Thanks Randy, I'm just back for a short visit though. I'd like to say first to all that ordered parts, they are done and will be shipped tomorrow. Thanks for all the support and I hope you guys will share your work with pictures and things on this thread, it's always helpful to see other peoples work and I enjoy it.

On the drawings for the control surfaces, I used the Don Lien 1/6 scale Hellcat plans. I just scaled them down and used his hinge templates. I believe the Brian Taylor Hellcat plan would work also, it's 1/8 scale, the same size as the CMP Hellcat. As you are all aware, the CMP just has an extended wing. The stab was not shortened, I just sanded the tips to the proper shape, so they are about 1/2" shorter on each side. I filled the center of the stab with soft balsa and sanded it to shape so that I could slide it in the fuselage in one piece.

If you want to see how I did the flaps I did a complete tutorial in this thread, go to page #32 post 776 for all the info. Elevators are on page 22.

I'll see if I have any drawings that I can post, not sure if I do though.

Luke

Hey, Luke
I got side tracked and totally forgot to place an order for one canopy. Is it already too late for one more?[sm=red_smile.gif]
Here are some close ups of my home made retractable tail wheel for jack41

Canfieldnosedive, I'm about 90% done with my hellcat and was just today staring at my tank and clunk before installing. I'm running a gas engine and it seems like the line itself is too rigid and won't fall easilly to the top of the tank when inverted. I'm poking around for a solution as well. I'm also back-and-forth on a felt lined cluck of just the standard weighted.
I will send an update if I figure something out.
Keep me posted as well!
Thanks

thevirginian, the pics looks great. I'm staring at the one inside of the fusalage and was hoping to verify the servo config.
Looks like one is dedicated to raise/lower the tail wheel assembly, the middle servo must be your rudder with steering and the elevator is on the far right?
Do you recommend the wire configuration for the rudder over the manual's pushrod setup?
Thanks

Hey IL-RC
The servo in front below is hooked up to the retractable tailwheel with a carbon pushrod. This servo is y-harnessed to the servo in front of the tank, which actuates he air valve for the main retracts. The servo with the big double sided arm is my rudder servo and also controls the tailwheel steering. If the the tailwheel is retracted the pull-pull lines are slack and there is no steering of the tailwheel. The whole set up works just fantastic, better than what I expected. The ground handling is on of the best I had with any of my many airplanes.

IL-RC The fuel lines for gas (yellow type) is much stiffer than for glow. It is normal that it won't fall forward for gas. Not sure why but my gas planes don't seem to mind a dive they don't die. Just figured that there is enough fuel in the lines for that short dive to keep all happy. The only line that I have seen that is a bit more flexable for gas is the Black Great Planes fuel line. Hope it helps.

By the way Virginian tailwheel looks nice. Mine won't be done till next week just not enough time left and we are moving to a new house this weekend so there goes any fun, have to keep the wife happy.


Randy

Thanks for the posts guys!

Randy,
When you shortened the wings what does the wing span end up being. What do you think the wing loading will be. Has anyone flown one of these with that mod. While I'm in the early stages, ok the plane is still in the box, I figured I'll get as much information befor I start as possible. This will be the fourth in a list of projects so I have time to learn from other's experience.

Thanks for the help

Ben[8D]

Wingspan is now 63" not sure on wing loading but I know my "none modified" one is a bit of a floater. I expect this one to be faster and and do a nice sink for landing.

Randy

OK I look forward to hearing how she flys. Thanks for the quick response.

Ben

My wing came out to about 64", I can't remember exactly. Anyway, it's the exact same size as the Brian Taylor 1/8 scale Hellcat, even the fuselage is almost an exact match. When I heard the flight reports, that the original CMP Hellcat was a floater, as Randy stated, I knew that cutting the wings would work. The CMP Cat has a thicker wing than the Brian Taylor Hellcat, so I'm sure it'll do fine.

Luke

SIR---EXACTLY THE SAME, EXCEPT I'M BUILDING WITHT HE ROBART 100 DEGREE RETRACTS INSTEAD---ALREADY PURCHASED. THE OS 1.20 IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING PURCHASED. WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR EXPERIENCE IN --SO FAR--INSTALLATION PROCESS OF THE 1.20---FUEL TANK LEVEL INSTALLATION. ALSO, I UNDERSTAND WE SHOULD (I'M TOLD???) USETHE SLIMLINE EXHAUST WITH THE 1.20, AND THE HEAD OF THE ENGINE AT "SIX O' CLOCK". I WILL BE SUING A GLOW-DRIVER ONBOARD. TOLD THIS IS 'NECESSARY' WITH THE HEAD INVERTED. --ALL THE BEST , 'N GOD BLESS---ED SARKISIAN

PLEASE FILL ME IN ON THE DUMMY RADIAL FOR THE F6F HELLCAT--INTERESTED. ALSO, EXPECIALLY--REF TO THE SIERRA RETRACTS-----I BOUGHT THE ROBARTS -----FAR FROM A DROP-IN-JOB. HOW MUCH "TOTAL REBUILDING"/ TOTAL RECONSTRUCTION OF THE WHEEL BAY AREA AND THE RETRACT ATTACH POINT AREA DO YOU ANTICIPATE WITH THE SIERRA'S?? THE ROBART, I'M TOLD, AND AGREE UPON INITIAL ASSESSMENT , REQUIRE QUITE A REBUILD/ ENLARGEMENT OF THE WHEEL BAY. WHERE DID YOU GET THE SIERRA RETRACTS??? ----THANK YOU!! ED --------------SARKS757 @AOL.COM

IS THIS FRED QUINN??---THIS IS ED SARK---HUSTELLING ON MY RCU FACT GATHERING MISSION FOR TH CMP HELLCAT AND ZERO(1.20 SIZE). I AM GETTING THE OS 1.20-----FROM LINDA AT HOB HUT------THX FORTHE HEADS UP, FRED. AND FOR THE PHONE HELPPP----ED "SARK"

sarks757, you can get the Sierra's at

http://sierragiant.com/index.htm

You will need to remove the sheeting from either side of the retract bay on the bottom. I then removed both ribs on the retract bay. I then made new ones out of 1/8" ply then used some good spruce for the gear rails measured how much room I needed and glued in the ribs. Next glued in the rails. You will need to beef up the wing spar no matter what because you have to cut some of it away. I cut two 1/4" ply doublers and epoxied them onto the spar one on each side of it. There are pics of the mods further back I would advise going back to at least about page 24 and reading to here. All is explained with some good pics. I can tell you that the Robarts will not hold up to the weight unless you grease every landing. They have some new ones coming but they are not here yet. I have the Sierra's and really like them.

Randy

HEH FRED--It's Ed "Sark"....just blew the bank on an OS 1.20 Fs--today. Linda at HH knows ya'. Anyhow...having trouble "posting a new article/ questions" on the site...here on R/C U. Can you enlighten me on it---I'm (hopefully) placing a new "post" for infor on starting/ completeing the CMP F6F and zero--specifically the Hellcat. The questions will be very specific on the post header for help on the Robart Retracts, and the painting , downline...way downline. How can I make a new post?? thx--ed Sarks757 @aol.com

What dummy engine is that, and the prop hub??? Thanx---Ed Sarkisian

thaaaaank you-------ed sark

Hello Luke;
Received your canopy yesterday. All I can say is NICE!!![sm=thumbs_up.gif]
Now I can appreciate myself why people praise it so much over the original.
Thanks again, Luke.
thevirginian

So if I wanted to start the bash would Brain Taylor plans help ???
I just purchased the interior yesterday , after great success with the Zolner corsair kit I could not pass up the opportunity !!!Only hope you do a P40 soon

Here is my finished dummy radial from www.darehobby.com. Only $4.50, but you have to paint it.

Looking good!

BentMetal,
The canopy, tank, radial and cockpit look awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks again (btw. That was fast!)

I;m hearing so much on sierra retracts from this online forum, yet never heard 'em advertised or publicized anywhere-----good thing for a forum, or I'd never know...Unfortunately, I purchased The Robart retracts already. One person said the Robarts are built for greaser landings only----they wouldn't put up with anything more than a greaser landing...yett he shop selling the Nitro's says The Robarts are built for this kit, The CMP hellcat. i'm reaaly confused. Ed .... sarks757 @aol.com . (.... ??????).

Here are some pics of photos I bought on ebay. They are from a 1975 aircraft magazine.
Let me know if anyone needs better pics of certain areas. I know these are a bit hard to view with lighting.