Flyfast1

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Greetings to everyone:

I have been making slow but steady progress on my spitfire. Here is an update:

Pic #1: built and glued in a balsa frame for the radiator grills.

Pic #2: completed radiator with window screen attached to the balsa frame. I painted the screen black.

Pics #3 & 4: installed the main landing gear and put the plane on its feet for the first time so I could align the struts. To achieve a proper alignment, I tape a carbon fiber rod to the outside of each wheel. It is then easy to see how the wheels are aligned and to adjust the struts. There have been many threads on whether to use toe-in for wheels, so I won't go into that here, other than to say that my personal preference is for no toe-in. I align my wheels straight ahead.

Pic #5: masked off the bottom of the wing for the roundels. Started with white

Pic #6: after white paint applied. This picture shows one of the paint masks ("stencils") that I purchased from getstencils.com The company has been great to deal with and the paint masks work very well, even for a beginner like me. In my opinion, the key is to take time to carefully locate where the marking is to be painted, and then use masking tape to establish the reference marks for the first mask. The reference marks stay in the same location for all of the masks and the key is to ensure that each mask is aligned exactly to the two reference marks. In the picture, the two reference marks are the two crosses at the end of the paint mask that is closest to the camera. It takes some patience, but so far the roundels have come out perfect.

Pic #7: masked off for red ring

Pic #8: final roundel on bottom. It takes a long time to paint the roundels one color at a time, but I like the final result. Bottom of wing is now complete, except for gun exhaust.

Pic #9: today I painted the red covers for the gun ports. I am modeling my plane after the guns have been fired, so I have black holes for the guns in the red covers and I will add gun residue trails.

I am now working on several items, including cutting the spinner and drilling and tapping it to the back plate. I will use #6 button head screws to attach the spinner to the back plate.

-Ed B.

glazier808

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Looks great!

Brad330l

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I whole heartedly agree. Well done Ed B.
Man I so must rivet the bottom of my wing. After refitting my engine, finishing off the canopy, finishing off the spinner etc, etc etc!!!!

Cheers,

Brad

InboundLZ

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Tomorrow I start on my Yellow Spitfire.....let the games begin.....

Brad330l

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Bring it on mate.
Link or post here but please show us. Good luck and enjoy it. I did for over two years!

Cheers,

Brad

Flyfast1

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Brad,

I know how you feel about having lots of things to do. I am finally getting close, but there are still a lot of little things to do.

It should be summer where you are. Is it too hot to fly?

-Ed B.

Brad330l

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[/quote]

Brad,

It should be summer where you are. Is it too hot to fly?

-Ed B.
[/quote]
Oh yes mate it is summer alright. It has been 'warm' so to speak but it has been the humidity that has been the killer. Not a very pleasant way to spend a Sunday morning sweating onto you TX while wishing you were in the pool. (or bed )
I have also been on holidays, done a couple of shutdowns at work and had a cyclone go past the coast.
I am however committed to going down to the field this Sunday as it seems to have dried up a bit with good vis and nice breeze.
The Spitty is always high on my list to get done but things keep topping it.

Cheers,

Brad

david68

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hello Chad. I was wondering if you still have drawings for the yellow spit on the horizontal stab and elevators. If so can the be emailed PDF .

Regards
Dave Lampron
[email protected]

Brad330l

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I still have them Dave. I'll dig them out of my old computer and send then on if Chad is busy.

Cheers,

Brad

david68

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Thanks Brad. Chad sent me them via Email. I think he sent them the same day that I ask for them. What a great help these forums are. 15-20 years ago we were on are own when it came to building large scale planes. The only help was at the flying field, club nights, or of course, learn the hard way. I appreciate everyone that takes the time to post helpful things.

Regards
Dave

Brad330l

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No worries Dave. Feel free to post any links or news here from your build.

Brad

Shaun Evans

Hi,

Anyone installed a DLE 55 in one of these?

fytrjok

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Yup. Check here...and go to post 16

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_10...m.htm#10659915

cavery

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And so it begins...

I decided on a DLE-55 rear exhaust to power my yellow spit. It looks like I've got to release the firewall and move it back. the engine seems to stick out a little too much. I don't have a spinner yet, so I will wait until I get the backplate for proper fitment before cutting anything.

As this is my first Lare scale build, and my first experience with fibeglass I do have a few question for those of you with experience with the kit.

1. Concerning the firewall. Since I will be cutting it out, what is the best glue to use to secure the new one properly. I've picked up some of the Loctite Plastix bonder Methyl Methacrylate that I've seen suggested in the thread. Is that strong enough to support the engine? Should I wedge it in with some triangle stock, or would a good fillet of adhesive on the front and the back do the trick? also, any hints and tips for easily removing the firewall would be appreciated. The link that is mentioned earlier from in the thread seems to be down.

2. Is one 1/4" AC Ply firewall strong enough? Should I double it up and add and add two 1/4" firewall pieces glued together?

3. I bought my kit used from the family of a gentleman who passed away. They could not find the manual, So I'm missing quite a bit of info. I was curious if there are supposed to be no formers aft of the cockpit beside the tailwheel support. That's all that's there and the fuse feels very flimsy in the middle of the tail section. This may be normal or a fiberglass fuse but I'm used to 60 size balsa builds, There's not much flex in the tails of those when you squeeze them

4. I am thinking of using Hitec 645MG servos. Are those up to the task for this bird? Has anyone got any experience with any chinese equivalent that is good? I'm always up for saving a few bucks.

5. I'm sure this kit is an older version as it comes with Balsa block wing tips. Is it worth my while to order the fibeglass tips from yellow, or is the weight difference negligable. Again, this is my first large scale bird, and I'm hoping to keep it as light as possible.

6. Does anyone sell a Pre lightened backplate & spinner? I've seen that a bunch of you guys have had them lightened to reduce cenrifugal forces and stress on the engine. If I can buy it already done it would be great.

I will be building a lightened tail using Chad's plan (Thanks again Chad).

That's all for now. Thanks in advance for any feedback.

cavery

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Also wanted to mention that I am also going to be building a Century Jets Spit with a Yellow Wing. So it's almost a Yellow build . The Century Jets kit was originally designed as a late MK 22-24 spitfire. However I am going to be building it as a MK. XIV with a bubble canopy.

I am considering building both airplanes simultaneously, so i will update both here. Not sure what the power will be, but i have a Saito 220 waiting for a home.

kenair

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Hi Cavery, thanks for posting on the DLE 55 Rear Ex, I may have to retrofit my YA Spitty for that engine.
I've posted a PDF of the YA manual at [link]http://spitfire9.com/yellow.htm[/link] as well as a PDF of build tips I had collected off the forum.
cheers - ken

BobH

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Keep the balsa tips. The glass tips look ok but are effected by heat etc.

Keep the spinner weight, you'll need it.

Possibly the strongest adhesive is hysol. You can leave your existing firewall and add a second one behind it. Cut out the foot print for the engine so it passes through ok. An alternative adhesive is 30 min epoxy. You can add glass fiber's to it if you like for a little reinforcing.

The flex is normal, just dont squeez it lol.

Shaun Evans

Hi,

I second what BobH said on the Hysol. Rough it up and use that stuff...never look back. If you don't want the expense of it, regular ol' polyester boat resin and heavy cloth (like the pliable kind that comes in fiberglass repair kits from the auto parts store) is cheap and very effective on this polyester glass. What's your plan for the muffler?

Flyfast1

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Hello to all,

I am glad to see there are some other active builds of this fine airplane.

I have been working on my Spitfire and making good progress. Painting the markings has been taking longer than I expected. The fuselage roundels have four colors each and I didn't think I could do both sides at once, so those alone took eight days. But, I am happy with the results. Here are some pictures:

Pic #1: the band at the rear of the fuselage is masked off and painted with Sky

Pic #2: the band after removing the masking

Pic #3: as you can see, I am modeling RB163 of RAF 322 Squadron in the Netherlands, Spring of 1944.

Pic #4: cockpit installed

Pic #5: test fit of canopy

Pic #6: spinner cut and ready for paint

Pic #7: spinner painted with Sky

Pic #8: shows lightened backplate

The squadron markings will be next.

-Ed B.

Flyfast1

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I have my sliding canopy finalized. Here is a short video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpIpC...ature=youtu.be

-Ed B.

Brad330l

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Awesome work mate, you must be pretty pleased now it is getting there. Man even I can't wait for the flight vid!

Cheers,

Brad

Flyfast1

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Hi Brad,

Yeah, I am very happy with how this plane is turning out. As an inexperienced builder, it was my first time for many things on this plane, so it's taking a long time, but I have been learning so much! For one, this was my first attempt at painting markings using an airbrush and the four color roundels took a while, but they came out pretty well. The sliding canopy works great. Hopefully it will continue to work for years to come. I tried to make the sliding mechanism robust so it will withstand engine vibration, but we'll have to see.

Next up is painting the squadron markings and working on the exhausts. I also need to start adding some small nomenclature and other details.

-Ed B.

glazier808

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I agree with Brad, excellent job!  

InboundLZ

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Ed, can you give some details on the sliding canopy setup you are using, please?

Edited to pose the question to the right person...

Ron101

My Feedback: (22)

Ed it is looking awesome!!!!
Don't you dare fly that thing until I'm there with my camera [&:]

And as always you know you are more than welcome to come up to oakdale with me if you would like to maiden it there or just fly anytime...
I was out there last weekend flying jets and it's beautiful with all the green on the hills.... lake is pretty dry, but still pretty. Feel free to call or email and we can set something up... I'll be out there on sunday if you feel like heading up

You have don't such a nice job you have to be proud!

I got my F-18 up to glassing and priming but took her to a pro for the paint... I was burnt out, low on time and didn't want to mess it up
I should have it back in a couple weeks and can start my install on the gear

keep in touch
Ron