Wow! I did not know that. As long as I keep my plane under 90" span, I don't think I will overshoot the AMA 50lb limit.

I am sorry, in your case, you build under the requirements.

Take care,

Vic

The plane has and extra cote of silver paint. After priming, I painted silver first and steal wool to get a weathered look.

not much weight but significant.

Jose build from the glass fuse also, his plane weighed in the 17.5 lbs. Pretty close but he also used 3/32 sheeting and 2oz cloth.

Vic

Vic,
Looking at your list my bet would be the extra servos and battery pack.

It's not a real big issue as the permit to fly isn't difficult if you're a reasonable builder and pilot.

When I read of a guy flying an 80 inch DB Sport & Scale Spit at under 10 lbs I have to figure there's an opportunity for weight reduction there somewhere.
--
Merlin

Vic,
This may interest you. Plugging your Spit figures into my handy-dandy wing loading calculator I get the following for your Spitfire:

Wing loading is 36.1oz/Sq Foot and a cubic loading is 12.45

Cubic Wing Loading Values between 8 and 10 are considered good for aerobatic aircraft, between 10 and 11 are considered good sport models and values between 11 and 13 are for heavy warbirds. (Sailplanes are something like 4 to 6)

The Taylor Spit as per prototype is as follows:
Wing loading is 27.6oz/Sq Foot and cubic loading is 9.5

Jose's Spit came out at 33.3 & 11.47

The formula allows for the reduced Reynolds number effect which decreases as the model gets larger.
--
Merlin

where can us rokit sciintists get one of them calkylator thingys
I am also a noocleer sciintist too and could really use one of them thar thingys

Joe

Hi Prof,
It's just an Excel spreadsheet with a few formulas. I'll try to attach it but it may be just over the limit, if so can you give me an address and I'll email it.
--
Merlin

Thanks merlin got it a appreciate it. I dunno why i want it cause i never worry abt wing loadings or anything else as I just build them add my details and fly not worrying abt weights or wingloadings but am designing a lockheed hudson bomber and since it is a twin and I am not super familiar with them i better do some calsulations on it.

again thanks
Joe

Arrrr...you're a man after me own heart

It's all part of my "crash avoidance program". Having come from the sailplane ranks into powered RC, I take a keen interest in wing loadings, structural strength etc.

Also agree with your thoughts on the Taylor fuselage construction as I also like to redesign to incorporate stringers and full formers, at least from the cockpit back. Be interesting to see what effect that has on weight.
--
Merlin

it ends up abt the same weight sometimes lighter. I have built planes from most designers and some of them overdue it on the structure. I also like to watch these forums on how someone bilding a giant scale warbird with all the frills worrying abt weight which is common but when counting grams i think its funny. but on the opposite side I just got the palmer 88" C-130 so I can blow it up to his larger 131" size and do it in a spectre AC-130 gunship and on his small one like I got he states the weight at 10 lbs 12 oz? thats rediculous for a plane that size totally built up and sheeted with 4 engines and all the stuff he has like functioning tailgate home built retracts etc. so I just buildem who cares abt weight put enough horsepower on anything and it will fly. Most of mine have been Ziroli planes and i always use the G-62 and have never had a power problem when flying in a scale-like manner hehehe when i get these palmer plans figured out and traced to cad format so I can adjust his nose area which is wrong I will keep ya informerd of the weight. I figure at 131" it will come in around 30 lbs we shall see.

Joe

Thank's joe,
Will be looking out for progress on that modern day version of Puff the magic dragon
--
Merlin

yea Merlin figured I needed a companion for the AC-47 Spooky I will be doing this building season sometime.

Joe

Merlin,

Your a wealth of information.... as usual!

Can you calculate my fw190d9 for me?

80 inch span, 19" root, 10" tip, and 27lbs.

It still flys great, as long as I have power applied! else it drops like a rock

Thanks,

Vic

p.s. I guess 4 semester of Calculus, 3 semesters of Physics in a university did not help me much!

Hi Vic,

The numbers come out as follows:

Wing area = 1160 sq/in (8.06 sq/ft)
Wing Loading = 53.6 oz per sq/ft (ouch!)
Cubic loading = 18.89

Holy smoke Vic
--
Merlin

Merlin,

Thanks!!!!


56oz wing loading... that reminds me of my old slope gliders I use the fly. Nevertheless the fw190d9 is a great flyer. Some have wondered why I land hard during landings.... I just don't have any more elevator to give

Vic

Well boys, I can finally say that I've started the spitfire! (insert clicking heels sound here).

I'll be documenting my progress on my website. I know of Vic and Jose and Todd who are or have built one...I'd like to know of other folks as well so I can collect contacts and input/tips to enhance my site and help others through the process. This is my first glass fuse project so I hope to shed some light on it's process....and hopefully won't find myself (or have others) saying, "Dough, I shoulda asked dat!" at the end.

Armed with arm loads of documentation I've collected the spit glass parts from Vic, the cut parts and canopy from Holman, stab and elevator from Chad (and the instrument panel down the road Chad!?! hint hint), the gear are on order from Lenny, and I have a ST3000 for power....kinda makes you wonder if i'll actually be doing any work myself!?! ;-)

I look forward to hearing from you!

2 thumbs up Sean,
looking forward to your progress!

Todd

All right Sean! I started my second Spit as well. Not sure which versio yet but probably a Mk VIII of the Australian A.F.

http://spitfirecmraaf.tripod.com/


JG
http://mywebpage.netscape.com/warbirdscale/