I posted this in the Warbirds forum and got no responses after 2 days it slipped to the second page. So I thought I would air it here to see if any of the experience here might chime in.

My wife just bought me my first warbird. It's the new Hanger 9 Spitfire inside the front cover of the November issue of model aviation or seen here:
http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products...ProdID=HAN4250
She did a fine job getting me a new Saito 1.00, a 3.5 in aluminum spiner, MAS 15x6 prop, all required servo extentions and the funny looking retract servo. I have all the rest of the gear required. Anyway I was wondering if anyone has flown this plane yet and if you have any tips/tricks that I should know before beggining assembly (Note.. ARFs are not built). My next warbird will be kit built but this will be a good start for me. Also are there any add on extras that I can get for this plane... like external feul tank, bombs and rockets, as well as a good source for pilot figures that would look good in this scale? Thanks.

Thanks guys.

Well, I assume you want to keep the front end looking nice so your probably going to install the Saito inverted? If so, lower the fuel tank. You may have to rebuild the bulkhead a bit to get it as close as possible to the bottom of the fuselage. I don't have this plane.
Just FYI on the engine/tank stuff. If you install the tank in its stock position, your going to have problems.

There is a possibility that H9 thought of that when they designed the fuselage, and that they may have planned on you running an inverted engine. If so, they might have put the tank in the right location. It seems to be in the right place on the P-40 for an inverted four stroke.

Thanks, I will be running it inverted. This is how it is shown to be installed. But I will make sure the tanks location in relation to the spray bar is within reason.

tank position would be the only thing I was worried about. If the plans show an inverted, you should be fine. Still, never hurts to check.

the reason your posting didn't get any response was there are 2 other threads on the subject and the plane is so new that not to many people have gotten there planes off the ground yet and are still in the set up stage.

here is some info for ya for tanks, bombs, and add ons, go to www.wingmfg.com they have a bunch of add on stuff the site doesn't show there bombs but call them and they have em .

a little info on the spitfire the classic spit is a fighter aircraft and was used mainly in a defensive role for repelling enemy fighters and bombers.
only in the later stages of ww2 did any of them have extra tanks and bombs, mostly in the African desert were they so equiped.
the H-9 version has the profile of the mark V ,and was not so equiped since its main role was to defend Britan at the time and was flying from bases close by and did not need extra fuel.
when the bombing of Germany began most, not all, fighter escort was done by the P-47 thunderbolt and later the mustang, thats why they are represented with drop tanks and bombs on several models the merlin mustang was the direct replacement for the spitfire even though they remained in production and continued modifications into the end of the war. here is my TF spit painted emblems and camo

Try using the search function on this site m8 Over 50 replys on the below post.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_49...tm.htm#4915518

Hope thats of some help...

just read this post and was wondering about inverted install of a Saito 100. i am building a scale spray plane and will be mounting the engine inverted. what do i need to watch for? does anything have to be done to the engine to perform this way?

In reply to swixtt

Saito's are excellent engines. I operate 5 saito 100's and they are all working all right. Keep in mind of what the rest of the fellow modellers have mentioned about the tank. Generally speaking the tank should be lower than the carb valves if this helps you.
Also do not forget to burn at least 5 tanks of fuel in order to breakin the engine correct. Also kindly note that all Saito engnes are working smoother and smoother while time go passing by. In the factory settings the idle valve is rich so while you will finish up the breakin period then you have to make it lean in order to obtain an excellent idle. By the way all my saito's are working inverted!!! No problem at all!!!
Cheers
Johnnie

so the 'tank level' not the tank bottom should be at or just below the carb?

The center of the tank should be below the needle, some times though not always this is the center of the stopper.

hmmm... i seem to have this tank way too high. i followed the builders plans etc. and he hasn't had any problems with his.
i am puzzled on what to do now.

have a look at what i have now. the linkage photo(the last one) is his reference photo of his plane. you can see the level of where the tank goes in it.


thanks

Hi!
The center of the tank should be inline with the carb intake orifice when the model sits horizontal! That's very important.
The depicted tank is way too high!!!
It's also vital that the tank is well padded with lots of soft foam rubber. That velcro isn't enough.

Looks like a very large tank. Can you find a tank that will fit between the firewall and the next former?

thanks for your reply...
i am going from plans that came with this plane on most of this build. i am using the exact same tank(Hayes 16oz), engine as it was designed for. i have, just today, lower the tank to make it closer to the carb level. seems to be a lot better now. took numerous hours to complete that task though. had to work out the throttle linkage as well to insure it wouldn't interfere...so far so good.

I would not worry about the tank position. H9 has done a really good job of engineering their warbirds.....I have two.....the AT6 and the P47. In both instances the tank position is stock and the engines are inverted and there is no problem. I am sure that the engineering of the Spitfire assumed that the engines would be inverted. This subject....INMNSHO.........is over-worked. Just assemble the plane and fly it and you will not have problems.

Cheers,
Andy

Hi!
Doesn't matter what the manufacturere does if the tank is too high ..it's too high! Simple as that! And you have to do something about it if you want best flight performance...but on the other hand, if you can live with not so good engine behavior and reliability...go ahead

I don't live with poor engine behavior and like I said, I'm flying two other H9 warbirds that don't have problems with stock tank locations. This was thoroughly discussed in another forum here before. The tanks are positioned, for the most part, on the thrust line of the engine which is a proper placement. Over working this issue in an ARF is just not necessary.

Andy

do you have the link to that thread? i don't own any ARF's but it would good to read nonetheless. i ended up moving my tank in my AT502 a little lower to compromise the overall height.
what type of fuel do you use in your SAITO?

Unfortunately, I don't remember the forum but you could search for fuel tank position threads.
I don't have a Saito.......well I do but not in a plane as yet. In my H9 P47 I have a ST G75 and in my AT6 I have an OS91FS2. I use Power Master 15% nitro and 18% lubricant in almost all of my engines.

Andy