rchorn

Anyone suggest an engine for a Pica 88" span, 18-20lb. Spitfire ? All these new engines coming out, must be one that would fit without hacking up the front end too much .

Thanks for any help .

Bob Laine

My Feedback: (91)

RChorn I have a friend that just finished a "Pica" Spitfire. He install a MOKI 1.8 in his. Perfect fit. Heven bought the scale exaust for it. Beautiful Plane but he's afraid to fly it.

Tired Old Man

My Feedback: (1)

At 18-20 pounds, if you want to go gas check into the Revolution 3.2 (52cc) that's marketed by Kangke. If they back the case with a good guarantee it would work quite well.

At the weight you noted it will take an awful long runway with a Moki 1.8. I'd be afraid to fly it, too[X(]

Richard L.

My Feedback: (24)

This gasser might fit the bill: [link=http://www.horizonhobby.com/Shop/ByCategory/Product/Default.aspx?ProdID=EVOE58GX]Evolution 58GX (3.6) Gas Engine[/link]

JoeSpitfire

My Feedback: (18)

RcHorn -

I have to agree with SilverSurfer on this; a Moki 1.8 probably won't have the power needed to fly this plane very well.

I'm in the process of building this kit right now and I can tell you that it's a very "overbuilt" kit. If you can get yours to come in between 18 and 20lbs, I'd say you did great. This kit is very heavy in the tail and will require 3-5 pounds of lead up front to get it to balance. Most guys I've been talking to on RCU are putting in engines in the 50-60cc range. I'm putting in a 3W 60cc rear carb engine in mine. The BME 50cc is a great engine for this plane and will drop right on in on the rails in the kit, but you'll have to hack a hole in the cowl for the side carb. I chose to go with a rear carb engine to minimize this, but you'll need to make some major modifications to the firewall to do this. The heavier (and more powerful) engine also reduces the amount of weight I'll have to add up front to balance it. Granted, the cylinder head will stick out the bottom of the cowling, but I'm not to concerned about it since it'll help with cooling.... another thing to think about.

Good luck. There's a lot of good advice on building this kit on RCU.

Joe

Bob Laine

My Feedback: (91)

I also will agree with Silversurfer. I havent seen the plane fly with the "MOKI" I have seen it run and I'll gartentee it will fly it. How fast it will fly I don't know. He hadf the Scale exaust system made for it and I must say that it is reall loud. I'll see if I can get some pictures of it and post them. Take Silversurfers advise. Go with a bigger engine, Bigger is better anyway..............Sometimes

ljones5000

My Feedback: (2)

Hey Bob, rainy night in Georgia?

Just thought I'd ask.

Larry

Bob Laine

My Feedback: (91)

Cats and dogs and everything else. Did you find your engine?

rchorn

Thanks fellows for all the input ! I'm glad I asked the question after all the replys I got. I guess the 50-60cc range is where I'm going to be, a buddy of mine suggested a zdz 40 might be good also. I'll have to check out the forum site too on building it .
Thanks again to you all .
Rich

arg1415x3

My Feedback: (2)

I'm collecting all the parts I need to build the Pica 1/5 scale Spitfire, for the engine I have an opportunity to get a Super Tigre G4500. Anybody any thoughts on putting one in? It will have the power, and also the weight to help counter the heavy tail.

Regards,
Alan

DaddySam

My Feedback: (9)

I think that a projected weight of 23-29 lbs is more in the ball park. I've put in a 3w-50 with a scale exhaust, and I wouldn't go with anything smaller. Here's a pic or two:

DaddySam

My Feedback: (9)

Alan
I have a buddy who I met via mail (before internet) when I asked for advice on the Pica Spit. He flew his with a ST 4500 and I believe his quote is "It flies it with authority". My only concern would be reliability. With a glow, especially inverted, you're asking for a dead stick. If you can swing it, go gas.
Sam

Kenny100653

I am also about to start this kit but have been putting it off deciding what engine to use. I would have liked a 4 stroke but was convinced that there was not enough power. I have almost decided on a DA 50 but the mounting would have to have major modification etc. Also the cowl will not cover the engine even with a prop extension. Thoughts anyone

Ken

DaddySam

My Feedback: (9)

Kenny
The 3W-50 has the shortest profile of any gasser I've seen in this category. When I chose mine, I downloaded a lot of dimensional drawings and made templates and fitted them on the plans. I did modify the cowl on mine, but I think that with a one inch prop extension the 3w would be a pretty close fit with the stock cowl. Definite firewall mods would need to be made. If you haven't started the kit yet, I'd make the firewall out of 1/4" aircraft ply, and then make a sliding engine box out of 1/8" aircraft ply, and mount the engine to the box. then you cut holes in the firewall and the former behind it, and when you have the engine positioned where you want it, you epoxy the box to the formers, and reinforce with triangle stock.
This kit does build very tail heavy, so any lightening you can do aft of the wing saddle will be very beneficial, and any weight you can move forward will be good too. I moved the control servos one bay forward, so they are right up against the front of the radio compartment. Good luck,
Sam

davewallace

My Feedback: (29)

RChorn,
With the 4500, you may want to consider a full time glow plug driver. Should be enough power.

Dave

Kenny100653

Thaks for all that information Sam. I thought that is what I might have to do. Do you have any pics. I am going to build with as many servos in the wing for the flaps and airelons, dont like the length to try and put bell cranks etc in. Plus I am going to try and bury the control arms etc to avoid having control horns on the surface. I have seen some examples on other threads but will have to wait and see what happens once I get the plane on the bench

Ken

DaddySam

My Feedback: (9)

Ken
Here are some pix of my installation. The box was made from 1/8" aircraft ply with two 1/4" peices laminated to make 1/2" up front and a removable back. In a few of the pix I had not opened up the cooling tunnel yet, but I think you'll get the idea.

Your ideas sound fine.
Sam

Flyfast1

My Feedback: (1)

DaddySam,

I was going to ask how you cooled the engine, but then I saw your last post with the pictures. Very slick! The plane looks great!

-Ed

arg1415x3

My Feedback: (2)

Thanks for the comments Sam, had to change employment so not much time for the hobby recently. The ST 4500 deal fell through, but I did get a bargain on a new OS BX-1 35cc. More questions on the engine, why is there a very neatly drilled hole in the centre of the piston? And will I potentially still have engine cut out problems with this engine inverted? I like the idea of not having to cut the cowl too much (or at all) with these 2 stroke engines. Would it help to have a fuel pump for this motor?

Completely different questions, what torque values should the servers have. There will be a total of 8 servos.

2 for the ailerons
2 for the flaps
1 for the rudder
1 for the elevator
1 for the throttle,
1 for the U/C

The retracts are air operated, supplied from PICA while they still were in business.

Regards,

Alan

DaddySam

My Feedback: (9)

Hi Alan,
I know how it is to have to put the hobby on the back burner.... I don't have any experience with the OS BX 35cc engine. If it's glow, I'd really try to convince you to go otherwise. As for the servos, there I can make a few recommendations:
Ailerons, I'd use minimum 60 oz, flaps min 60 oz, rudder min 100, elevator, min 100, throttle, standard, UC, standard. On my Spit, I've used the large Hitec 1/4 scale servos for the rudder and elevator (705's I think), 605's for the flaps, 645mgs for the ailerons, and 475's for the rest.
Sam

jaka

Hi!
How about a MVVS 58cc engine ..the watercooled version.
Really, I think it's too big but you Americans always tend to with large engines...
I'm currently building a Brian Taylor 83" Spitfire MK 9 and power is going to be a MVVS 26cc glow engine (or a 26cc gas MVVS, haven't decided yet). Weight is going to be around 6.5-7kg.

arg1415x3

My Feedback: (2)

Hi Sam & Jaka,

Thanks for the feedback on torque values, better see how much money is left after Xmas to buy them. A water cooled engine will cure the cooling problems with a cowl fully enclosing the engine. a fully function radiator as well. But probably stick to something more conventional.

As for model and markings, the father of a friend of mine was a spitfire pilot during WWII, I am trying to get some details and base the model on his plane(s).

Alan

Crusty

Spitfires with german engines !!!1........

Ok I spose they did do a captured one with a daimler benz...so ill forgive you..this time

jaka

Hi!
MVVS (same as Evolution ) are made in the Tjeck republic...not in Germany

Crusty

It Was just a joke about the 3w in the spitfire pictured above..