FT Spitfire modified

by scottie | March 2, 2014 | (16) Posted in Projects

So I have to admit,I love the Spitfire....I also love the simplicity of foamboard construction,hat off to the guys at Flite Test.

Anyway,my version of the Spit is a little different.Its still the same size just weighs in at 950grams or 2.1lbs....without a battery :)....

oh and i added working flaps.

Ive built a few of these planes now and it struck me as silly having your battery hanging right in the most dangerous place(in case of a hard landing) and the esc inside the power pod,so why not swap them around.I also decided too fix the powerpod in place.The obvious benefits are your esc is hanging right in the flow of air from your prop and your battery is safe inside the powerpod behind the bulkhead.

This obviously brought about the issue of how too access your battery,so I used pink insulation foam to replace the turtle decks and cut an access hatch to gain access.

At this point I was on a roll and decided on adding flaps as I just wanted too see if I could make them work....Why not ?? :)

A little thought went into the desgn of the flaps,I wanted them hidden and only visible when in use,I extended the underside of the wing and cut them into the foamboard the same as you would say an aileron,mounted a servo per flap,ran the cables out beside the aileron ones.

I also tried too compensate for weight affecting the CoG,a previous model similar to this had balance issues.

Tail servos were mounted directly under the cockpit and snakes used for control.The bulkhead on the powerpod is 12mm plywood and the motor is a E-power 2810 1100kv 40a motor weighing 79grams....60 amp ESC and a Master Airscrew 9x5 3blade prop and spinner completed the powertrain

turns out it was still tail heavy....enter 1 spare alloy wheel nut curtesy of my old car and ...perfect :D CoG achieved.

Anyway...enjoy the pics.

COMMENTS

makattack on March 7, 2014
Nice build! How's it fly with the flaps?
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Phoenix1962 on March 7, 2014
Now that's what I'm talkin about! NICE JOB! Warbirds are my favorite, and detail like this really makes them stand out! I've been contemplating more detail in my future designs, and you are truly an inspiration for just that! Phoenix
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JamesWhomsley on March 7, 2014
Very nice! Love the flaps. Im also building a spitfire, super detailed and all that. Looks like you beat me too it haha grrrr. ;)
Best Wishes,
James.
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Slamazon on March 7, 2014
I really like what you did with your Spitfire, I love the way they fly. Nice job!
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iwan_canobi on March 7, 2014
Really nice build and detailing. Would be interested to hear how it flies with the flaps!
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scottie on March 7, 2014
thanks for the comments :)
It took a few attempts too get the CoG sorted but once I did it flew very well.The flaps didn't cause any adverse or unwanted control issues but did exactly what they were supposed too do,this was however the 1st attempt at the modifications I made so I feel more testing is needed and I really want too add retracts so I will carry on with moding the bird.

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scottie on March 7, 2014
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TP_rzqULcM&list=UUyg-G6WBI91yM0O3bvU_4Yg&feature=share

A link too one of the vids..I hope ;-)
bear in mind this plane weighs 2.1lbs without a battery,I think it's quite slow with the flaps deployed.
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LordVader on March 7, 2014
Very cool, so realistic. That's what I love about foamboard and Flitetest. Everyone here isn't afraid o push the envelope a bit to achieve perfection. Thanks for sharing, would like to see some how to pics of those internal flaps. Keep up the good work.
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hele559 on March 7, 2014
Retracts next?
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scottie on March 10, 2014
yes...ordered them over the weekend and should be here tomorrow :)
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sailorJohn on March 7, 2014
Sweet!
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jimy2wheels on March 8, 2014
Nice job on the detail. I did mine out of Michaels foam board and it is heavy, the tail heavy issue I solved with a 3638 950 KV motor and the 11" 3 blade. It takes off at half throttle. Love the flap idea I'll try that next. Thanks for your flap idea
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hursto75 on March 8, 2014
Looks great!
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William Smith on March 8, 2014
Awesome!
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rcflyer729 on March 9, 2014
nice looks great
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the vicar on April 1, 2014
Looks great! Great looking plane. :-)
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scottie on April 1, 2014
thanks :)

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Yogenh on April 3, 2014
Love the work that you have done to it and would love to see how it was all done!! Like plans on how to do it. You have done such good work and would love to know how it flys.
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scottie on April 4, 2014
appreciate your comment Yogenh,it flew very well,heres a link too the video on my you tube account

http://youtu.be/-TP_rzqULcM
as for how i did it,its just a standard FT Spitfire but I used pink insulation foam to add details like radiator,airscoop and oil cooler,I also filed in the nose and sanded too shape.
The flaps were a little more complicated but I have just posted an article on another mod for the Spitfire showing the workings and how to install them
http://www.flitetest.com/articles/spitfire-wing-with-flaps-and-retracts
I think the beauty of this hobby is theres no right or wrong way to do anything,just use a little imagination ;-)
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Yogenh on April 4, 2014
It looked rally good flying you did a great job on it'
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scottie on April 7, 2014
thanks :)
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Flying Fox on September 9, 2014
Awesome Looking Plane
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scottie on September 9, 2014
thanks :)

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General Ursus on April 4, 2016
What a beautiful Spitfire, great job.
I love rc Warbirds looking as they should with 3 or 4 blade props.
I'm building the Spitfire and would like to use a 4 blade prop.
Is this possible on your setup?
I'm also having troubled finding a 4 blade prop and spinner.
Keep up the fantastic work.
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FT Spitfire modified