cannonball200

My Feedback: (36)

Geezer is right on !!!!! I run all my Saito's inverted with no problems at all. I have 2 180's, 1 150, and 1 125. Save your money unless you have a twin and need the insurance.
cannonball200 of OKC

paulemv

My Feedback: (23)

For what it's worth, I TOTALY AGREE with this ,ALL of my (6) Saito's run just fine inverted...Just follow his instruction for a smoooth trans from low to high,
Like he said "just like a HARLEY" only with fuel nitro perfume......

sdossett

Thanks for the posts.
Lean and mean is me!

Scott

jbarnes

Had some time on Sunday to take the Decathlon out of the house. Six great flights. I realize we have had some negative posts on this thread regarding the cowl but overall I still think this is one of the best ARF's I've put together. You can't beat the price and quality and yes the cowl stripes are a a problem but overall I still think this one great machine. I look forward to owning some of the future ARF's RC Guys produces in the future. Jerry

Old Dutch

My Feedback: (34)

It is very dissapointing to find the misalignment of the cowl trim on the Decathlon. But.........RC Guys are playing dumb on this one. In his review of their Cessna 152, Dick Pettit reported and showed the very same thing on the Cessna. That issue was well known to the distributor and should not have been repeated on this more recent model. Those RC Guys just don't "walk the talk" and that's why I am hesitant to buy from them.

mrbigg

My Feedback: (21)

Still for 400 bucks, not a bad buy in my opinion. I'd just repaint the cowl.

JerKap

What would be a good gas engine for this plane? RC Guys web site says use a 20cc to 40cc ,,

Thanks for the input..

cannonball200

My Feedback: (36)

Old Dutch, you are going to miss out on a great looking rc airplane. With a little time in measuring & fitting, the cowl is fine. I think the guy's are doing ok. Can't wait to get mine in the air. My flying buddie's are impressed with its looks and quality. Just get one and work out the little stuff.

cannonball200

GotSky

Well guys I just pulled my Decathlon out of the box yesterday. I had pre-ordered it when they were 1st made public and have been trying to get other builds off the table before I jumped into this one. The plane looks great and it's good to hear some positive flight reports. I have one question for you all. My cowl is badly damaged in terms of paint cracks and big paint chips. (shipping issue mixed with some bad paint I believe) Has anyone else had this issue. I have a lot of discoloring under the white areas along with some in the red areas that look like dark sploches. Also my wing tube is pinched on both ends almost like what ever was used to cut it compressed the tubing. Making it impossible to fit in the wing tubes. I contacted Dan at RC guys and asked if he would send out new parts.. I have sent him pictures of the affected parts and the new unbuilt kit still in the box in hopes he could just forward new parts.
Thanks.. can't wait to get the plane in the air. I will be using a MOKI 2.10 for power

sebo

I would do as they requested you to do. See how they handle it. Then, if you have issues with them, try to iron them out. I'm sure they will work with you as they don't want any bad press. Give them a chance. Ron

jbarnes

Regarding the comment about a good gas engine. I have mine powered by the Fugi 43cc and I'm here in Colorado at 5K feet. It flies real nice with that motor, loops, rolls easily and seems to have plenty of power. I think the 40cc range is a good power plant for this bird. Jerry.

GotSky

Dan got ahold of me this morning and is willing to send out the parts and take mine back after the fact. Very good.. I just need to check with UPS to see why their price was so high, I think maybe the person on the phone gave me some type of priority shipping cost. I started on the tail feathers last night, sure glade I picked one of these up!!

paulemv

My Feedback: (23)

Hey you Guys, this just the best ever!! About 5 post up from here is a great pic of the instrament panel we need for the Decathlon
JUST RIGHT CLICK ,then select (print target) it sure worked for me... Blue Sky,low wind, the rumble of 4 stoke, the sweet smell of nitro.

JerKap

still looking for some input on an engine for this plane....

I first was looking at the Zenoah G38,,, but it maybe on the low end of the power brand... or maybe a G45..or

Opinions Please....

Thanks..

dubflyer

My Feedback: (1)

jbarnes

I would think the G38 woud be fine at sea level. If my 43 does good at this altitude I'd expect similar performancw with the G38 at sea level.

GotSky

Hello everyone. I must say Dan at RC Guys is a top notch person. If anyone was on the fence about this plane or company have no fear. Dan has gone out of his way to make sure my small issues were taken care of right away. Not only is the Decathlon ARF kit an A+ in terms of quality but the customer service that I have received is the best you could ever want. I just felt that I needed to post this due to how Dan has handled my problems.. I intend to do a full flight report with my set up in the next month or so. The MOKI 2.10 fits nicely mounted inverted. This set up will give me close to 5hp swinging a 20x8 VOLK prop, or I may go with a 22x6 Top Flight depending on how the airframe handles the power. Take care all and happy flying

cmoulder

How is the cowl clearance on the top? (Fuji mounted inverted, right?)

I thought about using the DA-50 on mine, but now it seems the Brillelli 46 will be more suited to it. I put the DA on my H9 Extra and IMHO it would too much engine for this model. Heck, it's too much for the Extra!

jbarnes

I have the Fugi mounted as high up on the firewall as possible. In fact it hits the cowl block on the top. Mine has the paint stripes on the cowl slightly down. So, you want the motor as high as possible so that you can bring the cowl out at the bottom as far as you can and as far back at the top as you can to get the stripes to line up horizontal with the rest of the plane. Hopefully that makes sense! I would say the DA50 is way too much power also, plus you have the added hassle of the rear mounted carb which will require firewall mods. Good luck, Jerry.

paulemv

My Feedback: (23)

Hi Guys, Tomarrow is THE day, yes the" First Flight" (weather pending_)
Mine is powered by a THOR 45cc. Flight reports to follow.....

cmoulder

Thanks, Jerry, for the mounting, info. It's going to be close with the Brillelli, or with any engine for that matter.

Paul, Good luck on the maiden!! I hope the weather co-operates.

fisher1648

For anyone considering the Brillelli 46cc it fits great ! I just finished mounting it and it fits under the cowl well - there is nothing protruding except the exhaust stack and that's minimal.

My cowling lines up pretty well (in the trial fitting stage) and the spinner will be centered with the stripes lining up properly. The only bug is that the spinner isnt parellel to the cowl face...it centers nicely and it's correct in the hoziontal but a bit off in vertical (downthrust). Overall, not a big issue.

So far so good.

cmoulder

That's good news! The B46 is rather wide with the muffler and carb on opposite sides. Good pics there.

I have the same T-beam mounts, and on yours it looks as if the built-in thrust is probably very close to perfect. Looks as if the bottom of the crankcase is going to be quite close to the cowl.

fisher1648

Bob,

The bottom of the crankcase has at least .25" at it's closest point - and it looks like +.50" for the muffler and carb ! plenty of room with no rub anywhere. There is only one hole required for the exhaust - generally a good fit .

PS - the small spinner is all I have on hand at the moment.

jbarnes

Word of caution after moving my Fugi higher it placed the cylinder head above the bottom cutout at the bottom of the cowl. My engine was overheating and I had to build a baffle to get the air to the cylinder. Thanks, Jerry.