Want to soup-up my Dynam Spitfire

[shocktrooper]

Has anyone out there upgraded their Dynam Spitfire to a 4 cell system and a more powerful ESC & motor? Any tips or recommendations? FYI…the 30 day warranty is long passed now…so want to make it turn & burn!…"damn the flack…remain calm and fly-on!" LOL!

[xviper]

I've done similar mods in the past with other planes (eg. Durafly Mustang P-51, 3s to 4s). If I were you, I'd do some research into using another Dynam motor and ESC from a plane that normally flies on 4 cells. In this way, you can be more assured that the motor will fit into the plane and the prop will fit onto the motor. You must check to see if the prop can take those extra rpm. For example, take a look at the Dynam Pitts. It runs on 4s and the motor is very close in size to the one in your Spit. The motor mounts are the same and the shaft is similar so you can move the prop hardware over to it. However, the gains with this would be minimal so you'd have to look at getting a pitchier prop to take advantage of the torquier, but lower kv 4s motor. The Spit runs an 11x7 3-blade, I think. Go to something like 11x9 or 11x10 if you can find one. You don't want to go any bigger diameter due to ground clearance.
Another option is to find a Dynam plane that uses a higher kv motor and bigger ESC and stay on 3s.
What I've discovered in the past is that the Dynam motors that come stock in their planes can take 4s without any changes except for a slightly bigger ESC. I had a Dynam Seawind which I gave to my friend and he still flies it on 4s. Just don't fly it at full throttle for the whole flight and it'll handle it. Always check how hot the motor and ESC are as soon as you land.

[Kloverzero]

The motor boards in the Dynam planes are plastic, and embedded a good way into the foam all the way around their perimeter. The mount holes for the motor are configured as an X, If you rotate the motor and mount so the arms make a +, you can mount any motor that will fit inside the cowl. I have the Dynam Pitts Python, and I put an 85A ESC in it, and mounted an E-Flite power 32 in it using this method. I cut rounded holes in the perimeter foam to accept the larger mount, and used self tapping screws to go into the plastic motor board. The result was a plane that will power vertically out of a hover and has great flying power at half throttle. I do not have any experience with the Spitfire, but Dynam planes are manufactured with pretty much the same construction method. If you feel like it is necessary, you can epoxy 1/4" balsa triangle stock around the undisturbed foam for extra reinforcement. Good luck with your mods!!!

[starcop]

Hello Spitfire Pilots, The best method of hopping up" a spitfire is knowing what to look for. The motor, "say it's a 33MM X 25MM Kv 700, so you have the width & length. The next step is Kv, the KV is going to be your speed point. This is the RPM a motor turns; "obviously you want a larger motor. If it's a 22MM X 25MM Kv 1000, this isn't going to provide you with what your after. Your going to want a 40MM X 25MM Kv 900 or higher. As long as, the 40MM width will fit inside the cowl. Your now upgrading to a faster more powerful motor. If you went with a 70AMP ESC, that is good with 2S up to 6S; I'd go with a 5S pack that is within the weight limits of the airplane. Hope this helps simplify things a little. Matt

[AkumaZeto]

I think honestly for the money you would spend 50-75 bucks you would be better off getting the Flightline model. I added the dynam pitts motor to my Dynam hellcat and it went back in time it was so fast.

[shocktrooper]

WOW! That is some seriously intelligent useful responses guys! Lots of info to digest. It ALL looks like experience and good advice talking…thanks gents!

[Dewey H Lee]

Hey Akumazeto. On your motor change of the pitts to the hellcat did it bolt straight up and did you have to change the esc. Also were you able to use the same three blade prop

[AkumaZeto]

Bolted straight up. I did use a 75 amp skywalker esc though. I made one pass at 1/2 throttle and the plane started acting goofy. I was ten feet off the deck when the stock esc let go. It was a gloruous carrier skid/crash lol. No harm to the plane though. My youngest started crying when smoke started to billow from under the canopy. DAD THE CAT IT WAS YOUR FIRST! it was the bird I tought myself to fly on lol. Anyway swapped out the stocker for a skywalker. NEver used the stock prop it was broke in the box when I got it from nitroplanes. I use the MAS 13x8 three blade. It must hit 100-110mph with this setup.

[Dewey H Lee]

Thanks Akumazeto. I appreciate your response. I have a pitts motor but its the collet spinner adapter type. Not the bolt on. Could you share which one you had. I may just go ahead and order the bolt on one because the collet type had a bad habit of the prop and collet slipping on the motor shaft.