Hellcat F6F Wild Hare RC - G-Pete's build and review
12-09-2013, 09:19 PM
#676
My Feedback: (101)
got the inboard flaps cut out , hinged and glassed. Fuse is 90% glassed and wing and tail feathers are glassed.Also got the shorter more scale cowl. Hopefully when done, it will be hard for the untrained eye to tell that it was an arf. Pictures will come later
01-02-2014, 04:41 AM
#683
My Feedback: (101)
cant figure out why the pics are upside down. The mods I have done or will be doing. glassing the airframe, added inboard flaps, replacing the wheels, adding the exhaust outlets around the cowl. I am not fond of the construction of this ARF. I am afraid of handling it . The wood is thin in places, I hate the stringers. This is my 1st fragile war bird. . The landing gear is shorter than scale so I wont be able to add a drop tank without additional costs. It will be a standoff scale so I shouldn't cry to much. I also swapped out the non-scale long cowl
01-02-2014, 05:45 AM
#684
My Feedback: (49)
Ram-Bro, The WH F6F is FAST because of her light weight construction. Although not related brand-wise, It is essentially a scaled up version of the 60" H9 Hellcat, in that it is built for light weight, fun, flying. It is a "fun scale" warbird and gets past the obsessive things most warbirders seem to get hung up on - excessive scale detail and too much weight. Yes, the gear is sorry, and you'll likely end up with some taller Sierras if you fly it much. But, other than building your own from plans or a kit, not much in the Giant Scale ARF world for the F6F. However, by glassing the airframe, you are falling back on the things the WH F6F ARF was trying to avoid - excessive weight. A fellow club member has the Ziroli Hellcat. It is a bit larger, but WAY heavier at 35 pounds. Very cool, and exciting to watch, but probably not as fun to fly as the WH Hellcat. I like the WH version and recognize its somewhat light construction limitations by handling carefully. I think you'll enjoy her outstanding flying qualities once you get her going at the field.
01-02-2014, 07:04 AM
#685
My Feedback: (101)
LBJ, I fully understand the philosophy behind the why things were done the way they were .It will be a great fllying plane when completed. I just wanted to add some of the signature scale details that makes a Hellcat a Hellcat. The price I got it for and the little bit I plan on doing make it a worthwhile project. I was just surprised at some of my findings
02-03-2014, 02:37 PM
#686
My Feedback: (49)
I did a bit of rework of my retract system. The air tank and retract servo/valve were right over the wing attach bolt holes, which made getting them installed a real pain. Kinda didn't think that one thru first time around. Decided to move those items to the turtle deck where they are out of the way. Worked out pretty well. That's going to speed up assembly at the field.
02-03-2014, 08:03 PM
#688
My Feedback: (49)
One more note on the retracts. I recommend running the air lines from the wings to the fuselage thru the rear hole in the wing root. That is, with the flap and aileron servo wires. That way, you'll avoid running them like I first did thru the hole in the front of the wing root, ending up going in where the gas tank is. It was very hard to fish the air lines up from the wing past the gas tank on one side and batteries on the other side. Coming from the rear made things much easier. I had to pull the retracts and reroute the air lines and actually use some new lines as the old lines were not long enough to go to the rear. I think I will enjoy the Hellcat more next time I take her out, with these changes.
02-05-2014, 07:19 AM
#690
My Feedback: (49)
Added a bit of detail the the Hellcat -anti-glare panel. Scale documentation illustration shows it, but never painted it on there. I think it helps the look. I may spray some dull coat on if the satin finish doesn't get flatter. It's a bit shiny at this point. This is what you do in cold weather in Texas. Not flying weather this week.
02-05-2014, 12:17 PM
#695
My Feedback: (49)
Yes, but we endure the 110F heat, too. ha. I have trouble is the temp gets lower than 60F because I wear contacts and the cold wind causes my eyes to water and distorts the lenses. Not a good feeling when your favorite warbird is in the pattern doing 85MPH!
Got the exhaust stains done. Been meaning to do this for over a year. Got one pic posted, then Photobucket shut me down. Post a couple more later.
Got the exhaust stains done. Been meaning to do this for over a year. Got one pic posted, then Photobucket shut me down. Post a couple more later.
Last edited by LBJ; 02-05-2014 at 12:25 PM.
02-05-2014, 02:27 PM
#698
My Feedback: (60)
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Litchfield Park,
AZ
Posts: 7,677
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Love the black anti-glare panel LBJ. I wanted desperately to put it on my airplane but, unfortunately, documentation proved that it was just wishfull thinking on the part of the artist! I'm planning to compete with my bird at our Master's qualifier next month but, after that, I may add it to my airplane anyway. Many drone Hellcats had it but D94 was one of the exceptions.
The real deal
PS - Does the top of the vertical fin look darker or am I seeing things?
The real deal
PS - Does the top of the vertical fin look darker or am I seeing things?
02-05-2014, 03:29 PM
#700
My Feedback: (49)
Chad, that's right, I am working off the color drawing. So, in scale, as long as you are consistent with the prototype photo or drawing, you are considered OK. So, went with the color depiction showing the anti-glare panel. I think it gives more pizaz to the plane and tones down all the orange, even though, like you point out, the drones were really a shade of red. It's all a moot point as I am not seriously competing anyway, just fun at the field and maybe a Scale Masters qualifier every year since my club hosts it for the Texas region. One thing Dave Platte points out is, "Never, ever, use a COLOR drawing or photo as scale documentation." They can nail you pretty good with color, unless you have it perfect. Folks at the field ask me, "Were there REALLY Hellcats painted like that?" No matter what, the plane flies great.
On the top of the fin, hard to say. Photo interpretation is hard to master. The folks at "Squadron" can tell you from B&W photos what color the planes and markings are. I do not know how they can do that, but I always see those type comments in their books.
On the top of the fin, hard to say. Photo interpretation is hard to master. The folks at "Squadron" can tell you from B&W photos what color the planes and markings are. I do not know how they can do that, but I always see those type comments in their books.