Cermark Spitfire
#105

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From: Torrance, CA
Hi there, I bought my Cermark Spitfire about a year ago but had been flying my 60 size Spitfire from World Models with a YS-110. That was my rocket. After 165 flights, it went down last week and was destroyed completely. Now I am all about building that Cermark Spitfire. I am hanging a YS-140 Sport on the fire wall with a Hyde Soft Mount. I have another WWII warbird...the Hawker Hurricane which is about the same size...71.5 inch wingspan and weighing about the same and it is powered with a YS-140 Sport and boy, does it haul the mail! I have had a lot of success with the YS-140 model on this size plane. The props I start with on maiden and for about the first 20 flights are the APC 16x8...after that I go down to a 15x10...and then eventually end up about at 14x12. The YS has plenty of torque and power to turn these higher pitch props and increases the speed. I just ordered the rest of the set up including high-torque servos, gas tank, and all the other bits and pieces I'll need. The first thing I am going to do is to spray all the exterior parts with Top-Flight "flat clear"! This protects the paint job from chipping during construction as well as it is fuel-proof. I'll be posting some pics as soon as serious building begins.
#106

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From: Torrance, CA
Hi there, started to work on the fuse and am outlining the indents with both black and silver Sharpie pens. Will spray everything with a couple of coats of Top Flight "flat clear" to preserve the ink when I'm done.
#107
ORIGINAL: ghostrider168
I just got one...nice ARF...only thing missing is the flaps. Has anyone try to install flaps on this plane?
I just got one...nice ARF...only thing missing is the flaps. Has anyone try to install flaps on this plane?
By the way, this plane flys as straight as an arrow with little to no trim dialed in, just the right amount of right and down thrust from the factory firewall set up, great job Cermark, thanks Steve!
Barry
#108

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From: some where,
CA
If you guys don't mind me butting in.... I just bought a pair of cannon for this Spit to put on my KMP Spit. Could someone tell me how Cermark says to mount them? Is it drill a hole and glue, or does the wing have a socket for them? Just looking for a hint before I get out the hammer and so forth. Thanks.
#110

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From: Torrance, CA
Great Job, Barry on those flaps. I have the split flaps on my KMP Hurricane and sometimes I use them and sometimes I don't depending on the head wind when lending. I also had a 60 size World Model Spitfire with flaps and used them all the time. On both of my planes with flaps, I noticed that as soon as the wheels touched down, I would reset the flaps to neutral and the tale would set right down....as long as the flaps are deployed(down) they would put pressure on the plane to lift...but once they are down on touch-down the tail settles real nice and the plane slows down normally. I really like the job you did in modifying the trailing edge on the Cermark Spit. I am tempted to do the same, but I have never done that kind of modification. It looks difficult!
#112

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From: Torrance, CA
Hey Freddie, I really like your Spit. Another pilot had the Cermark Spit at my flying field the other day with 1 flight one it. He was really nervous so I told him I would spot for him. When we went out to the runway, he handed my the transmitter and told me to fly'er up. I was a little surprised since he didn't know me. Anyway I slowly throttled up with wheels tracking the center line and at about half throttle and 30 feet, it started to life off real scale-like. He had an Evolution 26 or something like that type of gasser. The plane flew beautiful. I handed him the transmitter and he flew it around the patch for about 5 minutes and then handed it back to me to land! Another surprise! I set it up and brought it right down with a little power and she settled very smoothly on the mains and stayed steady as the tale dropped. I can't wait to finish mine.
By the way.....Where did you get your spinners? I notied a three blade plastic and a 4 blade aluminium! I have been using a 2 blade on my Hawker Hurricane by KMP, but would like to try a 3 blade for flight and realism.
Arnold
By the way.....Where did you get your spinners? I notied a three blade plastic and a 4 blade aluminium! I have been using a 2 blade on my Hawker Hurricane by KMP, but would like to try a 3 blade for flight and realism.
Arnold
#114
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From: Walnut,
CA
Hi Barry,
Thanks for the photos on the flaps. It is exactly what I was looking for. My question is: how did you splice the tailing edge with such precision? Were there any special tools you used to accomplish this task?
Gary
Thanks for the photos on the flaps. It is exactly what I was looking for. My question is: how did you splice the tailing edge with such precision? Were there any special tools you used to accomplish this task?
Gary
#115

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From: Torrance, CA
Hi Noflaps, I am using a YS-140 Sport with a Hyde Soft Mount purchased from Central Hobbies. I would like to try a Graupner 3 blade which has a little better reputation than the Master Airscrew props. I think I found a plastic 3½ inch spinner on Skyshark web site. I have always use APC 2 blade but want to try a 3 blade.
Best of luck,
Arnold
Best of luck,
Arnold
#116
ORIGINAL: ghostrider168
Hi Barry,
Thanks for the photos on the flaps. It is exactly what I was looking for. My question is: how did you splice the tailing edge with such precision? Were there any special tools you used to accomplish this task?
Gary
Hi Barry,
Thanks for the photos on the flaps. It is exactly what I was looking for. My question is: how did you splice the tailing edge with such precision? Were there any special tools you used to accomplish this task?
Gary
Cut outline with Xacto and then split the glue joint from the trailing edge with a sharpened palette knive, the seams will open right up, including those to the ribs. then, of course build new trailing edges to accomodate flap hinges, I used nylon. It is much easier than you think, best of luck.
Barry
#118

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From: Torrance, CA
Hi there, I am finally getting some traction on assembling the Spitfire. I had to refabricate the firewall due to the that fact that I use a Hyde Soft Mount and the initial fitting showed a gap between the spinner backplant and front of cowling of about ¾ inch. So I had to cut a whole in the original fire wall and install spacing and new rear wall to accomodate the soft mount. Now my spacing is pretty accurate. I am also working on installing a scale tail wheel assembled from several Dubro tail wheel kits.
Arnold
Arnold
#119

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From: Torrance, CA
Hi there, finally got the motor mount installed on the new firewall and motor on the beams. With the cowling on, the front of the spacing washer on the crank just pushes forward of the cowling and looks like it came out in the center pretty good. Now I am all about fabricating and installing and somewhat scale-like tail wheel.
Arnold
Arnold
#120

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From: Torrance, CA
Hi there, getting some more work done on the Spit. I decided to join the elevator control surfaces and 1 utilize a carbon fiber push rod to lighten the load on the tail. Also I finished fabricating, or sort of, a scale looking tail wheel and got that installed. Right now I am trying to finish the pull-pull on the rudder and tail-wheel.
#121

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From: Torrance, CA
Hi there, finally did the maiden flight today. Did all the usual things like range check, CG and everything checked out. Rolled out to the runway on asphalt and set up on the center line, pushed the throttle forward slowly while keeping my eyes on the wheels. The plane rolled for about 75 feet straight down and gradually lifted off, very scale-like. Retracts up and did the first turn. 2 clicks on aileron and 1 or 2 on elevator was all that was needed. The YS-140 pulled right through the air for a turn-around and low pass over the runway. Outside look was smooth and round with just a little rudder over the top to keep it in line. Barrel roll was pretty good. Immelman and Split-S turns where pretty accurate. After about 8 minutes of oohs and ahhs....it looks great, turned back into the wind for the first landing. Came in a little hot and went around. Second attempt was slower and the plane laid down on the mains pretty well, a little bounce but I wasn't quited used to this bird yet. The tail dropped and the plane slowed for a turn-around with the motor still running. Then a I took my first breath. The most important part of the maiden flight is the landing. After a few transmitter adjustments, I flew the Spit 3 more times today and feel I have a really good War-Bird.
#124

My Feedback: (131)
Looks really good !
I'm in the process of rebuilding my rail/ gear mounts as they ripped out on me...The 26cc engine seems to not provide the performance I was hoping for. i would have expected it to be plenty. I've trioed all kinds of prop combo's but now i'll see about changing the ful oil mixture i've been using to see if that'll do me any good.
I'm in the process of rebuilding my rail/ gear mounts as they ripped out on me...The 26cc engine seems to not provide the performance I was hoping for. i would have expected it to be plenty. I've trioed all kinds of prop combo's but now i'll see about changing the ful oil mixture i've been using to see if that'll do me any good.


