Top RC Models MkIV full Composite Spitfire-a game changer
#51

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Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Lubbock, TX
Posts: 902

Sorry to ask, but I'm confused. Is it Gator RC or Magnum RC that is the distributor. I must have missed it...
#52

Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Ottawa, ON, CANADA
Posts: 683

Roger
#53

Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Louisville,
KY
Posts: 1,265

One importer and several distributors.
#54

My Feedback: (41)
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Hoffman Estates,
IL
Posts: 2,331

Gator-RC.com is the distributor/ Importer for TopRCModel. As of now the only dealer that we have is Magnum. The dealer network will be very limited.
Gator-RC.com is setup for direct sales also.
Gator-RC is a company that has been around for over 40 years. Gator RC Products are well known. We sell an extensive line of our in house produced products.
My main company till now has been F3AUnlimited.com It features Pattern planes and we are the worlds largest retailer and producers of F3a/ Pattern related products. We list and stock over 1100 items.
When we took over the deal to sell the TopRCModel line we decided to split the duties between two sites/stores as to not dilute the F3AUnlimited pattern related site.
Thus here we are. I assure everyone that we are not a fly by night dealer. We have an established reputation. You can trust us to do a great job with Gator-RC.com
The Spitfire is now up for sale. As stated before our inventory is limited. The planes will ship to customers in about 4 to 5 weeks.
Also there have been some questions about the retract sets for the planes. They are electric and made specific for each plane.
TopRCModel vows that they are working well and each set is 100% Guaranteed by them and us.
They are a great value and all have been thoroughly bench tested.
Feel free to call us to get more info.
We can be reached at 800 380 9373
Thanks for the privilege of serving you in the future. I look forward to going to many events and getting to know the Scale fliers and enthusiasts.
Mike Mueller
Gator-RC.com, F3AUnlimited.com and Power Unlimited Lipo's
Gator-RC.com is setup for direct sales also.
Gator-RC is a company that has been around for over 40 years. Gator RC Products are well known. We sell an extensive line of our in house produced products.
My main company till now has been F3AUnlimited.com It features Pattern planes and we are the worlds largest retailer and producers of F3a/ Pattern related products. We list and stock over 1100 items.
When we took over the deal to sell the TopRCModel line we decided to split the duties between two sites/stores as to not dilute the F3AUnlimited pattern related site.
Thus here we are. I assure everyone that we are not a fly by night dealer. We have an established reputation. You can trust us to do a great job with Gator-RC.com
The Spitfire is now up for sale. As stated before our inventory is limited. The planes will ship to customers in about 4 to 5 weeks.
Also there have been some questions about the retract sets for the planes. They are electric and made specific for each plane.
TopRCModel vows that they are working well and each set is 100% Guaranteed by them and us.
They are a great value and all have been thoroughly bench tested.
Feel free to call us to get more info.
We can be reached at 800 380 9373
Thanks for the privilege of serving you in the future. I look forward to going to many events and getting to know the Scale fliers and enthusiasts.
Mike Mueller
Gator-RC.com, F3AUnlimited.com and Power Unlimited Lipo's
Last edited by mups53; 04-15-2015 at 06:59 AM.
#55

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Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Torrington, CT
Posts: 287

Mike, the P-51 in the pictures above, is that the the new TopRC P-51? Are there any more pic? When is it scheduled for release?
Thanx, Mark
Thanx, Mark
#56

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Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Hoffman Estates,
IL
Posts: 2,331

Hi Mark the P51D and the Zero are both 5th scale by TopRcModel. All are scheduled for a mid to late summer release. Both are spectacular.
I'm working to get more pictures and info very soon.
Thanks for your interest
Mike Mueller
I'm working to get more pictures and info very soon.
Thanks for your interest
Mike Mueller
#57

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Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: farmingtom,
MN
Posts: 1,491

How about an unpainted version of the P-51?
#58
Junior Member

I notice on the box it also lists an electric power suggestion. Looks like the canopy hatch is pretty big, giving a lot of access possibly... Would love to see some photos of what sort of hardware it comes with. What about retracts for this model? Mounts?


#59

Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Lier, NORWAY
Posts: 485

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cD3OfTgoyw
Still some details, antenna, wheel doors, pilot, scoop under cowling and two coolers on bottom side of wings and weathering ;-)
Just had to maiden this beauty ;-)
Still some details, antenna, wheel doors, pilot, scoop under cowling and two coolers on bottom side of wings and weathering ;-)
Just had to maiden this beauty ;-)
Last edited by affas; 04-22-2015 at 02:21 PM.
#60
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Navarre, FL
Posts: 264

Great flight! Looks like she was airborne before you were ready for her! Do you mind posting a rundown on what parts you used (engine, prop, servos, etc...), and any pitfalls you ran into? How much did you open up the cowl for the motor...was that primairly driven by cooling or clearance requirements? Would you mind posting a few photos? Sorry for asking a bunch of questions...I have one of these coming in a month (+ or -) and would appreciate any SA you can give me!
#61

Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Lier, NORWAY
Posts: 485

Hi, no problem @zrooster
I used Savox 0251Mg all places. A old Saito FG 36 with a lot of problems before I let Adrian at www.ch-ignitions.com install new carb and ignition. Just a big difference...
I probably did open the cowling more than I needed but alot of deadstick are due to high engine temp and I hate missing a bird in deadstick and open enough to get rid of the heat. This is for me a daily warbird and not an excact scale competition birs.
I also had to remove the firewall and glue/reinforce it approx 1 cm aft of original firewall.
I did not have any rudder,aileron or elevator travel so took it by eyeballing. CG is at 13 cm from leading edge and I think it could be at 12-12,5 cm. She feels a little aft heavy but not critical at all.














I used Savox 0251Mg all places. A old Saito FG 36 with a lot of problems before I let Adrian at www.ch-ignitions.com install new carb and ignition. Just a big difference...
I probably did open the cowling more than I needed but alot of deadstick are due to high engine temp and I hate missing a bird in deadstick and open enough to get rid of the heat. This is for me a daily warbird and not an excact scale competition birs.
I also had to remove the firewall and glue/reinforce it approx 1 cm aft of original firewall.
I did not have any rudder,aileron or elevator travel so took it by eyeballing. CG is at 13 cm from leading edge and I think it could be at 12-12,5 cm. She feels a little aft heavy but not critical at all.
#62
Senior Member
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Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: EllinikoAthens, GREECE
Posts: 1,079

Nice maiden Alf !
And perfect 3-point landing, very scale
And perfect 3-point landing, very scale
#63

Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Ottawa, ON, CANADA
Posts: 683

Hello affas; after watching your video I was trying to figure out what engine you had installed in the Spitfire. From the exhaust note I was guessing it was an OS 4 cycle engine. I was very surprised when you mentioned it was an FG-36! My FG-36 sounds totally different than yours, and you are using the same stock muffler, as I am. Did the addition of the CH ignition actually change the exhaust note, or did your FG-36 always sound the same as it does now? Will your add an extension to the muffler exhaust pipe to allow it to exit through the cowl scoop?
Roger
Roger
#64
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Navarre, FL
Posts: 264

Affas, thanks for the information! I've got an EME 35 ready to hang on her when she gets here, and have a spectrum telemetry system with a temp prob...I plan on doing a few static runs and open it up as required. If it's cool enough on a static run, it should be cool enough airborne! Do you know what your all up weight is?
#65
Senior Member
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Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: EllinikoAthens, GREECE
Posts: 1,079

I got one too, very impressed with the build quality
I seek scale looks and details and usually spend a couple of months bashing an ARF to make it look better. Usually I recover the wings with Fliteskin (as a better alternative to glassing), add scale control surfaces with shrouds and hidden controls, add panels - rivets followed by a good paint job and weathering.
Some examples in these threads:
KMP F8-F Bearcat
Help! Covering Spitfire wings with FliteSkin
Now with this new TopRC ARF you get most of that out of the box:
- Full composite airframe and wings
- scale control surfaces
- nice thin airfoils and wingtips
I seek scale looks and details and usually spend a couple of months bashing an ARF to make it look better. Usually I recover the wings with Fliteskin (as a better alternative to glassing), add scale control surfaces with shrouds and hidden controls, add panels - rivets followed by a good paint job and weathering.
Some examples in these threads:
KMP F8-F Bearcat
Help! Covering Spitfire wings with FliteSkin
Now with this new TopRC ARF you get most of that out of the box:
- Full composite airframe and wings
- scale control surfaces
- nice thin airfoils and wingtips
#66
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A few pics after unboxing and a quick dress rehearsal to make sure parts fit:

#67
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Airfoil and tips:



#68
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Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Navarre, FL
Posts: 264

Great photos! All she needs is panel lines and rivets (and weathering), and she's damn near perfect. Anyone look at adding a scale cockpit?
#69

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Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Hoffman Estates,
IL
Posts: 2,331

Thanks for the great video and posting all of the info on this plane. The shipment is on the water now with a mid May expected date for shipping to the customers. We have a limited supply available and taking sales now.
http://www.gator-rc.com/spitfire
Thanks again, Mike Mueller
Gator-RC.com
800 380 9373
mike@Gator-RC.com
http://www.gator-rc.com/spitfire
Thanks again, Mike Mueller
Gator-RC.com
800 380 9373
mike@Gator-RC.com
#70

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Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Torrington, CT
Posts: 287

Mike, very impressive kit!! Any progress on the P-51D pictures? BTW someone earlier mentioned a unpainted version of these warbirds. Any comments?
Mark
Mark
#71
Senior Member
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Location: EllinikoAthens, GREECE
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I just had to do that : 
I thought "such a nice scale Spit, someone somewhere must have built the prototype to make the mold out of"
Checked my stash of Spit plans and bingo! it matches the Brian Taylor MkIX to the millimetre:


I thought "such a nice scale Spit, someone somewhere must have built the prototype to make the mold out of"
Checked my stash of Spit plans and bingo! it matches the Brian Taylor MkIX to the millimetre:


#72
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Main wing airfoil: perfect match



#73
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In the process I spotted a few (minor) differences:
1. Elevator counterweight slightly larger
1. Elevator counterweight slightly larger

#74
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2. Wing cannons placed an inch out towards the wingtip

#75
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3. (most important one) LG has been moved forward a couple of inches
