I have been toying around for ages with an idea to build a Spitfire with a level of detail that raises the bar so too speak,no disrespect to the guys here at Flitetest,theres nothing wrong with David's Spitfire :)
My last take on the Spitfire was quite detailed but it still wasn't 'right' in my eyes so I've gone back to the start and decided to build a Spitfire from the ground up....(hopefully it will fly too )
Please keep in mind,this is a modification that I am still working on and will no doubt go through a few more changes but I wanted to share what I have done simply to show that it can be done and perhaps inspire others to try modifying their birds :)
I have already covered the tail surfaces on another article so this ones for the main wing and the next will be the fuse,anyway...pictures....
well obviously this is the finished wing,well almost,it is a prototype but how too get here...
standard FT wing pattern,notice that the bottom is basically a duplicate of the top
some extra scoring to help with folding
new spar,this needs cutting too allow for wheel
mechanical retracts,I opted for these simply because of price.I didn't want to pay a lot for electric retracts if this didn't work...they only cost £4.67
the trusty dremel with a router attachment....
trial fit of retract
the inside reinforcements...
remember I said spar needed cut
connecting rod for retract and ply doublers
Now you have hopefully noticed that the edges of the wing,mainly the trailing edge and especially the wing tips have been rolled down to a fine a point as is achievable,I used the same roller as I did for the tail surfaces.
This needs too be done to achieve the desired finish.
aileron and flap ....
reinforcement and control horn...
additional support for retract mounts and servo installed.
now the following was a must have for me,I was sick of having a hard landing and stripping out the servo gears then being forced too cut the wing to replace the servos so I added removable servos :)
now at this point you basically have to fold the 2 halves together too form the wing,same as every othe wing you've made on any other spitfire build,bearing in mind this is no ordinary wing...take your time if your trying this :)
after much stressing and trial fitting.... you get 1 of these , hopefully :)
admittadly,my 1st attempt was a failure but I was able to save the wing enough that I am happy to try it in a model.
radiator cover which perfectly hides the flap servo.
some pictures
I learned as I assume most of you will have too,making 1 wing or half a wing is relatively easy,problems arise when you need to makes it's other half :(
any custom parts that you make,copy or make a patern for the other side BEFORE you glue it on
the 2 halves together....
I hate to admit this but I never really gave a huge amopunt of thought into the instal of the retract servo,I spent weeks thinking about and planning the wing as you see it.This is actually the very 1st mock up I've made and I think it shows in the bodged job of the retract servo......
over all I'm not too happy with the retract servo,its a little under powered :( it will have too do tho for this build at least until I have tried it in flight.
So there we have it,the basics of my newly designed Spitfire wing,fully enclosed,aerofoil shape and tapered wingtips with retracts and flaps....all I need now is a fuselage and some sleep :P.
A shameless plug...working on the fuse now :)
Any comments or questions ask away and please rate...
Oh yeah...the video....
http://youtu.be/PC8poFCDADI
cheers Scottie
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