Grumpy1940

Hi!
i have been working with large 1/4 spitfire plugs now about 2 months.
plugs are soon woodready. i have started hammering litho plates on it too.
to my eye spitfire is soooo beautiful plane....
pics from process...

cheers

Grumpy1940

some more pics.. and motor will be axi 5360.... so i need to build plane very light. around 12,5-13kg or 27-29lbs

Grumpy1940

and pics from yesterday....

fokke

Hi Grumpy 1940
Tell me about the wings how you build it?with foam maybe or some other matеrial ?

Grumpy1940

Hi Rumen! its builded traditional by rib/ spar construction. upper side first sheeted. then bottom side. and at last full balsa wing tips shaped with razor.
im busy next week so there will not be uppdates in few.. but i will be back!!

alanc

err then its a standard build? not compsite? whatever it is, itll be nice to watch it coming together

jack41

Rumen Hello, What size and brand of motor is that? Also what size and kind of batteries are you going to use? Your model looks big enough to use lead-acid batteries! Beutiful model, great work
Regards, Jack

Grumpy1940

Greetings from Egypt, Sharm el Sheikh. and sorry for slow answering... just arrived.
yes in pictures is only plugs. and i will 'soon' hammer lithoplate over it. like in tailplane picture. flying surfaces will be fabric covered built up versions.
soon more pics...

Grumpy1940

and...
the motor is axi 5360. designed to scale planes up to 15kg. and it will turn scale size 3 blade propeller.
so i need to keep this plane very light.
controller should be here any day and it is jeti spin 99 with box.
10-12lipos will give the power. at least 5000mah for 12-15minutes flights.
so useful out put power will be around 3000watts. torque will be hi so the motor matches to about 70-80cm3 gasser.
taking gas engines peak power -40% will result watts u need for that plane...
some designed specs here....
but most important thing is do the laminates very light.
(yes will be full composite plane...)

cheers

G

Metalmorphous

My Feedback: (2)

Grumpy I too agree that the Spitfire is beautiful plane and your work looks great. I too will be following this tread with interest.

Alanc-- I think Grumpy is detailing the built up wood wing to use as a plug



Ron

Grumpy1940

Hi Ron!
I have followed your p-47 thread and that plane looks awesome!!
there is one company making that metal-morphous thing in finland too. i have to keep that option on my mind.
i have alloy pigment for 10 full composite planes, so i have to try that first.. but maybe later!!
and Alanc, yes as Ron told above, i will put on those wooden plugs 1st glass layer (its very good bonding surface for those alloy(litho) plates. then gluing already detailed panels with contact glue. bostic and pattex is best for the job.

g.

alanc

AH, if that is the case then the hard work has to start yet
if its any help, MIKE BOOTH, a lover of all things WW11, has put a few pictures of his all glass 1/4 spitfire on the site of the LARGE MODEL ASSOCIATION, just type it into goggle, if you go on there, click on gallery, and new builds, there are pictures of it there

Grumpy1940

Hi Alanc!
Yep i have seen pics from it. nice plane, just a few steps to maiden..
i know it will be very hard work. done it already ones with smaller spitty.
i have 150 meter different type of cloth (carbon, carbon/glass hybrid and glass)
3 type of release agents, 3 type gelcoats, fillers, thixotrophic, chopped glass, clays and list go on...
just waiting further steps. its a long road, but good learning experience.
and for the plugs i have 25kg alloy lithoplates, and killed a forrest for plugs(almost 100 balsa sheets.)
and loooots of epoxy.
but i have those goods. so just need to be working like horse.

Grumpy1940

OK...
now wing plug is wood ready. soon all the wood work is done...
in middle of wing is clearly seen pocket for fuse. that keeps wing on its place and fuse straight.
the pocket is about 2,5mm or 1/10 inch deep.
if it doesnt fly i get real good surfboard from it...
surfer(me) try to reach the board tip...

fokke

.................... I don't know what to say [X(][X(][X(] incredibly...............
On the back plan I see jet airplane,what model is it
Fantastic work Grumpy

Grumpy1940

Its one of our club members old hornet f/a18...
plane is so huge i have to take pics in stairs..

Grumpy1940

Ok!
i just wanted to put pcs together and look what kind of monster is coming...if some one thinks why fin is not glued on its place, i will make first mold from tailplane, 2nd laminate centerpart of tailplane and glued it on its place, then fin on it and lithoplate. it will fit perfectly then.
and in pics u see mick reeves scale tapes for fabric reinforcing. elevator is not ready yet, some litho and trim controls still missing in pics...
pics r better than my english.....
on floor my relaxing plane... american ace old timer..

redflyboy122

My Feedback: (1)

wow this thing is awesome. i can only dream of the day i build a spitfire this big. maybe in 10 years or so. keep the pics coming.

fokke

Yeeeeeeassssss I see very big progress and very big monster model
So tell me more about this things ,and you will make mold of this parts?

Grumpy1940

I ordered those scale rib tapes from Mick Reeves www.mickreevesmodels.co.uk . laser cutted and from solartex, all i can say perfect stuff ones more from Reeves. over fabric is 2 layers tape and between tapes is only small white glue drops, simulating stiches.
and yes it feels big. but every day working with it so im kinda use to it. doesnt feel so huge any more.
and im not desided yet, will i mold those controls... will see. maybe...

cheers

J

SCALECRAFT

My Feedback: (13)

A full composite spitfire.

Hummmmmm, let me see if we have one those also somewhere around here.

Courtesy of one of our buddy"s model designes, once we showed him the composite concept. From around 8 years ago. Maybe even longer, I've lost track of time and how fast it goes.

I'll post pics as soon as I dig one up.

Steve

Grumpy1940

Hi steve!
im sure you find it, specially if its in scale 1/4.....
maybe its behind curtain... or in closet.
how is your me -109?

SCALECRAFT

My Feedback: (13)

Hi Grumpy

You Spit looks awsome. The composite spit I have is smaller, around 69-70" span

My 109G is on hold, while I get re-motivated to work on it. lack of motivation makes for a lesser plug/model.

Steve

Grumpy1940

Jiihhaa..
just got my Jeti 99spin controller and programming box. now waiting batteries.
that jetibox gives all the information from flight too. and one most important is slowing the throttle from 0 to full, upp to 7 seconds.
very important thing when turning 30inch propeller. easing the torque. all the gear on 4inch balsa, just giving idea from dimensions.

Grumpy1940

well back on spitty..
i started hammering panels to wingplug. i annealed first the litho plate, then hammered the rivets with sharpened tube. then glued with contact glue.
the leading edge of spitty wing is one of hardest to shape. coz of the double curvature and v shape of wing.
here pics...