I have a Chinese Production Models Spitfire 120. The center of gravity is way to far back in the manual. I had an expert take off for me and gave me the controls and the elevator was wildly over responsive. We agreed that the cg was too far back. I came back next week with the cg about a half inch forward. There was no one there so I took off and trimmed it myself. It was alot better. Time to land and being a beginner it was my best flying yet. Very gradually touched the runway and it nose dived. A broken propeller was the only damage. Either the cg was too far foreward and/or the landing gear is too far back. If I move the battery and fuel back and such it will not fly well. I have mechanicle retracts and it would be very difficult to move them forward. If I had fixed landing gear it would be easier but I want retracts! Has anyone been in this situation? Any advise will help.

Louis,

I have a CMP Yak at it took a lot of weight in the nose to balance. I am not surprised you have the same challenge. Nosing over may, or may not, be a result of a forward CG. What kind of runway are you flying from? If grass, it will be much more difficult to hold the nose up than with hard surface. I fly from a paved runway and the fellows I fly wih that have Spits are frequently rubbing their cowl down on the pavement.

Keep at it, you will figure out how to keep that nose out of trouble.

Bedford

heres a good place to start louis,read the article it has allot of good info for you. the first thing i do after trimming my plane first and foremost is go inverted at a 45 degree angle ! here is some info regarding this [link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_8763229/tm.htm]READ ON[/link] Good Luck

I've had two of the cmp spitfires. Not bad planes. But the retract mounts are very weak. They cut lightening holes in the ribs for the retract mounts, just plane stupid in my opinion. I modified mine and changed the angle to put the axle about even with the leading edge of the wing. I dont remember where I balanced mine but it flew ok for a few years, then I sold it to move on. Dont get too slow, they snap pretty bad. I've had the spitfire and zero. Not bad flying planes once you throw away all the hardware that comes with it and use you own good quality stuff. Like any warbird you have to carry power all the way to the ground.
Edwin