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ORIGINAL: nicostoffi

Hello everyone,

two weeks ago, my Hellcat from ak-models are coming.
Now I've finished the fuselage with some weathering and I changed the tailwheel to a scaler place.
It's a mechanical retract from AK-Models

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ORIGINAL: raptureboy

Nicostoffi-Hi I would rebuild the retract bays anyway if I were you.I installed Robart retracts in mine and the space between the false ribs was not big enough,so I cut them out and boy I'm glad I did. The glue they used was not very good and they came out real easy,never would have held up to a rough landing.I then cut down through the spar enough to clear the air valves using a Dremel tool and a spiral cuting bit.You should now have aprox 25mm of space between a main rib and the edge of the cutout in the wing.I used the ribs I cut out as templates, to make new ones out of 3mm plywood,keeping in mind that you have an inner and outer rib.I spaced these new ribs off the main ribs with 10-12mm hardwood blocks cut to fit tightly from upper to lower sheeting then I epoxied to them to the side of the main ribs. To those I epoxied the new ply ribs,and then I cut out ribs out of 10mm hardwood and epoxied those to the side leaving the bottom of those ribs flat to attach the landing gear too. I wish I had taken pictures of the whole process to show you,but I think you will figure it out.These babies are solid and the whole process took about 4 hrs including figuring out what to do and looking around my shop for materials.Good luck and watch your back! Oh by the way what part of Germany are you from? My wife has family in Munich.

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ORIGINAL: bosssman

Richard,

The more and more I get into this Hellcat (and the P-47), the more I am inclined to modify several areas. I never thought about the "hollow" Robart tires being able to support the weight - maybe I will spring for the aluminum hubbed Robarts that you have....

As far as the the Hellcat's supplied paint scheme and markings - I live very close to the Chino, CA "Planes of Fame" museum that has a nice tricolor Hellcat on display. I will more than likely use that as the basis for this Hellcat. Using some old Top Flite Corsair stars and bars with the red outline as a guide, I think I will end up enlarging them to make my own stars and bars that jive with the tricolor paint scheme. I like using the Model Master paints as they are very accurate and actually, dont require a lot of paint to achieve full coverage. As stated before, the entire plane will be covered with PPG 2060 flat clear (its urethane based) to fuel proof the plane(s)....

I am still trying to decide which way to go for the cockpit - doing as much modifying as I am doing, it seems a shame to neglect the cockpit - we'll see....

As a sidenote, I went ahead and ordered the CMP Zero from Chief Aircraft as Jet Hobbies emailed me that they are out of stock of the Zero. This will bring the total CMP ARF's to 4 - the P-47, Hellcat, Zero and my beloved P-26 Peashooter. Its hard to believe - I have been a kit builder since a kid - goes to show you CAN teach an old dog new tricks!!! :D:):D

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ORIGINAL: thevirginian

Well, after almost four month building this "ARF" I am as good as done. I got carried away with all these scale detailing stuff and since the weather doesn't seem to be willing to cooperate I am in no rush to head to the field for the maiden. When it comes to that I will wait for the best weather possible. Tomorrow I am going to fire up the motor and tach it with the three bladed 14x9 prop. So far I am tickled pink with the end result. I know she's going to fly nicely.

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By the way, did you do something 'different' with the elevator hinge points on the trailing edge of the horizontal stab?? looks like a "vertical" hinge point.

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ORIGINAL: sarks757

Dion---"oldnavyflyer" just gave me a radar steer to your site(post) for glassing. Thank you, thank you , thank you!!!! Blessed ideas----I never thought I could glass like that---you name the ingredients, the recipe---...man, thank you. I have the cmp Hellcat---By the way, did you do something 'different' with the elevator hinge points on the trailing edge of the horizontal stab?? looks like a "vertical" hinge point.

Besides all my dad taught me 40 yrs ago,( and still does!!)---you guys are like tutors>>> thank you all you fellow builders. Edward A. Sarkisian [email protected]

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ORIGINAL: LDM

Luke , just got the parts , thanks as usual they look great , shipping was fast ect ect , but funny story . I been selling candy for over 20 years (46years old) my company just purchased two companys , one was Cap Candy , the makers of spin pops from in variuos licensed characters ect ect .

I asked my wife while travleing if i received any hobby stuff , she said no , just work , you know the usual samples ect ect .

WHen I got home my parts from Zolner Models were shipped in a Cap Candy Case orginally containing Fairly Odd Parents spin pops lol , so not only did my parts come in a case that orginally has candy but they come in a case of a company that we just purchased about 5 months ago . So what my wife thought was candy /work was the great parts , now I wonder if I can get all my hobby purchases shipped in candy cases then wify will think I ma just working my butt off :D

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ORIGINAL: flyfisher431

Luke just incase you missed it

see my post http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_25...7/key_/tm.htm#

you really are an artists/craftsman

Ben

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ORIGINAL: BentMetal
I'm thinking about the pilot thing, I don't want to say what I might do. I would at least like to get some of my money back for the huge lump of silicone I had to pour for the mold! Very expensive stuff, but we'll see.

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