I've been enjoying my magic for at least 60 flights, with an OS 46FX and APC 12.25x3.65, the best engine/prop combo IMO for this plane. I can make a few recommendations:
-Move the rudder servo to the tail, and rig up a Kevlar pull pull setup. (see pic)
-Buy an Ohio Superstar (small) Haighes style tailwheel, and mount it instead of the cheesy wire. (see next pic for details)
-Now that your rudder servo is out of the way, you only have elev. and throt. to worry about inside the fuse. I got rid of the servo tray in favor of rails, (see pic), Now theres more room for the rx, and its neater.
-Use a light battery. I'm using a NIMH 550 6v pack, AAA cells I think. Weighs less than 3 oz, and I get 4 or 5 flights.
-I used HS 225 servos for the tail, and HS 605's for the wing. (HS81 for throttle). Save weight here is you can. I started with JR 517's for the wing, and when I switched to the Hitecs, I noticed a great difference in roll authority and precision.
-I have my balance set at 5 1/2" from LE. I had to make a hatch, and move the battery to behind the wing in the fuse, No lead added!
-Definitely put kevlar flying wires on the tail, During a flatspin my rudder broke loose and it flatspun into the ground. (actually only bent the gear!) It could have been worse, Reinforce it!
-Reinforce the firewall. (I used 6oz CF)
The stock gear has been fine for me, It did break at the axle on the first flight, I repaired it with wire and silver solder, and has been fine ever since. (But I dont beat the gear to death on landing). On my last flight, The stock tank burst, and left 6 oz. of 20% Powermaster in the fuse. Went right through the "fuelproof" layer of epoxy I put in... I can kiss goodbye any possibility of gluing anything back if I crash it now...
I have really beaten this plane up! Cartwheeled it, flatspinned it into a tree, then Dove into the dirt from 40 ft up, fallen on the tail during hovering, broken the rudder, etc, and its easy to fix, Mine still looks like new.
It seems like if you dork it in any way, the wingtips break, I have broken them at least 6 times, I got fed up, and made a 1/4" balsa and 6oz CF sandwich, now its indestructable!
Most of these mods were done over time, Theres no way I could have thought up all this junk during assembly!
Thanks for reading
