Clive Jones 4 Posted June 28, 2020 Author Share Posted June 28, 2020 Hi James, it us always good to hear of others experiences and tips. I have a foam tailwheel on mine as well. Finish will be lightweight cloth with WBPU varnish as an adhesive.then a light coat of WBPU before painting with acrylics. I hope to test fly it before painting, however. Clive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trevor Crook Posted June 28, 2020 Share Posted June 28, 2020 It"s probably a bit late, but there are all sorts of parts for a similar size Spitfire here: https://www.motionrc.eu/products/flightline-rc-spitfire-mk-ix-1600mm-pnp Motion RC provide a good turnround time, too. Don't know if the spinner could be adapted, but it's intended for a scale 4-blade prop with individual blades. If you used the right kV motor, the prop and spinner could be used, but I think the motor you mentioned earlier in the thread has too high a kV rating. Shame, as my son has this Flightline model, and it has power to spare with the factory 6s powertrain, and still performs well on 5s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Jones 4 Posted June 28, 2020 Author Share Posted June 28, 2020 Hi Trevor, thanks for your input. I had promised myself a Flightline Spit as a retirement present to myself (I finish work in September) but as a flying buddy gifted me a balsa airframe if the same size, I thought it would be an adventure to electrify it. I have been taking my cues from the flightline one (c of g position, tailwheel size etc). I believe the spinner/backplate/blades unit needs an adaptor to fit the motor and I am not sure that this is available as a spare part. I am toying with the idea of sending for the flaps - at just over a tenner, they seem a Billy bargain.The sprung U/C looks good as well but they are a bit more if an investment. I will persevere with this one but who knows, I might just have to turn to the Flightline in the end... Clive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trevor Crook Posted June 28, 2020 Share Posted June 28, 2020 Clive, certainly worth persevering, Tony's models always seem to fly well. I just downloaded the build article from his website, but couldn't see any reference to a specific spinner. I've had trouble sourceing scale looking spinners etc for my builds in the past. Keep us posted with progress. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trevor Posted June 28, 2020 Share Posted June 28, 2020 Just harking back to the battery discussion, if you don’t want to buy batteries solely for this model, you could always buy a few 2s packs of the same capacity as your 4s ones. You could then use 4+2 in the Spitfire but get further mileage out of the 2s packs on 2+2 formation in your 4s models. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin McIntosh Posted June 28, 2020 Share Posted June 28, 2020 The only correctly shaped alloy spinner I have ever found was the Traplet one mentioned above. Considering the sheer number of models of Merlin powered aircraft there must be, you would think that there would be a good market for the right items. The HK or JP pointy ones simply look wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Jones 4 Posted June 28, 2020 Author Share Posted June 28, 2020 Welcome to the two Trevors. The model is not a Tony Nijhuis one, rather a RCME plan from Bob Millinship. It would be interesting to see what the TN one weighs and how they differ. I am not convinced on wedding a 4S to a 2S, has anyone else tried this and was it succesful? It is certainly something I have not done. I have now bought a 6S 4000 mAh battery in any case. To be honest, l am not too worried about spinner shape, just that there is some sort of spinner on there of about the correct diameter. I have taken the wonky one off and am just about to fit a 90mm one that looks more like a hurricane spinner! Clive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trevor Posted June 28, 2020 Share Posted June 28, 2020 I’ve used LiPos in series many times: 3s+3s, 3s+4s, 4s+4s. I do still use the old Anderson Powerpole (aka Sermos) connectors which makes it really easy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin McIntosh Posted June 29, 2020 Share Posted June 29, 2020 My TN Hurri. uses 3s + 2s 5000`s no problem. Not even the same brands. Much cheaper to replace when one of them dies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Jones 4 Posted June 29, 2020 Author Share Posted June 29, 2020 Thanks for all your input, I have to say that mixing different batteries in series had not occurred to me at all. I have other projects that might benefit from this new found knowlege but I have now bought a battery for this one so I plan to use it on this occasion. Clive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Jones 4 Posted June 29, 2020 Author Share Posted June 29, 2020 @ Trevor Crook I do not want you to dismantle your son's FL Spitfire but could you tell me what dia the propellor adapter is? I mean the threaded rod that the prop nut tightens on. Clive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trevor Crook Posted June 29, 2020 Share Posted June 29, 2020 I'll get him to measure it and will report back when I get an answer, Clive. (He doesn't live with me). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Robson Posted June 30, 2020 Share Posted June 30, 2020 Hi Clive and all, I may be a bit late but I have a VQ. Hurricane which I originally fitted a RCV 91 cd to despite the engine weighing 27 oz. I had to add a further pound of lead. The performance was marginal, I changed over to an Electroboost 60 with a 5s 5000 battery 15x8 prop the battery is mounted as far forward as I could get it and still it needed 1/2 a pound of lead. It is 63" span and weighs 9 1/2 lb. it has power to spare on take off and fly's at realistic speeds. One thing that may help I have just finished a Hawker Fury biplane and have used the same power set up. I got the parts from Sarik and they included an alloy spinner with a nut for a glow engine which was too small for the electric set up, on the advise of Ron Gray I contacted Just Engines and they made a nut to my specification as it was non standard, ordered on the Tuesday delivered on the Thursday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trevor Crook Posted June 30, 2020 Share Posted June 30, 2020 Clive First of all, apologies for my assumption that your Spitfire was the TN one, I think it's about the same size! My son has sent over a couple of photos of the Flightline Spitfire prop arrangement, which I have inserted below. The threaded part of the adaptor which passes through the prop hub assembly is 8mm in diameter. Hope this helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Jones 4 Posted July 1, 2020 Author Share Posted July 1, 2020 Hi Eric, thanks for the information, the fact that your hurri flies at that weight with less volts on the same prop I have has given me hope! lol. Trevor Crook, that is great. I managed to download the FL Spit manual and as well as the bolt holding the prop backplate and the prop cross-holder on the threaded adaptor, this has a keyed, square drive into the backplate. (I know the above sounds gibberish but one look at the manual will clear it up) Now that I have found out it is 8mm, which is the same size as the adaptor I have on My motor, I might consider using the FL spinner as the spinner comes as a kit and seperately you can buy the blades/backplate unit as well for not a great deal of money. The TN one is the same size and I have the builders log, which helps with some details. I think the TN one was designed with one eye on electifying it, whilst this one is an earlier plan which has all the (heavy) bells and whistles strengthening you would expect a vibration prone IC engine would need. Clive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trevor Crook Posted July 1, 2020 Share Posted July 1, 2020 Glad it was useful info. Yes, Tony's designs are primarily for ep. This has a couple of advantages for aircraft like the Spitfire - no sticky-out cylinder head or silencer to hide (and keep cool), and, with the appropriate motor, the ability to swing a scale multiblade prop. Mind you, having looked at a couple of projects from Jon of Laser Engines, he's managed to keep the engine bits almost invisible in a slim nose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Jones 4 Posted July 9, 2020 Author Share Posted July 9, 2020 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Jones 4 Posted July 9, 2020 Author Share Posted July 9, 2020 Just waiting for the fin epoxy adhesive to dry. She is starting to feel like an aeroplane, lol. Clive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Jones 4 Posted July 19, 2020 Author Share Posted July 19, 2020 I have just weighed the airframe and ready to fly she is 7.3 lbs which includes balancing weight but not paint. I also unintentionally misled you about the whattmeter reading - the readings I posted were with a 15 x 8 prop. I have now fitted a 15x10, so am looking at a bit more power - I shall whattmeter it later. Things are looking positive! Clive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Jones 4 Posted July 22, 2020 Author Share Posted July 22, 2020 Well I did whattmeter her and now with a 15X10 APC"E" I have 1110W at 46A. Encouraging. I will have to check my calibration settings between the Tx and the ESC as I found that she will go to half throttle stick or so and then top out - i.e. that is full revs. I have decided that after system checks etc. I will taxi trial her in an unpainted form, possibly go for a maiden if the conditions allow. It will be interesting to see the weight difference unpainted to painted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Jones 4 Posted July 28, 2020 Author Share Posted July 28, 2020 Well, she flies! Thanks to all that contributed. The power system that you helped me choose, based on your experiences, worked a treat, with no hint of underpowering the Spit at all. There were a couple if things that were off, I had to use an obscene amount of up trim to fly straight and level. Perhaps a bit of down thrust is needed. Also my retract mountings also require a bit of beefing up. I only flew for a few circuits before a no dramas landing and that took about 16% out of the battery so I do not think the motor is drawing an excessive amount of amps when airborne. All in all a positive start - now for the small amount of remedial work and painting her. 👍 Clive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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