What model to choose?

[kc]

What model to choose for a club build?     Recently a thread on Modelflying showed a particular model chosen by a club for a mass build by their club.   They chose a midwing design - but is a midwing design a good 'first' build?  Is a design with no reports of how it flys a good idea?  ( There were no reports I could find! )   Mid wing designs are a little more tricky to make and a little more work than a low wing or high wing.  As they don't fly much better there is no advantage.   A little less space inside for the servos and a probably bit more difficult to fit a Lipo for electric power.

 

It's their clubs right to choose their design of course, but before other clubs follow suit let's consider some possible alternatives........

 

Outerzone is full of plans to download and some worthy of consideration are -

 

New Era 3 = a simple design to build but with a fine reputuation.  If a small model is wanted then this seems to be ideal at 45 inch span.  Big thick wing section too.   Also a 52 inch span version New Era 2

 

Rival 55 inch span.  Plan on Outerzone or from Sarik who also do cut parts.   Also a larger version called Big Easy

 

 

Wight Crusader 52 inch span.  Great flier but mid wing so slightly more work to build. 

 

All these models have one thing in common -  a big thick wing section which makes a model very forgiving in flight = you get away with a mistake because it doesn't pick up speed giving more time to react.

 

 

Edited November 14 by kc
added links

[Paul De Tourtoulon]

We just do epp things, the last one a wing with a small drone motor, 1300mah 3s and pulling a streamer, or simply a Baron,,,

[James Green2]

Tauri:

 

https://outerzone.co.uk/plan_details.asp?ID=15540

 

RM Aerobat:

 

https://outerzone.co.uk/plan_details.asp?ID=5162

 

Prima is an excellent flyer with a thick wing:

 

https://outerzone.co.uk/plan_details.asp?ID=7076

[Frank Skilbeck]

I was going to suggest the RM Aerobat, I built one from the free plan at the time, great flier ( well until the elevator push rod failed!)

[Don Fry]

Double the above, from Frank. I built one, on a comeback to the hobby, when it came out. 
It was stable, aerobatic, does as it is told. I once screwed up, let it get too far away, no means of seeing what I needed,  shut the throttle and started to walk in the right direction. It had no damage when recovered. Very simple tough build. 
Mine met its end, inverted low pass, too low, met the course grinder of the crushed stone runway.  
conversion to electric, hatch space underneath for the battery. 25 size alternative motor.

[Nigel R]

2 hours ago, kc said:

Rival 55 inch span.  Plan on Outerzone or from Sarik who also do cut parts.   Also a larger version called Big Easy

 

excellent design and flyer

 

like a wot4 but better

 

the aerobat is a nice flyer but is more complex to build due to the mid wing nature of the design

Edited November 14 by Nigel R

[Don Fry]

Err complex equals a wing, with the cockpit glued to it, with the load bearers placed lower. Accept, I was no beginner, but complex, no. Pretty(ish), yes.

But, I also accept, an airframe powered by a horsepower, 850 watts,  whether electric or other means, is less affected by wind, turbulence, tougher.

 

[PatMc]

Would one of Pete Miller's designs be a suitable choice ? It's pretty well guaranteed to be a good flyer, straightforward build & maybe choice of electric or ic power version.

It would also be a nice tribute someone who gave so much to the hobby.    

[Frank Skilbeck]

28 minutes ago, PatMc said:

Would one of Pete Miller's designs be a suitable choice ? It's pretty well guaranteed to be a good flyer, straightforward build & maybe choice of electric or ic power version.

It would also be a nice tribute someone who gave so much to the hobby.    

Agree, but RM Aerobat is a David Boddington design.