Posts: 45
Joined: 7/12/2005 From: Atlanta,
GA, USA Status: offline
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!
< Message edited by jespinel -- 11/30/2005 10:59:44 PM >
_____________________________
May be this is an heresy but I don't like foam planes or geared motors.
Posts: 45
Joined: 7/12/2005 From: Atlanta,
GA, USA Status: offline
Yes! No doubt on it. This is my long awaited Park Flyer. I have been flying this plane day after day during a week and I conclude that this is the best Park Flyer I have ever seen. I am buying the Cub J-3 from the same brand to compare the behavior of a monoplane with the Tiger Moth. With my current set-up I am totaling 14 minutes each flight. By the way, as the battery in this plane is placed in a such tight space I have preferred to recharge it at the field instead of changing it.
Important: I tested also that you must to set minimum throws to avoid stalls.
_____________________________
May be this is an heresy but I don't like foam planes or geared motors.
Posts: 45
Joined: 7/12/2005 From: Atlanta,
GA, USA Status: offline
Hi:
Previous to this plane (Tiger Moth 370 LX Model) I owned a GWS Pico Tiger Moth upgraded to a brushless Feigao motor. It is a great first plane. Its big dihedral angle makes it very easy to fly because you can go to almost walking pace. Nevertheless, as it happens with most foam little planes, it is very sensitive to the winds, reason because I recommend flying at a maximum of 5 mph winds. With the Tiger Moth 370 by LX Model we have a different story. It is made from balsa and film and the struts are made out of wood. Also its small dihedral gives it best performance characteristics and an almost scale appearance. Therefore, this model is strong enough to fly easily against 10 mph winds. Of course the GWS is almost half the price of the Lx Model and this could be a restraint in some cases, but I consider the Lx Model worth the price. I received my new LX Model Cub and it is as beautiful as the Tiger Moth. I have not yet assembled it, but it is evident that the Cub has much more internal space compared to the Tiger Moth, which will make a lot easier to install the servos and transmitter. I will post any new information I would have about it. You can choose the color of the LX Model planes when you order by phone. On line you do not have this option.
_____________________________
May be this is an heresy but I don't like foam planes or geared motors.
Posts: 45
Joined: 7/12/2005 From: Atlanta,
GA, USA Status: offline
Today I added the rigging to the wings. It flies even better because you also feel its outstanding strength. This rigging is not ornamental but very functional!
_____________________________
May be this is an heresy but I don't like foam planes or geared motors.
Posts: 45
Joined: 7/12/2005 From: Atlanta,
GA, USA Status: offline
Today during a landing I made a miscalculation to the distance of a fence and my Tiger Moth crashed on it. It brokes the motor mounting from the fuselage. With 5 minutes epoxy glue the damage was fixed almost instantly. I will be on the air this afternoon again.
_____________________________
May be this is an heresy but I don't like foam planes or geared motors.
Posts: 45
Joined: 7/12/2005 From: Atlanta,
GA, USA Status: offline
Regarding a question someone asked me in an e-mail, I painted the transparent cowling with plain white spray paint from the inside. This way the cowling looks with a nice gloss from outside. It also becomes less prone to scratches.
< Message edited by jespinel -- 10/30/2005 10:00:00 PM >
_____________________________
May be this is an heresy but I don't like foam planes or geared motors.
Posts: 45
Joined: 7/12/2005 From: Atlanta,
GA, USA Status: offline
Flying my Tiger Moth in a soccer field located close to a hill I got some kind of receiver glitch, which dragged my plane out any possible control. Now it is stuck up 20+ feet high in a pine in a small forest. I expect any strong wind blow it down back to me in some moment. Meanwhile, as I could not give up with this plane, I bought other. This time it is I made up my pushrods from piano wire instead of the carbon fiber and wire stock option. It works just great and it is a lot easier to install in the tight internal space of the Tiger Moth.
_____________________________
May be this is an heresy but I don't like foam planes or geared motors.
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Tiger Moth 370 by Lx Model www.giantscaleplanes.com - 
