Andrew Dale

Steve - in answer to your question about C of G: I found a great site at http://www.adamone.rchomepage.com/cg_calc.htm on which you can calculate C of G. The only difficult factor I have found is that the Spitfire does not have a "wing tip chord" as it effectively comes to a point. However, I measured everything at the end of the aileron and also at the very end of the wing tip and here are the two results: With Static Margin (SM) at 10% (must be between 5% and 15%) the C of G is back from the leading edge by 4.75 inches using aileron-end measurements or 5.25 inches using end-of-wing measurements. 5 inches is therefore the average and looks to be spot on! I only did the calculations AFTER setting the plane up! About 4 inches would equate to a 15% SM which the web page says is best for greater stability BUT makes the plane nose heavy. Seems to match practical experience.

Tony - I am an old fogie and if you do not like it then quite simply do not bother coming on here. As the saying goes - if you having nothing good to say... say nothing!

Had my Spitfire checked over and test flown professionally at the weekend. Although C of G set up exactly as required it nosed over as soon as power was applied. Paul Heckles took ALL counter weight out and said that I should totaly ignore what the build manual said. Plane then flew perfectly! Robart in USA will supply oleos at HALF the cost of buying in UK and you can buy direct from them. I have now ordered them. Delivery is just $15 and each leg is just $47 (£52 in UK)

all up weight now 11.8lbs. Will be fitting Robart oleos (660s) soon Robart 3 1/4 inch wheels are much better when you cut the core out of the original foam wheels and fit the "ring" of foam inside the hollow Robarts!

I have a pdf file of the article on strengthening undercarriage if anyone wants a copy but I will need your email address as I can't attach it here! Have not done c of G yet

Steve I will look out the mag over the weekend. OS 1.2 III surpass pump fitted so should go well!

I have been reading these posts (and also mag reviews) with interest as I have been building mine over the last few weeks. A reviewer in Model World found the undercarriage mount to be weak and by the time he wrote in another mag it had broken and he showed how to strengthen it. I did mine before the build. I also noted comments about 4 inch wheels being the correct scale size (2 3/4 supplied) and I found that Robart 3 1/4 inch fit great (need to buy a 5.3mm drill to drill out the centres) but have treaded tyres and really look the part as well as fitting the recess a treat. Woolworths sell a 12v 100psi air compressor for £19.99 and the football inflator tool fits the air line supplied with the kit!