Great Planes G202 Kit - Comments?
10-16-2004, 02:03 PM
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Great Planes G202 Kit - Comments?
I'm getting ready for the building season and considering the GP Giles 202 .46. I have read the reviews in the product guide, everyone seems to like it. Just want to double check. I was planning on using a Saito FA 100 and Futaba Digital Servos (they are now packaged in a flight pack).... any comments? Is the 100 too much engine? Are the digi servos overkill? Maybe a FA 82 and S3004's.... dual elevator and maybe treat the rud to a Hi tor.?
Happy Building!
RJM
Happy Building!
RJM
10-16-2004, 07:00 PM
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RE: Great Planes G202 Kit - Comments?
RJM, I own the Giles 202. I thought the kit was one of Gt Plane's better kits, and I have built quite a few of them.
Power-wise, I suppose it depends on what you want to do with it in the air. I put a K&B Twist-on Head 61 in mine, and it flew "ok", but was a little weak over the top of large loops, especially in our summer time heat. I went to a Tower 75 and at our 1500 ft. elevation it is fine, unless you are into 3D stuff, which I'm not. I have planes with more performance (120-150 powered), but I do enjoy this little airplane. Knife-edges great, and good ground handling, if you angle the gear forward on its base a little bit.
I am not a four-stroke enthusiast, but I would think the 100 would be overkill unless you want to do a lot of hovering. Just my two cents worth.
Clair
Power-wise, I suppose it depends on what you want to do with it in the air. I put a K&B Twist-on Head 61 in mine, and it flew "ok", but was a little weak over the top of large loops, especially in our summer time heat. I went to a Tower 75 and at our 1500 ft. elevation it is fine, unless you are into 3D stuff, which I'm not. I have planes with more performance (120-150 powered), but I do enjoy this little airplane. Knife-edges great, and good ground handling, if you angle the gear forward on its base a little bit.
I am not a four-stroke enthusiast, but I would think the 100 would be overkill unless you want to do a lot of hovering. Just my two cents worth.
Clair
10-17-2004, 09:18 AM
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RE: Great Planes G202 Kit - Comments?
I revived another thread and posted there.
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_34..._2/key_/tm.htm
There is a lovethon there about the instructions to which I have to point out that if you haven't built a GP wing the way they did it will hang you up that the instructions, plans and name stamped on the parts do not match. I probably spent about a day trying to get this worked out but once I did the assembly was straight forward. There was a second place I got hung up too but the memory fails.
These are minor complaints. The plane flies beautifully with the Magnum 91FS and has lots of vertical. It uses light weight balsa so the build is light. You need to note the reduced recommendation for elevator throw. This plane will snap viciously if you apply too much elevator and if that happens on your first flight you will be upset. I think maximum elevator throw is 1/2 inch for takeoff. Those other extreme elevator throws are for 3D stuff. The plane takes off beautifully with a nice straight run and the tail coming up by itself. Then just a blip on the elevator and it lifts off just like a real plane.
To balance my four stroke I put the elevator servos in the rear and the receiver in the fuse just behind the wing. The cutout for lightening makes a beautiful hatch there. My battery wound up just behind F2 as you can see in the picture in the other thread. Nice because any changes to CG can be made with battery placement.
My appraisal is that this plane is for the accomplished flier. It is defiantly not a second plane and most likely not a third plane although I have seen some hot young fliers that could handle it.
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_34..._2/key_/tm.htm
There is a lovethon there about the instructions to which I have to point out that if you haven't built a GP wing the way they did it will hang you up that the instructions, plans and name stamped on the parts do not match. I probably spent about a day trying to get this worked out but once I did the assembly was straight forward. There was a second place I got hung up too but the memory fails.
These are minor complaints. The plane flies beautifully with the Magnum 91FS and has lots of vertical. It uses light weight balsa so the build is light. You need to note the reduced recommendation for elevator throw. This plane will snap viciously if you apply too much elevator and if that happens on your first flight you will be upset. I think maximum elevator throw is 1/2 inch for takeoff. Those other extreme elevator throws are for 3D stuff. The plane takes off beautifully with a nice straight run and the tail coming up by itself. Then just a blip on the elevator and it lifts off just like a real plane.
To balance my four stroke I put the elevator servos in the rear and the receiver in the fuse just behind the wing. The cutout for lightening makes a beautiful hatch there. My battery wound up just behind F2 as you can see in the picture in the other thread. Nice because any changes to CG can be made with battery placement.
My appraisal is that this plane is for the accomplished flier. It is defiantly not a second plane and most likely not a third plane although I have seen some hot young fliers that could handle it.
10-17-2004, 12:37 PM
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RE: Great Planes G202 Kit - Comments?
I have the Saito 100 in mine, and I enjoy the combination very much. With this engine, I have two mini servos for the elevators all the way in the back, rudder servo in stock location but had to put the battery behind the rear wing mount with a custom hatch. With all three servos in the tail I imagine you could move the battery up into the main compartment. As you'll see pretty much in all discussions regarding this plane, elevator is extremely sensitive and its throws should be small!! Use the GP amended low throws on your first flight!
Good luck and enjoy!
Good luck and enjoy!
