HenrikL

Congratulations, Edwin!
After reading your report of 2 successful flights, I can't wait to finish mine and get her in the air.

How is your setup? Two fairly experienced flyers in my club had severe problems with C of G/side thrust/down thrust in their CMP/GSP Spitfires.
Where in the 120-130 mm (4 3/4 - 5 1/8 inch ?) range from LE is your C of G?
Have you changed the down thrust or side thrust that is built into the fuselage?
What is your full elevator deflection?

I don't expect that the fairly small flaps will change the slow flight characteristics much, but I DO think they will increase the drag a fair bit, which will help you bleed off the energy which is needed if the approach on your flying field is a bit steep due to trees or other obstacles.

Regards,
Henrik.

Edwin

My Feedback: (2)

I set CG at 4 7/8" from the leading edge at the fuse. No CG problems that I can think of. You DO have to balance it a little on takeoff but no different than any other I've flown. No side or down thrust changes. I used their wood block spacer. I think full deflection is around 5/8 to 3/4". We have a somewhat steep approach also. Power lines 500' off the north end of the run way. About 3 weeks ago I shreaded an 82" gasser thru them. Ruined the engine, was a ryobi so not a big financial loss. Rudder seems to be about 3/4" also. Thats all I could get out of it, but it seems like its enough. Ailerons are a little less than 3/4". Good roll rate, I LIKE IT! This is gonna be a good sport flyer. But that paint on the mylar covering isnt so good. It scuffs easy and chips off. Gonna be repainting it and sealing it after I get it flying like I want it. My buddy took some stills and will get them as soon as I can. I have one problem on my cowl installation that needs fixing (it shifted about 1/8" and isnt centered properly). Will fix that tonight.

CMP really ought to update their instructions. Those dimensions for the wing hold down make it easy to drill thru the wing fairing if you're not thinking ahead.

Edwin

HenrikL

Edwin!
Thanks for your reply!
Just to make sure I get it right - did you measure the elevator- aileron- and rudder-throws at the place where they were widest (where you get the largest throw of the surface at that angular deflection)?

I look forward to seeing the pictures!

Henrik.

Sturtz

My Feedback: (20)

Flaps are small but they make all the differance in a low wind situation.
The landing vid is rough,,, but you got to understand there was (ZERO) wind here Weds. (Right Mugenkidd ?) lol We are use to 10mph winds or greater 350 days a week here. You Okies can testify on that one. EKK !!
I overshoot the runway but get her down in one piece. Tail down.
[link=http://members.cox.net/stanle/MOV00942.MPG]Landing CMP Spitfire[/link]

P51 Mustang and Extra300 belong to the Mugenkidd.

Sturtz

My Feedback: (20)

Yup. Gotta hold some elevator throughout the run-up. 1/4 flaps will help too. Adds just enough lift to keep the nose up on takeoff.
Have plenty of spare props on hand till you ace the ground schooling. And if your running a Pitts style muffler, be sure to trim the pipes shorter.

(Historical Note
The few hours prior to D-Day were a race to find or make enough black and white paint for all the planes. Mops and rags were used by many to paint the stripes. Many planes were smeared and streaked from airspeed and exhaust fumes on the fresh cheap paint.

Edwin

My Feedback: (2)

Henrik,
Yes I measure at the widest cord of the control surface.
Edwin

Sturtz

My Feedback: (20)

Just checking in to see how the builds are coming along.[sm=confused.gif]

Edwin

My Feedback: (2)

Didnt get to flying on sat. Need to finish up the detail work on it, pack it up and go to Idaho with it. Gonna do a little flying with friends up there for a week then tool around the mountains for awhile.
Edwin

Cubano8

I was wondering if this engine would work with this plane, or is it overkill?

[link=http://www.horizonhobby.com/Shop/ByCategory/Product/Default.aspx?ProdID=EVOE26GT]http://www.horizonhobby.com/Shop/ByCategory/Product/Default.aspx?ProdID=EVOE26GT[/link]

Let me know what you guys think, please.

Thanks,

Sam

runover1

My Feedback: (10)

It is a little on the large size, but give it a whirl and let us know how it does. My RCV 120SP is said to be a little on the large size as well, but it balanced out perfectly.

SJN

That looks exactly like an MVVS 26 engine.
Look on page 2 at the top.....if you havn`t seen it already.


Mine had good power on the webra 90 2 stroke.

BigK9

My Feedback: (92)

I'm about to build my second GSP 71" Spit (sold the first one - big mistake). This time, I am going with an MVVS 1.60 or Mark 1.80 gasser. As Horizon just did a screw job on the other distributors for MVVS so that they could come up with a quick fix for a small gasser (the 'soon to be released - yeah, sure - Evolution 1.60 gasser is the exact same engine as the MVVS 1.6), I can't find any MVVSs anywhere.
Tired of the glow fuel mess - especially on this flat finish.
Overall - this ARF is very nice. My last one had a YS 1.20AC. Balanced without any lead anywhere (with the Century retracts).
Anyone have a GSP Spit with either of these engines, or a similar sized gasser?
I will probably go 17.5+ and a 3-bladed prop with the Mark 1.8.
As this GSP is so tail heavy, I am not worried about the extra size. Ofcourse, I may fly the thing close to mach 1 and rip the wings off, but why not?

runover1

My Feedback: (10)

I was so ready to get my Spit in the air this week, but had engine trouble. I could not get my RCV 120SP to run right, so I called the manufacturer and they had me send it to their US Warranty Repair Facility. They said mine was one of the early ones that were not test run at the factory. I talked with the repair center and they are going to time it, run it and get it right. This is a great service. I am so looking forward to getting it into the air, but definately want it to run right and not deadstick on me.

Did all of you use the wooden dowel control rods, I am questioning whether I want to use these or not.

Pete850

I used carbon control rods - I just got tempted as they looked so black & shiny in the shop!!

BTW RCV Engines are made in the next road to where I work (Ferndown UK).

Dave03B

Ferndown Industrial Est. Wimborne! I never knew that until today!

Pete850

Well there you go.........!!

jcilia

Pete,

is you spit flying again ? mine is still half done but getting there.

Joe

Pete850

Hi Joe,

Yup, mine's flying again!!

Flew a couple of weeks ago in 20mph+ winds - the bugger didn't want to come down, so had to go round again and really force it down. The Unitract Oleos were up to the challenge though - no damage.

With the same engine & prop as my mates P51 we were chasing each other around the sky and I have to say I think his was a little faster, even though we were getting the same revs on the ground.

I need to get my Corsair built and see what that'll do next. Got to finish the Giles first though - 'bout another week or two on that.

The Spit really is a lovely plane to fly with great presence in the air. I don't know what you do with yours by I love to do a big lazy loop, roll off the top and dive down for a high speed low pass along the flight line climbing up at the end into a slow roll - I can almost hear the engine purring now!!

Pete

jcilia

Hi Pete,

great to know your flying, yes once I get the hang of it I am sure that's how I would be flying I do tend to fly a bit hard e.g. currently flying an 82inch J3 Cub and sometimes I make it look like a 3D flier ( until wings shear off)... btw any chance of some pics re your retracts ?

Joe

jcilia

Pete,

I also forgot to ask re CG did you need weight up front with the 120 ASP ?

joe

Pete850

Hi Joe,

No additional ballast weight, but I did put both batteries against the inside of the firewall. This seemed to do the trick balancing it.

I would say I'm at the back end of the C of G and to be fair the elevator was a bit twitchy at first. Liberal doses of expo sorted that out. I didn't want too much weight up front as it had a tendency to nose over on landing anyway. Sorted this by mixing a bit of up elevator to the gear down switch. This way, when I approach at 1/4 throttle she's loosing height nicely. Then about 3 ft from the deck I give a couple of clicks of throttle and she's gently down on the mains. Once down throttle back and just wait for the tail to drop. When she's below flying speed then up elevator to keep the tail down while taxiing back.

Pete

jcilia

Peter,

thanks for the info, will try to do the same.

Joe

Pete850

BTW Joe,

I'll try and get some pics of my retracts for you tonight.

Pete

jcilia

Pete,

thanks much obliged.

Joe

Pete850

Joe,

Sorry for the delay - forgot to borrow the firms digi camera the other day.

I took loads of pics by when I downloaded them, this was the best one. Hope it's of use to you.

The wheel looks huge, but it is in fact 90mm dia (or 3 1/2" in old money)