I am building a TopFlite Spitfire MkIX and will be using the RCV 90SP. The engine still requires a good amount of air for cooling. The recommendation from RCV is a minimum of 1 square inch air inlet, and 2 square inch air outlet. This means that I will still need to cut holes in the cowl, but I won't have a head sticking out and they shouldn't be too noticable while the plane is on the ground. The design of the TF Spit does not lend itself to a ducted air system. Perhaps other models would. As for the glow plug, the plug is uncomfortably close to the prop and I would not even try to use a standard glow igniter. Use either an onboard glow system, or at a minimum, a remote glow harness. I plan on using an onboard glow system.

The 90SP is still a very tight fit in the TF Spit cowl. In addition to cooling holes, it looks like I will need to cut a small hole on the side of the cowl because the trottle linkage rubs up against it. I will also need a hole for the needle valve.

Overall, in a Spit, I think that the RCV SP will still be more concealed than other engines. I like the ability of turning a 15" 4 blade just as much as the compactness. If it works out well in my Spit, I'll use it in my next two builds too, A TF P-51B, and a Marutaka A6M5 Zero.

You can see photos of my Spit in my gallery.

Scott