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Author Topic: Cox Spitfire Dimensions  (Read 1659 times)

Offline goozgog

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Cox Spitfire Dimensions
« on: April 25, 2013, 05:13:59 AM »
  I know this sounds a bit nuts but I'm getting
urges to re-create my childhood Cox Spitfire.
  As we all know, these things flew badly and
were delicate. Thousands of prepubescent
hearts were forever broken by these things.
I want one anyway.
  I don't want to pay e-bay prices for this
ancient plastic dust collector, so I'll carve one.
Hopefully I can get it light enough that it will fly.
  If anyone has one, or can remember I'd like to
work to the original dimensions. Can you tell me...

-The wing span
-The root chord
- Length (spinner plate to rudder hinge line)
- Elevator span

   There's lots of Spitfire reference out there,
including elaborate full size dimensions so I
should be able to fake the rest. Any help
would be greatly appreciated.
  I'm attaching a picture previously posted by
Mr. Hicks.I hope that isn't a problem.
  My spitfire was the pale green one. I can almost
hear it cracking as it staggered across the
schoolyard.
 
Thanks for any help! - K. Morgan
 
Keith Morgan

Offline Andrew Tinsley

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Re: Cox Spitfire Dimensions
« Reply #1 on: April 25, 2013, 07:40:53 AM »
Sorry, I can't help with the dimensions, as I only have a couple of the plastic Cox series. One is the Aircobra and that flies well in calm weather, but get a wind and it balloons into the wind and dives on the downwind leg. It can be alarming and you need your wits about you.
In my limited experience, I have found that planking over formers gives me a lighter model. But that may mean I am lousy at carving! An alternative that might be worth trying is carving blue foam. Some Pistachio models I have seen (including a Spitfire!) have flown extremely well.

Best of luck,

Andrew.
BMFA Number 64862

Offline Larry Renger

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Re: Cox Spitfire Dimensions
« Reply #2 on: April 25, 2013, 07:47:20 AM »
I see a Bearcat, Chipmunk and Me-109 hanging there.  All my designs!  ;D 

A friend down the street has a few of the Spitfires.  I'll try to borrow one and do a good photo workup and measurements.
Think S.M.A.L.L. y'all and, it's all good, CL, FF and RC!

DesignMan
 BTW, Dracula Sucks!  A closed mouth gathers no feet!

Offline goozgog

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Re: Cox Spitfire Dimensions
« Reply #3 on: April 25, 2013, 03:00:05 PM »
Wow! That would be awesome Larry!
I won't hold you too it since that's a
HUGE favor, but if you're in a  generous
mood, I will be very grateful.

Goozgog - Keith Morgan
Keith Morgan

Offline goozgog

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Re: Cox Spitfire Dimensions
« Reply #4 on: April 27, 2013, 04:57:28 AM »
More thoughts about this project.
  I considered a former and stringer
structure like a Guillow's kit. We used
to plank them with 1/32" sheet as kids.
They looked great but they weren't
especially light after doping. I've had
success carving Musciano logs (F-51)
which are fully aerobatic so something
as curvaceous as a Spitfire should be
fun.
  The wing is where I'll be "interpretive"
The Cox Spitfire had that awful
under cambered injection molded wing.
These planes DID fly, so the wing must
work some how. I'm planning to build a
wing the same way I did on my Beaufighter.
   I simply cut out the platform from 1/16
and pinned it flat. I glued root ribs to it
then a spar at 30% tapered out to the tips.
Then I attached more "ribs" splayed out like
the fingers of a spread hand and sanded
it to a foil. Glued on the top sheeting and,
Voila!..  Just cut down the center and add
dihedral.
     I'll use the "Hot gun & soda bottle" technique
to make the canopy and cowl.

  Some of Cox details I want to keep  are the
pined elevator hinges and the external lead outs
to a high Bell crank.
   The real test of manly restraint will be when
it's time for dope. I know I'll be tempted to
airbrush a scale finish on it, but if I'm strong,
it should get the same bilious green color
of the original.
  I'll post pictures of the build. I like pictures
so here are some of my 1/2A 's that were posted
here before. One should be of my aerobatic
Musciano and the other my Beaufighter with the
splayed ribs and dihedral.

Cheers! - Keith Morgan

Keith Morgan

Offline Larry Renger

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Re: Cox Spitfire Dimensions
« Reply #5 on: May 09, 2013, 08:16:47 PM »
I have snagged the model and shot top and side views against a 1" grid background. I'll post small pix here soon, and can e-mail high rez shots to anyone who wants them. Send me a pm with a self-adresses, stamped, e-address.   VD~
Think S.M.A.L.L. y'all and, it's all good, CL, FF and RC!

DesignMan
 BTW, Dracula Sucks!  A closed mouth gathers no feet!

Offline goozgog

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Re: Cox Spitfire Dimensions
« Reply #6 on: May 10, 2013, 10:38:16 AM »
Hello Larry,
               I've been continuing my
search for Spitfire dimensions and
have struck out.
   I can see from pictures that the
Cox Spit nose is longer than scale
(Mark 9), so it will be all Cox dimensions
if possible. Not scale.
  I'll be sure to do a build post so
everyone can see this minor lunacy.
After all, I'll be building a replica of
a toy replica.

Cheers! - Goozgog.
« Last Edit: May 12, 2013, 04:53:48 AM by goozgog »
Keith Morgan

Offline Larry Renger

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Re: Cox Spitfire Dimensions
« Reply #7 on: May 12, 2013, 08:40:37 PM »
Here are the photos.
Think S.M.A.L.L. y'all and, it's all good, CL, FF and RC!

DesignMan
 BTW, Dracula Sucks!  A closed mouth gathers no feet!

Offline goozgog

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Re: Cox Spitfire Dimensions
« Reply #8 on: May 13, 2013, 04:15:48 PM »
Larry,
         Thank you for taking the time to
do this for me. Hopefully, I can build
something worthy of your effort.

Many, many thanks!
- Keith Morgan (Goozgog)
Keith Morgan


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