p 40

hello Chad, is also of interest to me your Hellcat, very beautiful. modeling in my career I did not find designs like yours. They are wonderful. my displeasure and 'they did not know your language and be many miles distant. Hello Gianluca. PS: I only buy your plans for the construction, everything else is not 'comparable to your work. hello Gianluca[sm=thumbs_up.gif][sm=thumbs_up.gif][sm=thumbs_up.gif][sm=thumbs_up.gif][sm=thumbs_up.gif]

at-6 texan

hi P-40 don't forgot the yours P-40 ok!!! see soon!..SURE ON B.r

Chad Veich

My Feedback: (60)

Hi Dave,

Your friend sounds like just the kind of modeler that this thread is designed for. Like you I have found the Top Flite offerings to be somewhat on the heavy side but they are pretty hard to beat when it comes to being builder friendly. And the price is right too. I'm glad to have the TF kits available but it has been quite a while since we've seen a new warbird kit from them and I wonder if there are any more coming. Now just imagine you were building a TF kit along with a bunch of other guys, the instructions were all photo illustrated in full color, and you had the ability to speak directly with the designer as well as hundreds of other experienced model builders if you had any questions. That's what I'm shooting for with the Hellcat.

Bonza,

It's impossible for me say for sure. I've met some guys who could build anything they wanted, whether they had ever done it before or not, simply because the ability is inherent within their make up. Other folks seem to struggle all the time. What I can tell you is that if you are truly interested in learning to build then that is more than half the battle and I doubt you would have any real problems building the Hellcat. I'll be happy to provide any and all assistance that I can.

Thanks for the very kind words Gianluca. If you like the Hellcat plans then you will really love the SF.260 when it's done!

p 40

Chad and 'point of reference for the Warbird. rest and 'zero. hello world Gianluca[sm=thumbs_up.gif][sm=thumbs_up.gif][sm=thumbs_up.gif]

Chad Veich

My Feedback: (60)

Thanks for all the replies to my inquiry here guys, much appreciated. It appears as though there will be enough interest to proceed with a group build. I will continue to post updates on this thread as my prototype moves towards completion. Once done and flown I will start a new thread dedicated for the group build proper. As of today all major airframe components are built and fiberglassed. The only construction remaining is the belly pan and the fillets around the tail which will need to be added once the tail feathers are attached. The last few days has seen the cowl mounting finalised as well as the tail wheel hatch. The hatch is a vac formed part which will be included among the accessories available. I always like to have access to this area, especially when using a tailwheel retract. Me and Murphy are very well acquainted! A fixed tailwheel option is shown on the plans and parts for that will be provided in the kit. Regarding the cowl, the pic below shows my vac formed version which is made in three parts. As you can see, despite my best efforts, it requires a fair amount of filler to achieve a really good finished surface. I am working with Ray Hamel at Nor-Ray Products to have the cowl molded as a single piece to make things a bunch easier. Ray will hopefully be handling most, if not all, of the vac formed accessories for the Hellcat.




The tooling to produce the drop tanks and gear doors has also been completed and the first parts have been made to test for issues.




Thanks again for all your input and I'm really looking forward to the group build. I have a few ideas I hope to implement that could make this a very interesting exercise. Let's hope the airplane flies well right off the board! Test flights in 3-4 weeks if all goes as planned.

Chad Veich

My Feedback: (60)

Work continues on the Hellcat with the canopy plug now finished and test canopies pulled. The belly pan has been built and sheeted/planked as well. Next will be to sand out and glass the belly pan and then it will be time to get the tail surfaces attached so the tail fillets can be built.

Flakbait

My Feedback: (20)

Chad,

As always, very clean nice work...

DaddySam

My Feedback: (9)

Yes indeed, Chad. Lookin' good!
Sam

Chad Veich

My Feedback: (60)

Thanks guys, I'm having a ball with this one. This could shape up to be a really great group project. I've been speaking with several vendors who may be interested in "sponsoring" the group build by offering discounts on items if we order in quantity. I'm trying to find ways of keeping the costs down as much as possible while still offering a top quality product.

JohnMcGowan

My Feedback: (15)

You DA MAN Chad! You'll have to teach up dummies ( me) just how to go about planking when the time comes. Its looking really nice and thank you for what all that you are doing.
John

Chad Veich

My Feedback: (60)

Hi John,

Planking is one of those subjects that will be covered in the group build. I have to admit though, I've never enjoyed it and I try to avoid it at all costs! Some people find it therapeutic and relaxing but, for me, it's just grunt work. The only parts of my Hellcat that are strip planked other than the belly pan is the lower, rear fuse and a small section directly in front of the cockpit. I actually tried to sheet the lower fuse at first but ended up with a pretty bad case of "starved horse" syndrome and so had to do it over. I've added a couple of stringers back there now which should allow future builders to sheet instead of plank if they prefer. With any luck I'll have this thing on its' gear by next weekend. Stay tuned...

Chad Veich

My Feedback: (60)

Exciting news regarding the group build. A large hobby store has agreed to sponsor the group build and is offering some significant discounts on items necessary to complete the Hellcat. Everything from small hardware items on up to retracts and engines is included. I will expound more on this when the build gets underway but I am very excited about the situation. I am striving to keep costs as low as possible and this will go a long way towards making that a reality.

Updated Hellcat pictures coming later today, stay tuned...

Vintauri

My Feedback: (25)

Sounds great. I got your e-mail about the parts and need to get back to you on a canopy for my CMP one. Looking forward to the build on this one though.

Steve

scale dail

My Feedback: (8)

Lookin good! Planking is not very fun[:'(]. I like the 1/7th size Hellcat best. Will be looking forward to that project.

JohnMcGowan

My Feedback: (15)

Chad, that is GREAT news.... THANK YOU for all your efforts and hard work and please thank the hobby store for all of us here that are planning to participate in this great project.... Im getting a warm fuzzy feeling already just thinking about it !! LOL [sm=spinnyeyes.gif]
Later buddy,
John

John in Boston

My Feedback: (1)

Guys, I was thinking of building a 1/8th scale Hellcat in the (hopefully not too distant) future, too, and now I've received from Chad his homegrown canopy and gear doors.

Gotta say, they look (and feel ) terrific! Today I posted some pics of them in the CMP Hellcat thread: http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9049448.

And kudos to Chad for this spearheading this very attractive group build idea.

Chad Veich

My Feedback: (60)

Thanks for the encouragement and kind words guys. Dail, are you telling me you want a bigger airplane?!!

Still don't have the Hellcat on its' gear but that's because I've been doing other stuff instead. The tail surfaces are now attached, elevators are attached and hooked up, tail fillets are coming along nicely, fuselage "stinger" is on, and the belly pan is glassed. Oh, and I've added the cowl flaps as well. Still trying to determine whether I will modify the cowl plug to include the open flaps or let the builder cut them free and open them up. The latter method results in a more scale appearance but is, obviously, more work. On the tail fillets I've made a molding from which the fillets can be cut but, to be honest, I'm not sure it's any easier than carving from foam or soft balsa. Still, it will be there for the guys that want to use it. Construction is pretty much done now and it's all finish work from here. As you see it here, including the tail wheel retract and three servos, it tips the scales right at 5.5 pounds. I should be able to finish up under 10 pounds and unless you are a particularly heavy builder this should be as heavy as they get. Test flights are on the near horizon!

Wizard61

My Feedback: (7)

Chad,

Hellcat is looking fantastic. 10 pounds is light. Some of the scaled out CMP hellcats were 13 to 14 pounds if I remember right. I am really looking forward to the group build.

James

scale dail

My Feedback: (8)

Ha! you know me! I already have the Hollman 64" kit. Hope to see the Hellcat At the 1/8th Air Force fly in, in Oct.!

Chad Veich

My Feedback: (60)

Me too Dail!

I guess we are playing musical threads as I just posted on your TF Bearcat thread over at RCSB.

JohnMcGowan

My Feedback: (15)

Open cowl vents..... yes![sm=thumbup.gif] It looks great Chad and you are spot on with keeping it lightweight.
What method do you prefer as far as glassing,... the waterbased or the z-poxy method?
And what color scheme are you thinking about on this bad boy?
Catch ya later and have a wonderful weekend,
John

Doolittleraider

My Feedback: (72)

Man Chad your work is extrodinairy! If it was over 80" I would have joined in!
All the best,
Peter Miller

Chad Veich

My Feedback: (60)

Thanks James, at 10 pounds the Hellcat will have a wing loading of 35 ounces / square foot. That's not bad for a .60-.90 size single engine fighter. The Ki-61 has a wing loading of around 37 oz/sq. foot and is a very gentle flyer so no reason the think the Hellcat will be any different.

John, I've tried the waterbased stuff and liked the results but I prefer epoxy resin. I normally use Z-Poxy but I like the West Systems and the Bob Smith stuff just as well. To be honest, if I was not doing this as a group build I might have used silk and dope on the Hellcat as I like it too.

Below are the three color schemes I'm considering but I'm really leaning towards the overall bright red drone at this point.




Thanks for the kudos Peter. Sounds like somebody needs to start a group build of the Bates Hellcat as lots of guys are interested in a big one.

aerowoof

Chad,
what engine are you planing on using for the test flight? at 10 pounds I am thinking one of my Webra speed .90's or a new os .75 ax.are the cowl flaps operational?I saw a way of making them operational by use of a cable that was in a semicircle inside the cowl and a servo rotated it sort of like a flexible torque rod.

Chad Veich

My Feedback: (60)

Aerowoof,

My prototype will start out with a .61FX which I think will provide plenty of power for my tastes and fits totally in the cowl upright. I think either of your power options would work just fine as well. The cowl flaps are not operational but it wouldn't be a huge task to make them so. There are only the four cowl flaps on the -5 Hellcat to have to worry about.