Acro WOT

[Stephen Harrison]

Hi all, I am in the process of finding yet another aircraft. I like the look of the Acro WOT but would like to hear from someone who has either built or flown (or both). I would like to know what they fly like and how easy the construction is.

Stephen

[Mike Rolls]

Stephen
The Acrowot is one of the all time classics of the club scene. Mine had a ST 51 up front, weighed 5 lbs and was a dream to fly. Various versions owned by clubmates had weights of up to 7 lbs and still flew fine. The handling is superb - one of our better fliers used to specialise in doing figure eights around the 30" high posts marking the four corners of the cricket square - with the inside wing tip on the turn never more than 12" or so off the ground.

Get the version with the glass fibre U/C - more forgiving than the metal one and the FG cowl is tougher then the ABS(?) cowl in the cheaper kit.

The build is very straightforward - mine was built 10 years ago and at that time there was an addendum slip packed whihc advised adding extra reinforcement in th eform of triangular strip inside the tank bay to toughen up the U/C mount. It's very good advice - even on one of our strips whihc was, to say the leasy, a bit bumpy, I never had problems with the AW's U/C whereas many other models suffered from U/Cs taring out on that strip.
Try it - you'll like it!

Mike

[Chris Dickens]

Stephen
The Acrowot has been the classic first low winger since it was introduced, over the years I must have test flown at least a dozen for various people and never seen a bad one, even the badly contructed and bent ones flew OK, I've never built one but I have buit Wot4s which share the same construction and they must be one of the easiest models to build, no full size plans just sketches in the instructions but you don't need any more.
I agree with Mike, get the delux version with the GRP cowl and U/C, fit a 0.46 twostoke or 0.52 fourstoke and enjoy yourself.
Chris

[Tim Mackey]

Its all been said....a classic.

[Stephen Harrison]

Hi all,
Yes the kit I have been looking at is the F/G version. It is priced up as £112. Your positive comments are much appreciated. I plan to put a TT46 Pro engine in it.

I must ask some questions now. I am thinking of treating myself to a futaba 2.4ghz radio. What servos should I use? Are standard S3003 any good, How many servos does the arco wot use?

Other than this I am set up to complete the plane.

If anyone can help with my queries it would be most appreciated.

Stephen

[Tim Mackey]

It can be used with 4 servos, although most use 5 ( seperate ones for each aileron )
Standard servos are fine.
I use 2.4G in all my planes ( not futaba but hey... ) they are great.
Thunder Tiger 46 will be OK, but the airframe will take a lot bigger- my most powerful version (years ago)had a 90FS.
One of the good things with most of Fossies kits is there flexibility on engine size....it will even fly fine on a 35 if kept light.

[Mike Rolls]

Most awesome AW I ever say had a Laser 100 uo front - but that's overkill! A good 46 is fine, a small case 'efective 60' such as an Irvine 53 or the like (mine had a ST 51) even better.

Mike

[Mike Stevens]

adding extra reinforcement in th eform of triangular strip inside the tank bay to toughen up the U/C mount. It's very good advice - even on one of our strips whihc was, to say the leasy, a bit bumpy, I never had problems with the AW's U/C whereas many other models suffered from U/Cs taring out on that strip.

Would second that having ripped out the bottom of my WOT 4 (same construction) at the weekend on its second flight - went into rough grass. For some reason Chris supplies lite ply for this area so I am replacing with 'real' ply and will re-inforce with tissue glass cloth and resin and hopefully it will just be the retaining bolts that 'let go'. oh and I am using 3003 servos in the WOT 4 just fine.
Mike

[Stephen Harrison]

Thanks all for your help. I am going to go and buy one from the local model shop which is 2 mins up the road from me. Although I will be a long way from this stage but how have you all finished the A/W - is it finishing resin or film e.t.c

Stephen

[Tim Mackey]

usually straightforward film / tex covering.

[Mike Rolls]

I used film on the wings, tail and fin, dope and tissue on the fus. Mine weighed 5 lbs. A clubmate glassed his all over - weighed 7 lbs but still went OK on an OS 46, though the vertical wasn't too brilliant.
Mike

[Mike Stevens]

I covered my WOT 4 all over in Profilm(Oracover)
Mike
http://www.flyingsites.co.uk/gallery/album/power_aircraft/Wot_4_006.jpg

[Mark Jones]

I have an AcroWot which i built in 1995 so as you can imagine its done some hours. it was easy to build and even easier to fly, its one of those planes that feels like its on rails.Up front is my trusty ASP61 2 stroke, and i use Futab s3001. Oh yes and they can take lots of miss treatment on landing, mines got the origional aluminium u/c-its been bent back squashed flat and still survives. never had any problems with them breaking off.
So all in all a superb plane !

[Engine Doctor]

Hi Stephen.Acro-wot is a great flyer.I am building one at the moment fo a club mate.The problems with split and lifting veneer on the wings is common,it seems , with current Chris Foss kits.Inspect your kit at the shop before purchase . Also replace the light-ply fire wall backing with proper birch ply if using anything more powerfui than a 46. Overall , a good flying model with no vices 10/10 .kit is let down by skimping on some materials 6/10

[Stephen Harrison]

Hi engine doctor, Just out of curiosity where did the kit come from. I looked at one in Mikes Models and it was immaculate and when I went to buy it some sod brought it :-(

Not worry I will have one for Thursday along with TT46 Pro engine. Also what are you going to cover it in?

Stephen

[Mike Stevens]

Stephen
Did you get your Acrowot? I have just started to build one myself now.
Mike

[Stephen Harrison]

Hi Mike, Mine is still on order with Mikes and I am waiting for it to arrive from the factory.

In the mean time I have a Vision EP to build hopefully in time for the Greenacres Electric Fun fly.

What have you started to build? and what engine have you gone for?
I have gone for the TT46 Pro, they are fantastic and great value for money :-)

Hope to get the Acro Wot soon and get building and ready for next years flying season (I'm being hopeful, I will probably take me that long to sit down and start it)

Finally out of curiosity what condition were the wings in?

Happy Building, Stephen

[Mike Stevens]

Hi Stephen
I am on the fuse at present - like to get in the mood before tackling the wings. Finished a WOT 4 a couple of weeks back and put an OS46AX on the front which seems to do nicely. I still have L plates for flying.
I was considering the TT46 Pro but had been warned away from them by a couple of people (forum and at the local club) and as OS have dropped their prices I have gone for another 46AX. - £67.00. Let me know how you get on with the TT as I have heard conflicting reports from good to don't go there!
I haven't peeked at the wings yet but know what you mean about the veneer from the Wottie.....but will let you know. Covered in Profilm it sems fine in use.
Mike

[Tim Mackey]

TT46 runs VERY WELL in my wife's Wot4 - a little reluctant to start from cold, but everything else about it is excellent. Great VFM IMHO

[Stephen Harrison]

I have a TT46 Pro in my trainer and I have never Had an issue with it. It starts first time, Fantastic performance and It has had well over 5 hours of running time. I have brought another two TT46 Pro's, one for the acro wot and the other for future projects. I must agree that the OS engines are a fantastic buy but some model shops are still charging full whack but hey that's them. The only TT engine I have had problems with was the TT GP42 which was a nightmare to run in and fly. The other thing i noticed was that the needle settings were extremely delicate. I also have a TT GP15 for a spitfire- Yet another project that is in progress.

Off the top of my head I can't remember but is the OS 46AX ball raced?
Still it is only £7 more expensive than the TT46 pro at RRP which does make them great value. Does anybody have a GMS engine as I am curious to see what they are like.

Happy building :-)

Stephen

[Mike Stevens]

Hi Stephen
Yes - ball raced and ABL liner which is an advantage over the LA as the piston and liner can be replaced if necessary.
http://www.osengines.com/engines/osmg0547.html
http://www.flyingsites.co.uk/cgi-bin/gallery/album.pl?photo=power_aircraft/Acro_3.jpg;photo_width=300
Fuselage part constructed so far and loking at one wing last night no evidence of splitting veneer.
Mike

[Stephen Harrison]

Hi Mike
I think the OS price drop is fantastic. Having a removable liner is very handy and for £67 it is a great price. Nice to hear that your wing has no splitting. On another forum a guy from abroad had a WOT 4 i think it was and it had a split wing and Chris Foss replaced the wing and paid the £25 postal cost himself.

I am getting a little agitated for mine to arrive but I do have a few little projects that want looking at - planes need an overhaul, Engines need running in and other things.

I can't remember if you have already mentioned this, but I shall still ask you - Which kit have you gone for, is it the standard or the deluxe with fibre glass cowl and U/C?

Stephen

[Mike Stevens]

Hi Stephen
I know some shops are still selling (or not) as the case may be the OS's for over £100. I looked around a found a couple of places more realistic. I think Slough Models is one and as I've said mine came from model maniacs. I must still give the TT a go at some point and then of course there are the Irvines.
I have gone for the deluxe as I did on the WOT 4 as I think the extra money is worth it. I had real problems spraying the U/c on the Wottie and keeping it fuel proof so in the end I covered the f/glass U/c in profilm and seems to be very neat.. My Wottie seems to have some splitting but under the covering not a real problem.
I still have a Middle Phase that's about 30 years old and in perfect condition as far as the wings go.
I will see if I can post a picture of the latest wings as supplied.I have wondered about painting them with thinned PVA but not sure that won't cause more prolems than it solves though I know some people use this and brown paper as a base covering and then of course some will glass them.
Mike

[Mike Stevens]

Here are a couple of pictures of the wing veneer - on this kit all in order.
Mike

[David Martin 2]

Really pleased with my Acrowot this last 3 years.

 I started with a tempermental MDS 58 Pro in it which sounded really good and pulled it over aerobatics with authority, but then I cracked the piggy and went for the straight drop in swap OS 55 AX.

 Best move I've made in modelling in over 20 years. Smoothed out the irratic engine troubles the MDS gave and another 1/4 power to boot. It's so reliable (at the moment..!) after running it gently with the cowl off for 10 flights, I set the main needle 4 clicks rich, ground down the needle at 45 degrees and burried it in the cowl. 60 flights on and the Acrowot is flying better than ever and starting instantly with a quick prime first.

 I covered mine in Profilm for a hassle free experience. Unfortunately, I'm having trouble loading pictures at the moment or I would show you my pride and joy..!

 Very good slow handling as well as smooth large or small aerobatics.

 David M