Tim Flyer Posted December 11, 2015 Share Posted December 11, 2015 Hi all just thought I would start a thread for one of my winter projects a World Models Spitfire 60 powered by a Laser 80 . I decided on this particular kit partly due to the time I have available and partly because I couldn't find a similar kit build for a 80-90 4 stroke. The 80-90 size is the "sweetspot "for me in modelling with very practical running and handling requirements and construction. It had to be a four stroke for a Spitfire. I already have an OS 80 in an Acrowot (my first proper kit build for years) and an OS95v in a BH Chipmunk. I am very impressed with Nitro 4 strokes. The WM Spitfire has retracts, Flaps(not split flaps)and requires 7 servos. Its very well built and the parts are much better than on other ARTF kits I have assembled. For the Spitfire it had to be a Laser. I was so impressed seeing one in a fellow Club members Fokker and the sound it made. Plus Lasers are built in Hemel Hempstead UK so very fitting for a Spitfire. I called up john at Laser and he was incredibly helpful and knowledgable. He even checked the plans for the plane to check I was choosing the right engine. When I visited them to pick the engine up I knew I had made a great choice. Its built like an expensive watch and almost to good to put in a plane! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Flyer Posted December 11, 2015 Author Share Posted December 11, 2015 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Flyer Posted December 11, 2015 Author Share Posted December 11, 2015 Above is the modified firewall so the Exhaust and carb have sufficient clearance.(the engine will be inverted.). I epoxied two 1/8 ply stripsunder the engine bearers, continuing them right across the firewall for strength. The other Mod I made was to cut the front bulkhead inside to lower the tank nearer the wing. Laser Carbs are near the cylinder head and John warned me that if I didn't lower the tank, fuel may syphon out. I will add photo of cut out bulkhead below. I also reinforce the inside of my planes with West Systems Epoxy and glass fibre. On the engine bay I used thicker matting, but light-weight laminating matting on some of the other internal structure. I have added a max weight of 60g doing this and it is concentrated at the front end of the plane. It makes them much stronger! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Flyer Posted December 11, 2015 Author Share Posted December 11, 2015 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Flyer Posted December 11, 2015 Author Share Posted December 11, 2015 Here is the Lovely Laser 80 !! Edited By Timothy Harris 1 on 11/12/2015 23:57:48 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ASH. Posted December 12, 2015 Share Posted December 12, 2015 Subscribed. Good subject Tim, I'm interested to know of the quality, fit and finish and your overall view when it flys. WM models are not too common on here. I would advise you seal all edges of covering with Solarfilm Clearcoat. The covering is not Oracover. Like you Tim I believe in proper strenghtening and had thought of using fibreglass and laminating epoxy inside a model where the wood is suspect. But I also have to remember not to pile on the ounces. Enjoy the build. Ash Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Flyer Posted December 12, 2015 Author Share Posted December 12, 2015 Hi Ash thanks for reply. Good to hear a fellow reinforcer . The epoxy is very light. much much more so than polyester. I used to do a lot of model power boating years ago and got used to glassing. So far the World models quality seems very good. I have even used their pushrods. The hinges are metal pinned too. Agreed on the covering. That does need some ironing. The other thing to note on this model is that it needs a low profile retract servo. I used a small but powerful Futaba 8kg one. There is a guy who has posted a video of the retract installation on you tube. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Flyer Posted December 12, 2015 Author Share Posted December 12, 2015 Here is the wing. set up I will be using the separate little LIFE battery above which will power the retracts. I will velcro it onto the wing when I do the balancing later. the single servo runs the flaps. there are two aileron servos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Philbrick Posted December 12, 2015 Share Posted December 12, 2015 Hi Timothy I have one of these and am very pleased with it. Mine is powered by an OS 70 fs and has more than enough power. I put invasion strips on it which makes it easy to see and I also brushed over the whole model with matt varnish which sealed the edges and took the shine off the covering. The cowl is a bit big but you don't notice it in air Glenn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Banner Posted January 2, 2016 Share Posted January 2, 2016 Subscribed for updates. I look forward to seeing this at the field Tim. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Flyer Posted January 2, 2016 Author Share Posted January 2, 2016 Cheers Jack. Its coming on and I have a few updates. Thanks for encouragement too Glenn. Its good to hear it flies well. I Like your idea of the invasion stripes too, and also want to do that (I have bought the flair paint. and matt varnish). The cowl is now complete and I have put baffles in to enhance engine cooling as the Laser will be almost fully enclosed. Radio gear is in and I have also lowered the tank and changed the position of the throttle servo to suit the low laser carburettor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Flyer Posted January 2, 2016 Author Share Posted January 2, 2016 Here is the new internal view with lowered tank. The retract battery is on the right near the throttle servo. There are a couple of reinforcing beams I added which can be seen on each side of the tank. Edited By Timothy Harris 1 on 02/01/2016 23:25:39 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Flyer Posted January 2, 2016 Author Share Posted January 2, 2016 Here is the plumbing on the laser engine. The system is non-pressurised as John at Laser recommended. i have pointed the breather pipe forward. The red line will be the filler and middle pipe crankcase breather. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Flyer Posted January 2, 2016 Author Share Posted January 2, 2016 Here is the cowl offered onto the engine. The retaining screws have not yet been fitted so it is not centred. I reinforced the cowl inside with light fibreglass laminate applied with West Systems epoxy. The cooling baffle can be seen from the front. I will be adding a lip on the air exit, in the centre of the cowl just to the rear of the exhaust to give a venturi effect to help hot air exit. Edited By Timothy Harris 1 on 02/01/2016 23:22:15 Edited By Timothy Harris 1 on 02/01/2016 23:23:14 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Former Member Posted January 2, 2016 Share Posted January 2, 2016 [This posting has been removed] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Flyer Posted January 3, 2016 Author Share Posted January 3, 2016 Cheers Percy. I actually also bought a longer extension silencer from John at laser just in case, I agree with you on that and I will fit it as I don't fancy having oil all over it. I'm trying to hold myself back from running the engine until its fully painted!! Happy new year to all ...Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Flyer Posted January 24, 2016 Author Share Posted January 24, 2016 Oh dear it looks like its winking at me!! Can you spot the dodgy roundel! I think I will have to source alternative decals. I don't want to make them myself. Just easy stick on ones hopefully. I have spent a few hours painting on the invasion stripes with flair paint via a brush and am nearly complete. The idea with this model is to be a practical flyer rather than a scale masterpiece(I'm not up to building one that well anyway!) Edited By Timothy Harris 1 on 24/01/2016 16:38:52 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Braddock, VC Posted January 24, 2016 Share Posted January 24, 2016 Subscribed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Flyer Posted January 24, 2016 Author Share Posted January 24, 2016 Welcome Mr Braddock. Hopefully i will soon have the painting done and post photos. I have ordered new decalls from Warbirdreplicas.co.uk . These are 1:8 scale and this model is 1;7th hopefully they won't be too far out. At least they look the correct type. One downside on this model is that the covering is very glossy and the decals incorrect. I am rectifying that with the Flair matt varnish and painting the invasion stripes too. That should help orientation. The wing stripes included in the kit are not very nice in my opinion, but are easily removed. Ash and Glenn mentioned the covering coming unstuck in posts above, I have also had to stick down a number of edges. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Banner Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 How are you getting on with this Tim? Any progress? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Flyer Posted January 29, 2016 Author Share Posted January 29, 2016 Hi Jack good to hear from you and hope all well. The Spitfire is moving along ok thanks. I have finished the invasion stripes, for which i used flair spectra paint on applied by brush, and must say i am happy with the result. I used blue 'high performance" masking tape from Home base and that worked well. I made sure I sanded the covering first for which i used a foam sanding sponge to get into the dips in the covering. As in the post above I found the decals were rubbish to be honest and are just toy stickers which were non symmetrical and not even accurate in patterns. I bought a set of proper decals from warbirdreplicas.co.uk and they arrived today. Way way better quality! They arrived promptly and were absolutely perfect. This weekend looks stormy so i will hopefully put them on the plane and then coat it in mat fuel proofer varnish (Spectra again) and post some pictures up here. I can't wait to start the new Laser engine! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon H Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 14x6 prop and away you go. Remember not to run it rich for hours, you wont do it any good. get it leaned off and up to full revs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Flyer Posted January 29, 2016 Author Share Posted January 29, 2016 Cheers Jon thank you again for all the advice . Buying an engine from you guys was a great experience. i can't think of any other product we can buy these days where the manufacturer directly helps us. Edited By Timothy Harris 1 on 29/01/2016 21:46:48 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon H Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 I try! Its pretty hectic right now, I wish I could catch up and cut down lead times. Im working on it but getting ahead of the game is not easy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Flyer Posted January 30, 2016 Author Share Posted January 30, 2016 Here is a picture on it now. I am very very pleased I spent the extra on buying top quality decals from Warbirdreplicas.co.uk I still have not painted the matt fuelproof varnish on as i'm waiting for the yellow leading edge paint to dry, but I thought I would post an update. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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