Peter Roberts

I agree the Kite is a great kit. My neighbour and I both bought one and built them some years ago. Mine is still going strong. I did the tricycle undercarriage version with a carbon fibre undercarriage and larger wheels as suggested above. I also made the noseleg fixed and re enforced the firewall at the base to take the strain of heavy initial landings as without this the noseleg could crush a groove into the firewall. I modified the undercart fastening as I didn't like the screwed on undercart and put two dowels through the fuselage so that I could rubber band the undercart. This works brilliantly and saves screws being pulled out of the fuse on a heavy landing because the undercart just flips over. For these I use 5" rubber bands. I also put a couple of locating bars on the under fuselage to make re location easy. It is worth checking the fuel bay every year as part of your end of season check as my fuel lines perished. I had proofed the fuel bay with epoxy which I peeled off and replaced after the leak. Finally I upgraded my engine to a JEn 57 with a Genesis pipe ( from Weston) which makes it very nippy and the quietest 2 stroke in the club and fits into the 46 size engine mount. After I got used to the plane I increased the control surface throws on the control horns (by moving the clevis inwards) and find this helps the rudder for ground handling and makes the plane very manoeuvrable in the air. I too wish someone would pick up making this model as it is great. I'm looking for another one to electrify. Happy Flying Peter

Thanks Guys I'll look at Giantshark too but am always concerned as to reliability of the product - I presume your experience of GiantShark has been great. Peter

Pat and Chris - thanks for the ideas - I'll certainly look at George's recommendations as I have a spare 80 A ESC and 2 30C 5s batteries and 6s if it came to that so I'll have a look at the motor. I had been considering teh Scorpion or even the new OS motors. Peter

I have one of the first set of Graupner kits bought after having read Alex's review. I was really disappointed in the kit for a number of reasons. 1. The pushrods did not slide smoothly in their aluminium sheaths which tended to bind whatever you did 2. The pushrods did not even line up as per the manual with the servo tray positions 3. The wing fairings disintegrated - they were poor quality glass fibre 4. The root fastenings for the retracts were not very strong and one side pulled loose in use. I ended up up spending more time building it than flying. In fairness the model looked great when it flew but the front tab which located the wing broke on its first ( and only ) crash and was a s*d to repair. All in all attractive looking model but build quality was disappointing for what was then a very expensive kit. I hope mk2 (silver) is much better. Pin fact the build issues were such that I couldn't believe that Alex W had actually built the kit himself and not experienced the same problems as I did. Obviously I must have got a Friday afternoon model! Peter Edited By Peter Roberts on 01/07/2012 08:12:38

Hi, I like the Kite as a model and am thinking of building an electric version. What success did you have with yours Danny? Would be glad to know of your experiences please. Peter

Wow that is very scary. I bought OS because I always believed they are the best in terms of quality of engineering. I've had a number of engined J'EN and Irvine included but my 6 others have all been OS and not given any problems. In fact the converse - they have all been remarkably reliable which I have put down to quality of manufacture.   Is the OS200 going to break the OS reputation?

I have a J'En 57 in my Flair Kite and generally manage 12-15 mins flying time with the standard tank supplied. It rarely runs out so could probably do a few more minutes too. I also use a Genesis pipe with the engine.   Hope this helps     Peter  

I've recently bought an OS 200 and wondered what experiences RCM&E flyers have had with them? Do they need a tuned pipe? OS Suggest a Heavy Duty 2.5mm bore silicon fuel tube - the only one I've found on the web is by Flair and I've not found anyone who stocks it. I read recently that some people have suggested they easily overheat? What are anyone else's experiences please?   Thanks   Peter

I think JR in the past made the point of saying that most of their servos were 4.8v only. However I think thge latest ones may do both voltages. Especially thinking of the digital servos and the fact that 2.4 radios are recommended to run on 6v by Spektrum. This apparently allows the resulting operating voltage which falkls under load to still be above 4.8v which the rx mustn't fall below at risk of losing signal and suffering a time costly re boot.!!   Peter

Does anyone have any experience with the YT International Twin Otter?

Thanks YakMad, I'm going to Blackbushe tomorrow so hope to get the servos then. Someone also suggested that Savox (some on e bay at £7 odd) would be good. I do like Hitec though and MG seems sensible.  Edited By Peter Roberts on 13/05/2011 15:17:09

I've got an old 40LA and used to put it in a 30 trainer. I do think you lose something on the LA series.   However I have just bought a Hangar 9 Twin Otter and plan to electrify it. I have gone for the E-flite motors suggested and ESC's but am wondering about the servos suggested. I wondered whether they were overkill for this model? Can anyone else comment please?  Edited By Peter Roberts on 12/05/2011 14:53:04

Had the Alfa Sabre but nose scrunched with a poor throw launch. My favourite was the Multiplex Twister althoughn the recommended config with 3s batteries didn't give enough oomph. 4s was a lot different.   However think a lander motor for 4s might be good in it. (3lb thrust on 4s)! By the way I thought that a fun jet was a good intro to the handling characteristics required on an EDF.  Edited By Peter Roberts on 12/05/2011 13:13:35

Hi Timbo Thanks for your reply. I typed "I link 3 batteries " in error but actually meant to type "two 3 series". I have two pairs of 3 series batteries 1pr x 3100 and 1pr x 3700 each pair bought together from same manufacturer. Similarly the ESC's and motors are bought from same source who have confirmed they were part of the same batch production.   I use the batteries in other models or would certainly take your advice to hardwire them together. Thanks for your suggestion of BRC for harnesses. I was intending to join both flight battery outputs together and then split the joined supply so that each ESC had a matched supply.  I am planning to use a UBEC 6v 5A drawn from the combined feed wires to feed the DSM2 radio gear too.   I have been recommended to use 60 amp ESCs with the red middle wires disconnected from the extension cable of each - doesn't damage the original esc outputs.   Will this all be OK? Thanks for your help Peter   PS I'm fairly sure that the Futaba RX ceiling is 6v and you might reasonably expect that if the servos are advertised as being 4.8 or 6v capable that the RX should be also.  Edited By Peter Roberts on 10/01/2011 13:42:30

Re reading this thread I noticed the comment about the Ready 2. To be honest I also flew as 2nd plane the Arc Cessna 177 which was also a plastic Kit and it would glide for ever, was amazingly durable and I think would make a really good trainer.   Its only disadvantage is initial engine size. For me this was a FS70 which would be expensive for a beginner. I guess a J'En 60 or similar would reduce the cost. But a lovely plane to fly and very forgiving. Not a balsa basher's dream but nice, durable, easy to fly plane which looks great both on the ground and in the air.   One tip - you can't slide plastic products if you use super cyano.   It welds instantly - don't ask me how I know but think firewall in wrong place!!!   PS I know its not a traditional trainer but good none the less - strength of tradition ease of construction of ARTF!!   Peter Edited By Peter Roberts on 09/11/2010 09:15:07 Edited By Peter Roberts on 09/11/2010 09:16:07

Hi, I used a 14 x 7 because I was using a 4s power pack. There was just enough clearance until you had a heavy landing!    I had to take out a panel under the rear fuse tpo promote airflow. I'm sure tiumbo is right that the 4s pack is a little underpowered for this. I used 4s 3700 flightpower and got something like 8 mins.   My friend who flew the same model use a 5s and had a much more sprightly performance. My only worry was that there wasn't enought airflow as esc, battery and motor were all using the same air input.   However - lovely handling on the plane which would fly at a slow walk and would do three pointers in front of you.   Peter

My first trainer experience like many others was with a modest artf - a Ripmax 30 (altho with a 40LA in it). This survived several arguments with trees and the ground whilst I was learning. I agree a start with an artf gets you into the air and if you want to fly more than build (like me) that was very important.   However, after a first winter of standing around at the field waiting for available instructor to get two buddied flights per Sunday my neighbour and I (both learning at the same time) had a couple of days with Paul Heckles using his Flair Kites to get stick time as well as good instruction. We fellin love with the Kite which whilst it took around 40hrs to build is a fantastically durable plane which I still use to get my hand in if I've not flown for a while and I would recommend both the building and flying with it to be excellent. I fly mine with a J'En .57 with Weston tuned pipe and it is lovely.   The only mod made to it during build was to make the undercarriage be held on, in the same fashion as the wings, with Rubber bands. These cope really well with very heavy landings without trying to rip the bottom out of the fuse.   You don't often see this plane listed but if you ask you model shop (mine's SMC) they are still readily available and I think stronger than the revered Wot 4. I'm thinking of electrifying one.   Peter

As you say - I'm only making suggestions on the basis of the experience I've had. I always end up having to pay VAT and customs duty if I've bought from abroad.   Doesn't alter the fact that I think both XT60 and XT40 are lovely planes.

Tim its supporting home industry more than buying them from Hong Kong or Japan isn't it as 4-Max is a UK company - and George is great

Anyone looking for motors should also look at 4-max or talk to George - they're good and reliable and supporting home industries.

Like Allan I like the 60 especially with good length flights and quite a stable presence in the air  - It is a personal preference for the 40 which you can get walking for a landing.   I do like all the Pulse XT series and I've tried 60, 40 and 25 I think it is a really good model and the kit - being Hangar 9 is great too.   You haven't made a mistake but you'ld like it as well.

By the way I also have a Pulse XT 60 - lovelyu plane but don't fly it on 5s use 6s instead. I bought some end of line Flightpower 6600 mah 6s2P and they give 18 to 20 min flights. I've also bought some Hobby City 6s 4900 which are good especially the 25C versions.   I modified the tank bay by removing the throttle cable lug on one of the formers and building some above wing support - strong as houses!   Still like the XT 40 best of the 2. I have a Pulse XT 25 with 4s - that's sparkling but difficult to add and remove the 4s battery.

For Steve Houghton, I built and flew a Pulse XT 40 only on electric and used flightpower 20C 4s 3700 lipos. These were OK it flew beautifully but I would have liked a bit more grunt. One friend started to use 5s another bought a newer 4s lipo with a 30C discharge - made a large difference.   But a lovely plane.   Peter

Poor man no wonder you're a shade of your former self - you probably taught me some windy February!!

HI, Have just seen the post. I have a Flair Kite (likewise first seen at Paul Heckles, which I bought as soon as the kit came out and is surviving inspite of the pilot.   The engine I fitted first was an OS46 which was good but lacked a bit of oomf (PH uses 53 4 stroke I think) but I ubgraded to a JEN .57 to which I added a Weston Genesis Throttle pipe. Both worthwhile investments. Once I got used to the plan I increased the throws and she is incredible manouverable and handles high winds well. She is brilliant both as a beginners and follow on plane.   My major other mod was to upgrade the undercart and cowl to carbon fibre (ordered from one of the shows) plus putting two dowels just above the base of the fuselage around where the u/c fits and fastening them with rubber bands not screws. If she comes in heavy this folds doing no damage to the plane. To stop the wheels wandering some fillets across the bottom of the fuse wher the u/c straps to the fuse does the trick.   I like this plane so much that I'm thinking of building a new kit a an electric conversion - Has anyone done one I wonder?   Go for it - much stronger thana  Wot 4 and they're good.