Official FlightLine RC 1200mm F8F-1 Bearcat Thread

[OV10]

Got a bunch of Quanum Bomb drops with the Stuka. Our N/S runway now looks like a baby powder pockmark
Thinkin maybe I'll blow up the NEFI runways like that next year. :p

[Grossman56]

Oh, hey, what did you fly??
The weather was beautiful day, not a cloud in the sky and in the 40's, but the dang wind was up all day, so I'm hoping for better tomorrow. I have Thur, Fri, Sat and Sun off, work for three days and repeat, gotta love it.
Flying in December in Wyoming?? Could it be???
Hoping for a Christmas miracle and Santa brings me an F7F!!

Grossman56

[Grossman56]

I hear your Charlie, I just hate to though. Same with the Spitty, they're done like a museum piece. But, I have to have a winter project...
Grossman56

[Tsmith]

It really make a difference doesn't it! BTW, I tried both the 3600's and the 4000's 4s batteries in her and liked the 4000's a bit better, both all the way forward. If you're going for scale looks, like me, I painted the wheels navy blue and the struts with Testors chrome, also painted the nose hub center (where the screw goes in) yellow. Looks great!
Grossman56

Thanks! She's a beauty all right. Love the looks. Mine balanced perfectly at 85mm with a 3600 in it. I don't have any 4000s so I'll try the 3600 for maiden. This was pre-varathane balance. I'll balance again when she is completely dry. I love your yellow hub and blue wheels, I may have to get some more paint. . The bench isn't usually this clean, lol, just for the pics.

[OV10]

Dan,
I've been busy the last couple weeks since the weather closed in here with some exhaust port markings on the fleet. Ya gotta dirty that Angel up just a smidgen.
Look at this exhaust.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/wpteoh/5974851947

By the way, got the chance to fly last Fri with temps almost near 70 with light/variable winds but two days later I was pounded with 15 inches of white crap. The big uns are definitely in hibernation now till the spring.

[Grossman56]

Yeah, there is something wrong with that isn't there. Mind you, mine looks like that after Diane gets fed up and moves everything!

Grossman56

[Grossman56]

Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words....
The first two show where I used some left over Flight metal
around the exhaust ports
Grossman56

[OV10]

Thanks to Grossman for turning me on to varathane. What a difference. Here is a before and after pick.

Those water based poly-U's are a real nice touch to these foamies when needed and Dan is always the consummate perfectionist on the paint schemes due to his artist background. By the way Tsmith........the clean bench is definitely a sign of a sick mind, can't remember the last time I saw mine looking that bare. ;)
Best regards,

[Grossman56]

It really make a difference doesn't it! BTW, I tried both the 3600's and the 4000's 4s batteries in her and liked the 4000's a bit better, both all the way forward. If you're going for scale looks, like me, I painted the wheels navy blue and the struts with Testors chrome, also painted the nose hub center (where the screw goes in) yellow. Looks great!
Grossman56

[Tsmith]

I'm happy to report my Bearcat is ready for her maiden. Unfortunately we have about 20 inches of snow on the ground from earlier this week. I decided to use the 2nd hole in on all control surfaces because the outer hole was too big and there was some slop in the pushrods. I used the manual's suggested throws for high and low rates. I'm not a big fan of expo so none dialed in at this point. Thanks to Grossman for turning me on to varathane. What a difference. Here is a before and after pick.

[Grossman56]

I'm still smiling over that, They were probably wondering who let the 'Cat" out of the bag!
LOL
Grossman56

[OV10]

Beside, you guys are in the process of building that F7F in 1600 mm........... Aren't you??? (Another hint LOL)

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas!!!

Grossman56

Dude.........you called it!!!!! Go buy a scratch off now so you maybe can have some change to get this and the 38.

[Grossman56]

She flies like a dream on the outer holes, don't worry

Grossman56

[flyingiceberg]

I understand the Dual rates I just want to make sure I don't have too much throw especially on Maiden

[Grossman56]

Yes he did, but the radio dual rates are a different thing.

Grossman56

[flyingiceberg]

I set mine up on a three way switch, I set mid and low as Ryan suggested and high rates was 100% ailerons, with 30% expo throughout.

Grossman56

I thought Ryan said he used all the outer holes?

[Grossman56]

I set mine up on a three way switch, I set mid and low as Ryan suggested and high rates was 100% ailerons, with 30% expo throughout.

Grossman56

[flyingiceberg]

Dual Rates???? What settings is anyone using? The settings in the manual or from the Motion build video? They are a lot different. Still need to set mine up!

[Ron1950]

landed mine in grass the other day and a clump of weeds took the right main off the wing along with the plastic caseing that holds it in the wing, now the plastic case took about 3 inches of the leading edge with it...new wing ordered....

[Grossman56]

So, if you can believe it, another sunny Sunday in Cody, Wyoming, temp in the 50's, so out to the field we go.
Again, I took Old Crow and the Bearcat, got a flight in with OC and she actually flew well, but the tail wheel doesn't stay straight, the anchor screw broke on it, so I'll have to replace the unit.
So, now I'm up to 14 flights on the Bearkitty as I got 5 flights in today, more or less to discharge all my 4000's and 3600's for Winter, if it ever gets here. We had a skiff of snow the other day and the remains are still scattered about so it was unique to fly with snow on the ground.
Anyway, this Bearcat, well, what can I say that I haven't said before.
WOW!!!!!!
What an amazing plane!! When these are back in stock, you 'd better be planning on getting one because this is a sweetheart!!!
A great transition plane for those who are confident in flipping around in their Pandoras and want to move up. Orientation is a bit difficult if you're just flipping around. When I fly patterns, left hand or right hand, I keep that in mind, so my turns are always to the left or to the right. When I'm flying aerobatics and using Immelmans or Half Cuban 8's to turn it's not a problem.
With this plane, I just remember that the US NAVY decals are on the bottom of the wing if its out a bit far and haven't had a problem with it.
Went for some scale takeoffs today as well, got her tail up and held her on the runway, then a touch of back elevator and she's up, gear up and we're off, like a homesick Angel.
Landings are so much fun, she has this sweet sound when the mains touch the runway, no bounce at all, the best term I can think of is that she'kisses' the runway and for a bird that can get in the air so quickly, once she's down, she's down, once again, no bounce. Reminds me of the Dave Brown equipped planes I have.
"How confident are you in this plane Grossman", you may ask.
Well, I have not flown upside down in any of my planes at least not on purpose!!
With the Bearcat, I rolled her over and heard Ryan's voice in the back of my head telling me to ease some forward elevator to maintain level flight. So easy with this plane and the elevator input is minimal.
The thing I love to do with this plane is to do a reverse half Cuban and build up max speed, come over center field with all that momentum, and pull her straight up, rolling as I go, looks so cool.
If I had to scale down my airplanes, this one would be at the top of my list to keep!

Grossman56