Great Planes 1/4 scale Gene Soucy Extra 300S
 

This is a Great looking plane, looks very scale except for the oversized vertical fin and rudder.

I think I will have to order one.

http://www.greatplanes.com/airplanes/gpma1365.html

Make that ordered one. Looks like I'll be the first here.

RE: Great Planes 1/4 scale Gene Soucy Extra 300S
 

Let us know how that plane looks when you get it (pics if you can). I was thinking of getting one for a small gasser.

RE: Great Planes 1/4 scale Gene Soucy Extra 300S
 

I want another Extra pretty bad and just happen to have a new 1.60 that needs a home. My question is do you jump on it now or wait till the first run is sold and let everyone else get the bugs worked out??? Cop out, maybe, but I have been burned on the first run of a couple of planes so it's more caution I think. Do let us know what you think of it of it when you get it.

RE: Great Planes 1/4 scale Gene Soucy Extra 300S
 

I should have mine tomorrow. I'll take a good look at it and get weights. I'll have to get a friends camera to take the photos. All this money on the hobby and no digital camera.

RE: Great Planes 1/4 scale Gene Soucy Extra 300S
 

Thinking of getting one - looking at the manual I like all the neat little touches they included with this one - like a hatch at the rear of the fuse for which to place balacing weights (or batteries) and the ingenious cowl aligning method. And the 5 screws that attach the gear to the fuse to spread out the loads...

RE: Great Planes 1/4 scale Gene Soucy Extra 300S
 

Swill,

The online manual helped sell it to me. Should be here today via FedEx ground.

RE: Great Planes 1/4 scale Gene Soucy Extra 300S
 

Mine came last night. Initial thoughts:
1. construction is good looks like plenty of glue in all of the critical areas.
2. virtually wrinkle free monocoat
3. the under wing marking are cut monocoat and not decals
4. All appropriate areas fuel proofed (although I will probably fuelproof the belly pan)
5. cowl color excellent match for the rest of the plane.
6. looks like an easy build
7 The two piece wing is nice and unlike the earlier Wagstaff the wing tube fits without sanding or ather mods.

Ahem.
 

http://home.earthlink.net/~dojbofh/i...e/postpics.gif


:D

RE: Ahem.
 

Got mine today. The covering has no wrinkles, the fuselage is straight and overall it looks very good.

I think they overbuilt it if anything. I'll have weights tomorrow. My guess would be 14 pounds ready to fly.

RE: Ahem.
 

I like the look of this plane too and have read the manual from the GP website, but we need pics guys! :D

RE: Ahem.
 

Sorry no pics yet.

Weight of all parts measured on trade scale = 8 lb. 14 oz.

Add 4 lb. for engine, muffler, radio and CA glue.

Add pilot, prop and forgot to weigh included spinner. 13+ pounds. Will fly well with a OS 1.60 or Enya 1.55. Forget about hovering with rocket pull out. Would have to weigh 11 pounds for that.

The plane is Very sturdy and should last several seasons of hard flying. The whole plane looks to be assembled with epoxy like the Christian Eagle.

RE: Great Planes 1/4 scale Gene Soucy Extra 300S
 

What kind of engine do you guys think will fit?
A zdz 40 I think would be great for 3D, DA-50 overkill?
let me know what you think!

RE: Great Planes 1/4 scale Gene Soucy Extra 300S
 

I am putting in a OS 1.60. The plane is set up for this engine.

RE: Great Planes 1/4 scale Gene Soucy Extra 300S
 

An OS 160 will be perfect for scale aerobatics but would be lacking for 3D. The plane at 13 pounds will slowing pull out of hover, not pull out quickly. If you want to 3D, better get a Moki 1.8 or 2.10. The plane is strong enough to take it. I think a gas engine for 3d will weigh too much for good slow flight. We will see. I am going to install my OS 160 and fly scale.

If you want to go 40-50cc gas get a Patty Wag Extra for $20.00 more.

RE: Great Planes 1/4 scale Gene Soucy Extra 300S
 

I just got mine and havn't had time to work on it. The plane looks as good as any ARF I have seen or better. I'm putting a moki 2.10 on mine, when I finish I'll let ya'll know how it go's.

RE: Ahem.
 

Test flew a friend's plane last Saturday. Here's a pic of the prowd owner. Plane flew well with the OS 1.60 and exhibited no bad characteristics. Landings are uneventfull with no tip stalling tendencies and a mild stall. A much more relaxing/forgiving plane to fly than my GP 1/4 scale Giles. Andy said it balanced spot-on with the 160, btw.

OS 1.60 has more than enough power to hang it from the prop. Pulled to the belly slightly on knife-edge, but had zero roll coupling. Didn't try anything too wild seeing as it wasn't my plane! :D

RE: Ahem.
 

in your opinion do you think the Moki 1.80 or 2.10 will liven it up for possible mild 3d action?




matt

RE: Ahem.
 

"in your opinion do you think the Moki 1.80 or 2.10 will liven it up for possible mild 3d action? "

Don't know Kid, because installing a big Moki will entail adding 2 or 3 ozs to the tail which will add at least a pound overall to what is already a 12lbs plus aircraft. At 13.5 lbs either Moki will take it unlimited vertical, but your wing loading is going to increase significantly. If it were my plane. Id stick with the 1.60 and play around with the setup (prop, fuel, etc).

Recently I saw a Great Planes promotional video in which they had the Extra torque rolling rather well. I suspect they were using the recommended 1.6 engine.

RE: Ahem.
 

The plane looks awesome. Was curious though on overall parts fit during construction.. ie, wings to fuselage, push rods etc. I had the .40 sized GP Extra 300 ARF and was a bit disappointed in the way some of the major parts fit together. For example, the pushrod dimensions were incorrect in the instruction manual. Also there was a sizable gap between the plastic belly pan and the wing surface. I would assume the new GS Extra is much better designed ARF. Comments??

Joe [8D]

RE: Ahem.
 

plane is great overall if you ask me. Not to bad not the greatest either. For the money its hard to beat!


LuvBipes very good point about wing loading. Obviously most of us would prefer lighter :)

RE: Ahem.
 

Blue
In a word perfect. The plane is very well constructed and everything went together flawlessly. One week from box to flight (and I have a day job)!!!! None of the wing tube problems of the earlier version of the PW extra. Balanced dead on with the OS 1.60. No bellypan gap, two piece wing mated right up flush perfect fit in the wing saddle even the wing bolts lined up without having to enlargen the holes. Quite frankly it was probably the easiest plane I have ever put together.

RE: Ahem.
 

Much thanks for the input. I'm liking this one more and more!

RE: Ahem.
 

how did you connected the two elevator servos??? with servo revrser?

RE: Ahem.
 

im pretty sure a standard Y connector might work in this case? Can someone correct me if I am wrong

RE: Ahem.
 

a standard Y connector will work only if the elevator servos are not too close to the elevator.
a close friend of mine had this problem with his midwest extra 300.