Topic: Warbirds hurricane build review

Ah ....back again. 75 hrs at work last week!!  Anyway, carried on with the radiator for a bit today. Made a dummy radiator/oil cooler out of 1/8" balsa and aluminium mesh and carved an intake mouth as the plastic one didn't fit.





Just needs a final sand to shape. I'm not sure if I should cut the door and set it slightly open, I'll have to think on that.

'Long time no hear' - Slip - I'm missing your regular updates.  Are you working to hard at the moment?
Hope to hear from you soon.

I have been a bit preoccupied with work and family just lately, I put the Hurri on hold for a bit. I've also been clearing up all the battle damage on models from last year so I've got a few to start the season with. I'll be back onto the Hurri in a week or two.
  The Germans bought our company in November and we were told yesterday that there will be many redundancies so I may have more spare time than anticipated.

Good to hear you'll be back on the Hurri build as and when time permits. Best of luck with your job situation.

Ah well, back at last. Pretty much finished on the build side now and fully covered / primed. Just started the camouflage today. The solartex has gone a bit baggy but a blast with a heat gun should sort it out.







more soon...

Steve
Nice to see you back online. Have put mine on hold until I have finished a couple of old type aerobatic models.
Like you have covered with Solartex, in my case only the rear of the fuz. the front I glass clothed. Got the Springairs working after remachining the valve, which was faulty. Meet you in the air over Kent (or somewhere)

Stuart

Just love the "washing basket" stand.....very tendy  

The washing basket was the nearest thing to hand but has now found a new use - I just have to convince the missus of its importance !  


Here's a usefull link for markings and colours

http://www3.ns.sympatico.ca/hurricane/marking.htm

Hi another Warbirds Hurricane coming on, RIP Great Planes RV4 in bin liner behind.
 Chobham Common claimed another victim last weekend. RV4 had given 2 seasons good flying till I screwed up the approach..or was it a glitch..It was a great plane to fly, but the tail was fragile if it nosed over
Re Richard Wills & Warbirds, I've had great service from him, I was complaining about leaking Eurokit retracts, which I hadn't bought from him & he sent me a new central controller unit with a note to pay him if it solved the problem, which it did. Fantastic service
The Hurricane isnt a "plug & play" type kit, yes it does need a bit of fiddling but it sure looks enough like a Hurricane  for me & I'm enjoying the build.  

Slipstream - any idea of the weight of the Hurri so far and have you had to put much lead in the nose?

I'm trying to decide what engine to fit to mine which is part built. It will have to be a 2 stroke for economic reasons.

I've left the plastic moulded exhausts that came with the kit and carved a set from balsa. Painted them black to start with but they didn't lookright so repainted them after asking for advice.







see the thread on exhaust colours

http://www.rcmf.co.uk/4um/index.php?topic=8856.msg97313#msg97313



PT19....

I haven't weighed it or balanced it yet, still got a few things to make like u/c doors. I also have to paint the markings, add a little weathering and fuel proof it all. I'll post the weights etc when its done.

The engine I am using is an ASP 0.61 FS which cost about £105 from Just Engines, give them a ring and see what they advise, they do a 2 stroke ASP for around the sixty quid mark.

Here's the instrument panel, drawn in paint shop pro, cut out and pasted onto a balsa panel and overlaid with thin plastic sheet. The instrument holes were  masked off and the plastic sheet painted matt black.

Finally decided which of 605's aircraft it would be  UP-U



Painting the roundels - I cut circles from card and used these as templates to mark the wing, then using Humbrol enamels fill them in by hand. OK if you have a steady hand.

The door in the radiator housing opens to allow access to the wing retaining screw and then can be closed or left part open



99% finished now. Just about to be stripped, lightly weathered ( this was to represent a nearly new a/c )  and fuel proofed. The problem I have is that I can't seem to get my hands on any Flair matt fuel proofer in an aerosol. Should I do it in satin finish ?  I think the matt looks better but once its had a few flights and sprayed oil around would it wind up as a satin finish anyway. Dry weight is 7lb, I still have the u/c doors to add, fuel proofer and the engine silencer so I reckon about 7 1/2 lbs total.

A few people have commented on the squadron/aircraft codes on the port side - this was the way they were worn at that particular time - May - October 1940.

Steve
You mention Flair spray fuel proofer. Don't know what others think but two or three of us have had bad experiences with it. I've gone to either one part Humbrol or Aerocote with more success.

Stuart

Stuart,

I have used Flair fuel proofer quite a bit without any problems, until now. I specifically want a matt finish and they haven't got any in stock.  Does the Humbrol / Aerocote come in aerosols ?

Steve

Not in aerosols. We either use spray equipment or a sponge. Surprising how good the sponge is, even with gloss.

Stuart

Well done, the hurri is looking good. You seem to have kept it very light compared with the RCME review (9lbs). Did you take any special lightening measures? How much lead was needed in the nose for balance?

Looking forward to hearing how she flies in the near future!

I have yet to balance it, will do that last of all. I have moved the engine forward by 1/4 " and extended the cowl to help a little with balancing. When it's done I'll give a final weight although I think it won't exceed 8lbs. The RCM&E review model weighed 7lb and apparently needed 2lb of lead to balance it bringing it up to 9lb !

Steve ,
You have made me feel a lot better about my LA7 as I thought I had got it badly wrong when it finally weighed in at 7lb 14oz. For my money I like a satin finish as I  think the matt doesnt look quite right on the smaller scale models.
The Hurri does look superb though.
Good luck

Rob

All finished now apart from gound runs and a test flight. Dissapointed that I had to add 2lb of lead to balance it, I wish now I had cut some lightening holes in the tail feathers to save weight at the back. Weighs in at 9 1/2 lb dry. I still have the u/c doors to fit but that's only a couple of ounces more.









UP-U V7599 at Croyden late 1940, it's had the sky tail band added by this time.

605 ( County of Warwick ) Squadron, Royal Auxiliary Air Force received it`s first Hurricane in August 1939 whilst on summer camp at Tangmere. The early Mk1`s had a problem with the gun panels in the upper wing in that the leading edge of the panel pulled away from its fasteners and bent upwards into the airflow. This acted as a spoiler and made the aircraft very unstable when landing. Hawkers were made aware of the problem and devised a solution. They asked a 605 pilot to take the plane up and test the new panels. He came back with them sticking up out of the wing again. When asked at what speed they failed he replied `I don`t know, the airspeed indicator hit the stop at 440mph!. The horrified Hawker representative advised him the maximum speed ( Vne) was 380mph !

   Moving to Wick at the outbreak of war they were tasked with protecting shipping around Scapa Flow. On the 21st May 1940 the squadron was ordered south to Hawkinge to cover the Dunkirk evacuation. The week that followed saw 605 squadron decimated with half its pilots either dead or missing and all the remaining aircraft badly shot up. On the 28th of May the squadron withdrew to Drem to rebuild. Two replacement pilots arrived immediately, PO Jim Humphries, a New Zealander and Sgt Leslie Ralls. Replacement aircraft soon began to arrive and the squadron entered a phase of major rebuilding.

   On the 7th of September 605 moved south to Croydon to join in what would become known as the Battle of Britain. It was a hectic time at Croyden and on one occasion, while flying one of the older Hurricanes, after being involved in a dogfight and out of ammunition Sgt Lesley Ralls climbed to join a formation thinking it was 605 going home. As he closed in he saw a myriad of swastikas on the enemy fighters next to him. Discretion being the better part of valour he rolled over into a near vertical dive and hurtled earthwards at such speed that the airspeed indicator went off the clock and jammed. He landed with all the fabric streaming from the fuselage-the aircraft never flew again !



Sgt Leslie Francis Ralls ( service number 48666 ) survived the war and retired as a Wing Commander in 1972.

Looks good....how about a couple of close ups so we can see the detail.......2lbs of lead  :(  Its a 60 span isn't it? and what motor?

I haven't gone daft with any detail, I just hope it flies.


Cockpit has a 3D instrument panel and a gunsight




The cowl has dished in and doesn't quite fit right, just needs a tapered shim inside.


Panel lines were done with a fine lining pen and very lightly shaded.


The thin ABS wing fairings really do need GRP reinforcement as recommended in the instructions.

It is a 61" span with an ASP 0.61 FS.

Good luck with the maiden flight! When are you hoping to fly her?

How does it fly?


Regards,

Mountie..

Half way through my build..

I'm waiting for free time and decent weather to coincide..maybe on Saturday or failing that the end of next week. Having a job again has taken up most of my time  :(

Goodluck with it... Please let me know what to expect..

regards,

Mountie

Just wondering if there is any flight news?

Regards,

Mountie

It's been a bit wet and windy ...this weekend hopefully. I'll post as soon as it happens.

Question.. how much would it cost me for you to do me up some of the exhaust pipes? I have tried and just can't get them right.

Regards,

Mountie

Nowt, email me with your address and I'll knock a set up, can't promise overnight delivery though unless you want to paint them yourself.

steve.ralls@nomac.org.uk


PS  there was a thread in the scale section on painting/weathering exhausts, might be of interest.

http://rcmf.co.uk/4um/index.php?topic=8856.0

Well she finally got airborne at 14:30 hrs today. Light 5mph NW wind and dry weather. The take off run was long, I have nearly 200ft of grass runway and used 3/4 of that before lifting off after a very slow accelaration with just a gentle touch of right rudder needed to keep her straight. Lifted off and stayed about 6" off the ground to build up speed and then into a gentle climb. Over the 2 foot high crops and up to about 100' before a gentle left turn down wind and throttling back to 3/4. Straight and level with no trimming required, raised the undercarriage and she started to climb very gently. Flew a few circuits and figure eights, a couple of low passes whilst humming the Battle of Britain tune before entering a downwind leg and dropping the wheels. A slow curved turn onto long finals and throttled back to idle. She came over the threshold at 3' like a rocket. I opened the taps and went around another five times before getting it right. However, she doesn't like going too slow as she becomes very very sensitive to the elevator and wallows around on the verge of a stall. In the end I gave up on three pointers and wheeled her in but at the end off the roll out she nosed over - closer inspection revealed the undercarriage legs had bent back about 30 degrees bringing the wheels some 2" further back.

For a model that weighs some 10lbs wet with a 61 FS she flew very well once off the deck and speed had built up although she takes time on the ground to get up to flying speed. She flew very easily and didn't wander off course and looked very scale like although kid gloves are needed on take off.  Bearing in mind that 2lb of ballast was added to the nose I think that with lighter built up tail surfaces it would reduce the all up weight by at least a pound making the performance even better. I feel confident that with careful energy management loops and rolls would be easy - knife edge ...don't even go there!

This was my first 'scale' WW2 warbird and I am very pleased at the way she flew. 

That was great! Glad you got her in the air at last. Sounds like she is a bit tricky to land though. Just wondering was your approach low and flat or did you come in steep?

Best regards and congrats again,

Mountie

It's not so much tricky as getting to know what's best.    

Congratulations on your successful maiden flight! I shall be paying a great deal of attention to lightening the tail end as much as possible. Many thanks for a very helpful reveiw.

Well done Slipstream. A superb finish I have to say. Did you say your first scale model?
If so, then doubly amazing. Keep up the good work.

I finished a Warbirds Hurricane this year but have not flown it as wanted to get my landings perfect -so am working on that.. Richard the designer was very helpful and I am sure it will fly perfecty. My only worry was the amount of balast in the nose to get the C OF G
AL Watt

With hindsight I wish I had taken more care to keep that back end as light as possibe as I had to use 2lb of lead. There were ideas I had after the event that would have saved weight but as they say, hindsight is a wonderful thing.  Now, as it happens, someone has asked me to finish a warbirds hurricane for them so I may incorporate some of these ideas and see how it goes.

Hi all,

You may remember me asking questions about the Warbirds Hurricane, and I was directed to this guide.

Well the guide spurred me on, and I'm now almost finished.  Here's a couple of pictures of it a week or two ago.



Since then, I've finished the wing join, then glassed the wing (will use poly-c next time...), and gone over with some filler and a final sanding.  At present its sitting in a coat of primer.

My intention is to test fly it, and when happy, I'll spend some time on the final coat and add all the scale touches like the aerial mast, exhaust stacks, sliding canopy..the list goes on.

Not weighed it, but I've fitted it with a 61 2-stroke.  Hopefully it will be ok.  Once I'm happy with the flight, I'll change it for probably a 70 4 stroke, get a new cowl to hide it away, and treat myself to some retracts.

Its the 3rd kit I've built (Fly-boy and Magnatilla previous) and while I've struggled a bit, I have thourougly enjoyed it and learnt huge amounts.  My next kit is an Acrowot and my dad said I'll find this to be a doddel after the Hurri    Then an LA-7, then a FW 190 etc etc...  O0

Anyway, thanks Guys.  I'll let you all know how the 1st flight goes and post some pictures when its all done.