Looking for Pacific Knockabout Owners  
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Looking for Pacific Knockabout Owners - 4/25/2008 11:51:54 AM   
beachbrada


 

Posts: 79
Joined: 2/23/2008
From: , GA, USA
Status: offline 		Just looking for some input on the Pacific Aeromodels Knockabout. Likes and Dislikes about the plane. I crashed my fairly new Four Star .40 and I'm looking for a new plane that is similar. I like the Pulse XT and Knockabout but unsure which one to choose.
       Post #: 1

RE: Looking for Pacific Knockabout Owners - 4/25/2008 5:58:12 PM   
jrf


 

Posts: 2335
Joined: 12/30/2001
From: Burbank, CA, USA
Status: offline 		They are both good airplanes. The Pulse is a little better at outside loops, but the Knockabout has a broader speed range. It is just as fast, but better at slow flight and lands slower. The Knockabout is also quite a bit sturdier. (Don't ask me how I know.)

Jim

(in reply to beachbrada)
       Post #: 2

RE: Looking for Pacific Knockabout Owners - 4/25/2008 8:12:53 PM   
Kmot



Posts: 7524
Joined: 6/11/2003
From: Northridge, CA, USA
Status: offline
quote:

The Knockabout is also quite a bit sturdier. (Don't ask me how I know.)


jrf = James R. Feldman, designer of the Knockabout. What other planes have you designed Jim?

_____________________________

Ahhh......screw it!

(in reply to jrf)
       Post #: 3

RE: Looking for Pacific Knockabout Owners - 4/25/2008 9:44:46 PM   
jrf


 

Posts: 2335
Joined: 12/30/2001
From: Burbank, CA, USA
Status: offline 		A few. I don't want to start dropping names. I prefer to be "one of the guys" and let my comments stand on their own.

The Knockabout was a 10 year project and went through 4 separate versions before I got it the way I wanted it. Version 1 was a trainer low wing conversion article published in RCM. Version 2 was the Brightstar, which I sold to Great Planes. Version three was for my own pleasure and I flew the heck out of it for 5 years. Version 4, the Knockabout, sold by Pacific Aeromodel Mfg., flies the best of all of them.

I have two Knockabouts, one of which I fly every weekend. One on wheels and one on floats. I also have one that I'm testing on tail-dragger gear. And how do I know the Knockabout is tougher than the Pulse XT? Experience. I've had hard landings with both.

Jim

(in reply to Kmot)
       Post #: 4

RE: Looking for Pacific Knockabout Owners - 4/26/2008 2:08:55 AM   
NorfolkSouthern


 

Posts: 846
Joined: 7/17/2006
From: Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Status: offline 		jrf: I like the looks of the Knockabout, especially the purple one. I hope you'll have that available for a while, as I'm hoping to get one some day. Do you plan on adding flaps as a feature eventually?

NorfolkSouthern

(in reply to jrf)
       Post #: 5

RE: Looking for Pacific Knockabout Owners - 4/26/2008 2:35:18 AM   
beachbrada


 

Posts: 79
Joined: 2/23/2008
From: , GA, USA
Status: offline 		Thats funny that you are the designer because I think you have replied to a couple of the same threads that I have about the Knockabout. Just wondering though, in one of the previous threads you mentioned that you were waiting for the plane to get back into stock. Why would the designer of this plane have to wait?? Im not trying to sound like I doubt who you are but just find it funny.

(in reply to jrf)
       Post #: 6

RE: Looking for Pacific Knockabout Owners - 4/26/2008 3:55:54 PM   
jrf


 

Posts: 2335
Joined: 12/30/2001
From: Burbank, CA, USA
Status: offline 		Designing it means that I drew the plans. It doesn't mean I have anything to do with building them. I wanted another one and there weren't any left. I had to wait just like everyone else.

To answer Norfolk's question, I checked with Pacific, they said there are enough purple Knockabouts in stock to last 3 or 4 months.

Jim

< Message edited by jrf -- 4/27/2008 3:52:32 PM >

(in reply to beachbrada)
       Post #: 7

RE: Looking for Pacific Knockabout Owners - 4/27/2008 9:52:44 AM   
beachbrada


 

Posts: 79
Joined: 2/23/2008
From: , GA, USA
Status: offline 		Hey Jim I have my red knockabout on order. I ordered it Thursday night. About how long did it take for you to get yours in? My plane is going to Georgia. Also, I have the OS 46 ax to go along with it, what prop do you recommend for maximum performance?

(in reply to jrf)
       Post #: 8

RE: Looking for Pacific Knockabout Owners - 4/27/2008 3:55:05 PM   
jrf


 

Posts: 2335
Joined: 12/30/2001
From: Burbank, CA, USA
Status: offline 		I live near Pacific Aeromodel in California. I just picked it up. From Pacific to you in GA should take about a week I think. Best performance from the OS 46 on a Knockabout comes from an APC 12x4.

Jim

(in reply to beachbrada)
       Post #: 9

RE: Looking for Pacific Knockabout Owners - 5/5/2008 2:30:17 AM   
beachbrada


 

Posts: 79
Joined: 2/23/2008
From: , GA, USA
Status: offline 		Im almost done putting together the Knockabout, all I need to do is run to the hobby shop for some servo arms, a wheel collar, fuel, etc. Just wondering if you used the wood pushrods that come with the ARF or did you replace them with something else. Are there any tips that aren't in the instructions for getting this plane airworthy?

(in reply to jrf)
       Post #: 10

RE: Looking for Pacific Knockabout Owners - 5/5/2008 4:31:36 PM   
jrf


 

Posts: 2335
Joined: 12/30/2001
From: Burbank, CA, USA
Status: offline 		The wood pushrods work fine as long as you bend the rear wire part just sllightly away from the side of the fuselage where the wire joins the wood before you install them. That way when they flex they will hit the side of the fuselage, which limits the flex. (That tip is in the instructions.) [)]

Jim

< Message edited by jrf -- 5/6/2008 12:28:05 AM >

(in reply to beachbrada)
       Post #: 11

RE: Looking for Pacific Knockabout Owners - 5/6/2008 12:06:00 AM   
beachbrada


 

Posts: 79
Joined: 2/23/2008
From: , GA, USA
Status: offline 		I have my plane completely together but Im having trouble with the fuel tank. I filled the tank via fuel/defuel line and as soon as I removed the nipple the fuel began coming out. I tried to start the engine thinking maybe the vacuum from the engine would stop this, but the engine actually ran even with the carb valve completely closed and fuel still came out of the fill tube but at a much faster rate. I ended up having to pinch the fuel line going to the carb to kill the engine. I may end up having to redo the whole fuel tank but as usual just curious what you think. Thanks

(in reply to jrf)
       Post #: 12

RE: Looking for Pacific Knockabout Owners - 5/6/2008 12:26:08 AM   
jrf


 

Posts: 2335
Joined: 12/30/2001
From: Burbank, CA, USA
Status: offline 		You have to plug the fill/drain line with a bolt or one of the commercially available fuel line plugs after you fill the tank. A #4x1/2" bolt works fine. The muffler pressurizes the tank through the vent line while the engine is running, that's why the fuel comes out even faster if you didn't plug the fill line.

If the engine keeps running with the throttle closed, you need to adjust the idle stop screw on the engine.

Jim

< Message edited by jrf -- 5/6/2008 12:38:33 AM >

(in reply to beachbrada)
       Post #: 13

RE: Looking for Pacific Knockabout Owners - 5/6/2008 12:36:39 AM   
jrf


 

Posts: 2335
Joined: 12/30/2001
From: Burbank, CA, USA
Status: offline 		Beachbrada:

Forgive me if I'm off base, but it seems like you are new to glow engines. Glow engines are not hard to set up and tune, but if you haven't done it before, there are a lot of ways that you can do it wrong and get VERY frustrated. Please, find an experienced glow power modeler near you to help you with that.

Jim

(in reply to jrf)
       Post #: 14

RE: Looking for Pacific Knockabout Owners - 5/6/2008 1:04:15 AM   
beachbrada


 

Posts: 79
Joined: 2/23/2008
From: , GA, USA
Status: offline 		Im new to the rc world, but the knockabout is my third plane. I have some experience with glow engines, but this is my first time dealing with a fuel tank that has three lines. Ill try plugging the line. Thanks for the help.

(in reply to jrf)
       Post #: 15

RE: Looking for Pacific Knockabout Owners - 5/6/2008 1:15:14 AM