HowardM Posted February 11, 2020 Share Posted February 11, 2020 Hi, Another newbie here. I just retired and fancy building a big Spitfire about 3ft span or so. In my youth I made Yacts and Planes, so not a novice, just out of practice. Can someone point me to good plans which don’t need too much interpretation please.? They should include control lines etc for instance. thanks Howard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly boy3 Posted February 11, 2020 Share Posted February 11, 2020 Hi Howard , welcome to the forum, loads of help and info available here. Just wondered that in your youth did you fly planes you built ? Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted February 11, 2020 Share Posted February 11, 2020 Welcome Howard there should plenty of Spitfire enthusiasts on here to help . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted February 11, 2020 Share Posted February 11, 2020 Check out Outerzone there are 80 plans available all free Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham R Posted February 11, 2020 Share Posted February 11, 2020 Hi Howard, Welcome to the forum. I am not being negative but there are a number of things to bear in mind in this great hobby.. The 1st model that most new people on the list to own is a Spitfire. Fantastic choice BUT warbirds are not really suitable to cut ones teeth on. PLEASE consider a trainer type model either foam or built up. this way you should achieve success in learning to fly (with help from a local club flyer). Not sure that you will find a 3ft model. The norm is from about 48" upwards. (larger models tend to be a little more stable). I would certainly recommend contacting a local club 1st to see the type of models they fly, radio gear etc etc. Please feel free to ask any questions on here that you may have. Graham Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowardM Posted February 11, 2020 Author Share Posted February 11, 2020 Hi, My planes were free flight gliders or control line. Radio Control was beyond the means of a paperboy in the 70’s My main interest was pond yachts using planking construction. In the 80’s I discovered Formula Ford and Wimmin, so no time for models. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kc Posted February 11, 2020 Share Posted February 11, 2020 In motor racing terms a Spitfire is the equivalent of an F1 Mercedes! Start with a trainer such as Tyro Major which is available as a free plan to download from Outerzone then join a club where instructors are available. See what make of radio the local instructors use and buy the same make so they can use a buddy lead to your transmitter. Consider getting David Boddingtons out of print book s'h here at a pretty cheap price - still relevent except for electric flight. Covers all basic things. No modern books on electric -everything is online now, Edited By kc on 11/02/2020 19:18:54 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowardM Posted February 11, 2020 Author Share Posted February 11, 2020 Thanks for the outerzone pointer, that’s the place Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Fry Posted February 11, 2020 Share Posted February 11, 2020 Howard, welcome. I would imagine, if you discovered Formula Ford, and ladies, in the plural, at the same time, it no wonder you are not into expense in later life. At least you lived to tell the tale. Happy flying. Edited By Don Fry on 11/02/2020 20:01:20 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin McIntosh Posted February 11, 2020 Share Posted February 11, 2020 If you really must have one then the Tony Nijhuis 44" is fairly simple to build and flies a treat, almost impossible to stall unlike some others I could mention. I had one with an OS26FS, retracts and flew it for years before selling on. It weighed 3lb 10oz against the hand launched electric original at 2lb 6oz. As stated above, you will need to get your wings first and at least one or two hot models tamed. A 1:5 Spit. is 90" and a very large model indeed. Things are compounded with the 50cc petrol motor, powerful servos and the super expensive retracts required. Don`t do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Skilbeck Posted February 11, 2020 Share Posted February 11, 2020 Also worth contacting your local model club, they will probably be able to give you a trail flight on a trainer aircraft using a buddy box. Plus be helpful on any technical queries on the build. Check out the BMFA webpage as they have a details of BMFA affiliated clubs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Fry Posted February 11, 2020 Share Posted February 11, 2020 I think this survivor from life is looking for a control line Spitfire. Behond my knowledge base. Any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted February 11, 2020 Share Posted February 11, 2020 There are a number of CL Spits on Outerzone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lima Hotel Foxtrot Posted February 12, 2020 Share Posted February 12, 2020 Check out the Flite Test Spitfire. You can build it from Hobbycraft foamboard for very little money so it won't matter when you spank it into the ground, it's easy to build and flies okay... Maybe it's not the ideal first model but at the price you can build several for the cost of a conventional balsa trainer. Putting in a gyro stabilised system such as the Spektrum AS3X would help when learning to fly. Plans and build video here: **LINK** They also do loads of smallish, cheap, get-you-into-the-air-and-flying-with-as-little-difficulty-as-possible models as well. I recommend the Bushwacker, Explorer, Tiny Trainer, Old Fogey or FT Flyer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel R Posted February 12, 2020 Share Posted February 12, 2020 Morning Welcome aboard. As alluded to above, scale WW2 is a long way from ideal first model. Third or fourth, yes. You're wanting to learn to pilot the thing around? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piers Bowlan Posted February 12, 2020 Share Posted February 12, 2020 This appears to be a rather nice control-line Spitfire Howard, - 46in span. Do you still have any of the engines from your youth and what are they? If you fancy getting into Radio Control you might consider a glider or, to be precise, an electric motor-glider to start with. There have been several excellent free plans in RCM&E over the years, straightforward to build and relaxing to fly. For example Easter Eagle, Red Eagle and more recently Firestreak. Whatever you do, do consider joining a club, as others have suggested. Welcome back to the hobby, by the way. Edited By Piers Bowlan on 12/02/2020 13:25:08 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowardM Posted February 12, 2020 Author Share Posted February 12, 2020 Thanks for all the inputs, all noted. I will give it some thought. As a Yorkshireman in Aberdeen I would probably need an interpreter if joining a club up here. thx Howard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Meade Posted February 13, 2020 Share Posted February 13, 2020 Welcome, and I hope you enjoy your new aeromodelling hobby! If you really did want something scale-ish and WW2 for a trainer, you could maybe look at a Piper Cub (or Grasshopper in military use) or an Auster? Either way, happy building, and leave that Spit for a third or fourth model Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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