I have a GWS Spitfire that I just built and flew. Flew squirrely the first time but I didn't crash it. I just noticed that when looking at it from the tail, the tail, especially the elevator, seems a degreee or two slanted toward the port wing. The Horizontal stabilizer seems ok.

1. How will this affect flight?
2. Should I worry about it?
3. Since the elevator is glued thru the fuse and into the HS, what would a good fix be.

On another topic, the spit seemed really touchy to the controls. All settings are on farthest hole out.

BTW, the GWS Corsair is one sweet flying plane! I love it!

Thanks,

GWS Corsair,Estarter,Spitfire,Stryker are in my air force

mrstingray

Everything you explain says you were tail heavy, on all the posts I read about GWS planes, this is one of the things they talk about.

I too have a Corsair, I made sure I balanced it a little forward of what the instruction call for.

I'm sure you have searched out what a good CG is, but just uncased you didn't, go to RCGroups and search. I find there are more GWS people over there.

Hope it helps

Mr Stingray,

I'm on my second spit. Squirrely flight like you describe sounds like the CG is too far back. I have mine balanced just ahead of the wing spar and have to use adhesive backed lead strips to get it to balance out. I didn't use a rudder servo on my second just to save weight in the tail. The Spitfire tends to be tail heavy. Not sure about your tail alignment problems. Mine flies great with an E-flite Park 400 motor, Himaxx gearbox (6:1 gearing), 1080 GWS prop, Kokam 3s1p 1500mah battery.

Hey guys! Thanks for the input. Will get some stick on weights from work and make her a little nose heavy.
Didn't have to put an ounce of weight on Corsair. Was perfectly balanced from the box and she flies great.
Will check out the rc groups you suggested!

The directions say 60MM from the LE for balance and was way squirrelly. I put mine @ 55MM from the LE with the nose tipping down a bit and she flies great.

AC Plonk

Will get some stick on weights and give her a try. Thanks again and can't wait to try when the wind dies down!! Tail definitely does tip down at 60mm so will give her a try.

Thanks!!

Once when flying my Spitfire I was doing some loops and rolls and saw a little shiney thing fall away from the plane. It was my stick on lead weight!! Immediately the plane was all over the place and I could barely control it. I was bringing it in to land and about 15 ft from the ground it snapped and dove straight into the ground. Busted it up pretty good. Now I back up my sticky weights with a little packing tape for insurance.

have had similar experiences. Especially with batteries. Now that is impressive. My stryker took it the best. Just floated down and landed on its belly. My estarter, tho, took it "rather hard".

Thanks for the tip!!