raptureboy

Ditch the 4 stroke and install a DLE20 gas engineMore power less worry, use the flaps on landing and keep your power on until just before touch down, it's a warbird not a trainer. Just like the real deal. Good luck on the maiden.

glazier808

My Feedback: (1)

Wow, you just can't help yourself with that statement can you lol...I wonder just how many times you've said that? How bout you let it be and move on eh? I know I'm sick of hearing it. This isn't an ESM build if you didn't stop to read.

ddmarco,

she will fly fine at your weight. Even better once you move everything forward. Just keep the speed up on approach. I had a TF P40 @12.5 lbs and she flew great. I sold her and have always regretted it.

Casey

Tony Iannucelli

My Feedback: (193)

Good point about flying it to the touchdown. Keep at least a bit of power on and use the flaps and wind to advantage. However, simple physics tells you that if the plane is heavy (as in "too heavy") the landings will take their toll, whether it's flown to the ground or not. In my experience, (relatively) light always flies better with warbirds and is less taxing on the gear and airframe too. Always. Of course the plane needs to be balanced correctly. How to do that and keep it light is the issue. Wheel landings are best with a smooth field. Too fast on grass, and you nose over. Too slow and you risk a snap. Too heavy... well... maybe some of both if you aren't careful. I'm saying heavy doesn't help.

"Build it light to fly, and you will. Build it to withstand a crash, and you will."

Jeez, I can't wait to get out there again!

flycatch

My Feedback: (26)

Know who Dave Platt is? Read his book on scale RC models have you. I have been there and done that. I'll say t again ESM ARFs are lead sleads and so are CMPs. Wing loading dictates how a model flies once airborne.

glazier808

My Feedback: (1)

So go start your own thread.....you've said nothing to add to this one. Oh, and don't drag Dave Platt into this, I doubt he's looking over your shoulder telling you what to type.

Tommy_Gun

Your perception of how my Spitfire flies is erroneous.
That video was the first time l had ever flown this plane.
The runway of field l am flying it from is only 22' wide and
300' long. Since it was the first test flight, l was making a point of carrying some extra speed down the pipe on final approach.

Like all of the Top Flite Gold Edition kits l have flown, the Spitfire was a very well behaved warbird, even if it was carrying a couple extra pounds

dadragon

Diego dont go to a lesser power servo at least 50oz on that size and weight,flaps 100oz.

jeffk464

Seems like a DLE20 would solve your problem. Two birds with one stone.

john josey

Diego, this is the latest spit i have built, granted it is a bit bigger than your's but it to has come out heavy. I even bought a gram scale that i took the model shop to weigh the wood i would use to replace the heavy kit supplied stuff to build the tail. I still had to add a full 2lb of lead to the front/top of the cowl to balance.

I have a friend who built the TF 1/5 mustang and he had 12" from CofG point to the back of the spinner, where as, i only had 5" on a 1/5 scale spit. The spit unfortunatly is one of a handfull of aircraft that has a really short nose and yes, they could move the wing back or lenthen the nose, but would it look right....i'm not sure.

You have made a beautifull job of your spit and have no doubts you will come back on here a happy man with a few flights under your belt.

Tony Iannucelli

My Feedback: (193)

John J, now that's a SPITFIRE! Magnificent work. The gun treatment is perfect. I need to work on mine.

sensei

What part of my statement is erroneous, the part I stated it looks like it flies great or the part that looks like a hand full to land...

Bob

john josey

Tony, thank you for the kind words. The gun ports are just two different sizes of brass tube. With spits, i always try and use a large area letter like K, M or W for the inlet cooling hole, which seems to work out well.

ForcesR

Good day Diego, as you requested, I weighed the wing and fuselage on my TF Spitfire. The wing came in at 3lbs 2oz; the fuselage came in at 6lbs 6oz. I have also included a photo of the internal fuselage workings, as you can see there is vey little room to work with after all the electronics etc., is installed.

The TF Spitfire is an older design and is designed for a glow engine and not gas. If you plan on installing a gas engine to replace the glow engine, be aware that you will not be able to install an in cowl muffler due to where you have to place the electronic ignition box. With the ignition box installed under the engine box there is no room remaining for an in cowl muffler. That is the reason whythe muffler hangs out on the side of the cowl on my TF Spitfire.

Roger

Michel

Hi

And good morning

I read the first post , a few other posts

I have the TF-Spit , in kit form . This has been a long time plan , to get all the parts to-gether , I,m sure it,s been two years .

- The kit
- Robarts , but not the 605,s , Something much sturdier ( I build heavy )
- Cock-pit , kit
- Servo,s
- Fiberglass cowl
- 1 Mirical switch ( hatched ) , It has that clean look
-Wheels
- Fiberglass cloth
- Spinner
- And the engine I have ,..................... DLE-20
- And I,m sure other item,s , and still have the muffler to purchase

The DLE-20 , is to counter ballance the tail weight , hence ,...................... heavy plane . If I have to add weight , let it be power

I have always built heavy . I had a TIGER 11 / 60 size , os 90 , and it weighed , 11.8 lbs . I learnt how to , " HOT LAND " ,.......... " NOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! " , it,s wing loading was way up there. If you know how to land a jet , it,s a piece of cake

For myself , I have learnt to land , hot . My Spit , will come in at 12 lbs , ........... for sure . The stall speed climbs , considerably . My solution is to come in with throttle and flaps . manys guys like dive landing , that works too .

Actutally , ................. I think it looks more realistic , a plane landing hot .


I have no idea when I,ll start my build , it took me 5 years for my TF Elder

Michel

ForcesR

Hi Michel; I tend to build light,Iremoved as much weightfrom theSpitfirefuselage as I deemed safe, structural wise. Even with the SaitoFG-20 gas engine installed, I still had to add 8ozs of lead to the engine box to achieve the recommended COG. The all upweight of TFSpitfire is 9lbs 8ozs.

The FG-20's connecting rod seized to the crank shaft just before I taxied out on the flying fieldfor the maiden flight. Unfortunately I got one of the defective Saito's that had insufficient oil channels to lube the connecting rod and crank. It wasrepairedunder warranty by HH.I am just waiting for Spring weatherto do the maiden.

Roger

Michel

Hi Roger

Thats a really great weight . The only reason I did buy a Saito gas ,........... the price . So came the DLE . When I finsh the FW-190 , I,m sure I,ll jump on the Spit .

Keep in touch when that maidian happens ,................................ great weight

Michel

sensei

I am sure you will love the way this one flies in all aspects, great job on a lightweight build!

Bob

Michel

Hi Roger

Where did you put youre C/G ?

Michel

ForcesR

Michel, I have the COG setas recommended in the instruction manual, 4 1/8" back from the wing leading edge.

Roger

ddemarco

Thank you Sensei for your kind comments. Indeed, your questions are all valid. In retrospective, placing the wing just 2 cm (3/4 inch) aft would have made everything a lot easier. The manual certainly didn't mention anything about the tail-heavy tendency. The good news for the future is I now have you guys to ask questions when I do my next project. Although Argentina is a very large country, plane building has been lost over the last 20 years, and the community is very reduced. Buit hey, I can resort to this great community to improve, and maybe at some point, also help others.

Cheers,

Diego

Spitfire Brotherhood #162

ddemarco

That makes me feel a lot better. I'll still make some efforts to reduce the weight, but I won't be able to do that this weekend, because I'm traveling to see the final of the World Gliding Champoinship, hosted for the first time here in Argentina, some 400 Km away from where I live. It will be a wonderful experience, but I won't be able to work on this beauty...

I'll keep you posted. Cheers,

Diego
Spitfire Brotherhood #162

ddemarco

Hi Tony,

Thank you for your kind words. I'll certainly pay attention to your recommendations. I'll need to stay away from the firewall, in order to place weight as far to the front as possible. I'm thinking of building a very simple structure attached to the firewall, but "flying" over the engine, so I can attach the weight to it, and stay as close as possible to the nose.

On a separate thread, I will discuss the option of a CNC-machined weight to install in the spinner itself. and your input will also be welcome.

Cheers,

sensei

I do wish the very best on maiden day, and as others have stated just keep it hot on the landings.

Bob

ddemarco

Thanks Steve and raptureboy. I'll let you know how it goes.

Cheers,

ddemarco

Yep, I'll become a member of a good (maybe the only good?) model-plane club around here. They have a paved runway, and that should make things easier.

Cheers,