Spitfire arf 95" phoenix assembly
#251
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I have checked them and tried to balance the plane with a rig I made to see if one wing would drop and got nothing , i have see a couple of people on this site complain about the same thing.. There was just to much left trim to get it to fly straight . I don't like having to fly it that way . It will be a while before i fly it again , I have some other work I have to take car of but when I do i will give the results , I'm starting with a 2 oz. weight to see if it makes any difference . Thanks for the response.
#254
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I was carrying some left trim, so I weighed both wings separately. I added about 2oz. to the left wing, didn't make any difference to the trim
The plane flies so nicely that I'm not bothered by it anymore.
The plane flies so nicely that I'm not bothered by it anymore.
Last edited by mogman; 07-09-2020 at 05:48 AM.
#255
Thread Starter
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I'M BACK!
About 2 years ago, I had a perfect landing and relaxed, and it took off again and cart wheeled.
The fuse was heavily damaged so I bought another one, last year.
Just finished a Z F4U so I thought I'd assemble my new one.
Before doing that, I would repair the wings which only had minor damage.
A sorry looking fuse. That center section is pretty weak with a door opening!
One wing had the wing connector damaged.
Some epoxy and an L bar clamped along the rib to insure the rib is perfectly straight.
A little sanding and 'good as new'.
The other wing's LE got some damage.
Heated the covering to remove it.
Some nice dental picks to help align the balsa. Got these from my dentist about 20 years ago: probably can't give them away anymore the 'way things are' now!
Looked like the sheeting would need some re-enforcement so some 1/4" square stock used.
One at the top and one at the bottom.
and one in the middle. Some thin CA held them in firmly.
CA'ed the old sheeting back on the LE.
Some 2 part easy sand applied.
Some 100 grit smoothed it out. Will need some 3M red bondo for the minor imperfections.
Two good wings. Probably will use these on the new plane and just keep the unassembled ones for back up.
Got a Dawn Patrol flyin to go to so will be a few days before I get started on the fuse.
About 2 years ago, I had a perfect landing and relaxed, and it took off again and cart wheeled.
The fuse was heavily damaged so I bought another one, last year.
Just finished a Z F4U so I thought I'd assemble my new one.
Before doing that, I would repair the wings which only had minor damage.
A sorry looking fuse. That center section is pretty weak with a door opening!
One wing had the wing connector damaged.
Some epoxy and an L bar clamped along the rib to insure the rib is perfectly straight.
A little sanding and 'good as new'.
The other wing's LE got some damage.
Heated the covering to remove it.
Some nice dental picks to help align the balsa. Got these from my dentist about 20 years ago: probably can't give them away anymore the 'way things are' now!
Looked like the sheeting would need some re-enforcement so some 1/4" square stock used.
One at the top and one at the bottom.
and one in the middle. Some thin CA held them in firmly.
CA'ed the old sheeting back on the LE.
Some 2 part easy sand applied.
Some 100 grit smoothed it out. Will need some 3M red bondo for the minor imperfections.
Two good wings. Probably will use these on the new plane and just keep the unassembled ones for back up.
Got a Dawn Patrol flyin to go to so will be a few days before I get started on the fuse.
Last edited by samparfitt; 07-09-2020 at 08:11 AM.
#257
Thread Starter
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Yo Dave,
A week, or so, ago, I sent you a private message when I saw you were on one of my threads.
I hear ya': we're reaching 'old as dirt' ages!
I don't have to worry about this year with all the cancellations. The normal 20, or so, flyins are down to a hand full.
The good news is I'm saving about 5,000 miles on the truck and me!
later,
A week, or so, ago, I sent you a private message when I saw you were on one of my threads.
I hear ya': we're reaching 'old as dirt' ages!
I don't have to worry about this year with all the cancellations. The normal 20, or so, flyins are down to a hand full.
The good news is I'm saving about 5,000 miles on the truck and me!
later,
#259
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I did check the engine thrust angle and it is fine . There must me some reason , I'm going to try the lead when i do fly it , if it stays the same I may increase it after each flight . it is a big and long wing and if one side is heavier or longer it could make the difference . There is no way it should need that much left trim . Thanks again Bob
#260
I put mine altogether for the first time! Wow!
I have all the surfaces set and adjusted for proper throws. Read in here that the throws per the manual were low so I cheated them all up just a bit for low and mid rates then a bit more for high rates.
The landing gear seems to work just fine. I put 100psi in and cycled them 5 or 6 times. I left it over night and in the morning got several more cycles. Completely stock system. Happy about that.
I do need to slow it down a bit especially on the up cycle, I have some Robart restrictors and will try them with the stock tubing.
Just need to finalize the mounting of the radio system and wire routing, and check the CG.
Getting close!
I have all the surfaces set and adjusted for proper throws. Read in here that the throws per the manual were low so I cheated them all up just a bit for low and mid rates then a bit more for high rates.
The landing gear seems to work just fine. I put 100psi in and cycled them 5 or 6 times. I left it over night and in the morning got several more cycles. Completely stock system. Happy about that.
I do need to slow it down a bit especially on the up cycle, I have some Robart restrictors and will try them with the stock tubing.
Just need to finalize the mounting of the radio system and wire routing, and check the CG.
Getting close!
#261
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Location: Duncan, SC
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Control Surface Throws
Hey guys, I am getting ready to maiden my Spitty and completing the control surface throws set up. Curious to see if everyone is using what is specified in the manual? My manual has both low and high rate reccomendations but even the high rates seem too low. For example; 15mm on both the ailerons and elevator and only 25mm on the flaps. These are the high rates. Anyone have a different set up reccomendation? I usually set up about 30% expo just to smooth out the shaky thumbs 😎.
Thanks for any help!
Thanks for any help!
Last edited by JayGull; 08-24-2020 at 05:34 PM.
#262
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Watch for a hard right turn after take off . I had that problem with mine and needed a lot of left trim , checked everything out and cannot find the problem , last think is to check the offset in the firwall . A few others have had the same problem . plane fly's great except for all the left trim bothers me . Good luck .
#263
Hey guys, I am getting ready to maiden my Spitty and completing the control surface throws set up. Curious to see if everyone is using what is specified in the manual? My manual has both low and high rate reccomendations but even the high rates seem too low. For example; 15mm on both the ailerons and elevator and only 25mm on the flaps. These are the high rates. Anyone have a different set up reccomendation? I usually set up about 30% expo just to smooth out the shaky thumbs 😎.
Thanks for any help!
Thanks for any help!
Will hopefully maiden in the next couple of weeks.
#264
My Feedback: (1)
Hey guys, I am getting ready to maiden my Spitty and completing the control surface throws set up. Curious to see if everyone is using what is specified in the manual? My manual has both low and high rate reccomendations but even the high rates seem too low. For example; 15mm on both the ailerons and elevator and only 25mm on the flaps. These are the high rates. Anyone have a different set up reccomendation? I usually set up about 30% expo just to smooth out the shaky thumbs 😎.
Thanks for any help!
Thanks for any help!
Best regards,
-Ed B.
#266
I got my maiden flight in yesterday. All went well! Thank goodness!
The plane was set up with the rimfire 65cc and a Castle Edge 160 ESC using two 6S-8000mah 30C batteries, and a 26x12 Xoar propeller.
The flight lasted 3 1/2 minutes. and used about 50% of the battery.
Needed the left aileron trim i have read about. I set up the control throws per the manual and added another with higher rates.
I flew on the highest rates and was glad I had them. I would still like more aileron but everything else seemed ok.
I will post the video as soon as I get them.
The plane was set up with the rimfire 65cc and a Castle Edge 160 ESC using two 6S-8000mah 30C batteries, and a 26x12 Xoar propeller.
The flight lasted 3 1/2 minutes. and used about 50% of the battery.
Needed the left aileron trim i have read about. I set up the control throws per the manual and added another with higher rates.
I flew on the highest rates and was glad I had them. I would still like more aileron but everything else seemed ok.
I will post the video as soon as I get them.
#268
Yes about 1/8". In the photo you can actually see the trim, the pic was taken after the fight.
Based on your posts I was ready for it.
The plane seemed to track ok with no yaw tendency.
I wonder if one wing is out of alignment or built with a slight twist.
I will set it up and run an incidence meter across both wings and see what that tells me.
The plane balanced laterally.
Based on your posts I was ready for it.
The plane seemed to track ok with no yaw tendency.
I wonder if one wing is out of alignment or built with a slight twist.
I will set it up and run an incidence meter across both wings and see what that tells me.
The plane balanced laterally.
Last edited by kevarc; 09-10-2020 at 05:01 AM.