Brian Cheyne Posted November 30, 2013 Share Posted November 30, 2013 I wonder how many of these actually got to fly? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete B Posted November 30, 2013 Share Posted November 30, 2013 Don't you mean Spitfire, Brian? _ I can alter it if you wish.... Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Privett Posted November 30, 2013 Share Posted November 30, 2013 I don't know the figures Brian, but I'll bet it's a tiny fraction of the number that were sold as the first few issues... Thinking back... somebody, somewhere, did produce some approximate sales figures for the "typical" DeAgostini (and similar) part-works. I do recall that the numbers sold as the series went on dropped quite dramatically. I might be wrong, but I seem to recall that in some instances the number of people buying them beyond about half-way through the series was so low that they ceased publishing them and just refunded anybody who complained... Getting back to the Spitfire, I've certainly never seen one myself in real life, but they do get a mention very occasionally on the forums. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malcolm woodcock 1 Posted November 30, 2013 Share Posted November 30, 2013 Bits keep surfacing on ebay from time to time. Where I previously flew a guy came up to me and said he was getting it for his son. I pointed out that a Spitfire isn't a trainer and the cost was prohibitive. Never did see a finished product, that was quite a few years ago. See they are marketing a non flying model of the Spitfire at the moment, I wonder if it's the remnants of their previous campaign. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly boy3 Posted November 30, 2013 Share Posted November 30, 2013 I saw one at our club years ago.a total stranger asked club members if anyone would maiden it.Apparently it was well built, but weighed a. ton and a half. The request was politely refused on those grounds. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Bran Posted November 30, 2013 Share Posted November 30, 2013 Seen a couple of these "Cubs" completed, both also quite overweight IMO, but they did at least fly. One is I think still around and flies (that is, flies as in brick). If it ever deadsticks the Aussies will get it for free................ Also seen a couple of the James Bond Aston Martins, one was fine and everything worked, the other had superglue everywhere it wasn't intended. The dribbles down the front wings from the wing mirrors were particularly authentic, I thought........... What a waste of time, money, and effort.! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Marsh Posted November 30, 2013 Share Posted November 30, 2013 None. Most were either chucked away, serve as ceiling queens, or just part finished. The rest turn up on ebay, part finished or bits, but both going for stupid money for a crap model. Saw one finished, weighed a ton, had no washout and although finished ok, not worth the £700 plus for a .40 sized model. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dean Posted November 30, 2013 Share Posted November 30, 2013 I picked up a complete kit for one of these for a bargain price, started to build it, then realised one wing weighed more than my complete Kamco kavalier plan built model!!! That didn't encourage me to carry on with it so sold it on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kc Posted November 30, 2013 Share Posted November 30, 2013 I suppose nobody multiplied the magazine price by the number of issues to calculate the total cost of the airframe before they bought the first few issues. if they had worked out the price they could have found it was much cheaper to just buy a kit from their local modelshop and maybe got the advice to start with a trainer. But tell us did it fly OK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mowerman Posted November 30, 2013 Share Posted November 30, 2013 A local chap who built one as a 'retirement pastime,(he was in his eighties) contacted our club asking if someone could fly it for him. When it arrived at our field and was checked over the controls were found to be badly setup, control hinges not secured. Sadly the builder accepted that the model was unlikely to fly and took it home I felt really sorry for him as he had spent many hours and far too much money. A local model shop had sold him a starter. glow start and battery charger, all things he could have borrowed at the field. I feel that if he had been advised to contact a club at the start for help and advice he would have been spared the expensive disapointment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Miller Posted November 30, 2013 Share Posted November 30, 2013 I did buy the first issue, well, the prop and spinner were worth the price and more! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles' Elder Brother - Moderator Posted November 30, 2013 Share Posted November 30, 2013 Similar account to some others - a guy (not a member) turned up at the club field one day with one completed. Apparently he'd bought it on ebay - didn't say how much! He wanted someone to help him to fly it as he wasn't sure how you "turned it on"! As most have said it was heavy - very heavy. The finish was doubious, but the Leo engine was even worse. Worsed of all was the radio gear - I can't remember the name but I'd never heard of it. 35MHz gear - no Tx. He "hadn't replaced the batteries as they were rechargable". When ask if he'd charged them he replied "no, I didn't think I had to the guy said the were rechargable". Mmmm? Needless to say no one was prepared to even contemplate trying it. I'll have a go at most things - but that was beyond even my threshold of stupidity. My advice to him was "Put it back on ebay and buy a trainer". Never seen him since. I was worried afterwards that he might have gone somewhere else and tried to fly it - but no need to worry really, afterall he's no Tx and even if he had he's never going to start that engine in a month of Sundays! BEB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Harris Posted November 30, 2013 Share Posted November 30, 2013 We also had a guy turn up with one of these at the club, he had built it well and to be on the safe side I installed one of my receivers and a fresh battery pack. I maidened it for him and it flew very well indeed, we had a few more flights with it that day. He left a happy chap and I have never seen him again. Rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Marsh Posted November 30, 2013 Share Posted November 30, 2013 People who tried to build it are not modelers, just wannabies, with no idea and common sense. So failure is assured. The Leo engine is ok, I have a .15 size which Just Engines used to sell, but a overweight model, usually badly built powered by a weedy engine has no hope in getting to fly. I don't think there ever has been a finished flown model, even on Youtube, there is nothing. I pity the fool, though... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WolstonFlyer Posted November 30, 2013 Share Posted November 30, 2013 This one appears to be flying Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles' Elder Brother - Moderator Posted November 30, 2013 Share Posted November 30, 2013 I think you are a member of a pretty exclusive group then Rich - people who can claim to have flown a DeAgo Spit! BEB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin b Posted November 30, 2013 Share Posted November 30, 2013 There's no arguing with that then ! Did it handle any different after you fitted the silencer ? kevinb. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete B Posted November 30, 2013 Share Posted November 30, 2013 Despite advising him that it wouldn't be a good idea, my son-in-law persisted in buying the mag, even though they didn't have two ha'pennies to rub together at the time.... I understand a part-built fuselage was seen propped in a corner of a room in their house some time later - this was several years ago. The subject hasn't been mentioned since....... Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Jones Posted December 1, 2013 Share Posted December 1, 2013 Posted by Peter Miller on 30/11/2013 18:41:40: I did buy the first issue, well, the prop and spinner were worth the price and more! I did the same LOL i still have the video cassette that came with it . My son used too keep asking me if he could watch it , he would watch it over and over again day after day . There was one that used to fly at Rochdale model flying clubb and it flew well too . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Lee Posted December 1, 2013 Share Posted December 1, 2013 Posted by Richard Harris on 30/11/2013 21:51:00: I maidened it for him and it flew very well indeed, we had a few more flights with it that day. He left a happy chap and I have never seen him again. I also test flew one & would confirm that it flew surprisingly well. At the time the builder was sensibly already going down the conventional trainer route & I'm pleased to say he is still flying & is now a very competent pilot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glen johnson Posted December 2, 2013 Share Posted December 2, 2013 I bought a partially completed one after a club member passed away. I fitted servos in the wings and retracts. it flies very well with a thunder tiger 75 four stroke at the front. There are two more in the club one being electric. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cymaz Posted December 2, 2013 Share Posted December 2, 2013 I had one and it flew well several times. My lack of experience a few years ago meant that it had a short life. If I had waited until now it might have lasted longer- I hope. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Cheyne Posted January 5, 2015 Author Share Posted January 5, 2015 I still have mine and it is one of my favourite models. Due to the jig construction method it builds very accurately and it did not need even a click of trim on its maiden Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Jones Posted January 5, 2015 Share Posted January 5, 2015 Posted by Peter Miller on 30/11/2013 18:41:40: I did buy the first issue, well, the prop and spinner were worth the price and more! Lol i did the same as you Peter . Funny thing is i still have the prop , spinner and VHS Video that came with it . I remember my son watching that video over and over again it drove my Partner mad and she had it locked away to stop him putting it on . May be i should dig it out again and see if i can transfer it to mpg4 . Steve Edited By Stephen Jones on 05/01/2015 23:33:21 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Jones Posted January 6, 2015 Share Posted January 6, 2015 Here ia a Video . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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