Thanks for your review, today I just did maiden flights with my XFLY, and it was great, especially once I started doing landings with full flaps. That took a bit of different elevator compensation, but it became amazing, with the C.of G. set at around 70 mm , NOT at 61 as described in the manual, it comes down so nice it's easy to control the rate of descent with power for a greasy landing. I have the VQ model too, but I flew it so far with a 3s 4000 LiPo and that's rather underpowered. I'll try it with a 4 cell pack, as I have Eflite 25's motors installed, and Ramoser adjustable props, I had set them so I have 32 amps current each side, that winds up with about 800 watts for 3.7 kilos. There we go: It's the power to weight ratio, the XFLY has much more with a 6S 5000 than the VQ with only a 3 cell 4000, at around the same weight. So today after many take-offs and landings, total flight time can be up to 10 minutes 🙂 One big difference between the two: The XFLY has real scale aileron and flap hinges, the VQ, only lousy covering-type hinging and flaps are too small. Anyways, both models are not for beginners, each has different characteristics and flying a twin is quite different, for example if you come in too slow, a bit of power and you have instant lift on the wings. Quite a difference compared to a single engine plane eh. Have fun.... Herb &thebirds
Parts are now available on our Etsy store; www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1718733875/landing-gear-rear-fairings-pair-to-fit-x and www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1704545792/ladder-fairings-pair-to-fit-x-fly-models
Great review, and a nice looking model. Lovely flying site, too! Do you have differential throttle mixing set up? This is normally very effective and allows you to dispense with the non-scale water rudder. I prefer reversing ESCs on my seaplanes ... depending on the venue it can sometimes be handy to be able to back away from reeds/bushes/etc. by the bank!
Thanks. With this model you are stuck with the ESCs provided, although on our VQ Models Twin Otter we have reversing speed controllers and handed propellers. I will be switching to handed inboard turning propellers which will certainly improve the water handling, but my personal preference for water handling on windy days is twin water rudders
Parts are now available on our Etsy store; www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1718733875/landing-gear-rear-fairings-pair-to-fit-x and www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1704545792/ladder-fairings-pair-to-fit-x-fly-models
I have them both, and love them both! I think I'll keep the Nexa version on it's wheels and the XFly on floats. I'm more comfortable with foam planes on the water. It would be awesome if you would share the files for the 3D printed parts. You're right about the gear legs being all wrong for the float version.
I also love these models - nice to see a practical scale model which is not a warbird or an aerobat. I have a few tweaks to make to the files, but will get back to you if I post them up on our Etsy store.
@@ScaleMeDown Thanks! I would love to see more of the practical/utilitarian aircraft being modeled. A Short Skyvan would be high on my list, or a C-119 Flying Boxcar.
Parts are now available on our Etsy store; www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1718733875/landing-gear-rear-fairings-pair-to-fit-x and www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1704545792/ladder-fairings-pair-to-fit-x-fly-models
Hi, yes we sell the ladders. We have just currently sold out (we have had a run on them recently). I am printing some now, and will update our Etsy store in a couple of days. Thanks for your patience.
@@ScaleMeDown thanks, I found them, I think I ordered your last fairings and ladder set. Another item that would be a nice detail add on would be a set of windshield wipers and pitot tube. I have already put one of these together and I love it. I vinyl wrapped mine and used decals from Callie Graphics to make it U S Navy UV-18, 255. I plan to do another and make it a dedicated float plane, I think it will get decorated as one of the Harbor Air ships that fly out of Vancover.
Great Video and awesome 3D Print addons. You seem to sell the printed parts on etsy. But would it be also possible if you sell the files so I can print them myself? That would be awesome!
@@ScaleMeDown Why? Thats a pitty, because ordering 3D printable files across europe while having a 3D Printer at home is quite... pointless and not really resource friendly tbh.
@@Sidewinder1311 Sorry, I have been bitten before with some previous customers distributing and / or publishing my files before so I no longer supply them.
For the repairs to my VQ Twin Otter (th-cam.com/video/TZmRUfx7IkQ/w-d-xo.html and th-cam.com/video/YjO76we3pkM/w-d-xo.html), I made all the parts I was missing. The biggest items were the floats that were damaged - but if you look across to Part 3 (th-cam.com/video/OidhrGRO2Oc/w-d-xo.html) of the VQ otter series, I scratch built these anyway. Glad you like the video. 🙂
@@dwaynebrown7220 It certainly is. We have been making our own parts, repairs and planes for many years, long before we got all our fancy gear (3D printers, laser cutter etc), and it is like a super-power for when the inevitable happens to a plane
@@dwaynebrown7220 I don't really have the time to make repairs for other modellers, but any parts I do sell can be found on our Etsy store (etsy.com/uk/shop/ScaleMeDown). Have you tried VQ models direct for your parts ?
If you MinWax this FOAM Xfly, like I do ALL my FOAM planes, you will protect the paint and foam from deteriorating AND the paint will "POP". Also, IMHO, PNP is so much easier to build than the VQ BALSA Twin Otter and with the RECOMMENDED motors, servos and ESC, the VQ will be much more costly to get into the air than the Xfly as well as a builder's "cost in time building" than the Xfly
Hi, I will try the miniwax next time - this one is done with the rosin based floor protector. Yes, this one is much easier & quicker to put together, although you get more choice of the equipment used with the VQ build. When I bought my VQ kit (maybe 18 months before the X-Fly Otter became available), costs were more comparable
Excelent Review. I have a vq models twin otter. The Next week has maiden flight. Yours videos was my inspiration. Thanks.
Best of luck for your maiden flight
Thanks for your review, today I just did maiden flights with my XFLY, and it was great, especially once I started doing landings with full flaps. That took a bit of different elevator compensation, but it became amazing, with the C.of G. set at around 70 mm , NOT at 61 as described in the manual, it comes down so nice it's easy to control the rate of descent with power for a greasy landing.
I have the VQ model too, but I flew it so far with a 3s 4000 LiPo and that's rather underpowered. I'll try it with a 4 cell pack, as I have Eflite 25's motors installed, and Ramoser adjustable props, I had set them so I have 32 amps current each side, that winds up with about 800 watts for 3.7 kilos.
There we go: It's the power to weight ratio, the XFLY has much more with a 6S 5000 than the VQ with only a 3 cell 4000, at around the same weight. So today after many take-offs and landings, total flight time can be up to 10 minutes 🙂
One big difference between the two: The XFLY has real scale aileron and flap hinges, the VQ, only lousy covering-type hinging and flaps are too small.
Anyways, both models are not for beginners, each has different characteristics and flying a twin is quite different, for example if you come in too slow, a bit of power and you have instant lift on the wings.
Quite a difference compared to a single engine plane eh.
Have fun.... Herb &thebirds
Glad you liked the review. I love both models too, and yes, quite different despite being the same subject type and size.
Nice review. Are the files for your 3D printed parts available anywhere?
Parts are now available on our Etsy store; www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1718733875/landing-gear-rear-fairings-pair-to-fit-x and
www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1704545792/ladder-fairings-pair-to-fit-x-fly-models
Great review, and a nice looking model. Lovely flying site, too! Do you have differential throttle mixing set up? This is normally very effective and allows you to dispense with the non-scale water rudder. I prefer reversing ESCs on my seaplanes ... depending on the venue it can sometimes be handy to be able to back away from reeds/bushes/etc. by the bank!
Thanks. With this model you are stuck with the ESCs provided, although on our VQ Models Twin Otter we have reversing speed controllers and handed propellers. I will be switching to handed inboard turning propellers which will certainly improve the water handling, but my personal preference for water handling on windy days is twin water rudders
Thank you for the clear and concise review! Will be getting one and was hoping if you could share the files of the 3D printed parts please?
Thanks. Glad you enjoyed the video. I have a few tweaks to make to the files, but will get back to you if I post them up on our Etsy store.
Parts are now available on our Etsy store; www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1718733875/landing-gear-rear-fairings-pair-to-fit-x and
www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1704545792/ladder-fairings-pair-to-fit-x-fly-models
I have them both, and love them both!
I think I'll keep the Nexa version on it's wheels and the XFly on floats. I'm more comfortable with foam planes on the water.
It would be awesome if you would share the files for the 3D printed parts. You're right about the gear legs being all wrong for the float version.
I also love these models - nice to see a practical scale model which is not a warbird or an aerobat. I have a few tweaks to make to the files, but will get back to you if I post them up on our Etsy store.
@@ScaleMeDown Thanks! I would love to see more of the practical/utilitarian aircraft being modeled. A Short Skyvan would be high on my list, or a C-119 Flying Boxcar.
Parts are now available on our Etsy store; www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1718733875/landing-gear-rear-fairings-pair-to-fit-x and
www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1704545792/ladder-fairings-pair-to-fit-x-fly-models
I see you sell the rear float strut fairing on etsy. Are you also going to sell the ladders?
Hi, yes we sell the ladders. We have just currently sold out (we have had a run on them recently). I am printing some now, and will update our Etsy store in a couple of days. Thanks for your patience.
@@ScaleMeDown thanks, I found them, I think I ordered your last fairings and ladder set. Another item that would be a nice detail add on would be a set of windshield wipers and pitot tube. I have already put one of these together and I love it. I vinyl wrapped mine and used decals from Callie Graphics to make it U S Navy UV-18, 255. I plan to do another and make it a dedicated float plane, I think it will get decorated as one of the Harbor Air ships that fly out of Vancover.
@@railfanWV Sounds fabulous. Leave the other scale details with me - the height of summer season shift work at the moment
Great Video and awesome 3D Print addons. You seem to sell the printed parts on etsy. But would it be also possible if you sell the files so I can print them myself? That would be awesome!
Hi, I don't publish my files, sorry
@@ScaleMeDown Why? Thats a pitty, because ordering 3D printable files across europe while having a 3D Printer at home is quite... pointless and not really resource friendly tbh.
@@Sidewinder1311 Sorry, I have been bitten before with some previous customers distributing and / or publishing my files before so I no longer supply them.
Thanks for the review. I like the VQ models version much better. Are you able to find replacement parts for your Nature Air model?
For the repairs to my VQ Twin Otter (th-cam.com/video/TZmRUfx7IkQ/w-d-xo.html and th-cam.com/video/YjO76we3pkM/w-d-xo.html), I made all the parts I was missing. The biggest items were the floats that were damaged - but if you look across to Part 3 (th-cam.com/video/OidhrGRO2Oc/w-d-xo.html) of the VQ otter series, I scratch built these anyway. Glad you like the video. 🙂
Thanks for the quick reply. It must be nice to be able to make your own parts.
@@dwaynebrown7220 It certainly is. We have been making our own parts, repairs and planes for many years, long before we got all our fancy gear (3D printers, laser cutter etc), and it is like a super-power for when the inevitable happens to a plane
If I do decide to purchase the VQ Twin Otter and should need to replace part(s)
could I buy from you?
@@dwaynebrown7220 I don't really have the time to make repairs for other modellers, but any parts I do sell can be found on our Etsy store (etsy.com/uk/shop/ScaleMeDown). Have you tried VQ models direct for your parts ?
If you MinWax this FOAM Xfly, like I do ALL my FOAM planes, you will protect the paint and foam from deteriorating AND the paint will "POP". Also, IMHO, PNP is so much easier to build than the VQ BALSA Twin Otter and with the RECOMMENDED motors, servos and ESC, the VQ will be much more costly to get into the air than the Xfly as well as a builder's "cost in time building" than the Xfly
Hi, I will try the miniwax next time - this one is done with the rosin based floor protector. Yes, this one is much easier & quicker to put together, although you get more choice of the equipment used with the VQ build. When I bought my VQ kit (maybe 18 months before the X-Fly Otter became available), costs were more comparable
Cool review 😎
I don’t think the swan 🦢 was impressed with the invader 🤣
No, it's wings were up - time to get out of the way and take off !
@@ScaleMeDown 🤣