flightline Bearcat OR Spitfire?

[TomC]

O.K. I can't decide need some help here..Fairly new but do fly T-28, P-51,P-47 with no problems...I am a little torn, which would be more friendly for me between the Bearcat or Spitfire? Thanks for your Input :)...the first 3 of the same suggestions I will purchase..LOL.;)

[OV10]

Bearcat.......wider gear stance and is gonna have a more congruous flight envelope similar to the three birds you already have.
The Spitty's narrow gear and the elliptical wing require more attention on landings and slower airspeed on turns can surprise the inattentive.
1 vote F8F ;)

Best regards,

[Alpha]

Hi Tom, the Bearcat is the easier to fly between the two, and it has a much wider gear stance so is much less prone to tipping. I believe the Bearcat's wheels are almost twice as far apart from each other as the Spitfire's are. The Bearcat is best on 4s 4000 batteries, which is a standard for the larger 1400mm warbirds.

The Spitfire can fly with smaller and cheaper 4s 2500s and 3000s, if battery size concerns you. The Spitfire is potentially easier to orient, because its top and bottom are two different colors whereas the Bearcat is the same color top and bottom.

For the gear stance reason, I'd recommend the Bearcat first. If you like it, then jump into the Spitfire later. They're both running the same ESC, motor, and propeller blades, so it's cheaper to stock up on spare blades for both planes.

[Alpha]

OV10 beat me to it!

[TomC]

OV10 Thanks,:) and Alpha

[Aspirin]

There isn't a nickels difference between these two. But if you are really concerned about the differences I'd say the Bearcat might be a bit friendlier as she has a wider wheel stance. This might make cross wind landings and take offs easier. But I'd go with the Spit as I hate dark blue EPO models! The foam distorts in seconds in the sun!

[Aspirin]

So it looks like it's the cat! Let us know how you and the feline get along.

[TomC]

Bearcat it is..Thanks guy's for making my decision much easier..:):D;)

[Aspirin]

Bead up, the EPO foam beads are not stable in direct sunshine. They expand and distort the surface, even causing surfaces to warp from the uneven expansion (top verses bottom). All EPO models should stay out of the sun. I've even had problems with black EPO getting hot during the flight!

[TomC]

o.k. I see. I was thinking about coating my planes with a gloss finish, but see several different suggestions on what to use.

[Aspirin]

Actually gloss seems to make the thermal instability worse. Most coating seem to be aimed at adding abrasion or impact durability. Let us know if you find one that can add thermal stability to the EPO foam.

[mfb3069]

o.k. I see. I was thinking about coating my planes with a gloss finish, but see several different suggestions on what to use.

Minwax Polycrlyic is what I use on all of my foam planes. It is available in satin and gloss finish.
As far as EPO and the sun.
I live in southern Arizona and the sun eats everything up here more than most places in the USA.
That being said I have several blue and dark planes and they would need to be in the sun for quite a while before you have any issues.

[Aspirin]

I too fly in the dry high desert air. Read crystal clear very bright sun, no water haze. And dark EPO lasts seconds, like 2 to 3 minutes in still air before it starts to alligator.

Has that Polycrylic finish added to the thermal stability of your EPO models? True EPS foam is much more stable in the heat of the sun.

[mfb3069]

I too fly in the dry high desert air. Read crystal clear very bright sun, no water haze. And dark EPO lasts seconds, like 2 to 3 minutes in still air before it starts to alligator.

Has that Polycrylic finish added to the thermal stability of your EPO models? True EPS foam is much more stable in the heat of the sun.

Don't know.
But if your EPO planes are only 2 to 3 minutes before they start to alligator you can try it.
You can buy it at most hardware stores. You can brush it on or it comes in a spray can.

[Aspirin]

Well, it has been "my" experience that the product you mentioned offers no benefit with regard to thermal stability of EPO foam in sun light

[TiredIronGRB]

Get them both!

[mfb3069]

Well, it has been "my" experience that the product you mentioned offers no benefit with regard to thermal stability of EPO foam in sun light

Never said it did.
Maybe you epo in your planes is not very good. Or maybe it is the paint.
Have 50 plus guys that fly epo foam planes of all colors here in the desert sun and don't have the problems that you have.
Wishing you luck finding a solution with your thermal stability problem.

[Aspirin]

All is fine. In post #8 TomC before he edited it was asking about the failure mode I mentioned earlier. Sorry the topic got a bit garbled.

[AirHead]

My dark planes are "flying lizards" now, with a lot of "skin effect". Imagine a supersonic jet with reptilian skin? Can't they close the foam so the swelling doesn't happen!? It's all about money....Buy the Bearcat and put a few really wet coats of Dominion Sure Seal "Instant Clear Coat 1K" on it. It works for me...

[Alpha]

Hi AirHead, I looked up Dominion Sure Seal and they're in Canada. Are you, as well? I'm always eager to try new coatings on foam, hoping to find one that provides a measurable increase in the time dark foam can be exposed to direct sunlight before reacting and popcorning.

To your question about "closing the foam", unfortunately it isn't that simple, although I wish it was! Darker colors on foam, through a clear coat or not, will react faster because darker colors absorb faster than lighter colors. Some coatings buy a little time, but seldom enough to be measurably noticeable. Only a material change, such as a PVC coating, would allow a black foam model to stay out in the sun, for say, 20 minutes or more without an adverse reaction. And even then, black PVC can still have the foam underneath it react. The primary disadvantage of PVC however is higher weight, not to mention higher cost. RCLander's PVC coated models looked great and smooth, but they weighed about 25% more and cost about 25% more than the uncoated foam versions. Until cost are truly driven down on PVC and design/production techniques are changed to mitigate the detrimental weight gain, I prefer a shaded tree or Ez-Up Canopy to protect my darker models when it's sunny.