Official FlightLine RC 1600mm Spitfire Mk. IX Thread

[JustAnotherFOG]

Personally, I haven't, but the easiest mod you might want to try is the zip tie mod.

Grossman56

Could you please explain?

[davegee]

Yeah, what is a Zip-Tie Mod? Best, LB

I used the "zip tie mod" on my 1700mm FMS P-51D. It was sorta a dog, especially at 6000' MSL where I flew out of. What they recommended was take a small section maybe an inch or less long of a zip tie. Then you put the zip tie lengthwise on the prop hub where you will lay the prop down to screw it onto the prop hub. You put the zip tie underneath the forward (leading) edge of the prop. This essentially rotates the prop just a bit to give it a bit more pitch, or bite into the air for more power.

I think it might have worked although I never ran a gun on it to see the difference in speed with the zip ties under each blade.

You can try it to see if it does any good. It didn't hurt anything when I tried it.

Davegee

[Evan D]

The blade root on the FMS is flat so you could do that. The spit has a round root so you can’t. Maybe drill the bolt holes and alignment pin hole angled? In wouldn’t because it may weaken it.

[Grossman56]

Hey guys, I wasn't sure about the Spitfire, but all my stock FMS props have the zip tie mod, at 5000 feet, it made a difference at least to me. I have also used it on the Freewing P51D with good results. When I took some of the planes to Muncie, WOW, at close to sea level, there was a big improvement in performance, mind you I didn't fly them without the zip tie mod there so it may have just been the altitude.
Have to take a look at the spare prop I have for my Spits and see if there's something that could be done.

Grossman56

[Grossman56]

So here's a little tip that I almost learned the hard way. A few weeks ago, one of the retracts on the new Spitty popped out as I'm sure most of us have experienced. So as not to have it happen again, I used E 6000 glue which several of the guys here have used. I reassembled and didn't think anything of it. Turns out that E 6000 can seep out from under as it dries. It glued the retract to the wing and I had a heck of a time getting it loose. Finally managed and peeled off the 'rubber like' glue from the retract case. Got into the case and sure enough there's another blob of 'rubber' on the bottom of the circuit board, 'gumming up ' the travel of the the retract trunion. Popped the stupid thing out and reassembled the retract, tried it out and it works fine. If I have a retract pop out again, the whole darned thing stays apart for a few days so I don't have this happen again. Yes, it was in the air, but stuck in to down position. After landing I goofed around with it and it finally stuck in the up position, but it labored something awful to get there, and there she stayed. Thank God it was on the ground and not in the air, bellying in a Spitty anywhere on our field would not be an enjoyable experience.
BTW, post # 6800, wow, didn't know I had that much to say!

Grossman56

[Pavel_LKTO]

Did a couple of sorties today, probably last ones this year. Just wanted to say hi to you all and hope you are having as much fun with your Spitfires as I am :)

Btw, I recently added some smoke weathering; besides the unwanted bit of gloss, I’m loving the looks of it!

[Elbee]

I recently added some smoke weathering....I’m loving the looks of it!

P, she's lookin' great and I am diggin' the 'smoke". Best, LB

[Hugh Wiedman]

Did a couple of sorties today, probably last ones this year. Just wanted to say hi to you all and hope you are having as much fun with your Spitfires as I am :)

Btw, I recently added some smoke weathering; besides the unwanted bit of gloss, I’m loving the looks of it!

Lovin it! But please post pictures of your model only and not photos of the real thing! Definitely one of my favorite WWII iconic aircraft and FW hit it on the nose!

[f4u ausie]

Yeep awsome looker and flyer

[Steven L]

Got the Spitfire in yesterday. First impression is great. Got some other warbirds like the Vought F4U Corsair 1600 and the Mustang Old Crow 1450.
I’m impressed with the finish.

[Elbee]

Got the Spitfire in yesterday. First impression is great. Got some other warbirds like the Vought F4U Corsair 1600 and the Mustang Old Crow 1450.
I’m impressed with the finish.

SL.

Welcome to Hobby Squawk.

Glad to have you onboard,Sir.

It is a great airframe and flies beautifully.

Best, LB

[paulrkytek]

Got the Spitfire in yesterday. First impression is great. Got some other warbirds like the Vought F4U Corsair 1600 and the Mustang Old Crow 1450.
I’m impressed with the finish.

Welcome. Things to bear in mind :- check out the cg, Mine needed 840gm 6s lipo to get to 90mm cg. do not forget elevator set up as per pg 9 of manual. Tug on the main wheels to check they are well glued in. Do not use flaps on take off, land with a little power, keep nose pointing down until final flare to level out, land on 2 wheels then bring throttle to zero and watch the tail settle as she slows down.

[Pavel_LKTO]

Welcome. Things to bear in mind :- check out the cg, Mine needed 840gm 6s lipo to get to 90mm cg. do not forget elevator set up as per pg 9 of manual. Tug on the main wheels to check they are well glued in. Do not use flaps on take off, land with a little power, keep nose pointing down until final flare to level out, land on 2 wheels then bring throttle to zero and watch the tail settle as she slows down.

Wait, "do not use flaps on TO?" Why? I have been using aprox 20-30% flaps and it's working well. What is the reason behind 0 flaps?

[Grossman56]

Personally, I don't use flaps as the wings have so much lift, it's not needed. Having said that, if you feel you gain something by using them, then by all means use them. I've had my first Spitty for almost 7 years and found that even in calm weather, she'll do a nice smooth 'scale like' takeoff without.
Rather than, 'Do not use flaps' as if its a hard rule, it's more like, 'Flaps are not necessary'.
DaveGee and I both fly our Spits out here in Wyoming where there is always a wind and if its a head wind, those birds are in the air in probably 20 -30 feet.
We're both scale nuts and the full size Spits didn't use take off flaps because they only had two settings, no flaps and full flaps.

Grossman56

[Evan D]

Yes, personal preference, I usually use half for both take off and landing. Also have had mine since they came out and at one time had two flying.

[paulrkytek]

Wait, "do not use flaps on TO?" Why? I have been using aprox 20-30% flaps and it's working well. What is the reason behind 0 flaps?

If you are new to the model and doing a maiden flight and therefore by definition are not used to the power or flying characteristics of the model you are better off without flaps on first time take off to reduce risk of stall.as it gets in the air pretty quick. if you are not ready for it.. After a few flights then by all means please yourself !... At least this way you get to have a few flights.

[davegee]

Personally, I don't use flaps as the wings have so much lift, it's not needed. Having said that, if you feel you gain something by using them, then by all means use them. I've had my first Spitty for almost 7 years and found that even in calm weather, she'll do a nice smooth 'scale like' takeoff without.
Rather than, 'Do not use flaps' as if its a hard rule, it's more like, 'Flaps are not necessary'.
DaveGee and I both fly our Spits out here in Wyoming where there is always a wind and if its a head wind, those birds are in the air in probably 20 -30 feet.
We're both scale nuts and the full size Spits didn't use take off flaps because they only had two settings, no flaps and full flaps.

Grossman56

And Full flaps is really Full (85 degrees down!). I find and I think my friend Dangerous Dan use no flaps for takeoff and 85 degrees for landing. I've had my Spittie for 7 years and have had it configured this way the whole time. Maybe not for everyone, but for for scale geeks like me, I'm able to fly it the way the real ones were flown, and it flies very well in this scale position.

Cheers

Davegee

[Grossman56]

Yes and the amount of runway needed to land definitely decreased with the barn doors all the way open. Before, I'd land with no flaps as the airplane is so floaty but after dumping the 85's down, I'm sold.

Grossman56

[Randy H]

I am thinking of getting the Spitfire and have been following this thread. I built the top flite spitfire and the retracts were 85 degrees as shown on the picture which is scale. Are the FMS retracts at 85 degrees or are they at 90? thx

[Elbee]

I am thinking of getting the Spitfire.........85 degrees as shown on the picture which is scale. Are the FMS retracts at 85 degrees or are they at 90? thx

RH, did you mean the "Flightline" Spitfire retracts?

I am uncertain whether the FlightLine are 85^o or not and I own one.

I have no idea if the FMS Spittie has 85^o retracts.

No help.

Best, LB