My Seafire

[Tony Drago]

My Seafire. Built from a Walter Umland kit.  Built by Ruebin MacBride. Thank you, Rueben.
  Top Covered with Ultracote, bottom covered with Monocote.  Tom Lay ST-46, 11-6 Rev-up. Weighs 55oz.

[Tony Drago]

Thanks Ty. If wind is favorable tomorrow. The Seafire will have its 1st flight.

[Dennis Leonhardi]

My Seafire. Built from a Walter Umland kit.  Built by Ruebin MacBride. Thank you, Rueben.
  Top Covered with Ultracote, bottom covered with Monocote.  Tom Lay ST-46, 11-6 Rev-up. Weighs 55oz.

Nice Tony!  Hope it flies as good as it looks.

[Mark Gerber]

Looks pretty cool Tony!  I presume this is the Sterling kit as reproduced by Walter with laser cut parts?

Mark Gerber

[Dennis Adamisin]

Looks pretty cool Tony!  I presume this is the Sterling kit as reproduced by Walter with laser cut parts?

Mark Gerber

No

Walter & I collaborated up to modernize his then new Sterling Spitfire.  Main changes were making it equal span (adding 2" to outboard span) and adding 3"-4" (I forgot the exact number) to the tail moment to vastly improve its TVC.  In the process the appearance became a lot more realistic too.

My experience was that the Sterling was an especially good performer in the wind and especially turbulence that would ground a lot of normal airplanes.  Believing that the thinnish elliptical wing was the key, tried to further enhance that while "fixing" the short fuse! 

Embarrassed to say that I still have not finished mine - its been ready to cover forever.  Seeing Tony's is a big incentive to me to git-it-dun!

[Dennis Holler]

That looks great!  I also have a long half built Sterling Spitfire.  Think I started it in about 1988 when I was stationed in Idaho for the Navy ( Nuc school Prototype training). Built the wing and the fuse and then brought it home on leave and it sat for a long time...  DId a little more in the early 2000's, and now sat some more...  But got it back out and maybe will get back to it.  Glad to know even the original Sterling version can be a good flier pending the stooge in the middle of the circle    That'll be my issue!

Think I was originally planning on using a McCoy .35 Redhead, would that be enough or would I be better off with say an ST40/46 or LA 40/46?

[Dave_Trible]

In stock configuration I’d stick with the McCoy.  That’s what I have in mine.  The other engines and especially with a muffler will be a bunch too nose heavy.  It was designed in the 6 oz. Fox era.  Mine is a little too heavy at about 47 ounces.  I built it from the Sterling kit and replaced SOME of the wood.  Next time I’ll use better wood throughout.  One of my favorites though-  the first model airplane I ever saw fly when I was a kid. 

Dave

[Reptoid]

My Seafire. Built from a Walter Umland kit.  Built by Ruebin MacBride. Thank you, Rueben.
  Top Covered with Ultracote, bottom covered with Monocote.  Tom Lay ST-46, 11-6 Rev-up. Weighs 55oz.

Beautiful airplane Tony. Should be an excellent flier

[John Carrodus]

Beautiful lines to that model Tony. Really looks the part. I have just completed a scratch built breakdown Spitfire of similar size (56 inch wing, LA 46 ) of just under 60 0z. Those elliptic wings combine charm and functional form like few others. Great flying times ahead.

[Tony Drago]

Thank you. Well. Couldn't fly on Sunday. Winds were starting to kick up. Winds today forecast. 50 to 70 mph. Maybe by this Sunday mother nature will allow good flying weather.

[Reuben MacBride]

Walter Umlands kit was a an easy built kit highly recommended. This kit was started on Jan 20th 2022 and completed ready to fly  on March 10th. I took a week off while at a contest in feb. at Tucson AZ. Don't be fooled by the short time to build a plane. Being retired 8 to 10 hours a day every day and instant glue tell the real story. Good flying days ahead Tony.

[John Carrodus]

Tony, I know how you feel. We had the tail end of a tropical storm go through here on Sunday. This is our second one in two weeks, hope things calm down for Easter Weekend. Lets hope we can both get on the strings this weekend! Cheers

[Tony Drago]

Going to have to wait till next week. Easter Sunday is a day with the family. Keeping fingers crossed for the following Sunday.

[Guy Markham]

My Seafire. Built from a Walter Umland kit.  Built by Ruebin MacBride. Thank you, Rueben.
  Top Covered with Ultracote, bottom covered with Monocote.  Tom Lay ST-46, 11-6 Rev-up. Weighs 55oz.

How about a Shark Fire ?

[Tony Drago]

 Good looking plane.

[John Carrodus]

I just love the Pommy Colour schemes and anything with Spitty features. Here's my semi scale scratch breakdown version with foam ribs. Couldn't get any shrink wrap in light blue or grey so had to go with white - close enough - a cigar- but not a Havana!

[Tony Drago]

Nice. Yes, the Spitfires did have many different paint schemes.