Just got turned onto this thread. Its has great stuff... Thanks for everyone’s input over the years (nuff said)
I just completed my wing and installed Century Jet retracts. I may have lost my marbles but I'm installing a Zenoah G-23 upgraded with a 30.5cc big-bore and goped stroker kit from davesmotors.com. Reportedly, this will be 3.8-4HP. Wish me luck with a very heavy CMP Hellcat.
I saw many postings of people thinking about flying with a Zenoah G-23/G-26 but haven't seen any post-build.
Anyone have any luck or is this a doomed plan?... LOL
I will send an update when finished and weighed in.
Thanks!!!!

IL-RC
you may end up nose heavy unless you going to counterbalance the motor weight by placing the servos as aft as possible. With my much lighter FPE 1.3 and all servos in the intented places mine balances out just as perfect as it can get. You mentioned your motor is hopped up with a "big bore"? What are you intending to do? 3D? I think you are slightly over powered.

LOL.... Thanks for the reply-
I had an unsuccessful go last year with a large CMP P-40 Warhawk I bought as a wreck on ebay and on the cheap. I’m not sure why I didn’t just buy a new one considering how cheap the ARFs are.
Before getting the kit I purchase my first used gasoline motor (a G-23). When I received the plane I quickly realized that it required major modifications to mount that engine unlike the hellcat which is a flat firewall mount. Anyway long story short after repairing all of the glass and adding an electric starter on top of it, it weighed just too much. On a dead stick approach I wing-tipped it and re-wrecked it.
The three flights I did have, it flew slow and was a bear to control. Kinda fun really-
So, here I am go # two, didn't learn my modification lesson and will be darned if this thing will be under powered (if anything).
I tried to post pics of it but not sure if I did it right. Please excuse the unfinished nature as I had the gut feeling it was a doomed ghost-ship..



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My CMP hellcat has been flying for a few years now and still holding up well. Century jet are familliar with this model and supplied rettracts that work quite well. They do not completely fit in the wing but pretty close. No problems with reliability. I installed an RCV 1.20 with a Zinger 17 x 12 3 blader that has worked perfectly, looks and sounds great. I do use an on board glow but found that it still runs great when the battery is dead! Standard servos all round and a pull pull on the rudder to hide the ugly control horn provided! I also added a Robart mechanicle tailwheel to clean up the looks.

Gunner,

Looks good, Thanks for the pics. I was thinking of an RCV for mine as I have a CD-91 in my P-47 and like it a lot but I went with a YS 110. It sounds like you've had no flutter problems... There's sure a lot more room in the fuse with out the custom cockpit.

Thanks again for the pics

bigbird

The RCV 1.20 (non CD) has an internal 2:1 gear reduction so you can really haul a huge prop. It is almost scale size. any larger with the non scale wheel size would strike the ground! I had not notices the tail ibut whatever it is, the bird flies great and has a very scale angle of attack on a fast straffing run!!!

Has anyone flown the HellCat from Nitromodels/Raidentech, if so can you post some feedback.

Thank you, Matt

Looking at the Nitro models Hellcat onlie, it is the same as the CMP or GSP kit. So yes I have flown it and it flies very well. A great intermediate scale plane.

Hey Gunner what engine are you using and what prop?

Gunner Never mind I read your earlier post

Thanks

Ben

Hello everyone,

two weeks ago, my Hellcat from ak-models are coming.
Now I've finished the fuselage with some weathering and I changed the tailwheel to a scaler place.
It's a mechanical retract from AK-Models

here some pics after the weathering.
I am not sure, which engine I will mount.
What would you say - SC 120 4-stroke or Laser 120 4-stroke ?

Klaus,
What robart tail wheel did you use?

Nice work on the weathering.

Ben

Sorry,
it's not a robart wheel - its a mechanical plastic wheel which ak-models has for sale.

Klaus, what main gear retracts are you using? Thanks.

Hello,
I don't know which one.I have 2 options - one mechanical from Kyosho or one pneumatic from Rom-Air.

I will look which one is better for the wings.

I would use the air retracts if you can make them fit.

Any particular reason you would use the air over the mechanicals?

hello,from Spain.i was finish my cmp hellcat.wiht.a magnum 120 four strokes,sierra retracts. and landing light,and top flite cockpit.century jet pilot.it flies very well..



congratulations from Spain

Any pictures Kurrikan?

I have had more success over the years with air retracts than mechanical. Especially with 90 degree rotators!

They are also a more simple retro fit in this model. I did however use a Robart mechanical for the tailwheel, simply to save money.

Here are some pictures of my almost finished Hellcat.

Oops, forgot to click on "upload'
here they are:

Here is one more picture:

Wow that looks really good. Nice rivet work, how did you do that?