Dowmer

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These ARFs do seem to be getting scarce. Are they still making them?

Here's a few pics of mine I've been been adding detail to after a pilot error on T/O.
It just gave me a chance to do some detail I've been wanting to do anyway. I re-vamped the working cowl flaps. Version III now. This ARF is a lot of fun touching up. The rivet detail goes over the iron on film just fine and the paint sticks well too. Eventually, I'll strip off the last of the covering and glass the wings but right now it's working OK. I'm just about to start painting a new JG26 scheme with the blue-green RLM 84 base and the yellow tail similar to Dortenmann's.



Here's a pic of what it looked like before the accident. BTW ZRooster, I ended up using 1/4 inch 5 ply AC ply for the new firewall. The existing firewall was Chinese ply and shattered when it nosed over. I have a lot of experience bashing and modifying this kit if you have any questions. It's a great flyer however as everyone else can testify.

vertical grimmace

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zrooster,

Having flown many disciplines of competition model aircraft from Cl -combat, stunt, racing, and r/c combat, racing, and scale warbirds, I have a lot of experience in prop selection. What I have found, is for a given aircraft, there are no more than (generally) 2 prop choices that will give the best performance. Not having the benefit of feathering props, as in full scale, we must choose the best overall compromise. Invariably, there is pretty much one prop that will be the best. It is also important to use the best brand. By this I mean there are some prop brands that are far and away better than others. And this also depends on the types of engines. For smaller glow APC is the clear winner,. When you get into these big, powerful gas engines, you need blades that will not flex out of their pitch. Thankfully there are not a ton of choices here either. Which will help you to narrow things down quickly. Vess, Xoar, and Meszlik are the winners here. There may be a couple of other brands that some swear by, but you can count on those 3 to be very good. The Carbon props do seem to be the best, especially being favorites with the IMAC/3 D crowd, but they are very expensive, and unless you can grease your landings every time, they may not be practical. (unless you have deep pockets)
Have you found any 3 blade candidates yet? That market is very narrow, and especially anything that will be close to scale.

Ramstein44

My Feedback: (157)

I've heard through several reliable manufacturing sources that these ESM ARF's will soon be a thing of the past.TBM an several others aren't getting shipments and back orders will not be filled. I got an email from a friend that mentions another company stating the same thing but they are going to be producing their own warbirds and have just released a pre-order Spitfire. hopefully a FW 190 will be in the works.

vertical grimmace

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Hmmm...I wonder what will happen with VQwarbirds?

Ramstein44

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Hopefully nothing and we'll have a reliable distributer but time will tell. ..

70 ragtop

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Looks great Dowmer!

Seems like they priced them selves right out of contention, plus the lack of spares and support. If you're going to spend that kind of money on an ARF, I'd buy Hangar 9 or Topflite. At least there, if something is wrong, or dumb thimbs get you, Tower, LHS, HH will have spares and support to make it right. I've had a wing backordered for the Anton since 9/2013, and needed a replacement center section (defective) for a Tigercat since Thanksgiving 2013. When I call, get the old we'll call you when we get something.

With that kind of service, the higher prices, no spares, and no quality improvements, I'm not surprised they're going away. When they were priced right, I personally didn't mind fixing some of the shortcomings. Getting no replacement for a defect wing, and no spares was the end of ESM for me, never mind the prices

vertical grimmace

My Feedback: (1)

The guys that have or have had ESM models at my club say they would never buy another one, from all of the work it takes to get one flying, and the poor quality. The New 60cc Mustang from HH is not getting good reviews either by the guys receiving them. Quality and price increases hitting the ARF world hard.

vertical grimmace

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Zrooster, Magnum is showing the D9 in stock. Might wanna jump on it if they got one. They have 3 bladed props too. http://www.magnumrc.com/ESM-FW-190-D...825_p_308.html

Dowmer

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I've had several ESM and I'd almost call them more of a kit than an ARF when it comes to work. Typical quality isn't too bad but it depends on the plane. I agree with you Ragtop. Once they started raising prices I started asking myself if they were really worth it. Initially for the price it was. Some of their planes were very scale for an ARF. I guess if you really want a scale Warbird you just have to invest some time and build one. The big boys anyhow. Plenty of smaller ones on the market.

grimmace, how's the TA coming along?

vertical grimmace

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Pluggin away. Doping all the fabric, and in the middle of glassing.

ticketec

My Feedback: (2)

I think it was 2 layers of 18mm ply. don;t worry a whole heap about weight up there, I still added another 600g in lead in the end.

Re: prop, they are a bit of a compromise, but having owned 2 and 3 blade carbon props, they are generally not all that much lighter than the wood equivalents. I have a 3 blade scale spinner ready to go here and I have some Solo prop blade in the Fw shape sitting here fo rthe last year, but don't have a hub! one of the local warbird guys offered one of his hubs from his crashed 1/6 B-17, but that never eventuated. so I guess I'll have to try get my hands on one some other way to try it out.

Thanks

dave

P.S. looking good there Dowmer, been watching on RCSB as well

zrooster

Gents! Got busy in all kinds of stuff and this place blew up while I was distracted! VG, I'll try magnum. All, here's the engine test stand so far...digital fish scale came from Walmart, everything else came from Lowes and Ace (except the prop and motor, obviously). Still need to reinforce the table with some 2x2 (should have used 1/2" or 3/4" plywood for the base). I need to add some weight to counterbalance the motor/sled Assy and help keep it from taking off...will probably also add provisions to anchor it for engine runs. Will also need to loctite everything during final assembly. Structure seems to hold up well...applied approx 30lb of force to the sled (pushed on it) and everything seemed pretty solid. Fuel tank is a 1 liter coke bottle with rubber stoper...will include photos of that as I update...now, what RLM to paint it

wallace.tharp

Zrooster, is that the Air Force Academy? Engineering or pilot background? Most has been said about prop selection, but I would like to add, from "full scale experience." Flying Super Cubs in Alaska we often used what was referred to as a "Boar prop." longer blades and low pitch.. cub would get off quick and climb like a banche... but, top speed was about 79 or 80 mph. Best hint, already mentioned in MHO is (what someone or the manufacture recommended). Fish scale is good for starting from scratch, and a Radar Gun can help with the top speed picture. Without a constant speed, or controllable pitch prop ala my Cessna 180, you will not get the best all around performance. Do not know if it was mentioned here, but props do actually "unload" and change shape in flight. Just my 2 cents worth. wallace.tharp

HoundDog

My Feedback: (49)

You want to know he actual speed get a GPS Telemetry Modual ... don't even need one for our radio I have a small plastic bomb that I can attach to different guys planes and it contains a bat, 7 channel receiver an Hitec HTS-SS Advance Sensor Station HRC55853n Air Speed sensor that sends Ground speed and air speed back to a display on my radio. It can even do Cylendre head temp 4 temps in all and RPM

zrooster

Yes Sir...class of 99... I majored in Military History and went on to fly on active duty... I'm now retired under the early retirement program and starting my career flying air cargo in either the 747 or 767 (should find out which soon)!

I'm looking forward to testing some stuff out and seeing what works and what doesn't...

Looks like it might be academic, though...I ordered from Magnum, but then got a call from the proprietor telling me the don't have any and he doesn't think anyone is going to be getting anything new from ESM... Is anyone familiar with Top RC models? Fully glassed right out of the factory, apparently...according to him they should have Luftwaffe kampffleugzeugs coming in the next year or two. My second choice was the DO 335, but not seeing any of those either... I'm tempted to do the Top RC Spit 9 as I'm itching for a big glassed warbird (ARF) and if it's as good a plane as it seems, I can step up to a Luftwaffe bird when they come out. By the way, very impressed with the customer service at Magnum! Can't believe he took the time to call me and give me the rundown!

vertical grimmace

My Feedback: (1)

Here is something of interest. Not sure how deep a 747 pilots pockets are, but this seems to be a pretty good deal. http://www.rcuniverse.com/market/ite...itemId=1013548

zrooster

LOL, pretty shallow on first year pay, but gets pretty good after that (depends on the company too). I'd be all over that if it were a few years down the road...

ForcesR

Zrooster; you are going to have a reality check when you begin to assemble you ESM bird, they are advertised as an ARF which is false, they are not an ARF!! You will need lots of time and building skills to be able to assemble their model aircraft Granted, they are nice looking and close to scale but you will probably end up as fustrated as others trying to assemble ESM aircraft. There are several flyers in my club who purchased ESM aircraft and they all had the same type of problems as I had trying to assemble the aircraft correctly. I will never ever purchase another ESM model, same response from the other club members who have ESM products. All I have left to say is good luck with your ESM purchase for I know you will need it..!!!

Roger

zrooster

Noted...still easier than building from scratch, except it doesn't look like it's going to be an option anyway.

deadstick79

I don't know!
I built mine and a Fok DVII to boot and actually enjoyed the expierience!
Dan

vertical grimmace

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Top Flite does have the FW 190 A, in an ARF. They are nice models. The problem is, it is not a "D", which is the version I prefer.

zrooster

Yeah, I considered TF, but I'm also partial to the Dora...also I'm not a fan of the monokote, or ultrakote or whatever they cover their birds in...

vertical grimmace

My Feedback: (1)

There is essentially no option for what you desire. Even the ESM had covering on the wings. I do not like fabric or plasti cote on any of my heavy metal birds. Only fiberglass over wood or fiberglass period.

It really is not a big deal to strip the covering off say a 190 A, and then glass it. That is the only way to have a good, durable finish, that will not wrinkle.

Ramstein44

My Feedback: (157)

Well...There is always full composite!!

http://www.vogelsang-aeroscale.com/sistfw190D1-5.html

ForcesR

There has to be a mistake for the Specs listed for the SistFW190D, for this aircraft with a 82.7" WS, it states the weight at 36lbs+ with a G45 or G62 engine installed? I could see 23 to 26lbs but 36lbs+, really??

Roger