Manufacturer: Watt-age
Model: Cessna 165(195) EP
Controls: Ailerons, elevator, thrust.
Fuselage: ABS with ply and balsa reinforcement
Airfoil: Flat bottom covered balsa
Tail feathers: Factory covered balsa
Cowl: ABS 2 piece, pre cut, pre glued.
Gear: Light weight foam wheels, very tough pre bent wire; reinforced mounting for those less than graceful landings.
Tail wheel: No tail wheel with kit, but I put one on.
Flight weight: 19ounces (manual suggests a 16 ounce flight weight)
Assembly:
The Cessna 195 and 165 are quite the step up from the RTF Cessna 180 that Watt-age offers. This model has a rock solid ABS body (with ply and balsa reinforcement), and factory covered balsa wing. Wing was completely built and covered. CA hinges needed to be glued in for the ailerons and elevator, but the slots were factory cut so all that you have to do is add a bit of adhesive. I purchased pinned hinges to replace the CA hinges for smoother movement. The aileron pushrods had Z bends servo side and plastic clevises for the surface horns. I replaced the pushrods with metal locking snap clevises for control horns and got adjustable push rod connectors with set screws for the servo horn. Total assembly is as follows: Glue hinges, mount motor, mount and hook up electronics, glue tail section and finally attach landing gear and cowl.
First time out with electric 370, 8 cell 1200 mA NiMHi, and 7x4 master airscrew. First charge was taxi time putting around the track at the local high school. First thing I noticed is because there is no rudder control there is no way to compensate for torque steering. For taking off I found that holding the tail, give it full thrust and then let go. Don't try to pull up too early. The 370 is under powered. It will stall out and flop back on the ground if you get over zealous with the elevator. Unless you have a cliff you can toss this plane off don't expect anything but wafting around like a vulture that has eaten too much. It flew like a Cessna. Once trimmed up it was stable easy flying. I was looking for something a bit more spirited so I changed the prop to a 9x4 and found the plane still did not perform to my expectations. Unhappy with the performance of the 370 I decided to get a bit more HP under the hood. Picked up a Norvel .061, 2 oz fuel cell, and a servo for the throttle. The cost of going brushless with a 400 is too much to warrant for a park flyer so, back to the workbench.
The battery housing became the new fuel cell compartment. The 370 came off and was replaced by the Norvel. A hole drilled in the plywood firewall for the pushrod and some line routing and the new servo is mounted. Now we have a glow powered ½ A scale Cessna. She also shed about 4 ounces weighing in at 15 ounces without fuel.
With the glow engine to call the Cessna a spirited plane would be a gross understatement. She is a rocket on rails. I strongly suggest any new pilots stick with a brushless or a 400 electric. For those of you with a bit more experience with flying and glow engine care this is the best thing since top ramen. Listening to the wings hum by as you pull out of a dive almost as good as listening to your significant other in the throws of passion, almost. The wing holds up fine but I did attach another horn to the other side of the elevator and a pushrod to the other side of the elevator servo horn. Under high G pulls she would list to the left because of lack of support on that side of the elevator.
Landing glow was easier and slower than electric. The added weight of the electric and lack of flaps made for some pretty hot landings or a carrier flop. I no longer have to warn people that I am coming in for a landing. No tail wheel or rudder control and lack of power at the end of a battery cycle can make for some precarious “landings”. With the reduced weight and added power of the glow she sets down nicely and I have the option to touch and go if things go awry.
The durability of this plane is fantastic, meaning I have yet to break anything but the cowl which obtained a few cracks on some less than graceful landings. Once it went off the runway shortly after touchdown and did about three cartwheels. I was expecting to have to pick up pieces, but only needed to replace the prop.
Overall this is a great plane. Once you graduate from your GWS foamies this is the way to go. Watt-age is a whole new level of quality compared to the popular GWS foamies which are great planes to learn on, but cannot compare to the Watt-age planes in build quality. Price however reflects this quality. The Cessna 195 comes with a 400 motor, but I opted for the Cessna 165 which came without a motor. For those intermediate pilots with some experience with glow engine care you might consider switching to glow for a new level of Parkflyer fun.
All pictures are huge and hi quality. they will load slow for modem users.
Pic of radio tray and new fuel cell
http://www.pacifier.com/~merlin/ces1.jpg
Plane without Cowl
http://www.pacifier.com/~merlin/nocowl.jpg
Mofidications to wing servo
http://www.pacifier.com/~merlin/ceswing.jpg
Complete plane with fuel filler and exhaust"
http://www.pacifier.com/~merlin/cowl.jpg
http://www.pacifier.com/~merlin/fus.jpg