Shaun Robinson 1 Posted June 5, 2016 Share Posted June 5, 2016 Hi all, I'm new to flying and I'm after some help please? I'm looking at getting a Chris foss wot4 balsa plane kit to build and was wondering if you can convert them to electric. Only reason I ask is that the ones I've seen for sale are foam and I would like a balsa one, but have no idea on ic at the moment as I'm new to flying and want to be able to fly before I move over to ic. So was just asking if anyone has built a balsa wot4 kit and has done a electric conversion or know where I might possibly be able to buy a kit from please? Thanks for your help! Regards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kc Posted June 5, 2016 Share Posted June 5, 2016 If you look at the Chris Foss website you will find one way to convert a kit Wot4 to electric Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun Robinson 1 Posted June 5, 2016 Author Share Posted June 5, 2016 Ok thanks kc will do! Thanks for you advice! Regards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Davis Posted June 5, 2016 Share Posted June 5, 2016 May I make the following four points Shaun. The WOT 4 is an excellent second model but it's not really a trainer in my opinion and you may find it difficult to learn on unless you have the help of an experienced pilot on a buddy box. The model is likely to be a little heavier than its i/c equivalent and will therefore fly more quickly, which is precisely what you don't want as a beginner. Two stroke glow engines are not that difficult to understand. Assuming that the engine has compression and a glow plug of the correct heat range, your engine should run. There are only two controls to adjust, the high and low speed needle settings. Any competent clubman should be able to help with that. For a beginner on a WOT 4 I would recommend a "cooking" 40 like an OS 40 FP, OS 40 LA or Thunder Tiger GP 42. If you live in England or Wales, a list of BMFA affiliated clubs is here: https://bmfa.org/Clubs/Find-a-Club, and I urge you to join one, you'll get lots of help at your stage of the learning curve. From my perspective it's good that you want to build your own model, for I get a great deal of pleasure out of building too but unfortunately there are few builders' kits of trainers these days. Perhaps a Unowot, another of Chris Foss's designs, may be a better option for an electric conversion. It was designed as a trainer after all. If you take the balsa ARTF route my recommendation would be the Seagull Boomerang which may be powered by either electric or glow motors. It is said that if you ask ten different aeromodellers you'll get ten different opinions! At my old club in England, there is an instructor who is far better than me, as a pilot, a builder and an instructor, who swears by WOT 4s as basic trainers! Happy Landings! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cymaz Posted June 5, 2016 Share Posted June 5, 2016 Shaun, morning ! Ted is away for a week or two yet. If you ask him nicely he will let you have a flight of his so you can see what they are like. He has a .70 four stroke in it but that won't make any difference just to have a go. David's correct about pilots opinions on trainers. We tend to stick with what we know, trust and are familiar with. Good on you for wanting to build your own model See you soon .....Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Tee Posted June 5, 2016 Share Posted June 5, 2016 I agree with David Davis, the Wot 4 is not a trainer though the old kit (don't know about the current one) allowed conversion to a trainer by adding dihedral to the wings, probably where the idea that it is suitable as a trainer came from. Uno Wot, Boomerang or the Tutor 40 are IMHO the best trainers currently available, though there's not much between them and others like the Arising Star. If you intend to go IC probably best to start that way, you can take best advantage of available instructors if all you have to do is re-fuel and go rather then waiting for batteries to charge or spending out on multiple batteries. A trainer will be lighter and fly slower then a kit built Wot 4. As a model pilot of around 40+ years and club approved instructor, i would much rather teach on an ARTF trainer then a Wot 4. If you intend to go electric most ARF's come with alternative fittings for motors and batteries. Find local clubs and visit them, talk to the members and choose a club that suits you, before you buy anything. Most will bend over backwards to help you get started some will even offer trial flights with a club trainer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iqon Posted June 5, 2016 Share Posted June 5, 2016 My 2p worth - dont. That is do not buy the "kir", it will be too heavy. Get the ARTF. I am sure you would be able to fit a suitable set up.....ps the foamy wots are fun to fly..........nothing like a balsa ic one though....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Former Member Posted June 5, 2016 Share Posted June 5, 2016 [This posting has been removed] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Former Member Posted June 5, 2016 Share Posted June 5, 2016 [This posting has been removed] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gangster Posted June 5, 2016 Share Posted June 5, 2016 Build from a kit by all means why ever not. Just a thought though I am sure Chris Foss does a trainer kit. Electric or glow that is your choice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gangster Posted June 5, 2016 Share Posted June 5, 2016 Another thought. Get yourself a wot 4 kit and start building it. Meanwhile get a Bixler or Easy Star and start the learning curve of flying. It will not be wasted you can never have too many models Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Former Member Posted June 5, 2016 Share Posted June 5, 2016 [This posting has been removed] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iqon Posted June 5, 2016 Share Posted June 5, 2016 as it says my 2p worth, kits are heavier than the artf, or did i use too much glue.? and i have flow both and still do Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cymaz Posted June 5, 2016 Share Posted June 5, 2016 We have a learner on a wot trainer...lovely aircraft. I will come to Shaun's defence here...he has been to our club several times and everyone made him feel welcome. He has been doing rc cars for a while and was really into it and became a good driver. He now wants to try flying. So, he knows about rc, really knowledgable about electric set ups and very good on the Tx. He has flown a Wot trainer and made a great job of it and felt quite comfortable with it. It was his choice to go electric ( because of his experience ) and then move onto IC Apologies , you were all unaware of this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Former Member Posted June 5, 2016 Share Posted June 5, 2016 [This posting has been removed] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gangster Posted June 5, 2016 Share Posted June 5, 2016 3917 forum posts 84 photos My other half might beg to differ there gangster......... yep many of us can relate to that. Must say never had too much grief in that area Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun Robinson 1 Posted June 5, 2016 Author Share Posted June 5, 2016 Hi and good morning all! Firstly would like to say thanks for all the comments some much needed info! Yes I didn't mention that I've been racing cars now 22 years so I'm not new to r/c,(nothing like flying tho!) always wanted to fly planes and one day build my own one as this was what my grandad used to do. Anyway I've been to my local club st Austell & district modelling club where I must say is a very helpful club and a lovely group of chaps! Cymaz has been nothing but a great help to me teaching me and helping to fly. I had a max thrust riot, but yes after having a fly on wot from an other club members I found that I was more suited to that plane. Looks like I may have to do more homework! As I said earlier thank you all for some much needed info and thank you all for making me feel welcome to this hobby! Regards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich too Posted June 5, 2016 Share Posted June 5, 2016 Morning Shaun, The foam Wot 4 electric is a pussy cat to fly. Perhaps, fly one and build the kit at the same time? In fact, if you lived anywhere near Brands Hatch I might consider letting you have mine as it no longer gets flown... Cheers Rich Edited By Rich2 on 05/06/2016 09:35:20 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Former Member Posted June 5, 2016 Share Posted June 5, 2016 [This posting has been removed] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun Robinson 1 Posted June 5, 2016 Author Share Posted June 5, 2016 Hi rich 2, thank you for you offer but I'm all the way down in sunny Cornwall so it's quite a long way away from yourself but thank you anyway! Yes trying to understand the tx is proving a bit of a challenge as not used to it but I'm getting there I think? Once again thank you all again for some much needed info! And also for making me feel welcome to the forum! Regards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Skilbeck Posted June 5, 2016 Share Posted June 5, 2016 Just to add, one of our club members converted his IC Wot 4 to electric, I think it uses around a 4,000 mah 4s battery and gets 10 min flights. It gets flown a lot more now and has also been used with learners on a buddy box. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun Robinson 1 Posted June 5, 2016 Author Share Posted June 5, 2016 Hi frank, that's some useful info thank you. Will have to look into a bit more and have a chat with the guys at my local club. Thank again much appreciated Regards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Former Member Posted June 5, 2016 Share Posted June 5, 2016 [This posting has been removed] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun Robinson 1 Posted June 5, 2016 Author Share Posted June 5, 2016 Hi Percy yes will take a look thank you for that! Ic is my goal in the future but for me at the moment as I'm a newbie to flying will try and stay with electric for the time being! Will be going to my local club on Saturday (weather permitting!) to ask around some more! But yes thanks again and will do my homework! Regards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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