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jespinel -> Tiger Moth 370 by Lx Model www.giantscaleplanes.com (10/11/2005 12:39 AM)
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Model: Tiger Moth 370 by Lx Model www.giantscaleplanes.com then click on Go Micro
Wingspan - 26.4 in
Length 19.7 in
Flying Weight 0.5 - 0.6 lbs
Brushless Outrunner Motor BM 2408-21 (included)
Price $129.99
My Set-Up
Battery LiPo 2 cell Thunder Power 900 maH
Micro Servos 2 (Elevator, Rudder) or 3 (Elevator, Rudder, Aileron) HiTec HS-50
ESC Phoenix 10A
Receiver FMA M5v2 Sub Micro Dual Conversion
Radio Futaba T4YF
Since long time ago I have been looking for my dreamed Park Flyer: a model able to flight in a small outdoors space, less than a soccer field; a handsome model close to a scale one; a strong model who can handle winds well above 10 mph; and, of course a stable model even at low speeds. I saw the information in Model Airplane News about a recently launched set of mini-planes by giantscaleplanes.com. The photo of its Tiger Moth 370 was really promising to my search. I investigate more in the giantscaleplanes web page and the information there, although it was not enough, convinced me I should try this model. I bought it with the doubt about what was the manufacturer. My first surprise: the plane includes ailerons in lower wings! This is almost a bonus in this size of RC planes. Second surprise: the model comes with an outrunner brushless motor instead of the brushed one that appeared in its advertising. This is a strange case in which the actual product overcomes the advertised one.
Overall, this is an outstanding RC plane! I never imagined that a so small airplane could be manufactured with such a quality. The materials and finishing -balsa, film covering and hardware- of this ARF airplane are just great. The only disappointing item of this model is the skinny manual, which lacks several important aspects, as the precise CG position. Nevertheless, the little assembly to make it neutralizes the necessity of a more elaborated manual. The assembly is quite straightforward and logic, except in the pushrods where carbon fiber rods have to be CianoAcrilate-glued to conventional wire and covered with heat-shrinking tube to both ends of the pushrods. This requires approaching a soldering iron inside the balsa fuselage, which makes the assembling of this part a little bit cumbersome due to the tiny available space inside the model. You could want to use your own all-wire pushrods as a much better alternative. Also choose the smallest receiver and servos (sub-micro or smaller) that you have available because the space inside the model is tight.
My 2 cell LiPo Thunder Power 900 maH Battery required opening a small slot in the balsa of the first support, which I previously checked would not weakened the fuselage.
Related to the upper wing, I placed my CG at 30% the planform chord (about 1 7/16 inches or 3.6 centimeters). If you want more information on this issue, see the calculation of the CG of a biplane at the very bottom of the web page http://users.adelphia.net/~pjburke1011/cg.htm
I used several loops of soldering wire placed as dead weight in the nose for balance.
I made my maiden flight in a 10 mph wind day. The airplane behaved superb and handled the wind in a great way, impossible to achieve to an equivalent foam-model made from any other manufacturer on this or similar size.
On the next days I will flight this airplane as much as I can to test if his possible endurance is as great as his beauty. After that I will answer myself whether or not this is my long awaited ideal Park Flyer.
Excellent for beginners!
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