Hello,
Let me share with you my experiences with the Nikitis Animal EVP setup. First of all let me tell you it is an amazing airplane/power/variable prop combination. But you must take some time to find the appropriate setting. I hope this following info can save you time and some extra dollars.

The prop servo I use is Hitec 56HS. It has 1oz over Hitec 55 servo, but also has a Karbonite gear train which is a little stronger than nylon(white) ones. Just assembly the EVP (sell by hobbylobby as Animal kit too) per instruction included; even though I replaced the metal washer by a nylon type. I will explain it later.

The trick to avoid strip the servo gear is the radio program. As you must know, you need a transmitter with dual airplane/helicopter capability. The original program described on EVP manual works, but it destroys your servo gear in three or more flights; the reason is: drastically pitch change from normal mode flight to stun or Idle up mode and vise versa.

First, set all the EVP, Servo and Transmitter EPA or ATV per your manual. IMPORTANT is: at 90 degrees between servo arm and carbon pushrod, the pushrod must be align parallel to motor axe (at 50% transmitter throttle stick). Once you get the setup as your EVP manual says, I recommend following the next steps:

1.- Remake the transmitter program per next table:

Following is a table with the program I made (based in my flight way and a 5 Point Curves)

Point 1 Point 2 Point 3 Point 4 Point 5
Thro. Norm. 0 15 30 65 100
Pitch Norm 49 65 84 100 100
Thro Stunt 100 44 20 60 100
Pich Stunt 0 19 69 100 100

With this setup, you will take off at flight at normal mode and you can make a standard aerobatic flight. Then you flip the switch to Idle up or Stunt mode and you will continue flying without any problem. With the original program suggested by the EVP manual, the prop will enter in reverse pitch drastically at switch flip, it obligate you to make a rapid movement of throttle stick to get a positive pitch and enough motor power to keep the airplane flying. This last makes the servo to change the pitch twice from positive to negative very fast and it is hard to be handling by the servo gears.

2.- Right Full Pitch. OK, now you need to find the right pitch/motor power setting. The best way is operating the motor “VERY CAREFULLY”. TAKE CARE OF YOUR BODY INTEGRITY, “PLEASE”. The other thing is you need to make this steep as fast as you can because the motor and battery get so hot capable of melting the plastic firewall and destroy the battery. Just try four times 3 seconds each and leave the system to cool down by a 20 seconds or more.
You must accelerate the engine at normal mode. IF the motor and model start to vibrate, get back the throttle immediately. Then, increase the ATV or EPA at the POSITIVE side of your Pitch channel; try again until the motor do not vibrate. If you put too much pitch, the engine appears to reach high RPM but then start to decrease RPM, it means too much pitch. Then at 50% throttle stick, flip the flight switch to idle up or Stunt Flight mode, a little power change can be felling and it is ok. Then get back the throttle stick to negative pitch, you will get the same effect as before at positive pitch. IF the motor and model start to vibrate, get back the throttle to 50% immediately, flip the flight switch to normal and stop the motor. Then, increase the ATV or EPA at the NEGATIVE side of your Pitch channel, Repeat again until the motor do not vibrate at negative Pitch. If you put too much pitch, the engine appears to reach high RPM but then start to reduce RPM, it means to much negative pitch.

To much CAREFULL you must have to make the pitch ATV setting because you are playing with the motor full energized. Normally the modern transmitter has the LOCK function which keeps the motor position on hold while you make the program adjustment. If your radio does not have it, I recommend to disconnect the airplane battery in order on avoid any motor start in dangerous situations.

Much of this adjustment is based on my experience with Helicopter and Variable Props used in Pattern RC.

Using this setting, my Animal has about 50 flight of full enjoyment, plenty of the inverted torque rolls with same servo and EVP parts. About the EVP offered with the Animal, the only thing I recommend is to change the metal washer by a nylon one. The reason is during a extended reverse pitch the soft plastic spinner and the plastic pitch slider are separate by the metal washer and get too hot to melt both parts.

If you need any extra question about the EVP setup or the Nikitis Animal, will be a pleasure to answer it. Any way let me advise that Hobbylobby and Nikitis customer service are very good.

Regards,
Ricardo.