1/2A Guru advice needed
10-22-2006, 04:18 PM
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1/2A Guru advice needed
As part of my ongoing quest to stretch my r/c plane interests well beyond my time available (or skill), I'm looking to try my hand at 1/2A. I'm thinking this could be my main winter project this year.
Here's more or less what I'm looking for:
- Looking for a kit, not an ARF. My building skill is no better than average.
- Ideal kit would be laser-cut and have interlocking construction used where practical.
- Full house controls. Landing gear for ROG.
- Since I'm new to this, I don't have a motor, but I'm not interested in non-throttled motors.
- Mission of plane will be sport flying - no 3D. I'm thinking something like a warbird (corsair) or a J3 Cub perhaps.
- Looking for something with a fairly robust design (my landings still leave something to be desired occasionally
)
- I'm prepared to pay for decent quality
OK, anybody got any tips for me? I'd appreciate any advice at all.
SS
Here's more or less what I'm looking for:
- Looking for a kit, not an ARF. My building skill is no better than average.
- Ideal kit would be laser-cut and have interlocking construction used where practical.
- Full house controls. Landing gear for ROG.
- Since I'm new to this, I don't have a motor, but I'm not interested in non-throttled motors.
- Mission of plane will be sport flying - no 3D. I'm thinking something like a warbird (corsair) or a J3 Cub perhaps.
- Looking for something with a fairly robust design (my landings still leave something to be desired occasionally
)- I'm prepared to pay for decent quality
OK, anybody got any tips for me? I'd appreciate any advice at all.
SS
10-22-2006, 06:11 PM
#2
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RE: 1/2A Guru advice needed
Spanky, I will start you off with Herr Models kits. You will find no better Laser interlocking struture that builds strong and light. They have 2 Warbirds in their line. A P 51D Mustang and AT-6 Texan Do a search on the Herr line and you will find only good things said.. The Texan kit. is about $37.00 An awfully good price for what you get.
Robert
Robert
10-22-2006, 06:21 PM
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RE: 1/2A Guru advice needed
Cant say anything bad about Herr ,but I havent built one, I hear its the type of model you throw in a bottle of CA in the box and shake it up and out comes a plane..I can and do recommend the Ace Simple series, they come in warbirds, J-3, Corsair..and others and are about $40 diecut not lazer , great hardware pak in them foam wings, a pretty quick build..the J-3 recommends the Thunder Tiger GP-07 engine...good throttlable (is that a word?) engine..I'll put up a link later, if I try it now I'll loose all this...Rog
http://www.thundertiger4u.com/gp07-a...ne-p-7518.html
this is the link to the engine..look up airplanes and see the simple series..
http://www.thundertiger4u.com/gp07-a...ne-p-7518.html
this is the link to the engine..look up airplanes and see the simple series..
10-22-2006, 08:56 PM
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RE: 1/2A Guru advice needed
Well, the Ulmer-R/C DNU! from www.selecthobbies.com (at the bottom of the kits page) has many interlocking parts. The shear web is a unit with slots that the also slotted ribs will slide into. Slots for the formers and firewall make placing them a simple job. And the guy that designed it is one darn good-looking fella....
10-23-2006, 09:29 AM
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RE: 1/2A Guru advice needed
I watched the start of a post on the Herr Aqua Star, it looked so good that I bought a couple of the kits on eBay. By the time the model build thread was complete I wished I hadn't bought them. It became evident that they were very poor seaplanes, unable to take off water. They joined the pile of kits I may never get around to building.
On the bright side, maybe they fly well off hard standing. Wishing you the best of luck, Herr kits really do look good.
old git - - - - - - AKA John L.
10-23-2006, 01:21 PM
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RE: 1/2A Guru advice needed
ORIGINAL: old git
I watched the start of a post on the Herr Aqua Star, it looked so good that I bought a couple of the kits on eBay. By the time the model build thread was complete I wished I hadn't bought them. It became evident that they were very poor seaplanes, unable to take off water. They joined the pile of kits I may never get around to building.
On the bright side, maybe they fly well off hard standing. Wishing you the best of luck, Herr kits really do look good.
old git - - - - - - AKA John L.
I watched the start of a post on the Herr Aqua Star, it looked so good that I bought a couple of the kits on eBay. By the time the model build thread was complete I wished I hadn't bought them. It became evident that they were very poor seaplanes, unable to take off water. They joined the pile of kits I may never get around to building.
On the bright side, maybe they fly well off hard standing. Wishing you the best of luck, Herr kits really do look good.
old git - - - - - - AKA John L.
In any case it doesn't qualify, it is three channel versus full house.
MJD
10-24-2006, 09:04 AM
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RE: 1/2A Guru advice needed
ORIGINAL: combatpigg
We are in a holding pattern until an engine company can come forward with another great running .061 like the Norvel BigMig. Until then if you want something small with an excellent throttle, I would go electric.
We are in a holding pattern until an engine company can come forward with another great running .061 like the Norvel BigMig. Until then if you want something small with an excellent throttle, I would go electric.
Thx
MJD
10-24-2006, 09:43 AM
#11
RE: 1/2A Guru advice needed
ORIGINAL: MJD
..........I bought an .061 a while back, and my memory isn't helping me with the designation, but it was the one of the two versions that was supposed to be slightly higher perfomance - is that the "BigMig"? If so, I believe I have also seen comments indicating it was not that friendly in terms of carb operation, idle, transition etc. Mine is sitting on hold in my 1/2a engine drawer, and I haven't started it up yet. What's the scoop on this one?
..........I bought an .061 a while back, and my memory isn't helping me with the designation, but it was the one of the two versions that was supposed to be slightly higher perfomance - is that the "BigMig"? If so, I believe I have also seen comments indicating it was not that friendly in terms of carb operation, idle, transition etc. Mine is sitting on hold in my 1/2a engine drawer, and I haven't started it up yet. What's the scoop on this one?
10-24-2006, 02:03 PM
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RE: 1/2A Guru advice needed
ORIGINAL: Andrew
The higher performance model is the AME -- it is identical in outward appearance to the Big Mig, but the AME has 3 larger oblong intake ports and the Big Mig has 5 smaller, almost round, intake ports. While the AME will throttle, it was designed for all out top end -- hence better breathing -- and would sometimes not have as good an idle or midrange as the Big Mig. While the Big Mig will swing a 6x3, the AME's performed better with smaller props that allowed them to turn up enough to get into their power band. Some of the early versions of the AME were more tightly fitted than the Big Mig at the top end and required a careful and extended breakin to come up to full potential. A few of the AME C/L versions also shipped with a high performance venturi and required crankcase pressure or a bladder to run due to the more open venturi. I am not aware of any differences in the R/C carb between the two.
The higher performance model is the AME -- it is identical in outward appearance to the Big Mig, but the AME has 3 larger oblong intake ports and the Big Mig has 5 smaller, almost round, intake ports. While the AME will throttle, it was designed for all out top end -- hence better breathing -- and would sometimes not have as good an idle or midrange as the Big Mig. While the Big Mig will swing a 6x3, the AME's performed better with smaller props that allowed them to turn up enough to get into their power band. Some of the early versions of the AME were more tightly fitted than the Big Mig at the top end and required a careful and extended breakin to come up to full potential. A few of the AME C/L versions also shipped with a high performance venturi and required crankcase pressure or a bladder to run due to the more open venturi. I am not aware of any differences in the R/C carb between the two.
MJD
