Nigel Hawes Tucano

[lesley]

Hi, Was looking to build the Tucano but sarik hobbies want £132 for the plan, parts,canopy which I thought was a bit expensive. I see Stan Yeo sells a Tucano with a larger wingspan and was wondering if anybody has any thoughts on this kit. Seems like Nigel Hawes flys really well does Stans fly has good. Thank you for any advice.

[kc]

Everybody seems to say nice things about Phoenix Model Products (Stan Yeo) so I expect somebody will know how the Tucano flys.    Seems a better buy as it is larger and made for brushless & Lipo rather than Speed 600 and Nicads.  Also may have hardware which Sarik don't offer.  Bigger, cheaper and maybe includes hardware like pre bent undercarriage( check! ) - seems the obvious choice to me.  And you can see the plan and instructions online before buying.

 

However if I wanted to build the Nigel Hawes on on a budget I would see if any clubmate has the May& June 2003 RCME  and could loan out the plan, so just buying the canopy and maybe the cut parts from Sarik and buy balsa from Balsa Cabin or SLEC.   Must be cheaper although 2 lots of postage to factor in.     Deciding factor might be if you prefer the solid balsa sanded down wings of Hawes or the built up balsa Phoenix.    I remember that Vortex Vacform used to offer the Hawes canopy together with a cockpit interior - maybe they still do so phone them as it says on their website.  ( note 2 sizes of Hawes Tucano -31 and 45 inch )

 

Edited September 8, 2022 by kc

[lesley]

Thank you for your advice. On reading your comments I think I will go for Stan Yeo Tucano save having to resource balsa, canopy and so on.

[Engine Doctor]

I was given the very first kit of the Tucano that Nigel Hawes produced, the smaller one, with his letter to my friend who bought it . I built it some years ago.  Brilliant flying machine and very fast . With a brushless upgrade on 3s lipo it would launch vertical l , count to 5 and you could hardly see it ! Sold it last year but regret it and might build another . No plan so will have to be from memory.

Edited September 8, 2022 by Engine Doctor

[martin collins 1]

I built the small one from the free plan which was in the mag i purchased off Evilbay, great flying model, made the canopy from white foam covered in tissue and PVA. Mine flies on a 1250 3s pack.

[Tom Flynn 1]

I have built both, one from the plan, one from the Sarik kit of bits.

I bought the canopy for the smaller model and I found it doesn’t fit. So I made it from glueing scraps of wood

together and forming it by sanding it to the correct shape.

they both fly well, but feel like totally different models.

The larger model crashed due to a faulty ESC, but I still have the wings.

If I every rebuild it I would cut the bits out from the plan, and do the same on the canopy.

Personally I don’t this it was good value for money, I bought it as I was too lazy to cut the parts out.

[GrumpyGnome]

Both brilliant fliers. The larger one housed my first ever brushless motor, and first LiPo.  I still have the smaller one - in it's umpteenth incarnation.

 

The kit does sound expensive but it'll have lots of thick balsa, much of which will end up as dust!

[Piers Bowlan]

I have the plan for the Nigel Hawes Tucano and May 2003 RCM&E articles, if anyone is interested. Just PM me.

If you bought the balsa, I don’t think it would cost anywhere near £130 but you would need to cut out all the parts yourself!  …but there aren’t many 😊

[kc]

My estimate is that I could build the 45 inch Tucano from £54 of balsa and £2.44 3mm birch ply and a length of 10SWG at £1.57 and £1.37 for dowel ( buying 36 inch when only 4inches needed!)   So just about £60 for all the wood and piano wire.     If you plan to build this then note that some balsa needs to be very soft and I have allowed for enough soft & firm balsa in my quick estimate.

 

Of course thats cuttiing all the parts yourself - really the only part that needs careful cutting is the engine bulkhead and that appears to be cut intricately for a 600 type brushed motor which nobody is likely to use nowadays.   So why buy the cut parts? there are no wing ribs!

You need a canopy and possibly have to buy the plan so it will cost about £95 in all for this,   which makes the larger & more modern Phoenix kit seem the better buy at £119.     Nobody has said how that one flys so we rely on Phoenix reputation until someone tells us how it goes.......

Edited September 9, 2022 by kc

[Piers Bowlan]

I think the canopy is £15 from Vortex Vacforms.

http://www.vortex-vacforms.co.uk/canopies.htm

 

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Edited September 9, 2022 by Piers Bowlan

[kc]

Thats the same as Sarik but the advantage might be that Vortex might still be able to supply the cockpit interior moulding with pilots and instrument panel which gives the model a realistic look.

 

If anyone is interested I will give the itemised balsa list.