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HOBBICO AVISTAR - 10/16/2003 5:54:22 PM   
RANDALL


 

Posts: 14
Joined: 9/13/2003
From: MAYO, FL, USA
Status: offline 		I recently purchaced a avistar arf from tower hobbies along with tower hobbies .46 engine and a 6 channel radio during the assembly process i had to purchace some items that were defective or not even in the kit including ca hinges wheel collars and the glow plug that was sent dosen't work after assem we took it out and flew it every thing was good untill the 4th flight when the tail stab broke off in the air luckily i was able to get it on the ground without any further damage so far i am very dissapointed with the product reliability but it sure did fly nice i think they could build it a little more durable and yes iglued it the break was just above the glue line
       Post #: 1

RE: HOBBICO AVISTAR - 10/18/2003 2:10:57 PM   
Geistware



Posts: 12946
Joined: 4/9/2002
From: Locust Grove, GA, USA
Status: offline 		I have an extra stab and vertical fin that I could sell you.
I would recommend that you glue the vertical and horizontal surfaces to the fuselage.

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(in reply to RANDALL)
       Post #: 2

RE: HOBBICO AVISTAR - 10/18/2003 3:18:29 PM   
RANDALL


 

Posts: 14
Joined: 9/13/2003
From: MAYO, FL, USA
Status: offline 		I have an extra stab and vertical fin that I could sell you.
I would recommend that you glue the vertical and horizontal surfaces to the fuselage.

thanks for the offer but i have already ordered a fusalodge and tail set because i dont think i could get all the wood and glue out of the fusalodge that it is in now

(in reply to RANDALL)
       Post #: 3

RE: HOBBICO AVISTAR - 10/19/2003 5:23:08 AM   
rik756



Posts: 427
Joined: 10/13/2003
From: Horn Lake, MS, USA
Status: offline 		I have had one of these and they are fun to fly... You said this was and ARF, but I've never heard of an ARF including a glow plug? Maybe they traded you a glow plug for the parts that were missing lol. When you glued the stab, is it possible you cracked it or maybe didn't have it aligned just right so it flexed too much to one side? Just thinking out loud really... It's a great plane and fun to fly. Hope you get it going again.

(in reply to RANDALL)
       Post #: 4

RE: HOBBICO AVISTAR - 10/19/2003 12:52:18 PM   
RANDALL


 

Posts: 14
Joined: 9/13/2003
From: MAYO, FL, USA
Status: offline 		have had one of these and they are fun to fly... You said this was and ARF, but I've never heard of an ARF including a glow plug? Maybe they traded you a glow plug for the parts that were missing lol. When you glued the stab, is it possible you cracked it or maybe didn't have it aligned just right so it flexed too much to one side? Just thinking out loud really... It's a great plane and fun to fly. Hope you get it going again


i purchased the arf a tower hobbies abs bb .46 and 6 channel radio some extra batteries to make some packs all at once is why there was a gloe plug in the pack and to answer your other question any thing is possible but i dont think that happened i have put quiet a few together and i dont take shortcuts i personally think it was defective but i could be wrong thanks for the reply

(in reply to RANDALL)
       Post #: 5

RE: HOBBICO AVISTAR - 10/27/2003 3:19:41 AM   
HoovDriver



Posts: 156
Joined: 6/2/2003
From: Jacksonville, FL, USA
Status: offline 		Just my $.02 also, I just retired my Avistar and gutted it to outfit my Magic Extra. That Avistar can fly like no other trainer in the sky for sure, I had a blast with it. I eventually had to fiberglass my wing join as it started to split apart after a number of snap rolls, and flights on full high rates. Like I said the Avistar can really fly, especially with an O.S. 46FX. Anyways I have seen a few others with the same thing you described happening. And every person I ask tells me they cut the covering off where the stabilizer is glued to the fuse using a hobby knife or razor blade. This, although is the way the manual tells you how to do it is not the correct method and will almost always lead to stabilizer failure sooner or later if you apply enough stress on it. If you used this method and even if you think you did not score the wood you did, even if it was ever so slightly it weakened it. A much better method to remove the covering on the center of the horizontal stab is with a soldering iron, it will melt/burn the covering just as a razor would cut it but without scoring the wood. Well good luck with your new fuse, I hope your Avistar experience is enjoyable as mine was

ZK

(in reply to RANDALL)
       Post #: 6

RE: HOBBICO AVISTAR - 11/2/2003 4:50:07 PM   
fish_e_guy


 

Posts: 1
Joined: 10/31/2003
From: honolulu, HI,
Status: offline 		I started off with an avistar. Good plane, able to do loops, rolls, snaps, and other basic menuevers. I must have crashed that thing 5 times. The worst damage was to the wing joint, wich neeed some epoxy. I later added fiberglass strip to the wing joint. this helps a lot. Compared to my R/C Nobler, the Avistar is one durable plane

(in reply to HoovDriver)
       Post #: 7

RE: HOBBICO AVISTAR - 11/3/2003 5:36:00 PM   
MAPPER


 

Posts: 68
Joined: 8/14/2003
From: PADUCAH, KY, USA
Status: offline 		Randall, I learned on my Aviastar and still fly it on a regular basis. I love this plane and the way it flies. It will do snap rolls and flat spins as good as my goldberg tiger. The only thing with mine is it came with an O.S. 40 and although this engine runs very good it could be better with a .46 engine.
Hobbico makes two versions. The ARF Aviastar and the RTF Aviastar Select which is the one that I have. Mine came very complete and took only about 30 minutes to setup. I didn't even have to add any weight. It balanced right to the C.G. recommended in the book. IMO Hobbico has a great plane with the Aviastar Select. I don't have any information on the Avistar ARF, but if it flies as good as mine I think anyone would be happy. Sorry to here about your luck with the Aviastar. If you get another try the Aviastar Select (no plastic wing tips on the select version).

Map

(in reply to RANDALL)
       Post #: 8

RE: HOBBICO AVISTAR - 11/3/2003 5:41:26 PM   
MAPPER


 

Posts: 68
Joined: 8/14/2003
From: PADUCAH, KY, USA
Status: offline 		Randall, Iwill add this that when I learned to fly and started flying solo I took my Aviastar and glued the wing joint and I glued the horizontal and vert. stab. This will stiffen up the plane and I have never had any trouble since doing this. (be sure and still use the metal wing joint rod just glue the joint itself). I used 12 min. epoxy on all joints. I also replaced all clevices with metal GP.

Map

(in reply to RANDALL)
       Post #: 9

RE: HOBBICO AVISTAR - 11/11/2003 4:19:43 AM   
doccimmer



Posts: 22
Joined: 9/13/2003
From: Mary Esther, FL,
Status: offline 		Randall,

The same thing happened with my vertical stab! I bought a replacement and haven't had a problem since.

(in reply to MAPPER)
       Post #: 10

RE: HOBBICO AVISTAR - 11/11/2003 2:13:57 PM   
donhef


 

Posts: 275
Joined: 9/24/2003
From: Hamilton Square, NJ, USA
Status: offline 		I was given the Avistar ARF as a birthday gift, along w/an OS 46FX. This thing performs like a dream w/this engine! My Instructor has had it doing all sorts of things before passing the box to me, and he was very impressed with its performance, being it is a "trainer".

I've only crashed once, have repaired the wing, bought a new fuse and reused the stabs as they didn't get damaged or came off in the crash. I am now flying again. I will say this though. Before you put all the radio gear in, it is a good thing to reinforce the joints and bulkheads w/epoxy as I think the manufacturer only used a high grade wood glue to put it together.

I also had to use an ounce of weight near the tail to balance it out. This last weekend when I flew it after the repairs, my Instructor gave it the once over, took it up to verify the trims and was very pleased to see that it only needed a little down elevator to keep it level, other than that, tracked straight through the air.

The upside to this is that I was able to copy the stablizer surfaces and also was able to repair the original fuse. Now all I need are the plans I ordered to build a new wing and I'll have 2 planes! And I'm making the second one a taildragger so I'll get to see how the other half lives (taildraggers vs trikes).

Enjoy your Avistar!

(in reply to doccimmer)
       Post #: 11

RE: HOBBICO AVISTAR - 11/12/2003 10:12:30 PM   
ddaver



Posts: 52
Joined: 8/9/2003
From: Delavan, WI, USA
Status: offline 		I started with an Avistar as well. I have the one with the semi-symetrical wing. after solo-ing I noticed that the wing joint was loosening and that the tail feathers were getting sloppy. I loved this plane so I did the following mods.:

1.) Re-epoxied wing joint removing a bit of the dihedral. Glassed the wing joint (approx. 3" wide strip)
2.) Epoxied 1/4 round fillets at the Horizontal and Vertical Stabilizers.
3.) Added flying wires to secure Stabilizers
4.) Converted to tail-dragger (*Dural Main gear just forward of wing leading edge, small tail wheel assembly w/pushrod steering)

* Be sure to beef up the Gear mounting areas with somw hard-wood stock and plenty of epoxy.

It's powered by a OS 46fx and a 10X6 prop. Still love to fly this baby!


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ddaver

(in reply to donhef)
       Post #: 12

RE: HOBBICO AVISTAR - 12/5/2003 4:59:31 PM   
Flying Rubbernutz



Posts: 45
Joined: 12/2/2003
From: Staten Island, NY, USA
Status: offline 		Like all of you ,the Avistar ARF was my first. My local hobby shop owner....who by the way has been flying and building for over 45 years....told me to glass the wing joint during the initial build. This was pretty easy and allowed me to push this baby to the limit. The plane had a brand new never used os 45 FSR circa 1980 which was fantastic. In my humble opinion, I wouldn't have started with anything else.

< Message edited by Flying Rubbernutz -- 12/5/2003 11:59:55 AM >

(in reply to ddaver)
       Post #: 13

RE: HOBBICO AVISTAR - 12/31/2003 9:22:28 PM   
chrischicago


 

Posts: 74
Joined: 8/22/2003
From: Naperville, IL,
Status: offline 		I also have an Avistar with an os 46 fx. Very fun and very fast plane.

(in reply to Flying Rubbernutz)
       Post #: 14