Greg McFadden
11-13-2004, 03:23 PM
Well, I have just about got this thing ready to test fly, so here are some pictures and comments on the kit.
I've got an OS 61 FX, pitts muffler, and electronics I had laying around consisting of the following
2400SC RX pack (will go buy a lighter one soon)
2x-9252 servos on ailerons
3004 servos on tail control surfaces
525 throttle
Pictures
http://www.helifreak.com/album_showpage.php?full=&pic_id=2478
http://www.helifreak.com/album_showpage.php?full=&pic_id=2477
Pro's:
-Relatively easy construction
-Light weight
-Glass cowl and underwing fairing widget (come painted)
-generous compliment of hardware (even though some of it is crap)
-comes with 90 degree mechanical retracts that are rather good
common arf gripes.
-Crap linkages. absolute crap. (although better crap than many arfs, still crap)
Con's.
-the thin fuse material DEMANDS that the inside of the fuse be fiberglassed less you run the chance of tearing off the firewall in flight. (this has happened to some people)
-for some reason they cut the lower wing spar far more than was needed for the retracts. one is STRONGLY advised to reinforce this area or you run the risk of wing folding in flight (again, info available on boards)
-The retract linkages SUCK. there is no exscuse for designing a linkage that requires a 200+ oz-inch (I managed to stall a 120oz-inch hitec) retract servo) on a 60 sized bird. a better retract linkage design would have made the retracts easily functional.
-Two words... BALL LINKS. using them on the retracts instead of the stock system removes soo much binding... nuf said.
-the engine mounting holes on the firewall are not in a good position for all engines. would have been better to not drill them at all and leave that up to end user.
-you SHOULD strip the covering off the lower third of the vertical stabalizer and fiberglass the lower section. otherwise the horizontal seam along the fuse corresponds to a horizontal grain structure garanteeing a failure in even the slightest mishap/perhapse even in normal flight.
so all in all, prior to maden flight, it is a decent kit, however the retract system (not the retracts themselves) will provide hours of frustration, swearing, and a desire to get back to simple hobbies, like helicopters. So much so that I have disabled the retracts and I will not fight the battle to make them work until the corsair prooves itself a superb flyer.
oh, and on a side rant, why are retract servos still in the dark ages?. lack of proportionality on a 70-80$ servo! WTF. I personally think that the weakest link in mechanical retract setup is the inability to trim the servo endpoint (makes tracts more of a royal pain).
I'll keep ya posted
I've got an OS 61 FX, pitts muffler, and electronics I had laying around consisting of the following
2400SC RX pack (will go buy a lighter one soon)
2x-9252 servos on ailerons
3004 servos on tail control surfaces
525 throttle
Pictures
http://www.helifreak.com/album_showpage.php?full=&pic_id=2478
http://www.helifreak.com/album_showpage.php?full=&pic_id=2477
Pro's:
-Relatively easy construction
-Light weight
-Glass cowl and underwing fairing widget (come painted)
-generous compliment of hardware (even though some of it is crap)
-comes with 90 degree mechanical retracts that are rather good
common arf gripes.
-Crap linkages. absolute crap. (although better crap than many arfs, still crap)
Con's.
-the thin fuse material DEMANDS that the inside of the fuse be fiberglassed less you run the chance of tearing off the firewall in flight. (this has happened to some people)
-for some reason they cut the lower wing spar far more than was needed for the retracts. one is STRONGLY advised to reinforce this area or you run the risk of wing folding in flight (again, info available on boards)
-The retract linkages SUCK. there is no exscuse for designing a linkage that requires a 200+ oz-inch (I managed to stall a 120oz-inch hitec) retract servo) on a 60 sized bird. a better retract linkage design would have made the retracts easily functional.
-Two words... BALL LINKS. using them on the retracts instead of the stock system removes soo much binding... nuf said.
-the engine mounting holes on the firewall are not in a good position for all engines. would have been better to not drill them at all and leave that up to end user.
-you SHOULD strip the covering off the lower third of the vertical stabalizer and fiberglass the lower section. otherwise the horizontal seam along the fuse corresponds to a horizontal grain structure garanteeing a failure in even the slightest mishap/perhapse even in normal flight.
so all in all, prior to maden flight, it is a decent kit, however the retract system (not the retracts themselves) will provide hours of frustration, swearing, and a desire to get back to simple hobbies, like helicopters. So much so that I have disabled the retracts and I will not fight the battle to make them work until the corsair prooves itself a superb flyer.
oh, and on a side rant, why are retract servos still in the dark ages?. lack of proportionality on a 70-80$ servo! WTF. I personally think that the weakest link in mechanical retract setup is the inability to trim the servo endpoint (makes tracts more of a royal pain).
I'll keep ya posted