Flyingshark
Master member
Thanks! I was surprised it turned out this well, since this is my first scratch build. I think the cockpit really completes it.
Building the FT Spitfire
- Thread starter Flyingshark
- Start date
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- spitfire
Could you post a link to the plans for the cockpit maybe?
Flyingshark
Master member
I linked the thread where someone else designed it earlier. I don't think I should directly link their work, though.
Here's the thread again: Plans are at the bottom of the first post.
https://forum.flitetest.com/index.php?threads/ft-spitfire-canopy.6136/
You right click to save the image and then export it from something like Preview as a PDF. I just printed the pdf without resizing it. Worked great!
I missed the link before somehow - thanks!
Flyingshark
Master member
Yesterday my power pack A (next plane) and DX6e (along with lots of other things) arrived!
I needed to cut down the FT battery straps to fit inside the nose of the Spitfire:
And the AR410 receiver turned out to be slightly larger than a utility blade! The size made it super easy to fit in the extra space up at the front of the power pod.
Also,
"GOOD NEWS!The Dacia Sandero..." (Any Top Gear UK fans around here?) With the extra weight of the battery straps in the nose, and rx pushed up near the front of the power pod, the Spitfire balances about on the cg, with a little extra space to move the battery farther forward if needed.
On a side note, the DX6e's set of 'profile pictures' for planes included one of a Spitfire! Yay!
I needed to cut down the FT battery straps to fit inside the nose of the Spitfire:
And the AR410 receiver turned out to be slightly larger than a utility blade! The size made it super easy to fit in the extra space up at the front of the power pod.
Also,
"GOOD NEWS!
On a side note, the DX6e's set of 'profile pictures' for planes included one of a Spitfire! Yay!
Flyingshark
Master member
It's all done!!!
Yesterday I got all the control rods in and programmed dual rates to match FT's recommended aileron positions. Right now I have 40% low and 100% high rates, with 30% expo.
Last modifications:
Added hot glue/poster board/packing tape reinforcements to the bbq skewer holes for the power pod.
Reinforced the center of the elevator
Also added a second type of velcro to hold on the battery. (Probably unnecessary) Now it's got a strip of velcro holding it on (like FT recommends) AND battery straps.
Funnily enough, all these mods seem to have balanced each other out! The CG seems just about perfect.
(I expected it to be tail heavy.)
I'm planning on a maiden flight in the next couple days. I'll be sure to video it.
Yesterday I got all the control rods in and programmed dual rates to match FT's recommended aileron positions. Right now I have 40% low and 100% high rates, with 30% expo.
Last modifications:
Added hot glue/poster board/packing tape reinforcements to the bbq skewer holes for the power pod.
Reinforced the center of the elevator
Also added a second type of velcro to hold on the battery. (Probably unnecessary) Now it's got a strip of velcro holding it on (like FT recommends) AND battery straps.
Funnily enough, all these mods seem to have balanced each other out! The CG seems just about perfect.
(I expected it to be tail heavy.)I'm planning on a maiden flight in the next couple days. I'll be sure to video it.
danskis
Master member
Just some suggestions which you may or may not already thought of (and I have no idea how experienced a pilot you are so sorry if this too obvious). Try to have an experienced helper hand launch it for you (actually an inexperienced one may be better than doing it yourself as its not easy to hold). It flys pretty fast at full throttle so once it gets moving don't forget to throttle back. You might dial down those high rates. About the ailerons....On up aileron, If the bottom of the aileron is about two mm(s) above the wing that will give you lazy large circles.
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Flyingshark
Master member
I've flown a bunch on simulators, but in real life my experience consists of a few flights with an FT Long-EZ, a few with a Tidewater (before that crashed and the ESC caught fire) and a 2ch glider I built.
When I flew the Long-EZ I had my dad hand launch it for me -- I'll probably keep that arrangement for the Spitfire. The field I hope to fly at is pretty large, but I think I'll probably spend as much time as possible doing flying high up on low rates, as long as the wind cooperates.
Flyingshark
Master member
I flew the Spitfire today!!!
It took off around 60-80% throttle (there was a minor headwind helping it) and I got a short flight in. It ended when I forgot how to turn because I was so excited and it dropped most of the way to the ground, so I just let it go in. Seemed like a pretty soft controlled crash, but the prop was broken. No more flying today.
Anyway, apologies about the lack of video; I had my dad hand launch it so he wasn't able to video it. For the next flight I'll try to throw it myself and get him to video the flight. Hopefully I can manage to not break my other prop!
It took off around 60-80% throttle (there was a minor headwind helping it) and I got a short flight in. It ended when I forgot how to turn because I was so excited and it dropped most of the way to the ground, so I just let it go in. Seemed like a pretty soft controlled crash, but the prop was broken.
No more flying today. 
Anyway, apologies about the lack of video; I had my dad hand launch it so he wasn't able to video it. For the next flight I'll try to throw it myself and get him to video the flight. Hopefully I can manage to not break my other prop!
Timmy
Legendary member
Nice!I flew the Spitfire today!!!
It took off around 60-80% throttle (there was a minor headwind helping it) and I got a short flight in. It ended when I forgot how to turn because I was so excited and it dropped most of the way to the ground, so I just let it go in. Seemed like a pretty soft controlled crash, but the prop was broken.
View attachment 177923
Anyway, apologies about the lack of video; I had my dad hand launch it so he wasn't able to video it. For the next flight I'll try to throw it myself and get him to video the flight. Hopefully I can manage to not break my other prop!
Try one of the APC 9x6 thin electric props. They are really durable!I flew the Spitfire today!!!
It took off around 60-80% throttle (there was a minor headwind helping it) and I got a short flight in. It ended when I forgot how to turn because I was so excited and it dropped most of the way to the ground, so I just let it go in. Seemed like a pretty soft controlled crash, but the prop was broken.
View attachment 177923
Anyway, apologies about the lack of video; I had my dad hand launch it so he wasn't able to video it. For the next flight I'll try to throw it myself and get him to video the flight. Hopefully I can manage to not break my other prop!
https://store.flitetest.com/apc-9x6-thin-electric-propeller-apc09060e/p17930
Flyingshark
Master member
@The Hangar,
What would the difference between one of those props be and the HQ Prop 10x4.5 that come with power pack c be? Aside from the different size, would the flight characteristics change much, if at all? (What's the difference between large, lower pitch, and smaller but higher pitch?)
Flyingshark
Master member
I flew the Spitfire again today, crashed and ripped the forward skewer area clean off the rest of the fuse. Also the prop broke. AGAIN. All this should be repairable, though.
I have some 9x4.5 props lying around, would those work with power pack C, or would it be underpowered?
I did get some flight video this time around, I'll try to edit and post it tomorrow.
I have some 9x4.5 props lying around, would those work with power pack C, or would it be underpowered?
I did get some flight video this time around, I'll try to edit and post it tomorrow.
BATTLEAXE
Legendary member
You made a really clean build for your first, and you couldn't have chosen a better warbird to fly. To learn from as your first plane it is a little fast but you can slow it down nice. It has huge under cambered wingtips and with the dihedral it is super stable at lower speeds.
That being said I would suggest trying to keep the throttle in the 50-60% range on the previously suggested 9x6 prop. On 3s this prop does this plane so much justice on the C pack radial. If you already have it trimmed out you should be able to do circuits and figure 8's all day long.
I would also suggest setting your expo higher on high rates to help it feel like low rates when you switch over, just that it has more throw. Example low rates set to 30-35% at say 65% throw, 45-50% expo on high rates at 100% throw. This way the low end of the stick travel on high rates feels just like your low rates. If that makes sense.
I do have a thread on the stuff i did to my Spit when I built it over a year ago. I loved that plane. I built it and was novice enough that it scared me to fly it. 50% of the fear was i didn't know what the plane was going to do in the air, mostly stemmed from repeated failed attempts at teaching myself to fly. The other 50% was that i spent a decent amount of time on it and didn't want to ruin it yet. I got down to the point where i just had to force myself to toss it up, and it surprised the hell out of me. Flew like it was born to be at my control, was effortless to maneuver or even give it room while you decide what you want to do with it. Every time i see someone build one i want to build another. It has a bit of nostalgia for me
That being said I would suggest trying to keep the throttle in the 50-60% range on the previously suggested 9x6 prop. On 3s this prop does this plane so much justice on the C pack radial. If you already have it trimmed out you should be able to do circuits and figure 8's all day long.
I would also suggest setting your expo higher on high rates to help it feel like low rates when you switch over, just that it has more throw. Example low rates set to 30-35% at say 65% throw, 45-50% expo on high rates at 100% throw. This way the low end of the stick travel on high rates feels just like your low rates. If that makes sense.
I do have a thread on the stuff i did to my Spit when I built it over a year ago. I loved that plane. I built it and was novice enough that it scared me to fly it. 50% of the fear was i didn't know what the plane was going to do in the air, mostly stemmed from repeated failed attempts at teaching myself to fly. The other 50% was that i spent a decent amount of time on it and didn't want to ruin it yet. I got down to the point where i just had to force myself to toss it up, and it surprised the hell out of me. Flew like it was born to be at my control, was effortless to maneuver or even give it room while you decide what you want to do with it. Every time i see someone build one i want to build another. It has a bit of nostalgia for me
Flyingshark
Master member
I think I need a bigger field to really be able to explore what the Spit can do. I had a moment where it's turning circle on low rates was slightly wider than the field, so it flew by 30 feet over my head before I got it back into the box I wanted to fly in. Also, I kept needing to do very steep turns to get it going where I wanted it to go. I think I might try to improve my flying skills on smaller planes for a little while, maybe even until my local flying club opens up and I can use their field. I had the throttle at 50% for most if not all of the flight. I was using the 10x4.5 props that came with the power pack, but those two are all gone, so I think I'll order a lot of those 9x6s.
That thing about expo does make sense. I accidentally maidened it on high rates, and overcontrolled it (resulting in broken prop #1), but then when I flew it on low rates, I felt like I needed just a little bit more control to get the turns I needed.
BATTLEAXE
Legendary member
Not to sure but it sounds like you are a bank and yank kinda guy, just like me, i am left thumb dumb. And lazy at times. I sometimes will mix a little rudder into my aileron inputs to help facilitate the turns to be more coordinated, maybe the DX6e will mix that, maybe not. But you could try some rudder input to get the tail around with out having to roll it over to get the turn.
Flyingshark
Master member
Yeah. I briefly flew the FT LongEZ, so I got into the habit of turning with the aileron and forgetting about the rudder. If I had more time in the air, which hopefully I will in the future, I could probably start remembering to vary the throttle and use the rudder a little to help the turns along.
I'll look into trying to mix the rudder in. I think that is possible with the DX6e, but it might take a little while to figure out.
Flying my 3 channel Baby Hornet might also help me remember the rudder, since it doesn't have ailerons. And the Mini Speedster. And my UMX Whipit. Wow! I only just realized that every plane in the "on the workbench" part of my signature is 2 or 3 channels, with no ailerons!
BATTLEAXE
Legendary member
I like to fly a lot of warbirds and usually faster stuff so the bank and yank thing is just habit like breathing. Tip stalls don't happen to much when you are carrying some decent speed. But i am trying to slow things down and built the Easy AF Edge for 3D practice, try to do some hovering and harriers in the back yard right. Here is how I flew the maiden...
Not very slow was it... just a vice i have to break from. First world problems
