Wanted, a new hack.....

[KingKade]

I live and work in central london, and i like the idea of an electric 'hack' to throw around at the weekend. I have flown in the past, so dont need a trainer, just something that can go from slow and docile first flights to fast and fun. I like the fact that i can store it clean, with no petrol mess or smell, my girlfriend agrees!

I dont have a lot of space/ equipment/ time to build from scratch, so a ARF would be preferred. And not much space to store it so a 2 piece wing would be a good option? Hi or lo wing! preferably under £150. I dont want a complete foamie, balsa airframe with foam or built up wing.

I dont mind ugly, i'd perfer it, like a female shot putter, so i dont get attached if its gets dinged, Like an ugly stick, panic, etc.

What do you guys think of:

electro stik, ultra stick 25e, Kyosho Calmato ST EP 1400, Sebart Shark S 30E, Advance 25e, Mini Pulse XT,

Cheers boys!

[Concorde Speedbird]

Wot 4 E. ARTF, electric, balsa, strong and brilliant flight performance. Nice quality as well. 47 inch span so a very nice size, no need for a 2 piece wing. Hope that helps!

CS

[Alan Pennington]

What's wrong with female shot putters? At least they could carry you home from the pub

[Robin Kearney]

Hey Sammy.

There are a few clubs in London, ok, not central, but also well within the M25, you N,E,S,W?

A model I chose because of the small size and packawayability was the Multiplex Merlin, it's a quick little powered glider, fairly aerobatic, is a full four channel, including a servo in each wing so you can configure the ailerons as flaperons/spoilerons. Has a twoplant wing and a two part tailplane so it fits into a small box.

r.

[KingKade]

North london would be most convenient, then east, then west, although i will even go beyong m25 , n,s,e,or w if the club is good and the members are fun. I like the idea of leaving in the am and staying out for the day, so a bit of distance is not a problem.

as for the Multiplex Merlin , its a good little powered glider actually, very interesting, and one to add to my list, although coming from ugly stiks and acrowots i feel i need something larger, like the wot4 mentioned earlier, or larger.

[Concorde Speedbird]

Standard Wot 4 with a leccy conversion is 52" span, the Wot 4 E as I mentioned above is 47" span, and designed for electric. You could even convert an Acro Wot to electric power.

CS

[KingKade]

Good point CS, could get some advise from other forum posts on converting an acrowot. Mmmm....

what do you think of the stik models mentioned at the first post? Electo stik, ultra stik?

[Concorde Speedbird]

They are all pretty good, but not as durable as a Wot 4 or Acro Wot. In the Acro Wot ARTF thread I think some people are doing leccy conversions, they are the people to ask, my knowledge of electric flight is not good, only one electric plane in Dad's and my fleet, a Foam-E Wot 4.

CS

[Robin Kearney]

Sammy, might want to check out the Wanstead MFC. We are a friendly bunch of guys with a pretty amazing flying site considering its location. We have monthly indoor meetings at a local sports hall too which is great for over winter.

This video gives you an idea of the site:

[Reno Racer]

I've just finished assembling and flying the EFlite Advance 25e. Really impressed. I bought the plane to use as an electric hack for flying on the large polo fields behind the house, rather than taking my bigger IC/Petrol stuff to the flying field.

It flys as well as my old Pulse XT40 and is build really solidly, reminds me of a Seagull Innovator or Boomerang. A very good battery hatch on the top with an innovator securing clip and tricycle undercarriage for less than perfect fields. STRONG foam core wings.

I can't recommend this plane enough. best of all its less than £100. I would however, opt for the 4S set up. I flew it initially on a 25 sized motor on 3S at 3.7Lbs AUW and although it flew OK for a low wing trainer, I found it too tame and flew on 3/4 to full throttle for most of the time. I've now changed to a 4S set up. It will be more robust than the Pulse 25 and less expensive than the Shark.

[KingKade]

Thanks for the advice guys, im gonna make some visits to some clubs, like the wansted mfc suggested, i heard of this one before when i was living in leytonstone. So will make a visit over this weekend or the next. And see whats flying. Robin, i'll chk out your merlin!

thanks christian, robin, cs (& alan)

[Rich too]

Just to add, the Wot 4 foam e is hard to beat. I dont like the look of it (I have one) and the fact that it is foam, but if you ignore that it does everything you want. And its a tough plane. its a nice size - I've never taken the wings off mine!

I'd be temp[ted by the Acro Wot too.

Good luck.

Rich

[Steve Hargreaves - Moderator]

The Seagull EP range are excellent models.....all built up contruction & certainly not ugly.....the Edge 540 or X Ray will probably do what you want....

My Extra 300 (sadly no longer available) is probably my favourite model.....

[KingKade]

Nice one steve, i like the X-ray and edge, will look seriously at these!!! Build looks good through the see thro film.

thanks!!!

[NigelH]

The Decathlon EP flies very nicely on a 3S 2200 and a 300 watt power system. As they say, this flies like a larger model.

[KingKade]

Nigel, thanks for your suggestion, nice looking plane, although for my taste and needs it looks to much like a plane. Ie not ugly enough!

I just contridicted myself didnt i! I liked the edge and xray!! No i have to go U.G.L.Y!!!!!

[Brian Hammond]

Look at www.rc.tomhe.net and you can download a plan for a eurofighter made from a sheet of 6mm depron and cheap electrics.I,ve built one and it goes like hell or very slowly with it,s nose in the air!

[Biggles' Elder Brother - Moderator]

How about a new look on a blast from the past? Check this one out, cheap, if its like the original will fly great and very practical in electric powered set up. You'd have to do the conversion yourself but I don't that is beyond the wit of man as they say!

BEB