Hi guys,

I have flown my Spitfire for over 10 flights over a span of one solid week and yes, including week days visiting my RC Club right before work and including this past weekend where the model exhibited very good (meeting my goals) with good scale flight characteristics (it is not a speed demon, however it is no slouch either) and most importantly the landings are a thing to see....no nose overs and the approaches are very slow and manageable with greasing the landings every time.

I am not saying that I was not able to land this model in STOCK form before and as a matter of fact I did and have Video should you all like to see again just that the lighter wing loading and most especially the heavy weight up front (Stock Spinner hardware with large Metal Nut for securing Stock thick plastic spinner) is not longer an issue.

I must have put 5 flights just on Sunday morning and in steady wind of 8 - 10 MPH so, I did not see the model exhibit too of a floaty manner and loops were just fantastic. I am sure that if I change out the Master Airscrew 3-blade back to the Stock Park Zone 2-Blade (9.5 X 7.5) it will provide additional RPMs at the Motor shaft and result in more airspeed but, at present, I really love the looks of the 3-blade.

I do not have any new Video to share but, in comparison with the GWS 4-Blade propeller as shown here:
https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show...postcount=7800
The model has considerable additional Airspeed using the MAS 3-Blade (10 X 7 X 3).

All in all, I am very pleased of my modifications to my model and just wanted to share my findings with all of you.

A few pictures of the latest look of my Spitfire: (Durbro 3-Blade Spinner, MAS 3-Blade Prop, & Park Zone 480-960Kv)







For the initial Modification over to the Park Zone 480 (960Kv) go to:
https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show....php?t=1829511

For the Results of using the Park Zone 480 & GWS 4-Blade go to:
https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show....php?t=1832961

For Main Gear Wheel change out modifications go to:
https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show....php?t=1833665

Good day everyone!

I have rather grim news about one purchase I made here in the Classifieds under the Electric Airplane Section. Not that the Seller did not ship the item or any other issue with the transaction but, rather that we (Seller and Buyer) did not make sure a signature request for the item was made to force the Carrier to keep the BOX should no one was home.

In my case, someone was home, however, a young family member did not open the door as they were alone and did not feel safe to do so and instead waited for another family member to come home and retrieve the BOX from the front door area.

Needless to say, a stranger (Thief) came by and STOLE the item so, please make sure if it is a good size BOX then, ask for Signature Request!!!!

I really did not care about the $$$ just that this model is very rare and out-of-production!!!

FOR SALE THREAD:
https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show....php?t=1832045

For those that really like speed and do so by converting and modifying a PARK FLYER such as say the Park Zone Spitfire Mk IX into a racer with heavier motor, batteries, ESC , etc.....then, for those of you that fit this category, you all may want to consider a different selection of wheels. I call it the "PARK FLYER Wheels Change-out" ; )

In performing lots of Propeller Testing (In-Flight) I must have reached the limit of take-offs and most especially Landings (I am pretty good at Greasing the Landings) but, it seems like one Plastic Hub of the tall and skinny STOCK Park Zone wheels snapped the back side retainer and again it is just amazing that the model did not flip or cartwheeled. I would say the model is now so light with the Park Zone 480 (960Kv) Brushless Motor and lighter Spinner hardware that it was not coming at so much speed and gently landed and wheels performed just fine.

For the Park Zone 480 (960Kv) Testing go to:
https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show....php?t=1832961

Just take a look at the Picture(s) and you will see a little hair of plastic still remaining and the only thing holding the Foam Tire / Tyre.


Now, in search of a suitable replacement was a struggle since the Height of the STOCK Tires were a challenge as no tire in my hobby drawer was that skinny in the Wheel Hub Dimension so, I looked around all my other models (Projects) waiting in the wings and found a very good replacement. Certainly not completely the height I was looking...Continue Reading

Hello,

Just posted test results of my setup using the light and smaller Park Zone 480 (960Kv) brushless motor while swinging the GWS (Grand Wing Servo) 4-Blade 10 X 8 X 4 propeller, spinner and using the PZ T-28 Prop adapter.

I do know that the model would fly just great if I would place the Park Zone 2-Blade 9.5 X 7.5 propeller as this is what comes with the T-28 and Spitfire Mk IX inclusive, however, again just experimenting here with "a" 4-Blade propeller to make things a little more scale.

First, for finding out how I did this modification then, go to:
https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show....php?t=1829511

FLIGHT SUMMARY:

I had a few issues with the Left servoless E-Flite Electric Retract as it has begun to cycle on its own. It is an intermittent issue and so, continuing to experiment with other propellers later in the day, I just placed the main gear down and disconnected the Retracts from the Receiver.

I flew my Spitfire for six (6) total flights with great success and it flew Scale (Slow) but, very stable and true. All maneuvers were possible including loops and fantastic Slow Scale rolls.

The best for me was the landings as the model does not exhibit any tendency to NOSE OVER at all as it NO LONGER attains all that weight from the Larger PZ 15 (~6oz) and the STOCK Spinner Nut (slightly over 2oz.). Best of all the approaches as super SLOW (True Park Flyer) and control is the best with the thrust produced with the GWS 4-Blade.

On Friday,...Continue Reading

I have already done this motor swap on my new Park Zone P-47 Thunderbolt!

Modifications Details: (Blog)
https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show....php?t=1827219

Flight Results: (Blog)
https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show....php?t=1828087

================================================== ========
I could not believe the weight scale on the STOCK Park Zone 15 (950Kv) and the heavy Spinner + Prop Adapter (Large Metal Nut)! Just look!!!

No wonder these models NOSE Over so easily!!!





Measuring what length of spacing is needed for Motor Swap
...Continue Reading

Hello again good people!

I just came from the smooth concrete surface that we all affectionately call EDWARDS and like to say that I am a true believer of Weight Reduction when it is possible!!!

Over in the regular Park Zone P-47 Thread @ Electric Warbirds there has been some doubts of the application of the Park Zone 480 (960Kv) Brushless motor to power the P-47 Thunderbolt and like to say, it performed flawlessly and with less AMP (Current Draw). Of course at lower RPMs therefore, it cut down top end speed but, I am not in this hobby to HOT ROD nor see any of my models pass you by and guess what it looked like or exactly what model did pass you by.

For installation (modifications) to allow the Park Zone 480 (960Kv) on the Park Zone P-47 Thunderbolt then, please visit:
https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show....php?t=1827219


Flight Summary

1. The Top Speed was observed into a stiff head wind of approximately 6-MPH and increasing as the morning got old. I would estimate (You can see for yourselves in the Video) approximately 45- 50 MPH.

2. The model felt really light on the controls and it flew exactly where I pointed it without any compensation, especially roll maneuvers. The Vertical is very good (Slow but, powerful) and most importantly for me, Scale.

3. The model landed like a true Scale model and touched down with cross-wind and did so on one Main Gear first without any hint of nosing over!

4. Battery still measured 12.03 Volts after the ~ 3 minute flight!!...Continue Reading

Hello good people!

If you are wondering what I am doing switching very capable Stock Park Zone 15 Brushless Motor out from this fine Thunderbolt is because a few people starting to post that the Thunderbolt would not fly using the Park Zone 480 (960Kv) and that it will have just too little airspeed etc...etc.......etc.......so, I took the challenge!

This is to prove that you certainly can install the smaller Park Zone 480 (960Kv) brushless motor (Dr. Kiwi has this motor normalized as a 910Kv motor).

First, if you like to see what I did while using the Stock Park Zone 15 then, please visit this thread:
https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show....php?t=1826517

Also, here is Dr. Kiwi's Normalized Kv for the PZ 480 motor:
http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/bha...rkzone480.html

Okay, I will now discuss the modification done to allow for the smaller Park Zone 480 Brushless motor to be installed on the P-47 Thunderbolt.

Therefore, for those that "are" interested then, here are some pictures showing what Hardware I used for spacers and bolts to allow for a good distance from Firewall and allowing to clear the opening of the Cowling using the PZ 480 (960Kv) Brushless motor and swinging the GWS 4-Blade 10 X 8 X 4 Electric Plastic Propeller.

Measuring....




...Continue Reading

Got this new model about two weeks ago and had to pick it up at Palmetto, Florida which was approximately 160 miles away. I bought it here in the classifieds knowing well that I was going to use this trip to visit my oldest daughter that lives in Tampa, Florida while on the way to pick the model so, it worked in all accounts.

Missing was the Motor, however, the ESC, all servos and Flaps were configured with flap servos pre-installed.

Early this morning, I finally got around to finish the model by installing a brand new Park Zone 15 Brushless motor (950Kv) and I thought to myself, why not make it look as scale as possible so, I found a bag with at least (Quantity 6) Grand Wing Servo (GWS) 4-Blade (10 X 8 X 4) Plastic "Electric" Propellers. I had to hone them to the propeller adapter that I used (Great Planes Propeller Adapter that comes with the GD600 gearbox). Honing out the inner Propeller Hub took patience since you can easily over-heat the Propeller Hub and deform it, if you do not STOP and allow the hub to cool while drilling.

Using a spare Spektrum AR500, and my Spektrum DX7 the model was activated for the first time at the wee hours of early morning around 3:00am Eastern. I was pleasantly surprised on the smooth Propeller power run up using the Black molded 4-Blade GWS Propeller. No vibrations or wobble.

I used Minwax Water Based Polycrylic to protect the paint and decals and it worked like a charm. The maiden was super scale and that GWS 4-Blade...Continue Reading