Experiences with the Sterling Spitfire?

[wwwarbird]

 Long story short, I recently wound up with this Sterling Spitfire. It was built a while back and I'm pretty sure it's never been flown. It's got an FP .40 in the nose, and as is all ready to go as it sits. Obviously we're not talking about a top NATS contender here, but I'd like to hear some opinions about flight qualities from any of you who have ever flown one. Just curious...

[Dave_Trible]

Hi Wayne.  You can blame that airplane-it's the first model I ever saw fly.  It's why and how I fell in love with the hobby in general and stunt in particular.  Tommy Cooper in KC was flying this when my dad took me to Swope Park to see flying models at the invitation of Tommy's dad who worked with my father.  1964.  Dad and I built one soon after and  it flew better than I could so it got destroyed in time.  My cousin also built one which flew well until it too lost an argument with Mother Earth.  By today's standards that tail is small but they all were in the day.  I still think it is a great airplane and would build one again now if I knew where I could get plans (hint).  I'd put the Enya .35 ss in that rascal and go for it.  Let us know how it flies .  If it was kit built that Sterling wood was left over from the USS  Constitution and might be heavy.  You should have plenty of power though.  Good Luck.

Dave

[Randy Ryan]

Denny Adamisin built one a few years ago and they were amazed at how well it flys. Beautiful airplane.

[Mike Keville]

Ahh, memories!

Ft. Benning, GA, 1964:  someone showed-up with a rough one - no top deck other than a rough-shaped plank....overall grey finish, K&B .35 power.  Asked me to fly it.

Pleasantly surprised at how well it handled - especially the Squares.  Thing turned on a dime.

It was ugly, but a pleasure to fly.

Not long after, we were enroute to Vietnam and I never saw it again.

[Dave_Trible]

Hi Dave. How would you like a Sterling Kit of the Spitfire. 100.00 USD and I'll pay postage.  

The check will be in tomorrow's mail Ty.  Send me a PM with your address and I'll recip.  Thank you!

Dave

Dang, now I gotta call Randy for that Enya.

[Andrew Borgogna]

Do you know for sure it's a Sterling kit?  Walter Umland released a kit of the Sterling Spitfire and it is a vastly superior kit than the original. I have the Umland version in the box and someday I will build it.  I did build one of the original Sterling kits in the early 70's but never got it finished. Anyway if it is an Umland version that's a real find.
Andy

[Darwin Ulledahl]

I built three of them in the younger day's. Also was the first full fuse C/L I had ever seen, so I had to have one along with the McCoy redhead 35 for $8.95 new at the hobby shop. They all lived short lives. I can't wait to build one again with all the new technic's available. I have three sterling kits and note: the wood is not useable. Just going to use wood as I can get away with and the rest for templates and or patterns. Then I just recently got a full size set of plans for the sterling kit from Umland he has tweaked and reproduced. Dave it will be interesting see what your plan of attack will be on such a project. It always appeared to fly well and had good potential. My potential was lacking. I'm kinda interested in this warbird stunt contest thing.

Darwin

[wwwarbird]

Do you know for sure it's a Sterling kit? 

 Yes, this one was definitely built from the Sterling kit. I'm sure it probably had a good portion of the wood substituted, but this model did originate from the kit. It's finished with silkspan and Sig dope and was built roughly 10-12 years ago, way before Walter introduced his kit. If anyone was going to build one these days though, Walter's kit would be a MUCH better choice.

 

[Randy Powell]

My, that's a pretty thing.

[Mark Scarborough]

I have to agree with Randy, thats a pretty thing,, looks well built Wayne,, how is it in person?

[Dave_Trible]

I built three of them in the younger day's. Also was the first full fuse C/L I had ever seen, so I had to have one along with the McCoy redhead 35 for $8.95 new at the hobby shop. They all lived short lives. I can't wait to build one again with all the new technic's available. I have three sterling kits and note: the wood is not useable. Just going to use wood as I can get away with and the rest for templates and or patterns. Then I just recently got a full size set of plans for the sterling kit from Umland he has tweaked and reproduced. Dave it will be interesting see what your plan of attack will be on such a project. It always appeared to fly well and had good potential. My potential was lacking. I'm kinda interested in this warbird stunt contest thing.

Darwin

Hey Darwin!  Long time no hear.  Saw where Mr. Al mentioned your new ship.  If it can handle grass bring it over and we'll go fly at my soccer field.  My Spit in those days had a Fox.  I do have a very good McCoy but just want an excuse to get that Enya,  besides I'm smarter to be muffled where I fly anyway. I expect the kit wood to be well -Sterling- so the kit will be just patterns like you would an original Ares kit.  NEVER goof it up.  I've got about three airplanes-worth of good lumber here so when the current build is done I'll start the Spit.  I don't fly classic (yet)because it simply takes my all for open and F2b right now but the day will come and this airplane is the natural start for me.  When the weather finally breaks I'm going to Topeka about twice a month to practice and let Jim Lee tear me a new one so maybe you can do that too?  See ya soon.

Dave

[john e. holliday]

Thanks Dave and Darwi, when I seen that picture of the Spitfire, I thought what a great job someone did on it.   I was trying to remember who it was that had built the Sterling Spitfire kits back in the day.   I can't remember who flew one at the old KCK City Park and the others at the old Swope Park site when all they had was the little strip of asphalt for take off.   Some how we need to get together and fly.   I've been to Dave's site and it looks good with the exception of the exercise walk.   Myself I haven't been the Northern Knights field for several years.   Flew some at Shawnee Mission a few times last year as well as at Topeka.

Now, I have the Umland Spitfire I hope to get to one of these years.  If I don't get to it, who's name should I put on it when I leave this peice of space rock

Forgot to mention flying at the KCRC site at what used to be known as Lake Jacomo..

[Darwin Ulledahl]

Looks like this Spitfire interest will give me the incentive to start building one as next project. Would be nice to collaborate if we build at the same time. Definitely need to get together on some practice flying. Need to see were you fly at. Been looking all over here in KC for parking lots to fly on. The Millennium you mentioned is the same one from last year at Topeka I (wind flew into the dirt). Spent most of last season rebuilding therefore not flying. Here are some pic's I want to try putting on the forum to see if I'm doing it right. Looks like Topeka this year will be its second maiden contest debut. With the tech I've learned building the Rabe mustangs I think a Sterling Spitfire would turn out nice.

Darwin

[Shultzie]

Always have loved the shape of these wings...I built a NOVI 4 with a V tail...but gave it away (in bare bones) for kid that lost his Nats stunt job in practice a few weeks for leaving.
A few years before built a modified Thunderbird wing with a swept forward trailing edge..but again neve completed it...(gave that away to Tim Dunlop of Portland.)
Always wanted to build another one...but my hands n back are killin me at this moment.  

[Dave_Trible]

Darwin- sounds great.  I'll be putting my all-Delrin control system in (lasts forever) I'll make a set for yours too. Probably split the flap horns due to the TE sweep.   I may take a look at that torsion  landing gear- I think we can improve that some.

Dave

Shultzie-  get it moving and feeling better. Hope it wasn't that Gatoraid!

[Mark Scarborough]

Always have loved the shape of these wings...I built a NOVI 4 with a V tail...but gave it away (in bare bones) for kid that lost his Nats stunt job in practice a few weeks for leaving.
A few years before built a modified Thunderbird wing with a swept forward trailing edge..but again neve completed it...(gave that away to Tim Dunlop of Portland.)
Always wanted to build another one...but my hands n back are killin me at this moment.  

Shultzie,, I know that airplane,, its in my garage now,,

[Randy Powell]

Hey, no fair dragging that old thing into this.   

[wwwarbird]

I have to agree with Randy, thats a pretty thing,, looks well built Wayne,, how is it in person?

 It's very well done Mark, not front row, but pretty darn nice. Especially when considering the age of the build. I put it on the scale when I got it home and I think it was 51 or 52 ounces. That would be a touch heavier than desired, but aren't they all? I had to patch a silver dollar sized hole in the top of the outboard wing and another one under the outboard tip. If you zoom in on the pics you can probably see it. The builder told me that back when he painted it he had run the Sig silver through a paint filter to try to get some of the metallic out. I did the same and got the silver to match really well but with the additional clear it's now "shinier" in those two spots. I'm still happy with the fix though, it's matches way better than I expected it to.  

[Mark Scarborough]

Randy, I wonder how it would do electric powered,, that would finally get rid of the "to rigid" mnotor mount issue,, ( I think that was this plane right?)

[Randy Powell]

Or lack thereof. Truth is, I don't remember.

[Dave_Trible]

Way too cool!!!!!!  Just got the spitfire kit from Ty.  It's just as I remember it as a kid- like being 10 again.  Thank you sincerely Ty.  Can't wait to get started on it.  Got to finish up that crate behind first.  I plucked the era  McCoy and Hot Rock, and original Y & O prop down for the pic but will use a new Enya and my own handle to fly this one.

Dave

[wwwarbird]

 Hi Dave,

 Please keep us posted when you get going on the Spitfire build.

[Dave_Trible]

Hi Dave,

 Please keep us posted when you get going on the Spitfire build.

OK I will if somebody is interested.  Likely to start in a couple weeks.  To start I'm going to make myself a complete new kit off the 'real' one.  Will follow up as we go!

Dave

[Bill Little]

OK I will if somebody is interested.  Likely to start in a couple weeks.  To start I'm going to make myself a complete new kit off the 'real' one.  Will follow up as we go!

Dave

OK, Dave.  You gotta post a build thread!  Making a kit from the kit with some nice light wood will lead to a very nice flying model!

Mine flies pretty good and I didn't do much of a job hollowing blocks, etc., and that is with a box stock Veco .35 Stunt.  It is a bit heavier than I would like it to be.  Planning on stripping it down to bare wood and lightening up as much as is feasible.

BIG Bear
RNMM/AMM

[Dave_Trible]

OK, Dave.  You gotta post a build thread!  Making a kit from the kit with some nice light wood will lead to a very nice flying model!

Mine flies pretty good and I didn't do much of a job hollowing blocks, etc., and that is with a box stock Veco .35 Stunt.  It is a bit heavier than I would like it to be.  Planning on stripping it down to bare wood and lightening up as much as is feasible.

BIG Bear
RNMM/AMM

Alright Bill, you'll have a build thread.  Actually a lot of the original wood isn't too bad but I have a tall pile of 4-6 # stock that I'll use for this.  Makes me wonder if a really light one was ever built.  I might give it back with my heavy duty controls and better finish than in the old days.  Love my Certified clear dope but its noticeably heavier than Sig or Brodak- a lot more solid material and fill capability.

Dave

Bill how about a pic of yours?  Maybe a before and after photo?  Wayne I'd like to know how the one you acquired flies.  Let us know.

[Bill Little]

Hi Dave,

No excuses here, but I do not have any software on this lap top to use for my pictures.  I have to find the discs and download Infranview so that I can post them.  My desktop computer will not get on line right now, and I am having to just use this one.

The Spitfire was the last model I built while in college.  I did not do a LOT of things I should have done like bushing the BC and horns, etc..  It doesn't have three dozen flights on it and it's 40 years old! LOL!!  Football didn't leave much time to build or fly, but I did when I could.  Who knows, if I hadn't flunked the physical I might have been the first NFL player to fly CLPA!

BIG Bear
RNMM/AMM

[wwwarbird]

 I put up three flights with the Spitfire this afternoon. Excellent conditions, blue skies and about 60 degrees with just a hint of a breeze.

 Not that I expected it to be that bad, but the 'ol Spit definitely flew better than I expected it to. It was dead stable, tracked very well, and seemed to handle a really hard turn without any scary issues. At roughly 51 ounces it still flew nice and "light" too. Cruising along level and upright it does fly with the outboard tip just slightly down, and then up when inverted. This appears to be a vertical C/G issue by design. At the handle you'd never know it though, it just goes wherever you point it without complaint.

 If I was to build a new one, I think I'd move the wing up in the fuse a 1/2" or so to clean up the vertical C/G. I'd probably stretch the back half of the fuse an inch or two as well, just for a more scale look.

[Dave_Trible]

Thanks for the flight report Wayne.  If it were me I'd put a small tab of clear celluloid or tank tin (say 1/2" x 3") under the outboard wing just ahead of the hinge line out toward the tip and deflected about 10 degrees to lift that tip.  I stick them on with clear silicone and they are almost invisible.  Obviously you can vary the size and angle to get those wings level.  Always prefer to do this over twisting flaps- the flaps weren't the problem so leave them alone and straight. Sounds really great.  Only thing about muderfyin' the design is I think it would make it illegal to contest with in classic.  If its just for your pleasure then I guess so.  I may make a couple changes on mine but won't show anything external.  Good Flying!

Dave