itself. I don't think you need to disassemble everything.

scubaozy

I am sure I could have fixed it but I didn't bother just sent them back. I have ordered the pneumatic version from tower. Shipping and customs charges will be added but I also think that electric are less reliable. @Shaun, did you actually use the HK Spit retracts? How did they work out?

Shaun Evans

Hi,

To be honest, I can't remember?

Katniss

I have acquired one of these Top Flite Spitfires.
The plane was not really even close to finished, so still a good amount left for me to do.
It did have a 60cc Gasser on the front, but one of the four prop bolts was broken down to 1/2" sticking out from the prop driver on the front of the motor.
I'm unable to remove that to try and replace it(must have had a ton of locktite put on it).. So, considering that only 3 bolts would hold the prop on, and probably the broken 4th one might cause an unbalanced vibration problem, I removed that motor from the firewall.

I have decided to convert this aircraft to electric.
Does anyone have pictures of how they did a battery hatch?
I'm leaning towards putting the batteries right behind the firewall.... Sitting straight up. This places them under the back end of the cowl.
Two 6s 5000 packs...if I can, allow enough space for maybe 6000 mah 6s for a bit more flight time later on.
The motor I'm planning on is a 50cc rimfire with a 22x10 prop. I have the white spinner that came with the plane(2 blade) as well as a black 3 blade.

So, how has anyone done battery placement on this plane for a conversion??

Katniss

By the way, the plane has pneumatic retracts installed in the wing halves already. They are the Vantex(hobbyking) gear that was sold for the Vantex 89" spitfire still for sale at Hobbyease.com. Last I checked, they had the retracts for sale at 40% off... About $95.
Oh.... And the fuselage has had the stock plastic covering removed and solartex applied in its place.
I'll have to paint the plane.
The wheels I have bought are the Robart Spitfire aluminum hub set.

Katniss

This is the installation I've done using the hobbyking tailwheel unit. To mount it, I used the metal bracket from the stock TF tail unit, removed it, then conjoined it two hardwood plates sandwiched and supported by two square dowel rods.
It's controlled by a separate servo than the rudder.

wantitbad

My Feedback: (1)

I have several of the TF giant warbirds but I never got the Spitfire ,Please let me know if you know of one for sale thanks Mike

kenair

My Feedback: (10)

back in May I was down in Minneapolis last week, Hobby Warehouse had the giant TF Spit on the shelf, shop owner Tom says its $600.00. My Hobby Warehouse
may still be there. call them.
cheers - ken
__________________

Katniss

Another option would be the Hangar 9 30cc spitfire at 81". Last I knew it was on sale for $539 at horizons website.
A little smaller then the top flite at 86.5".
I actually got one myself still in box that'll get built after I finish the TF spit

Mark Powell

If it's anything like the smaller Top Flite supposedly 'Mark 9' kit version it will be a scale nightmare. (The Hangar 9 big ARTF is fairly accurate.)

While I accept that in the USA there are probably not too many real Spitfires to look at there are zero excuses for the small kit one to be a 'wrong' as it is.

Katniss

Motor install and cooling fans. Batteries sit upright over the 4 fans. Air exit exhaust is through the vent on the chin scoop.

wantitbad

My Feedback: (1)

Thanks Ken I did get in touch with Tom and he still had it .I am just waiting on Greyhound to deliver my Spitfire .Thanks again

Katniss

Progress on my TF Spitfire.

Almost everything is done. Motor is installed, retracts, cockpit interior, etc. Still need to CG it and seal the vinyl graphics. The sharkmouth teeth decal with the set from Callie Graphics doesn't have the correct angles and is far too shallow so probably not going to use it. The air intake grill vents on the forward bottom of the cowl also make it extremely difficult to make use of that decal regardless anyway.

scubaozy

Katniss

I have the Robart retracts, installed, but not the Robart oleo struts on my Spitfire. The struts I'm using are from a different spitfire that just happen to fit.

But, I have a few other planes with robart oleo that should have those grub screws. I can check when I get off work(11 hours from now).

Someone else might be able to tell you for sure though hopefully.

scubaozy

Thanks, I found it in TF manual, funny it is not in the parts list of the retract itself. I ordered it at a specialized store. Where are you going to set your cg? I have OS gt-55 with pitts muffler, I left the preinstalled weights as they are. It flew very nose heavy. Now I removed the weights and moved the batteries forward. It looks like it will balance at 148mm with 250-300 g weight in the front.

Katniss

I think I set it at 147mm. I also removed the lead nose weights. I made a hatch for my flight batteries, but also have receiver batteries forward of the firewall.

David Bathe

Looks brilliant chaps... but that canopy? WT'?
Shurely they can do better than that.

Katniss

In the photo above, I hadn't taken the painter's tape off yet when snapping the picture.

David Bathe

No critisism on your work Katniss, more aimed at TF to supply such a moulded- soap type of canopy. The fit and finish of the real thing is shoddy to say the least.Shoukld be very easy to fake.

Katniss

Here she is out at the field. Unfortunately a maiden didn't occur as two servo horns in the wing were found to have cracked and split apart. Very odd thing to happen as they weren't like that the day before, unless they were hairline fractures. In any case, glad it did it before any flight attempt.
No I didn't over torque the screws and there's no binding happening on the linkage. Just some fluke thing.
One on an aileron and one on a flap, same side of wing. Maybe got caught on something in the car during the drive out to the field. No way to know.
There's no shark mouth decals simply because the air intake on the chin of the cowl is grated aluminum.