Fix is to keep it out of the sun... common problem with f/g fuselages. As a matter of fact GSP even has a caution about it in the instructions.


Andy

Flew the 'cat again today. Kept it in the shade when idle. 84 degree sunny day. Many high speed passes and no flutter. Keep 'em cool!

all this long thread and no video ending? thats like a movie with no "the end" or looney tunes without porky pig!

no one to post video of their workin canopy or flying machine!!!

No video but a couple of pics.

Whoops,

Posted pics twice by mistake. Sorry folks

what do you have pulling that baby around? looks like a grapner prop too??

cochinito77,

Power plant is an OS 120 4-stroke. I put a pitts pipe to prevent having to dig a huge hole in the cowl. Century Jet pneumies. This flight pic is from my screwup with the right gear. The thing that was funny was that I landed this baby twice on the belly due to misadjusted valve. The second belly landing brought an applause. I was able to roll on the tailwheel for more than half the landing strip. Man did it look cool. That is the runnign joke not that I should remove all my gear and just belly land. Nah! pneumatic retracts look too cool. BTW that is a Graupner prop. First time I've used one. I typically use MAS but have been following the thread for warbirds and they seem to be the prop of choice. I also heard that you can dye them as well.

Brent

Ivacant
wishyou had a video of the wheelie landin!!! sounds cool! good job.

Hey guys:almost lost my hellcat due to what I think is the stock elevator set up.I have about 7 flights on her and on the 6th flight she was pulling up very bad so I got her down (some how) in one pice and though the elevator was out of adjustment so I readjusted the elevator and took off.Well that was not it,same problem porpusing very bad had a hell of a time getting on the deck.While on the ground a buddy noticed alot of play in the elevator ALOT OF PLAY,thay was not there on the frist few flights.So has anybody had the samething happen to them.
Fred

Hi ffdq
I had a similar experience. Even though my CG is at 125 mm and Gear Down the plane ballooned on me. Had to cut power just above half (O.S. 120 pumped with a 15x8 prop). Needed plenty of down elevator trim to just get leveled flight. I did not have any play in the tail. Also had some scary pitch changes...without me fiddling with the elevator. ??
Does anybody have the correct incidents for Wing / Elevator ?
Anybody any idea ?
Pete

Pete:I had 5 flights that were great on the six flight and about later is when I had the problem.My cg came out at 125 with the gear up.But the problem was happening with the gear up and down.It was so bad almost lost her on landing.I have alot of play in the elevator now,I think I need to replace the stock set up with 440 rods and fiberglass rod?Maybe that will take care of it?But the frist 5 flights were great no problems rock stady.
Fred

LynnR,

I had the same problem. Specially prevalant on warm days.

I drilled a 1/4 inch hole through the fuselage right under the leading edge of the horiz. stab and 30min. epoxied a 1/4 inch dowel for support. Trimmed excess off and painted dowel and you can't even notice. Fixed the problem.

Oriole

I noticed that the threaded rod from the factory did not match up with the clevis. The clevises might thread up to one rod but not another. If you were flying around fine for a while and later noticed a problem, the threads may have seemed initially engaged but then failed when loads were applied that exceeded the pullout strength of the clevis. I just replaced all the pushrods with 4-40 rod and good quality clevises.

This problem is separate from the balooning issue on landing. I am going to add some weight to the nose to move the CG forward and see if that helps.

Morning All

I just got the Hellcat and the instructions leave lots to be desired. Would someone please give an idea as to where to cut the openings for the wheel wells? Thee are no measurements at all on the plans. I plan on putting the Robinaire retracts in.
Thanks

j-matt did you change your rods to 440,s yet and did it help.
fred

if you look real close you can see a small circle where there is no balsa, you can feel it too.

FYI - Although i'm not building this kit, I have been watching all the amazing scale details that can be added to the ARF. Nitro Planes is now selling it for $139.00.

http://www.nitroplanes.com/hellcat120.html

That's a good price. I thought it might be the CMP knock off, but it says CMP in the ad. Here's a photo of mine flying at a recent Warbird fly-in.

Duuuude !!! Do NOT get into those Nitro Planes ...................!!!! The price is very tempting but the reviews I have seen from them are not to good..

Besides why not go with the real thing.. CMP or GSP have proven to have a good quality product, I wouldnt risk it.. ..

Just a note , when I looked at the Nitro site, it showed CMP listed as some of the planes for sale.

The $139.00 deal is now dead.

Fred,
I changed out the stock hardware to 4-40 before the maiden flight. I haven't had any trouble with the linkages since making the change.
Matt

j-matt, I have not made any repairs to the hellcat yet,been working on and flying my new chopper.I,m happy to hear the 440 rods and connectors fixed the problem for you,I have the 440 rods and connectors to fix mine just have not gotten to it yet.Now that you remined me I think I will get it on the bench now.
thanks Fred

Dion,

All I can say is "Truly Amazing!"[X(] I've been all through the -48- pages of this thread and can't believe your work and all the effort to document the various stages of this bash. If any more parts you've made are available, put me down for gear doors, canopy, dummy radial and machine guns. I see nothing is available on your web site and PMs and email don't work. I'll bet you're tired of all the " I want some, I want some". You can't blame us though, the stuff is great.

I picked up the "Cat" when Nitro Planes had it for $139, I couldn't pass it up. I can't tell if it's the knock off or not, I can't find CMP anywhere on the box or instructions so it must be. This is only my 3rd warbird and finding this thread on RCU is great, all this info is invaluable! Thanks to everyone.

I plan on striping the wing and tail surfaces and using your technique for glassing and cowl mounting. I'm probably going to build the tail wheel just for the practice but the idea of cutting off the tail (or the wings for that matter) to get it in really makes me nervous... I also plan on using the Siearra retracts if I can ever get a hold of Darryl. I love the latest mounts for the gear doors using the pc board, beautiful! Never even heard of the stuff, seems to be very useful in this hobby.

I would love to get above mentioned add ons if you end up making more, Keep up the beautiful work!

Again, thanks for all your effort!!! and everyone else's too!

Bob

Oh BTW I'm the newsletter editor for our club and I'd like to put together an article on your scale tail wheel using your text and pictures, I think the info would be very interesting to our members. What do you think?