Top RC Models MkIV full Composite Spitfire-a game changer
#476
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Navarre, FL
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Roger! I had a hard landing on my maiden, and used it extensively in the repairs, including using it as a sort of resin for the fiberglass I used for reinforcement. I've since had 3 flights and it is holding quite well!
#480
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4 pounds of lead fishing weights (hammered flat), 2 pounds of which are epoxied (JB Weld) inside the front of the cowling. Granted I may be a touch nose heavy, but she flies very nice like that. I'm ballancing around 120mm...I balanced at 130mm for the maiden, and that was tail heavy. My hard landing resulted from a combination of it being tail heavy, and the engine quitting after about 2 mins.
Recommend that you pay close attention to engine cooling. My failure was due to overheat, and others have had the same problem.
Recommend that you pay close attention to engine cooling. My failure was due to overheat, and others have had the same problem.
Last edited by zrooster; 12-18-2016 at 08:02 PM.
#483
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Yeah, depends on size of engine you're using and what it weighs, but you'll need something. The tail gear assembly I have is a bit heavier than stock, and the tailwheel I used is a bit lighter. Overall, I think I ended up heavier back there, so you may not need as much weight to balance.
#484
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Here's flight number 5. Cell phone vid, and also my very first upload to YouTube sorry for the quality:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=rA92aooKatA
https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=rA92aooKatA
#486
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Location: Navarre, FL
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Here are flights number 6 and 9. 9 is just a takeoff as I had some gear problems (one didn't come all the way up...when I went to put them down, the other wouldn't come out of the well...eventually got both down and locked)...my camera man stopped filming to help with the gear problem.
Photos are before flight 9 (plane only), and after (plane, and a very relieved me). 4 blade is a Biela 17x8. Performance was good. You'll see that I climbed out a bit slow at first. That was poor technique on my part...I normally allow the tail to come up, then the plane to accelerate before lifting off (see flight 6 video)...in the case of flight 9, I kept the tail down all the way to liftoff (i.e. too much up elevator, in my opinion). The plane performed nicely with the 4 blade.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYNdTBZ2TxA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7Mbp5VtezY
Photos are before flight 9 (plane only), and after (plane, and a very relieved me). 4 blade is a Biela 17x8. Performance was good. You'll see that I climbed out a bit slow at first. That was poor technique on my part...I normally allow the tail to come up, then the plane to accelerate before lifting off (see flight 6 video)...in the case of flight 9, I kept the tail down all the way to liftoff (i.e. too much up elevator, in my opinion). The plane performed nicely with the 4 blade.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYNdTBZ2TxA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7Mbp5VtezY
#491
See the attached photos of my TF P-51 with DLE 55RA & heat shield and H9 Spitfire with air dam.
Roger
#493
Here are flights number 6 and 9. 9 is just a takeoff as I had some gear problems (one didn't come all the way up...when I went to put them down, the other wouldn't come out of the well...eventually got both down and locked)...my camera man stopped filming to help with the gear problem.
Photos are before flight 9 (plane only), and after (plane, and a very relieved me). 4 blade is a Biela 17x8. Performance was good. You'll see that I climbed out a bit slow at first. That was poor technique on my part...I normally allow the tail to come up, then the plane to accelerate before lifting off (see flight 6 video)...in the case of flight 9, I kept the tail down all the way to liftoff (i.e. too much up elevator, in my opinion). The plane performed nicely with the 4 blade.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYNdTBZ2TxA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7Mbp5VtezY
Photos are before flight 9 (plane only), and after (plane, and a very relieved me). 4 blade is a Biela 17x8. Performance was good. You'll see that I climbed out a bit slow at first. That was poor technique on my part...I normally allow the tail to come up, then the plane to accelerate before lifting off (see flight 6 video)...in the case of flight 9, I kept the tail down all the way to liftoff (i.e. too much up elevator, in my opinion). The plane performed nicely with the 4 blade.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYNdTBZ2TxA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7Mbp5VtezY
#495
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Yes, especially with a rear exhaust where the muffler is directly below the carburetor and since you have a Spitfire with a narrow cowl it's a must. Without a heat shield you will be lucky to get 6 minutes of flight before the engine will stop due to vapor lock and a dead stick landing is a given. The heat shield is easy and inexpensive to do. I use 1/8 inch plywood covered with self adhesive aluminum tape, the heat shield is attached to two of the standoffs with 4 tie wraps. You may also need to install an air dam to assist in removing hot air out of the cowl, I had to add the air dam on my H9 Spitfire.
See the attached photos of my TF P-51 with DLE 55RA & heat shield and H9 Spitfire with air dam.
Roger
See the attached photos of my TF P-51 with DLE 55RA & heat shield and H9 Spitfire with air dam.
Roger
#498
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Dude, nice flying..excellent landing on flight 6...she sounds rich on the low end..you might consider leaning the low end out some to get rid of that gurgling..wouldn't want her to shut down on you
#500
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