Hi Guys...
I'm using a set of Centry Jet Retracts in a 65" span G90 powered P-51B. To be honest...I'm not thrilled with the units I am using. I'm using the struts on a set of Lado's and I do seem to be getting more and more side play in the struts. I'm hard on my landing gear, no question about this, but my Robart struts took my landings and lasted much longer, with out any of the issues I have with this set of C.J. gear. I've only about 25 landings on this gear, and I am about to buy a set of Robarts. I'm not sure how long the C.J.'s will work before the struts fail, or cause landing damage due to the side play. The Oleo to cylinder (piston to cylinder)...in the up and down motion-is where the side play is, on my units. I have the P-51 struts C.J. sells, with a .210 pin, that slides into the Lado's.

I have this kit and want to use a Fox twin 1.20. I need a muffler for my Fox...does anyone know where I can get one.

I am also not sure what retracts to use...for I ordered and paid for a set of rotating Lado's several months ago...but they never were delivered to me. So far no answers from my phone call.

Soft Landings always,
Bobby of Maui

Contact Doug at [email protected] He has always answered my e-mails within a few days. I did note that his rotating retracts are out of stock at present but he is presently working to produce those. Be sure to include your order number in your e-mail.

Sharpeye

Bob,

Sierra Precision also offer a rotating retract that will work in the Hellcat and they are top quality as usual.

Here are the promised pics of the finished drop tank and gear door parts. The parts are vacuum formed and then they are registered in the laser cutter and trimmed to size. They come just as you see here with the two tank halves ready to assemble and the gear doors ready to mount. The doors are made from .06 thick styrene and, due to the bulge molded into them, are very rigid. They should work great with no additional stiffening necessary. If you are interested in purchasing please contact me at the addy below for pricing and availability. I will probably wait a week or so for folks to get their orders in before proceeding with the first batch. Thanks a bunch gents!

Note: No provision is made for mounting the drop tank, that is up to the builder.

If you have already sent me an email expressing your interest you should be getting a reply from me with pricing. If for some reason you don't hear from me please feel free to contact me again.

Chad Veich
[email protected]

They look great. I'm anxiously waiting for the canopy

The canopy is next Steve! Which begs the question, with our without the framework molded in? I prefer my canopies to be molded without the frames. I usually build up my frames with primer or add them from aluminum tape which, I think, looks much more scale. However, I understand that simplicity may be more of an issue than scale realism and so some folks like to have the frames molded right into the canopy. What is the general concensus?

For simplicity sake of the target audience I'd go with them molded in. The aluminum tape method allows for some nice weathering options though.

I agree with Steve that most are likely to want them molded in. I however would perfer to have it without so I could add the framing myself.
Sharpeye

I will most likely offer the canopy both ways, with and without framing.

Canopy plug is finished and the first (opaque) test canopies have been pulled. They look good but the acid test comes when pulling a clear part. I hope to pick up the material and pull some clear ones over the weekend. Those that were interested in canopies and have not already sent me an email please do so at the addy below and I will get you on the list. Thanks a bunch guys!

White on white is hard to shoot but here is one of the test canopies showing the framework. (I hope)



Chad Veich
[email protected]

Hey Guys,
I have my cat about done and I put on the scales. Sixteen pounds!!!! I have serios doubts whether it is going to fly or not. I have done a lot of Luke mods to it, panel lines on the fuse, glassed wing with panel lines, Sierra retracts, and an OS120FS. I have the throtle servo mounted under the engine and the battery pack on the rear of the firewall, and still have to add 1 and 3/4 pound of lead to get it to balance. Any ideas as to what else I can do? How much does everyone elses plane weigh?
Thanks for any info you can give me.

Ron

It will fly but if the motor dies it wil drop like a rock. If you didn't shorten the wing then it will be less so. Not sure why you have to add so much weight unless your tailwheel is heavy or your glass work on the tail is. I had a Saito 150 then went to a 26cc gas motor on mag neither one needed any weight at all. i did use the tailwheel that Luke designed which is pretty light. If you have a heavy pilot then that might be part of your problem. If you are used to a heavy Warbird then this shouldn't be a problem for you if not fine somebody that is for the maiden this would be my best advice. Also don't slow it down to much on landing it will drop a wing. Set as much flap as you can for landing you will need it. On the plus side they really do fly good.

Ron,

Can't speak to the CMP Hellcat but I have flown a 70 inch span Ziroli P-47 that was over 17 pounds and it flew just fine. I'm currently flying a 68 inch span Sea Fury at about 15.5 pounds and it flies great as well. They need to be respected around the stall but are not nearly as vicious as one might think. The wing loading on the Sea Fury is just under 50 ounces per square foot. My biggest concern with your Hellcat would probably be the 1.20 which may not be up to the job on a 16 pound warbird.

Warks62 and Chad

I did the bondo and tape to do the panel lines on the fuse. I moved the tail wheel up to the scale position. I used a Klett tail wheel with a steering arm on Lukes former. I did make new elevaters and rudder and covered them with silk and dope. I did not cut any lightening holes in them. I did not cut the wing down. I did make the flaps two piece and cut the wing out for a more scale ailerons. My air tank is mounted behind the cockpit, but it weighs nothing. I'm considering sanding the panel lines off of the fuse and just painting them on. I think that is the only way I could lighten the rear end up now. I really don't think it would make that much difference though.

Ron

Ron , this may be a pain but easier then sanding stuff off !!!
1) Try to move all your wing servos forward in the wing . If you have to turn them on there sides , and incert them into the ribs sideway supported with ply .Use 4-40 rods and good horns .
I did this on my Fw190 .
It may mean cutting new servos doors ect, but its easier then other mods considering you have everything forward .

I don't know Ron it doesn't sound like you did anything excessive at all. The little bit of filler that you used to make the raised panels on the fuse shouldn't of been much weight. Unless your new tail feathers are heavy which by the sounds of it are not, I don't have much more to offer. The 120 will pull it around but of course I am always for more power. Just remember to use a good prop, Master Airscrew would not be one of my choices. The only other thing I can think of would be that all the servos in the fuse are as far forward as possible. Other than that I would pick a good field that is open and give it a try. Since you didn't shorten the wing it will be not bad. I am 15# and shortened the wing to 64" and it flies.

Thanks Warks62, those are the first encouraging words I have heard. I will give it a try, if it don't work I'll jump up and down on it.

Ron

Good luck with your Hellcat Ron, I think you may be pleasantly surprised.

For all those who have ordered canopies, drop tanks, or gear doors your orders were all shipped last week and should be arriving any day now. If you expressed interest but have not ordered please drop me a note as parts are in stock and ready to ship. Thanks to everyone who ordered and please let me know if there are any questions or problems.

Chad Veich
[email protected]

"STILL LIFE WITH CHAD VEICH 1/8th SCALE HELLCAT CANOPY"



Yeah, nothin' here but outstanding design and workmanship!



And check out these gear doors! Chad sure does beautiful work.

Hi all, Just a note to say my parts arrived from Chad and they are really nice ! Can't wait to put them to good use on my Hellcat ! Thanks Chad !

Don

Thanks for the kind words guys, much appreciated.

You are too funny John! Thanks for the great pics of the canopy too. I can't get a good close up shot of the clear canopy with my digital camera to save my life.

Well, Chad... your box of Hellcat goodies arrived here so fast... I figured I should ease their transition from Arizona to New England; hence the desert plants and (simulated) Arizona sky in those pics! ((( Does the Boston sky (almost) pass for Litchfield Park? )))

And hey guys, it's no wonder Chad's Hellcat stuff looks cool: Many, many USN Hellcats most likely ended their days in storage at Litchfield Park , Arizona! ...and I even knew a Navy pilot who ferried Corsairs (and maybe Hellcats) to their resting place at Litchfield... he flew the planes literally "cross-country" - all the way out to Chad's place from NRAB Squantum (and/or NAS South Weymouth) here in Boston.

Hi all,

Just to back up what has already been said, in that the product that Chad is suppling is first rate. It arrived here (Australia) faster than I expected and well packaged with no damage.
Now all I have to do is pick up some Sierra retracts and I can get started on this Hellcat.....

Cheers,

Chilli.

Hey Guys

I am feeling a little better about my Cat, I was looking at the wromg side of my scale. SAE on one side and Metric on the other. Anyway it should come out at around thirteen pounds. I put the battery on the firewall and removed about half of the lead I had up there. Getting real close, but I need a little info. I cannot find any photos of the seat belts. I don't know where to put them or what the buckles looked like. If anyone could shed a little light on this subjsct I would rerally appreciate it.

Thanks
Ron

Hello there,I have a book on the Hellcat "In Detail and Scale" by Bert Kinzey, published by Squadron/Signal publications. I purchased mine online from one of the major book sellers,very excellent detailed photos and scale 5 veiw drawings. I will ltry to scan the photo for you and post it here tomorrow. I highly recomend this book though and all the others this man has done. they are a great resource for scale building. Great to see this still going on,I'm starting my 2nd cat and will be using most of the major mods here