TF GIANT HELLCAT

My Hellcat arrived like other TF Giants I have built
it appears that they made this in the same manor as the others
each plane has its own corks... ( I will get into that later ).... the
plane looks really nice... I unboxed the plane and made sure all the
parts are accounted for... and they were....
I noticed the wing is in 3 parts.. they have made this plane for the
person with a smaller vehicle in mind in order to break down and
take to the field....
This is the first TF Giant... that has a LED Light kit ready to install.
For those that are familiar with the TF Giant FW190....
Top Flite installed a functional hatch... witch I really like ...
I am not going to install an Electric Motor by any means.... but the
hatch was a great idea so that we can put the switches....and air valve for retract air tank.... and pressure gauge .... all of that
hidden so the switches are not on the outside of the plane.
Although... the Hellcat does have a hatch if you want to use it
but you have to cut the monokote to reveal the hatch.... I feel that
it should have already been done like the FW190.... in its defense the Hellcat has a better tail section than the FW190 were the #160
tail wheel assembly will just drop in.... alot of modifications had to take place on the FW190 to get the tail gear in .
the biggest... gripe.. I guess I have... is the color of the cockpit and the parts they painted... my thinking... if they are going to paint the parts for us.. why not paint them the correct color..????

I researched the plane after I ordered it... gave me a couple days... to look
and see what plane I was going to mimic ... turns out the the pic on the front
of the box is a copy of an hellcat that has been restored... I am not going to keep
this ARF... like the way it came.. I am going in a different direction...

Here is the parts for the cockpit... the color will now have to be
changed... if you want that military cockpit look...
its just one of those issues.. if your going to paint it then use
the correct color... must have been a good deal on that color ( lol )

I have been working on the center section of the wing....
I already have my landing gear... I was looking at the wheels
that came with this plane and they just didnt look like 5 inchs like the
book lists them... DANG GOOD THING.. I did not order my wheels
from Robart already... its kinda hard to tell from the pic but these
wheels are measuring 4 3/4 Not 5

Here are some more detailed pics of the wheels ...
I found some Dubro 5 inch wheels in my wheels drawer....
come on now I know we all have those drawers ... lol

The 5 inch dubro makes that ARF wheel look silly small
for a 50cc plane...

The center section were the retracks are installed needing
a little messaging by my dremel tool...my gear is little beefier
than your Sierra or Robarts... but I decided to remove the blind
nuts I wont be using them so I noticed when taking them out
they didnt have any glue on them.. so for the ones that will
be using them.. keep that in mind when tightening .....

I have not worked much more on it been a little busy....
but I will share some more info... The wing is in 3 pieces...
for me I will not be utilizing that feature.. I have a couple enclosed
trailers.. so a full wing is what I am going to do....
The wing spar is aluminum... and held in with 2 bolts with
locking nuts.. I added some glue to the threads.. ( just in case ) Gas
motors vibrate something crazy... little safe than sorry.. added here .
I also test fitted the cover that will go over the retract opening
I am not liking the look of that either...I will make a couple more
to suit my taste... I wana make it look a little cleaner..

Really nice! Your doing a great job! Robart makes some really nice scale wheels! It would make it look a lot more scale than the plastic wheels! Overall looks really nice!

Your absolutely right.. they do make some nice scale wheels...
which ones are you referring too ???? they claim they make the white
ones for the plane.. but you have to buy their gear and the wheel set... as a
combo.. well thats not gonna work for me.. I already have my gear.. and if you
check out their website... they wont sell you that painted wheel.... . by themselves...
I talked to Justin at Robarts already....
so .. knowing what I know about the tire size.. and how they are not accurate...
I will prolly have to go with the 4 and half inch wheel.. 8 spoke...
and since I am already going to be painting them.. I really dont need
the ones they say are for scale... since they wont sell them and they are 5 inches
I am telling everyone.. 5 inches.. will work.. but honestly... they are so close your
going to have problems in the future with that sz tire.. IMO....

I have a Ziroli Hellcat I am building. I am using the Robart retracts they work really well. Of course the TF GS Hellcat is a different kit, but hey it's a Hellcat and should fly well. I will be following this build with eagerness as I love a good Hellcat of any size.

I was able to talk with Robart today... and Justin and I talked about the wheels for the Hellcat.... I let him know since I talked to him week and a half ago.... that I unboxed my plane and noticed that the wheels
that are in the ARF... are Not 5 inch... and he confirmed with me that
he did some research his self... and found that out as well.. and although the instruction booklet says 5 inch they are actually 4 and 3/4
so robarts aware.... and they know that Tower Hobbies kinda
taking their time in releasing the wheels for sale... they dont offer
them by themselves.. I expressed my feelings on that matter...lol
cause I already have gear.. I would like the wheels... so I guess
only time will tell as far as when Tower Hobbies will make the wheels come available...
I see the market stratagy... sell the gear and the wheels and get a discount..
as I told Justin I dont care if my wheels are painted white..
you have a set there that has no paint on them sell them to me
I am going to repaint them anyways... lol..

Thank you for sharing the pictures and your experience! What´s the cowl spacing for dummy radial? I suppose, that my dummy radial would work with the Hellcat

Originally Posted by Teammuir1

I was able to talk with Robart today... and Justin and I talked about the wheels for the Hellcat.... I let him know since I talked to him week and a half ago.... that I unboxed my plane and noticed that the wheels
that are in the ARF... are Not 5 inch... and he confirmed with me that
he did some research his self... and found that out as well.. and although the instruction booklet says 5 inch they are actually 4 and 3/4
so robarts aware.... and they know that Tower Hobbies kinda
taking their time in releasing the wheels for sale... they dont offer
them by themselves.. I expressed my feelings on that matter...lol
cause I already have gear.. I would like the wheels... so I guess
only time will tell as far as when Tower Hobbies will make the wheels come available...
I see the market stratagy... sell the gear and the wheels and get a discount..
as I told Justin I dont care if my wheels are painted white..
you have a set there that has no paint on them sell them to me
I am going to repaint them anyways... lol..

I bought the complete gear package with the wheels. They are 4 3/4.

I have 30 flights on the Hellcat now. It is a very good warbird. I was worried about the ground handling with the narrow rotating gear. It handles great. It is very fast with the DLE55RA. 27.8lb

ROLLING THUNDER Thats some great feed back on the hellcats performance...
much appreciated....
please.. toss up a pic of your hellcat... I am sure others would
enjoy checking it out...

Prekin
I am not sure what your measurements are for your
radial...
see if these pics help you... and give us some feedback on
were did you get that radial..?
3 d printed ???
if so were ...