Sarks757, The Robart 615 is designed for a plane that doesn't weigh more than 10 pounds. Most of the Hellcats come out heavier than that with a 120 up front. I had a set of these and found that the parts inside the retracts bend very easy. They are made of very thin sheet metal. Personally I think that it would be fine in a 40 size plane or a light 60 size plane. Maybe others have had better luck but I did not. As far as I know the only good retracts easily had are Sierra Precision or Century Jet. I having had both like the Sierra's no question. The struts that come with the Sierra's are a work of art and very scale looking. You can also purchase door mounts from him and he will have them installed for you so that you can attach the doors very easy. The Hellcat was designed for mechanical retracts so there are going to have to be mods done anyway. The Century Jet retacts have the least mods in fact hardly anything but a little dremel work. Read through this Forum from the beginning before you do anything and you will find that most of questions will be answered and most likely get some new ideas.

Randy

Hey thevirgian that looks nice. Glad you purchased the canopy from Luke it makes the plane look so much better. My plan is to maiden mine next weekend have the tailwheel retract almost done.

Randy

WARKS62----THANK You so much for the answers from experience. I WILL be going with TheSierra's....I'm having trouble now attempting to put out another "post" whatever they call that(thread??) here on rc universe.....,...I dunno---point is, if you find the time, can you let me know how (again..forgot) to post another "post" of questions ou there, with an appropriate title. I will--now , despite already having spent some money on robarts, I WILL go with the sierra retracts. i will try an internet explorer search---sierra precision??? thankyou---appreciate the info. so much contradictory infor out there--- Had this kit ( Hellcat and Zero)since the WRAM show, , 2006!!!!! God Bless---Ed Sarkisian [email protected]

GOING IN A SEARCH FOR SIERRA RETRACTS---GONNA SELL THE ROBARTS 100 DEGREE ROTATING RETRACTS----THX FOR THE INPUT, GUYS...OK---A GOOD PLACE TO BUY SIERRA'S????? I'M IN NORTHERN NEW JERSEY ....(OK OK , DON'T HOLD THAT AGAINST ME.......) THANKS---ED 'SARK"

Hey Randy,
Thanks for your praising comments. I know how you must feel, right now. Everything is ready for the big day and you have to wait till the next weekend comes around. For me the maiden is always like the icing on the cake. You are done building, looking at a brandnew airplane, now all you need to compliment this project is a perfect maiden. If you can achieve that, there is almost no better feeling than that. I will keep my fingers crossed that you gonna have the same successful maiden with your Cat, as I had. She is a great flying lady. An older fellow (75 yrs old)at our flying site was an active pilot when he was young and he flew the real Hellcat. He loved to fly this plane very much he told me. One of the best flying airplanes he flew.
Good luck, Randy
thevirginian

Oh, one more thing Randy,
If you can, would you post some pictures of your retract tailwheel, please? I am very interested in what you did.
Thanks
thevirginian

Ed,
You can check out Sierra's website at [link=http://www.sierragiant.com/products.html]http://www.sierragiant.com/products.html[/link] and/or call Darrell at (440) 476-4885.
John

WARKS---GREAT PAINT JOB---NICELY WEATHERED-----I'VE GOT SOME GREAT PIX OF THE F6F ON MY DAD'S CARRIER---CV-10 USS YORKTOWN

THAAANK YOU---WHAT DID YOU FLY IN THE USN?/----I'M SON-OF-A-MARINE -DETACHMENT--CV-10 YORKTOWN (ESSEX CLASS)--HE'S A PLANK OWNER--1943-1945......EDWARD A. SARKISIAN [email protected]

I AM SO INTERESTED HOW YOU DID THE CMP TAILWHEEL------ITS QUITE PATHETIC----ED SARKISIAN BUILDING THE F6F, EVENTUALLY---ED

thevirgian, Will do I worked on it some more last night it is getting clse now just need to pick up some 4-40 bolts and lock nuts.

Randy

I flew P-3 Orions in the Navy. I retired from active duty about four years ago.
John

Randy which model of Sierra retracts did you use? it looks like her has three F6F sets.

Ben

sarks, are you referring to me and my previous posting in any way? In case you do, may I ask you what's pathetic about my interest? BTW, you should press the "caps lock" key on your keyboard. For a lot of people postings and e-mails in upper case are quite annoying.

I think he was talking about the pathetic CMP tail wheel, not yours.
it is you know.

bigbird

I am sorry if I misinterpreted his posting. But he had my screen name in the reply brackets. That's why I was curious.
Thanks bigbird

flyfisher431 (Ben), Just give him a call. Tell him what model you have he knows exactly which ones. They come out the right length in fact perfect (I used 4" Robart wheels). Just so you know the scissors are cosmetic only they don't have any function but for looks, but they are great on the looks all C&C'd. Also if you want door mounts installed also a nice piece of work tell him that too. I have purchased two sets of them and just to give you a idea on price with both scissors and door mounts the price came to $315. May seem high but if you see them and the quality of the work (the struts look great) and the fact that I have been through hell with rotating retracts it is well worth to me. They work smooth and reliable every time and don't have any problem pushing against the wind when coming down. Hope this helps.

Randy

Luke,
Thank you again. all the part arrived today and look great. Hope to see and hear more form you in the future.

Ben

thevirgian, here is where I am at on the tailwheel. In primer most likely paint tomorrow. Very happy with how it turned out. I am hoping that I get to fly it this weekend but my wife is having minor surgery Thursday so not sure. Thanks again Luke your tailwheel plans worked out sweet.

Randy

Dear Hellcat 716--Ref to the cmp f6f hellcat, heh, I just broke the bank---treated myself for my 50th BD, and bought the sierra gear, and the 1.20 os fs....Listen, I'm having a heck of a time on the website---I'm trying to Post a "new Posting " for the gear installation and the future painting/ finishing aspects.... I >am< repainting this model, of course, with the sub-par paint quality. With all these questions, I'm having trouble tracking where I can follow up on the forum---I hope the Sierra's do not require too much cutting, and re-shaping the wheel bays as I know the robarts( I had planned to use )would of req'd a substantial change. however--looking at the "lack of structural integrity' in the wheel well, I'm considering a beef-up, somehow, and glassing the area in, to 'distribute the footprint "of structural loads from the strut attach point and retract mechanism. i lieu o a response on a "thread"(???) can you just e-mail me a response?/[email protected]

Tje Virginain--No, by no means was I pertainig to your work, or anyone's being "pathetic" --I apologize if you thought I was directing that term toward your work. No way, ...Ok--What I was pertainig to was the nature of the out-of-the-box tailwheel assembly in the CMP Hellcat. I don't even recall what you posted,but I would never be negative on anyones work--This is a great hobby I'm trying to kick-tail on the CMP Hellcat--Just bought the Sierra retracts and am trying to "Post" my questions on the installation.. Gear is forthcoming.. Breaking in the os.1.20 fs. How you making out on your project?

Anyone find a "darker" blue paint that matches closely to the origional kit's color? I know they are not accurate but need to do some touching up and want to get this thing in the air. Also for future reference any recommendations for a flat/satin clear?
Thanks!

You’re welcome Ben! Maybe I'll come back sometime in the future, can't say now though.

I have more parts going out today for others that ordered late. Sorry about the delays, but I'm making these as I get them, I don't have the room for any kind of inventory.

Randy, I can't tell from your pictures, but did you use brass angle at the mounting plate and pivot point? It must have that, or the tail wheel will not hold. Look at my attached illustration to clarify what I mean. All you would have to do now is use a Dremel with a wire brush wheel and take off the primer to solder that joint. Let me know.

Hey LDM, sorry about the slow response. I'll have your kit out today, I had several other late orders so I'm doing them together. I'm sure you will like my Hellcat interior kit, it really enhances the look of the Hellcat. Sorry, no P-40 in my future at this time! I tried looking through my plans to see if I could find the BT 1/8 Hellcat that I know I have, but I have too many plans. Maybe Hal can remember, but I think BT does show a scale aileron hinge on that set. But yes, it is the same size and scale as the CMP, in fact I was going to build the wing from the BT plans and use the CMP Hellcat fuselage, the BT wing will even fit in the CMP Hellcat wing saddle.

Hi Luke yes I did. I also did the same thing when I built the yoke. Thanks for the reminder. I painted it white this morning.

Randy