Sharing my first FT Plane, the Spitfire

Dareios

New member
Hey there,

just wanted to share my FT Spitfire with you and also provide some tips for new builders like me:

1. Be really carefull about glueing the fuselage: If you dont get it perfectly alligned (doublecheck), it will be slightly crooked.
2. Be really carefull about glueing the wings in: Take your time glueing them together and getting the dihedral right, I thought i did it perfectly, but one wing has more dihedral than the other (just a few degrees).

Both of the points above don't really affect the flight characteristics, but if you want to get it right, take it (even) slower than me :p

3. I put an extra foam plate into the power pod in front of the mounting screws, so they dont puncture the LiPo on a crash – would highly recommend doing that small extra step.
4. The weight (battery) for the CG has to be way further in front than i thought, it's perfectly balanced, maybe slighty nose heavy (what I want) with my 3S LiPo which weighs 174g as seen in the pictures. I had the battery just 1-2 cm further back in the beginning and the plane just climbed and climbed. Also I couldn't find the exact CG at first – make sure to flip your Spitfire upside down and measure the CG then. I read somewhere that planes with dihedral have to be flipped upside down to check the CG and its actually much clearer then.
5. Also really make sure to put in the recommended rates, especially on the elevator and the expo. I probably would've crashed on the first flight since the control surfaces are so big! I put in the recommended expo rates and started out with throw rates, inbetween the recommended high/low rates, whick work great so far.

That being said, this plane is insane, can highly recommend it if its your first FT plane. Took it out into high winds yesterday (4th flight) and it is still alive. It got lot's of power with the Power Pack C and the 10 x 4.5 prop! Still trying to fold the wings... :LOL:
 

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Mr NCT

Site Moderator
Welcome to the forum and the insanity! VERY nice job on your Spitfire, good tips also. I think you've summed up building FT planes perfectly - if you are careful, take your time and use the recommended control surface throws and expo you will be successful. Good job.
 
Hey there,

just wanted to share my FT Spitfire with you and also provide some tips for new builders like me:

1. Be really carefull about glueing the fuselage: If you dont get it perfectly alligned (doublecheck), it will be slightly crooked.
2. Be really carefull about glueing the wings in: Take your time glueing them together and getting the dihedral right, I thought i did it perfectly, but one wing has more dihedral than the other (just a few degrees).

Both of the points above don't really affect the flight characteristics, but if you want to get it right, take it (even) slower than me :p

3. I put an extra foam plate into the power pod in front of the mounting screws, so they dont puncture the LiPo on a crash – would highly recommend doing that small extra step.
4. The weight (battery) for the CG has to be way further in front than i thought, it's perfectly balanced, maybe slighty nose heavy (what I want) with my 3S LiPo which weighs 174g as seen in the pictures. I had the battery just 1-2 cm further back in the beginning and the plane just climbed and climbed. Also I couldn't find the exact CG at first – make sure to flip your Spitfire upside down and measure the CG then. I read somewhere that planes with dihedral have to be flipped upside down to check the CG and its actually much clearer then.
5. Also really make sure to put in the recommen on theded rates, especially on the elevator and the expo. I probably would've crashed on the first flight since the control surfaces are so big! I put in the recommended expo rates and started out with throw rates, inbetween the recommended high/low rates, whick work great so far.

That being said, this plane is insane, can highly recommend it if its your first FT plane. Took it out into high winds yesterday (4th flight) and it is still alive. It got lot's of power with the Power Pack C and the 10 x 4.5 prop! Still trying to fold the wings... :LOL:
Could you please provide details on the control arm used at the elevator surface. The control arm drawing is not available in scratch build drawing. I am having issues with the servo making buzzing sound at the end position, and pushrod bending,and finally servo stops moving.
Please provide close up images of control arm and servo with pushrod assembly at the elevator side.