HobbyKing 1/5 50cc Spitfire Mk IX Group Build Tips/Mods
 

I just want to say one thing to those that may have beef with HK, please if you don't have a 50cc Spitfire from them then don't post your grievances with the company in this thread. I'm not interested in what you have to say at all and if the mods won't remove your post I'll just add you to my blocked list permanently. Thank you for your cooperation!

This thread is basically a place for people that have this plane to share ideas and any tips you may have to assist other modelers, as they say two heads are better than one, so the more ideas and methods the better.

I have the plane and am very pleased with it, very light weight with a projected weight of 17 1/2lbs. Full scale had a wingspan of 442" / 5 = 88.5", so we are right on 1/5 scale. This will be a decent looking Sunday flyer, but I would like to do some weathering and give it a final flat clear coat.

I am designing a full cockpit kit right now for the plane, I will show how I will accomplish this when I have enough of it done. The problem is that the hatch for the radio and switches is the cockpit canopy section, I figured out a pretty slick way to have a cockpit and still have this feature intact.

The landing gear came, and I am very pleased with them. The aluminum is much stronger than the aluminum used by some other Chinese companies. I'll hook them up later this evening and to a pressure test to see how they hold air, but again I am thouroughly impressed with them. They fit perfectly in the wing and all the angles are right on. I'm using Robart 4 1/2" tires and they fit with room to spare in the wheel wells. I will use the gear doors as a mold and lay up some fiberglass gear doors for a little more durability. I'm glad they included those in the kit because that makes it so much easier!

So if anyone has any questions about this plane or if you have one now, please join in on the thread!

http://i1007.photobucket.com/albums/...ps4b03e912.jpg

http://i1007.photobucket.com/albums/...ps58df1819.jpg

http://i1007.photobucket.com/albums/...ps57487e52.jpg
The door fits perfectly, it just needs to be trimmed at the bottom so that it will sit flat.

http://i1007.photobucket.com/albums/...ps04809645.jpg

http://i1007.photobucket.com/albums/...ps6c723203.jpg

http://i1007.photobucket.com/albums/...pscb6f41e1.jpg

http://i1007.photobucket.com/albums/...ps8b124272.jpg


http://i1007.photobucket.com/albums/...ps534fe016.jpg

http://i1007.photobucket.com/albums/...psbbb84a00.jpg

RE: HobbyKing 1/5 50cc Spitfire Mk IX Group Build Tips/Mods
 

Brilliant! Well said.

These are some of the best pictures I've seen so far, and I have to say that the plane looks impressive. Looking forward to your build.

RE: HobbyKing 1/5 50cc Spitfire Mk IX Group Build Tips/Mods
 

I'm in.
Great pics....I'm looking forward to sharing ideas on this plane.

I finally got my Spit and retracts ordered...:D
Just waiting for the UPS truck now.....

RE: HobbyKing 1/5 50cc Spitfire Mk IX Group Build Tips/Mods
 

Those look like pretty good retracts. not the usually cr*p that I've seen in ARFs.

Dave N

RE: HobbyKing 1/5 50cc Spitfire Mk IX Group Build Tips/Mods
 

Nice to see this HK plane getting the attention it deserves. When I originally started talking about this plane on rcu....there was no info on it other then a half page thread started by Scott from Hobbyking UK........and the thread went dead as he focused on his thread over on rcg. I convinced a friend to buy the plane after having bought the retracts and showing them to him. I wanted the plane myself, but I have a wife that, while she is tolerant of the gobs of planes I already have, I was sure she wouldn't be keen on me adding another LARGE one to the fleet.

Well......she was quite ok with me getting it in the end.

I'm interested to see the scratch made cockpit idea.

For wheels, haven't decided what I'm going to use yet.

RE: HobbyKing 1/5 50cc Spitfire Mk IX Group Build Tips/Mods
 

Luke, good to see your back at it! This one caught my eye before but I figured it to be another Chinese pig disguised as a silk purse. But now, if you say it's good well that's something we can take to the bank because I know you don't pull any punchshttp://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/js/f...n/punching.gifI look forward to this one and I may have to put some planes upfor sale soon. I still have my Hellcat and all those great parts you made waiting to be completed some day. Let the surgery begin DR !

RE: HobbyKing 1/5 50cc Spitfire Mk IX Group Build Tips/Mods
 

Owl, kahloq and raptureboy, good to have you guys join in on the fun!

Kahloq, I'm not trying to take the lead on this thing really, I was hoping that this thread would be used by all that have this plane to ensure the greatest chance of success! So if you have a HobbyKing Spitfire this is your thread, use it as you please!

raptureboy, you aint gone yet? Just kidding, but it was funny right? I promise to give you the good bad and the ugly with this thing, it is a typical Chinese ARF, you can expect to go through it a bit here and there to make it right.

Retract, retract and retracts! The good news is that the gear work and hold air, the annoying news I guess you could call it is that none of the small fittings work, like the T's and the pressure gauge end cap was just loosely pressed on and it came off under pressure! The fill valve did not work, but it probably would if you worked with it and installed new innards. The small 4 way fittings either leaked air or were completely clogged. I panicked just a little the first time I hooked up the air and nothing worked. When I replaced everything with Robart fitting, fill and retract valve, the gear work great, so they cost me $140 and a Robart retract valve.

Like all Chinese ARF's they use a glue gun, the good news is the open construction of the wing, it is very easy to wick thin CA into almost every corner of the wing. The retract mounts will need 30 min epoxy, and the good thing again is that you have very good access to this area, you can even add triangle stock if you feel the need and the runway just appears out of nowhere! When you are adding epoxy to the gear mounts make sure you add some to the wing bolt tabs, you can get to the back of these also.


http://i1007.photobucket.com/albums/...psa8766a60.jpg
You can see here that the retract mount is very lightly glued in, but like I said it's easy to get to.

http://i1007.photobucket.com/albums/...ps949e44c9.jpg
No problems with the tail wheel!

http://i1007.photobucket.com/albums/...psd5e51902.jpg
These are the offending parts.

http://i1007.photobucket.com/albums/...psce7e7919.jpg
Like everything else, these wing hold tabs are lightly glued in, add 30 min epoxy to the backs, it's easy to get to them.

http://i1007.photobucket.com/albums/...psca3e284e.jpg

http://i1007.photobucket.com/albums/...psde8520be.jpg
Up on the gear! (wipes sweat off brow!)

RE: HobbyKing 1/5 50cc Spitfire Mk IX Group Build Tips/Mods
 

Yes I have one of these planes. I thought I made that evident. When I get mine started, I'll post whatever it is that I end up doing. I have to finish up my ESM DO-335 first.

RE: HobbyKing 1/5 50cc Spitfire Mk IX Group Build Tips/Mods
 

There is no misunderstanding on my part, I was making a general comment to all basically, so again (everyone) if you have one please post! I'm especially interested in engine installations, mufflers and cooling issues, CG, control throws, props and all that! So kahloq, hurry with that project and join us here! :D

RE: HobbyKing 1/5 50cc Spitfire Mk IX Group Build Tips/Mods
 

I would suggest going over the retract units and use locktite on every bolt, screw, etc just to be safe.

RE: HobbyKing 1/5 50cc Spitfire Mk IX Group Build Tips/Mods
 

Maybe I wanna see what you do first and copy it LOL. J/K. The part I wanna see is what you do for the cockpit. I have something in mind, but if your method looks better, then I may try whatever it is. So....Im good watching you and anyone else for a couple weeks while I tidy up the DO-335. Its not that far from being as you can see in this pic.

RE: HobbyKing 1/5 50cc Spitfire Mk IX Group Build Tips/Mods
 

Of course I'm still here, Jesus didn't come back yet. http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/js/f...sn/biggrin.gifNow that was funny, I have always enjoyed our conversations and would never let our philosophical differences come between usand agood build my friend.http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/js/f...sn/thumbup.gifSo bash away, Idon't think your going to stop at just weathering and a cockpit thoughhttp://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/js/f...ey/msn/lol.gif

RE: HobbyKing 1/5 50cc Spitfire Mk IX Group Build Tips/Mods
 

RCU wont let me upload a pic at the moment ....sour face!!!![:@]

RE: HobbyKing 1/5 50cc Spitfire Mk IX Group Build Tips/Mods
 

Very well said, That is 1 beautiful Spitfire, real nice.

RE: HobbyKing 1/5 50cc Spitfire Mk IX Group Build Tips/Mods
 

I know that is what you are doing, waiting for me to do all the work!:) On that cockpit thing, I was actually thinking of offering it to my HobbyKing brothers! lol! Seriously, if it works out and others in this thread want one, and you twist my arm a bit, I just may offer them!

I know, I'm using Photobucket.

Please don't tempt me on that! I've got to try and stay with my original plan!

Thanks keyman, let's hope it flies as good as it looks!

RE: HobbyKing 1/5 50cc Spitfire Mk IX Group Build Tips/Mods
 

Subd

RE: HobbyKing 1/5 50cc Spitfire Mk IX Group Build Tips/Mods
 

OK, a little more testing with some work on the retracts and I now have them leak free. It looks like they used some kind of sealant on the nipples when they screwed them in, both on the air cylinders and the 4 way fittings, some of this got into the fittings and clogged them. Also on some there was nothing used at all. I charged the system up with 100lbs and dunked the cylinders in water and all the nipples had leaks except one. I took the leaky ones out and put a small amount of 5 min epoxy on the threads and crewed them back in, allowing a mall amount to form around the base of the nipple. They work great now, also got my servo's in today, so I can finish the wing panels.

RE: HobbyKing 1/5 50cc Spitfire Mk IX Group Build Tips/Mods
 

what spinner are you planning on using?

RE: HobbyKing 1/5 50cc Spitfire Mk IX Group Build Tips/Mods
 

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...dProduct=10178

I'm using this one, we shall see how it fits and looks when it arrives.

RE: HobbyKing 1/5 50cc Spitfire Mk IX Group Build Tips/Mods
 

I got an aluminium one from troybuiltmodels that's for the ESM spitfire. Its the right size. The only one they have in stock currently is the 3 blade black. They're supposed to get more 2 blade versions in a couple weeks.

RE: HobbyKing 1/5 50cc Spitfire Mk IX Group Build Tips/Mods
 

I have the HK 50cc Spitfire with about 50 flights on it. I built it for the giant scale warbird races at rabit dry lake last year. I have a DA-60 in mine and it flies great. It was extremely tail heavy and the landing are too far back. I balanced mine at 30% (6 inches back from leading edge) and when trimmed takes very little down to fly level inverted. I angled the landing gear forward as much as possible (my axles are 4 inches behind the leading edge) still take offs and landings can be hard on propellers. I would like the wheel to be another inch forward but I can get then there. Dry weight of mine is 26 pounds and the only thing I added was wing reinforcing and nose weight.

RE: HobbyKing 1/5 50cc Spitfire Mk IX Group Build Tips/Mods
 

Definitely I will balance mine further forward then. I'm also going to get a 2 blade spinner for use on first few flights as I don't want to be replacing $75 props

RE: HobbyKing 1/5 50cc Spitfire Mk IX Group Build Tips/Mods
 

Thanks Servo481 for the info, got any pictures of your plane? 26 lbs? That is discouraging. Not sure what your wing mods added in weight, but my wings are fine for the way I fly.

I fly off of pavement, but gradual throttle advancement and holding up elevator until I gain some speed is standard practice for me on takeoffs. I'm excited to find out if I can tame this beast on takeoff and landings though, looking forward to it!

RE: HobbyKing 1/5 50cc Spitfire Mk IX Group Build Tips/Mods
 

I didn't like the heavy duty looking linkage for the ailerons and flaps, so I used a standard 4-40 clevis set up. One side is adjustable and the other is soldered on. I also did not like the giant metal control horns, so I made some from PC board. You will look a long time for the hardwood blocks that are supposed to be in the ailerons to mount the control horn to, they do not exist, in fact there is nothing inside the ailerons. I cut a hole for a block of balsa and used epoxy to secure it and the control horn, I'm very happy with the installation, much cleaner and sleeker looking. I'm going to have the paint matched for touch up purposes later.

http://i1007.photobucket.com/albums/...ps20252b78.jpg
The stock control rod on the right is pretty beefy looking, more like turbine jet stuff.

http://i1007.photobucket.com/albums/...ps45e6525c.jpg
PC board horn with balsa block, you can see the aileron is hollow, all of these will need a mod in this area
for any kind of control set up.

http://i1007.photobucket.com/albums/...ps38e29c35.jpg
Finished installation, nice a clean.

RE: HobbyKing 1/5 50cc Spitfire Mk IX Group Build Tips/Mods
 

I'm a big fan of your work Luke, looking forward what you do!

Casey