Managed to fly mine today for the first time and it's incredible how the CG had to be only 20mm from the leading edge. I had it set at 30mm and it was a bit tail heavy and wanted to climb, landed it and moved battery forward a bit gave it some down elevator as well and it flew pretty well. I will admit, it's a plane I haven't figured out yet and still need a couple more flights to really get a feel for it, but it looks good in the air, it scoots along pretty nicely and landings aren't hard - just a bit of throttle as you're touching down and life is good. It's a cool plane. I did a build review prior to the flight and gave you a bit of shout out since you're the only one with decent videos of this plane on YT and you did a really nice build video of it as well. I'll have that video up in a couple of weeks followed by the flight video. Thanks for your help with the CG info as well. :)
thanks Vas, really appreciate the shout out. I'm very happy to hear you've had a good maiden flight too. I know there are guys that set the CG further back and fly OK too, but this plane has been around for years and I figure the manufacturers know what they are doing. I might be a little biased but this plane flies great and if you don't abuse the landing gear it is very durable too. I'll be looking forward to your vid. Cheers Michael
None , mainly because I don't have one (yet) , but would love to get one and was just curious if the retracts problem was that common and if it is it would just be a matter of sourcing a different circuit board cos otherwise the design is great. Some of the comments I have read on the h/king site seem to poo poo the whole product for want of what might actually seem to be by all accounts a faulty batch of sequencers.
Yeah cyclistpilot I really like flying this model, but I have also noticed a bit of a negative trend on the HK site. I do think that sometimes the comments section is not a good reflection of the model. If there are a couple of issues posted there, people tend to continue with the same tone. I think that there is also quite a few comments from people agreeing that it flies really well. I had an awesome email last week from one of the guys in Melbourne that purchased a model from me with great feedback about the plane. I have sold quite a few of these with only I reported issue of the controller glitching, which I was able to replace for him out of my stock and the manufacturer confirmed that they are replacing that one for me! So as far as service goes, the guys at the factory are awesome. It has actually been around for quite a few years. The earlier version had a higher kv motor and ran on 3s (with a slightly bigger prop). I think for a very popular subject, especially in Australia, I'm a bit surprised that it is not a lot more popular. As with all models, you can always tinker with them and modify them to "improve" them. I have been thinking about adding flaps, I've seen a thread/blog post on RC Groups forms from a guy that has done it. I did replace the fishing line on the front wheel they used for the steering with a flexible metal wire. Only really because I've banged it down hard a few times and it does stretch after a while. But over all, I'm really loving this plane! Cheers Michael
G'day cyclistpilot Yes this is the same as the Hobbyking model. I personally have not had any issues with the retracts. But, I have had a couple of people contact me with problems that have come from the sequencer/control box failing. What sort of issue are you having? Cheers Michael
Managed to fly mine today for the first time and it's incredible how the CG had to be only 20mm from the leading edge. I had it set at 30mm and it was a bit tail heavy and wanted to climb, landed it and moved battery forward a bit gave it some down elevator as well and it flew pretty well. I will admit, it's a plane I haven't figured out yet and still need a couple more flights to really get a feel for it, but it looks good in the air, it scoots along pretty nicely and landings aren't hard - just a bit of throttle as you're touching down and life is good. It's a cool plane.
I did a build review prior to the flight and gave you a bit of shout out since you're the only one with decent videos of this plane on YT and you did a really nice build video of it as well. I'll have that video up in a couple of weeks followed by the flight video. Thanks for your help with the CG info as well. :)
thanks Vas, really appreciate the shout out. I'm very happy to hear you've had a good maiden flight too. I know there are guys that set the CG further back and fly OK too, but this plane has been around for years and I figure the manufacturers know what they are doing. I might be a little biased but this plane flies great and if you don't abuse the landing gear it is very durable too. I'll be looking forward to your vid. Cheers Michael
None , mainly because I don't have one (yet) , but would love to get one and was just curious if the retracts problem was that common and if it is it would just be a matter of sourcing a different circuit board cos otherwise the design is great. Some of the comments I have read on the h/king site seem to poo poo the whole product for want of what might actually seem to be by all accounts a faulty batch of sequencers.
Yeah cyclistpilot I really like flying this model, but I have also noticed a bit of a negative trend on the HK site. I do think that sometimes the comments section is not a good reflection of the model. If there are a couple of issues posted there, people tend to continue with the same tone. I think that there is also quite a few comments from people agreeing that it flies really well.
I had an awesome email last week from one of the guys in Melbourne that purchased a model from me with great feedback about the plane.
I have sold quite a few of these with only I reported issue of the controller glitching, which I was able to replace for him out of my stock and the manufacturer confirmed that they are replacing that one for me! So as far as service goes, the guys at the factory are awesome.
It has actually been around for quite a few years. The earlier version had a higher kv motor and ran on 3s (with a slightly bigger prop). I think for a very popular subject, especially in Australia, I'm a bit surprised that it is not a lot more popular.
As with all models, you can always tinker with them and modify them to "improve" them. I have been thinking about adding flaps, I've seen a thread/blog post on RC Groups forms from a guy that has done it. I did replace the fishing line on the front wheel they used for the steering with a flexible metal wire. Only really because I've banged it down hard a few times and it does stretch after a while.
But over all, I'm really loving this plane!
Cheers
Michael
Is this the same one that hobby king sell ? If it's closely related have you had issues with the retracts ?
G'day cyclistpilot Yes this is the same as the Hobbyking model. I personally have not had any issues with the retracts. But, I have had a couple of people contact me with problems that have come from the sequencer/control box failing. What sort of issue are you having?
Cheers
Michael
what size battery did you use? 2200? or 2650?
G'day, for that flight I used a borrowed Turnigy Nanotech 4s 2200 45-90c.