Russo247
Posts: 2
Joined: 9/21/2003 From: Bala Cynwyd, PA, USA Status: offline
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Several web sites provide product reviews for the Hobbico Twinstar. RCM and MAN have long articles. All say the plane took off fast, climbed well, performed all aerobatics, flew very stable, wings level in stalls and slowed down well for landings. I suspect the latter is the result of super-draggy nacelles. Some complained about small fuel tanks and 6 minute flights. One warned that engines larger than .32s, especially ball bearing .40s, will make it go so fast that the stab can be cracked during a pull-up. Fuel storage for .40s would also be a problem. I am trying to avoid the engine-out problem by modifying the whole kit with a YS53 mounted inside the cabin, buggy-type cog belts running inside the wings to drive counter rotating props, smooth nacelles with ball bearing aluminum shafts, cheek air scoops made from wheel pants, removable belly air scoop which doubles as hot air dump and encloses the muffler at the rear, additional aspirator hot air dump at rear fuselage bottom, cabin rear windows (4) cut out and repositioned to dump hot air, cabin top/windows removable as a 17" long hatch, starter system made from a Jacobs chuck, wing roots located at the fuselage sides and secured in 6 places, aluminum dihedral brace reaching out to the 3rd rib on both sides, cored-out ribs forward of the spars made of 1/2" ply, large under-wing hatches for access to the drives. These changes add about 3" to the wingspan and widen the wheel track. A few items still remaining but hope to be in the air soon. Members of 3 clubs are waiting to see it fly.
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