I would like the opinion of experienced flyers about using standard heavy duty servos (or ball bearing) with a 6 volt battery pack in a .90 size Funtana with a 69.5 inch wingspan. I want to point out that I do not fly 3-D. I fly circles, loops and rolls, etc. sport flying. I just purchased the Funtana and I like the way 3-D planes, such as the .40 size Twist that I fly, handles. I have all my planes set up with a lot of exponential.

To:Old timer:

From: One very old timer:

Servos in the standard 40-50 oz. range flew a lot of 90 sized birds for a lot of years, and still do for sport flying. The only reason I have gone to higher servos is generally the full ball bearing support they offer. With that comes lifespan, and continued smooth action. A standard servo starts to go bad the day its used, but there are a lot of them working well out there. Does the higher power servos offer better control and speed? You bet they do. A experienced pilot will notice the difference right a way, and his flying improves, and longivity is generally improved. If you fly pattern or other related computation including pylon racing you will need the better and all they offer. Ever see a quickee at over 150 mph loose control and attack the ground? Thats usually a $400. motor and $600 bird gone. You have to have a loose screw up in your head to use a cheepee servo in a quickee. The person a out of control bird may hit can also be you. A lot of us have seen a U control speed or rc pylon bird go right through a chain link fence. A lot of the current sport and 3D ARF's use over sized control surfaces. They are heavy, additional throws to 45% plus and long arms to achieve same add a lot of pressures to a servo's entire system. You are not required to use metal gears in those systems, but most of us do.

Decent quality high torque metal geared servos are not just made by Hitec, Fatuba and JR, so you do not have to pay their name brand prices of around $150. each for a servo. Yes, my high end birds do have high end JR servos in them, but did not require them. The foamys and smaller electrics have Hitec 55's to 85's, Blue bird, HXT and others, and they work just fine, thank you. Why pay $35.00 ea. for a foamy servo when $7.00 will buy something as good, may be equal or better than the name brands? I find HXT 9 gram servos from HK are about equal to Hitec 55's for my foamys. Higher end birds like a Precision Airobatics "Addiction" tend to have JR brand servos because its a $160.00 or so bird, and I flat love it. But, my RC Powers free plan extra 300 is also a wonderful fllyer, and its full of Hobby King servos and 2.4 receiver. Well proven servos are in the Miss Ashley formula bird, $700. and around 200 mph. Cost of the bird is enough to justify a good proven servos, another major concern is the safety of friends, and public. How could you survive after having a accidental out of control bird killing a kid or friend? I have enough problems with past military service memories.

Sorry, rambling here. Enough said!

Hobby People has a Cirrus CS601BB servo, torque at 4.8 v is 75 oz/in torque at 6.0 volts is 102 oz/in price is $9.99. Has good feedback reviews from people who have used them on large birds. What do you think?

Red Max,
I friend has used JR 125 MG analog servos on his Funtana 90 for many years and never had a problem. He fly's it pretty hard too.
I also have had some for quite a while and are now on my 3D 60 size profile plane (Mojo 60). They aren't super fast but that would make them perfect for your application.

With metal gears you won't have to worry about stripped gears plus they provide 125 oz of torque at 4.8 volts. They only cost $32 plus they draw much less juice than of my big digitals use so you won't require a big capacity Rx battery.

I would buy them again. I hope this helps.

http://www.servodatabase.com/servo/jr/st125mg


Phillip

Jimmy Hoffa? Appreciate that info. I still have the rest of the winter ( if bad weather sets in) to get servos.l The airplane is going to be a Christmas present that I picked out for me. I love to have building projects during bad weather, so I can really take my time on building the Funtana and getting it ready. We are still having 70 degree weather for the time being, but this will probably change real soon. I love summer. Oh well. I will consider these servos, thanks.

Red,
You do realize that a Hanger 9 Funtana 90 is an ARF? You don't really build it, you assemble it in several evenings.

By the way, I like the 90 better than 100 that replaced it. The 90 has thicker wings and is IMHO a better 3D/slow flying plane. Plus I like the simple yellow coloring.

Where did you find it?

Phillip

I know it is an ARF. I just said "building" loosley. I have built many kit planes and "assembled" many ARFS, but sometimes these ARFS can be a chore, almost coming into the "building" catagory, depending on how much extra you have to do and unforseen problems. I got the .90 Funtana arf at my local hobby shop in Tazewell. It is the only one they had. Have they discontinued it?

Yes, it's been discontinued for quite a while. I haven't owned one but a buddy has flown one for years. IMHO it's the best Funtana.

Phillip

Looking forward to flying it, but it will be next summer, unless we have a good winter. They said at the hobby shop that it was marked down to $189.99. Does that sound like a good price for this plane, or is that still a little pricey?

That is a deal! I've seen them over double that price.