I want a Hellcat! And I want an ARF. Really limits my choices, doesn't it. A friend of mine pointed me to the GSP Hellcat. It looks perfect, just what I wanted. But I have heard lukewarm to downright crappy reviews of the GSP stuff. I am hoping someone here has built and flown the GSP Hellcat, and can give me a firsthand opinion.

Thanks

I have that exact plane right here on my workbench. I have built the Wing mfg. Hellcat and it was (past tence) a wonderfull plane.
Due to a failed elevator pushrod it is now with the balsa gods. I think that the GSP will be definately better looking and probably fly as good or better than my last one.
This is a BEAUTIFULL kit. I usually like to build scale planes but this one I could not pass up. I am going with the Robart 615 retracts. They were undamaged from the other Hellcat. Due to the big pay cut at American Airlines I will reuse my trusty OS 91 4 stroke. I would reccomend that you look up on E bay for this kit. It will be listed under Jamara. I bought mine directly from Germany and paid 265 dollars for it. That made a already good plane look much better. This plane is sold from several different companies. It was made in China from China model products. As with most ARF's There is some things I do not like, This plane has only some minor items. All in all I think it is one of the best deals going. Call anytime if you have any questions.214 293 9885 Greg

Thanks Greg!

I didn't know that GSP and Jamara were the same??? So yours is the Jamara? Is it a glass fuse with fabric covered wings and stabs? I would really like to hear how the building and flying go. Keep me posted.

And add Flair (uk) to that list (http://www.flairproducts.co.uk)

chinese models are http://www.cmpairplane.com/new_page_11.htm

Greg, I have just received one in too. I am very impressed with the plane . There are a few things that need attention but overall it's pretty good. I will be modding the control attachments for rudder and elevator. I would like to know how you think it will fly with the 91. I'm between a Ys 120 or a Os 91 both are on the bench but I'm wondering if the extra power and weight of the 120 is necessary. Jim G

On my Wing mfg. plane the 91 was overpowered. It flew fast and had gobs of power. I used a Graupner 14/7 2 blade prop and it zinged along well. This plane is bigger and heavier. Usually WW II aircraft tend to come out tail heavy. especially round engine variants. If I had a 120 I would use it. This plane will have excess power with the 91 but not overpowered. I fly at 600 feet. If you are at a higher altitudethen definately go with the bigger engine. Make sure that all of your mods do not add any tail weight to this plane. Adding ballast weight is bad form.
I have made plates for the 615 gear and they should drop right in.
Greg

Did you guys finish your GSP Hellcat yet? How much lead did you have to add to the nose to get the plane to balance? I'm trying to plan ahead and will be sticking an OS 120 pumper with an inverted Pitts muffler in mine. I have already installed a set of Century Jet air retracts custom made for this plane.

Hello

Well the hellcat is a nice plane looks good and flys nice a guy in my club as one I have the the f-190 and it flies great you can bring her in as slow as you like and thats without the flaps deployed overall there nice planes I also have the edge 540 and its will tipstall at the drop of a hat very scary to fly what motor are you putting in your hellcat my 190 has a OS 108 and it flyes allmost to fast looks scale flying at about half power


jeff

I just got this Hellcat too, what a nice looking plane!
I`m planning on using a OS-.91FX in mine.
"jeffhines13"- Did you install retracts in your FW190,if so what kind and how are they holding up??
Thanks.

Hello BIGDADDY

yes i put robart air in mine had to beef up the formers just cut the ones out that are in there and put in some hard wood blocks pluss you'll have to dremal out the sides alittle to get them to fit but not hard just a little fiddly it now has about 25 flights on her a going good oh i also blocked up the back of the rettracks to give them more forward stans as it help it from nosing over all in all very easy to do

jeff

I am working on a Hellcat (70" from GSP). Two things I found, the belly pan has a tapered misalignment at rear, 0 to 1/8". Second is the stab butt section on the fuselage do not line up by about an 1/8". I put the tail controls inside.
Darryl Usher

I also had a gap at the stab to fuse.area, a little sanding and ajusting when gluing and it was fine.
Darryl Usher,- Are you going with fix gear or retracts?
If retracts what kind?
What Eng. are you using?
I will try to post some pics. soon.

Fixed gear, maybe someone will make a gear that fits.
As for engine I will use my RCV 120. Will put a hatch in the top of the cowl and attach the cowl from inside. Got a little dummy radial for the front.
Darryl Usher Check my web www.acsip.com/~dgu

Here is a set of custom Century Jet 95° rotating pneumatic retracts installed and functioning perfectly in my GSP Hellcat:



Fixed gears do not do this plane justice. Get in touch with Bruce Sanders over at Century Jet Models for a pair of these.

Here is a picture of the air tank and adjustable air control valve inside the fuse:

"Richard L."-any problems nosing over on take off`s and landings with the retracts??
Did you install bigger wheels and not use the wheel wells??
Hows it fly?

I thought the retract angle was 100 degrees not 95.
The use of "pop" rivets for scissors doesn't do any thing for me.
Darryl Usher

Big Daddy, I'm still putting the plane together, so I don't know about the nose over problem yet. I don't think there will be a problem because I have taken off and land many warbirds, including the F4U Corsair, without any difficulty. I'm hoping to get this plane up in the air next weekend. I did not install bigger wheels because I didn't want to cut the two ribs on either side of each wheel.

Darryl Usher, 95° is better than 90°, and the retracts look very strong. Having retracts is better than having fixed gears. I have seen C-clips, pins, and scissors popping loose on other units, so rivets might not be too bad. We will see.

Here is a picture of the retract angle:



It's around 95°. Note that the retract angle on the real Hellcat is less than 100°, around 97° or so.

Here is a picture with the wheel down:

Here is a side view drawing of the Hellcat:



I measured the retract angle with a protractor, and it's around 96.5°.

LOOKING GOOD!! :rainfro:
Let us know when you get it up in the air.
I should be done in a week or two.

Richard,
What's the stock number for these?
I couldn't find any specific for GSP Hellcats.

Thanks,
Sam

Sam, I don't think Bruce Sanders over at Century Jet has a part number for these retracts yet. However, if you give him a ring or send him an e-mail to [email protected], I'm very certain he can make you a set in no time since he has all the measurements and info from me, and he already made me a set.

I finally took my Hellcat up for its maiden flight today, and what a great flying plane!





These pictures were taken after the initial flight. The take off roll was scale and uneventful. The plane has no tendency to nose over on grass, and check how tall the grass is in these pictures. The plane required one right click on the aileron and six up clicks on the elevator to fly straight and level. With full flaps deployed, the plane floated in at a slow pace and touched down ever so gently on the runway. When flaps were deployed, the nose pitched up so I had to use some down elevator to keep the plane flying level. Those Century Jet air retracts worked flawlessly. I cannot wait to fly this plane again.