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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I've gotten a ton of questions on this plane so I
thought I would share my thoughts in the form of a review.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>First off, I'm really not an ARF kind of person. I
got this plane for somthing to have fun with and not worry too much about. Even
with the high price tag, it's better to raise hell with a plane you have a week
into than 6 months.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I opened the box expecting typical ARFish quality
with a cool color scheme. You know....crummy greasy wood, hot glue, sub standard
gear blocks, cheap engine mounts....that's not what I found at all.
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>This ARF is the highest quality ARF I have ever
seen, bar none. 10 times better quality than a Focus, but with the cost it had
better be. They used real glue! And the wood work was outstanding. The covering
is incredible. The fiberglass belly pan sucks though, it's contorted and doesn't
hold it's shape well. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>This plane was designed for a YS .91. However, 4
strokes and me don't get along very well, so I elected to install a Thunder
Tiger 1.20 2 stroke rear exhaust engine, with a built in pump. I used a
macs header and a CD 2 stroke cannister exhaust from RC Model Enterprises. It
weighs about the same as a YS .91, although the exhaust is slightly
heavier.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I installed 2 hitec HS-77 low profile servos in the
tail for the elevators, and used a hitec HS-5945MG digital on the rudder. HS-77s
on the ailerons too. Oddly enough the plane doesn't come with control hardware,
so I used the anodized aluminum horns from RC model enterprises (same as ZN) and
Central hobbies c/f titanium rods. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I mounted the fuel tank on the CG in the fuse,
which just BARELY fit with some grinding. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The plane comes with a beam style anti vibration
mount that is one of the best I have seen, and is plenty for this 1.20. the
engine is a shoe horn fit, but it does fit. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The belly pan is a pain in the butt. It's pinched
and doesn't lay down, and I had to use screws to get it to lay in place long
enough for the epoxy to set. even then, it ain't just right. But it's ok, I can
live with it. Now that I have exhausted every cuss word in my extensive
repetoire...</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The good news is that the paint and general quality
of the pan and the fiberglass chin are excellent, and the paint actually
matches. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The landing gear is aluminum with a diamond dust
finish. I would have preferred carbon, but what the heck. The wheel pants look
very good, but they are crap. More on this later...</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I also opened up the cowling for cooling, cheeks
and all. the whole nose is wood with fiberglass over it. looks very
cool.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I found one of the elevator counter balances (and
they are HUGE) was warped. Otherwise this plane is structurally
straight.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The first day I ran the engine, I couldn't richen
it up. It would run, sag, smoke and die. I found the pump wasn't working, so I
boxed it up and sent it back. Ace hobby distributors replaced the pump, sleeve
and ring and sent it back...free of charge. Not too shabby.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Despite a flu and temperatures that would make an
eskimo reach for an extra dog or 2, I test flew it yesterday.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>After brushing off the ice from the plane, I fired
it up and taxied out. the ground handling on this thing is better than most
tricycle gear planes. I lined it up, greased in about half throttle, and it
eased down the runway. With only a touch of right rudder, it lifted off straight
(<---just for you Gray!)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Now for the dirt.....it required a good bit of
trim. It tracks very nicely for it's size, and even with a strong crosswind it
corrected decently. It needed more right thrust, but it's not too bad. (I
expected that). I put it through the intermediate schedule, and it performed
very very well. It didn't like the outside loop though, and I'm thinking
something isn't right, so I'll look closer into it and see what's crooked. I'm
betting it's the elevator halves.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I put it into knife edge, and it couples like crazy
in every direction. Before I start mixing I will see if I can find what's
crooked first and then mix.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Now for the crazy stuff....it hovers effortlessly
at less than half throttle on low rates (I never put in on high rates). It does
flat spins, blenders etc with ease. It snaps better and cleaner than any plane I
have ever flown, and it's still a tad nose heavy. The available power on this
plane is unreal. Vertical is unbelievable, you can roll it out of
sight.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>However, on the 3rd flight I ran it out of fuel
waiting on some dilbert to get off the runway (welcome to GMA). It barely made
it back to the field and pancaked in pretty hard. the wheel pants were
destroyed, but strangely enough the gear and block are solid as ever. Absolutely
NO damage except the crappy wheel pants. I expected it to be in 50 pieces.
Next time I'll run over the dilbert.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>To sum up:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Pros:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>-Excellent quality in general</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>-Extremely fun to fly</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>-Will handle F3A and 3D</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>-Plenty of control authority</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>-Strong!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Cons:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>-Heavy (about 9 lbs with this set up)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>-Wheel pants suck</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>-Belly pan sucks</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>-warped elevator</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>-couples hard in knife edge</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>With some attention and work, I think I am really
going to enjoy this plane. It's very good for what it is, which is a combination
F3A/3D platform. If you wanted a purely F3A ARF of this size, a Tai Ji or Zen
would be better. But if you want a fun practice plane that you can kick your
heels up with, this plane is definitely in that category. All the same, this
would be a great plane for a guy who wanted to have some fun and it would be
fine in sportsman or intermediate. It would fly FAI easily (with just a little
mixing) but who would fly FAI with a G Trick? </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Is it worth the price tag? Who knows, the jury is
still out. For puerly pattern, I'd say no. For marginally more money you could
have a focus (although the G Trick doesn't rip the gear out AHEM). But it is a
fun plane with this set up. I'll be working on it when I have time to see if I
can straighten it out better. it's ok now, but it needs attention to be up to my
standards flying wise. It 3Ds fine, but I don't like that coupling
crap.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>There ya go....mixed feelings but I think it shows
promise.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>-Mike Hester</FONT></DIV>
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