Ok Peoples here Im going to be building a new spitfire that I came across recently. I fell in love with its lines as it is not like any other spitfire of this size. 55” wingspan its scale and looks very nice indeed. Its looks captured my attention straight away. The planes are designed by Richard Willis who owns Warbird Replicas. They are a small UK company that is slowly turning out more models of different makes. Like the p51 mustang and hurricanes too. What I am also hoping to achieve with this build thread is to show some of you ARF fellas and ladies. That this could be your 1st step to building your very own 1st kit. I will be doing the build in detail and explaining step by step my build showing you how easy it is to make this kit and to make it what you want it to be. Here is an image of the kit contents laid out of the box.
[img width=552 height=703]http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w28/garyflyer/Warbird%20Replica/1_125714spitboxcontents.jpg[/img]
The specs of the model are.
Wingspan: 1400mm [55"]
Radio: 4-5 channel
Motor: 40-46 2st or equivalent 4 stroke
Weight: 6lb approx.
Im hoping to fit a SC52 4 stroke to have that nicer sound. The airframe has been designed to house this with nothing sticking out. Here are two pictures of one of there finished models.
[img width=600 height=337]http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w28/garyflyer/Warbird%20Replica/1_031735golfspit5.jpg[/img]
[img width=600 height=343]http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w28/garyflyer/Warbird%20Replica/1_385098golfspit9.jpg[/img]
Ok the build thread will begin Monday with a view to postings starting Monday later in the day.
Warbird replicas can be found here.
http://www.warbirdreplicas.co.uk/
So if you want that spitfire follow my thread and see how easy it is to build your own. Don’t be scared. Put down your ARF and have a go at a real model. Ok until Monday all have a great Easter weekend. See you all soon Gary132
ARTF flyers read on....
Our Hobby has changed dramatically since the advent of ARTFs and there is no doubt about it, they are a very good thing. I have one of my own! They have helped more people to learn to fly than ever before and advanced pupils learning curve at an incredible rate primarily because if one is written off during training another can be in the air next week.
I am very aware of the changing face of our hobby. But I do feel that many proficient ARTF flyers are missing out on some of the most satisfying aspects of model flying. I do not profess that you should go back to "traditional kits". With modern time constraints this is simply not feasible for most until we retire.
I conducted an experiment by giving two of our kits to a pair of capable ARTF flyers and asked them to have a go. I was surprised at the result, apart from whingeing a little about having to use a sanding block on the wing tips, both completed their models without issue in surprisingly short time. You see our kits are very prefabricated and have jig tabs to slot the fuselage together. What time you initially lose in comparison with the ARTF is made up to some degree by the fact that you can install radio, fuel tank and engine as you go instead of trying to squeeze them into a completed model.
We do provide a plan, but it is only for reference since the model can effectively be built on the kitchen table. Very quickly a Spitfire will appear before your eyes and as you applied the glue, you know it will stay together. You will also see what a vast difference top quality balsa and plywood makes to structural strength.
It is clear to me that anyone who has built a couple of ARTFs can make one of these, and produce a model that is far more impressive than anything ready made form the shop. The two lads in the experiment never looked back, the satisfaction of making your own fighter with your own individual stamp is so much more rewarding. They have both built a second model since.
I am fully commited to helping ARTF flyer to the next step. Our kits are becoming much more like ARTFs to help you make the transition and our on line builds will take you through build in simple steps. Take a good look the kit contents, the plan and the PDF for the manual. There really isn't much to get wrong and it isn't as different as you expected is it?
Finally, if it's the finishing you are worried about, I will be showing you how to do that too. In most cases the finished is entirely by aerosol. Anyone can do it! So come on guys lets bust out of the ARTF rut and get more out of our hobby.
Richard Wills