Official FlightLine RC 1200mm F8F-1 Bearcat Thread

[WrightBrosRC]

Is anyone still flying these?

[tab28682]

I use an old 1/4" oil paint brush as I have several laying around. They're very splayed out and fairly soft, not stiff bristles. I have used a foam brush as well, but prefer a soft bristle brush. I apply it pretty liberally and lay it out front to back, in the direction of the airflow, keeping an eye out for runs. Once applied, I'll hit it with a hair dryer to set it up, then let it air dry for several hours. It will get more glossy with more layers, I generally go for at least four layers. BTW, I apply the decals first and then use the clear coat to seal them as well.
Dang, I miss that plane!


Grossman56

Very nice!

[Grossman56]

I use an old 1/4" oil paint brush as I have several laying around. They're very splayed out and fairly soft, not stiff bristles. I have used a foam brush as well, but prefer a soft bristle brush. I apply it pretty liberally and lay it out front to back, in the direction of the airflow, keeping an eye out for runs. Once applied, I'll hit it with a hair dryer to set it up, then let it air dry for several hours. It will get more glossy with more layers, I generally go for at least four layers. BTW, I apply the decals first and then use the clear coat to seal them as well.
Dang, I miss that plane!


Grossman56

[combatflyr]

Looks great Grossman, what did you apply the clear with?

[dahawk]

I've been vascillating between the Arrows 1100mm and this 1200mm version. Hear that the FL version does not handle grass very well. One of the reasons I fly mainly jets is that Im not constantly walking down the field uprifhting nose o

[Grossman56]

Give it several coats of

Except get the gloss finish,
Before........

After.......
'nuff said

Grossman56

[wldecker]

It's taken me 4 years to finally get one! I started watching this post from the beginning, but Motion would keep releasing new planes and knocking this one down the list! I'm talking to you 1600mm warbirds! Lol! I'm a big Blue Angels fan, I just hope Arizona sunshine won't popcorn the finish too bad...it should be here Oct 1, via Fed Ex. I'm still waiting weeks for a USPS pkg!

[Evan D]

I use the white tube glue, very similar to Foam Tac, that comes in the kits, works perfect. The issue isn't the type of glue the factory uses, it's the amount. If you look at the part that got pulled out you'll see very little made contact.

GG will work too but I hate how messy it is. Epoxy doesn't adhere well to the foam.

[OV10]

What be a good adhesive to glue in the retracts into the wing. I was looking at the flex glue stuff.

Etract or the plastic gear box ?? Use White Gorilla for the gear box if you want a good solid non flexing joint that the glue actually expands into the nooks and crannies of the foam cells for a really good bond.
Gorilla is all I use for structural gluing and Foam Tac for less demanding cosmetics

[Beeg]

A lot of folks here will say Foam-Tac but I usually use 5 or 15 minute epoxy since they tend to pop out at the field and I want a quick fix while I'm there.... Be careful with epoxy as it does generate heat and the more you use the more heat it produces. The foam is fairly thin from the retract to the top leading edge of the wing on the FLRC Bearcat.

[Mad Baron]

What be a good adhesive to glue in the retracts into the wing. I was looking at the flex glue stuff.

[Cchrissyv1]

Cchrissyv1 Regardless of the stock power system or upgraded power system, ensure your throttle is calibrated properly, as well.


The 1.1m Fw-190 is more slippery than the 1.2m F8F, and the wing loading, wing shape, and airfoils are also different. The F8F is more stable during high speed bank and crank maneuvers, while the Fw-190 is more fast in a straight line.

Thanks, Alpha! I have been flying for a few years and never once thought of that. Learn something new everyday. I guess I should have also read my transmitter user manual

[Grossman56]

Heck, just do what I did, redrilled the motor mount holes and installed a 650 kv and upgraded the ESC to 85A. Used the 1400mm FMS Corsair prop. Speed demon!

Grossman56

[Alpha]

Cchrissyv1 Regardless of the stock power system or upgraded power system, ensure your throttle is calibrated properly, as well.


The 1.1m Fw-190 is more slippery than the 1.2m F8F, and the wing loading, wing shape, and airfoils are also different. The F8F is more stable during high speed bank and crank maneuvers, while the Fw-190 is more fast in a straight line.

[rckruser]

I know this is an old post, but I have had the Bearcat for about a year now. I also have the FlightLine FW-190. Is it just me, or is the Bearcat just much slower compared to other warbirds? I noticed my FW-190 is wicked fast compared to the Bearcat at just over half throttle. But the Bearcat even at full throttle appears to just be cruising. I did not go through all of the pages in this thread, but I was able to catch some pilots mentioning some motor mods. Is this warbird just not a speed demon? I want to make sure mine is not a defect.

See my post #813. I finally got to fly the Bearcat with the upgrade package. Noticeably faster and much better vertical climb. Well worth the $$$. One of my fellow flyers was flying a EF P-51 1.2m on 4 cell and the Bearcat was a little faster. That surprised me. That said it's still not as quick as the FL FW-190 especially with the zip tie mod.

Bernie

[Beeg]

It is not a speed demon. If you want speed and crazy climb you'll need to do a mod.

[Cchrissyv1]

I know this is an old post, but I have had the Bearcat for about a year now. I also have the FlightLine FW-190. Is it just me, or is the Bearcat just much slower compared to other warbirds? I noticed my FW-190 is wicked fast compared to the Bearcat at just over half throttle. But the Bearcat even at full throttle appears to just be cruising. I did not go through all of the pages in this thread, but I was able to catch some pilots mentioning some motor mods. Is this warbird just not a speed demon? I want to make sure mine is not a defect.

[rckruser]

rckruser thanks for the info. I wonder is I could remove 2 of the 4 blades in the Bearcat spinner. It would be the same 12" prop as the upgraded one but the have a little less pitch. I would just worry about the spinner spinning to fast and throw a prop. I was hoping to just take on hand parts and make them work.

I have a p51 that came with a 4 blade prop and when i broke a blade i just broke another off and went 2 blade. It flies just as good and much longer flight times.

Frogman,

I to have had good success with the 4 to 2 blade "conversion". LOL

Your idea for changing the stock 4 blade to 2 blade is another good one. Check the balance and once you fire it up check for excessive vibration. The 2 holes left in the in the spinner may make some interesting sounds. Perhaps you could tape off the holes. Amps will not be an issue. Let me know how it works.

Bernie

[frogman1206]

rckruser thanks for the info. I wonder is I could remove 2 of the 4 blades in the Bearcat spinner. It would be the same 12" prop as the upgraded one but the have a little less pitch. I would just worry about the spinner spinning to fast and throw a prop. I was hoping to just take on hand parts and make them work.

I have a p51 that came with a 4 blade prop and when i broke a blade i just broke another off and went 2 blade. It flies just as good and much longer flight times.

[rckruser]

I know this thread is kinda old but I have a question. I have the Bearcat and it's one of my favorites to fly. I also had the 1120mm FW190 that was a great flyer when the props didn't explode on me. It finally gave up the ghost and was beyond repair so I have stripped down the FW190 and harvested all the parts. Would the FW19i0s 3648-830KV be a good motor upgrade for the Bearcat. It seems pretty close to the recommended hop up engine on the site. I'm pretty sure the motor is ok but will the 4 blade stock prop be too much prop for it. Will it smoke the motor/esc combo.

Sounds like a great idea. I also have both the FL FW-190 and the Bearcat. I recently put in the recommended 3648/880kv w/12x8 2 blade prop in the Bearcat. Haven't flown it yet. The original stock setup bench tested at 15.19Volts/33.12amps/488.4watts. The new setup tested at 15.18V/50.15A/702.1W. A whopping 43.7% power increase. It should zip along.

I looked at the prop shafts and they appear to be interchangeable. Not sure about shaft length though. From what I can tell on the Motion RC site the "E" dimensions are the same. The 880kv motor is rated at 58A max 10 second burst and 900W. The 830kv is 45A and 680W max. IMHO the motor/esc combo should be fine if you switch to the 12x8 2 blade prop. I think the stock 4 blade would exceed 45A max in a static bench test. Put a meter on it and test it carefully. Use a battery with a 3.8volt charge. If it stays under 50 amps it should be OK as the amps will drop when the plane is flying.

Also, if your transmitter has the capability, you could program a throttle curve and assign it to a switch. During takeoff you could limit the throttle to 75% for example. Once airborne, flip the switch and have 100% throttle capabilities. I've done this to several of my planes that are close to the edge.

FYI I did the "zip tie mod" to the FW-190. Bench test went from 15.14V/37.6A/503W to 15.12V/47.43A/666W. straight line speed a little better. Vertical climb is very much improved. Goes up like a rocket.

Bernie

The 830kv and 2 blade prop is 1.5oz lighter then the stock setup. It will affect your CG