Oh my GOD!

Is that lipstick he's wearing???

If he is supposed to look like I fly, that would definitely be lipstick!!![sm=lol.gif]

Yea he is a little pink in the cheeks on mine as well but not bad for a factory job...


All I can say is for a 110.00 it is one of the better ARF's I have seen in awhile and is a breeze to put together. I figure I had maybe 8 hours buildtime on this one..

BTW Mine Knife Edges with full throw well for a 40 size plane, it's not a 540 edge but it is possible to knife edge it...

I run mine with a Magnum 52 and 12.25X3.75 APC prop... She is my favorite just throw in the car and go for a qwick fly now...

Great inverted airplane and will do just about anything you want to...

You guys check your hinge pins. Half mine were falling out after the second flight and the rest pulled out easily with my fingernail. This also allowed 2 aileron hinges to work loose. Also the wing dowels were sloppy in the holes. Easy fixes but could be fatal. Still the best bang for the buck anywhere.

Yep, that happened to my first one, so I poured CA down them which fixed it right up!!!!!!

I ordered mine from tower and put an O.S. 52 four stroke. I was worried about how it would fly after flying my buddies wih an Thunder tiger 46. Turns out I had nothing to worry about it weighs a couple ounces less than his and has nearly as much pull with a 14*4 APC. I love a move i call the vertical blender. It doesnt have the wow factor that a normal blender does but I like it because the plane will flip and flop and spin and not have any altitude change. It is pretty cool. Anyway Im sure there are more capable 3-D airplanes but none are as cheap as this one. It is the best 100 bucks ive spent in a while.

Bit of an off topic question, but has any one got, or heard anything about the Phoenix Models TopStar60?????
I wonder how it compare's to the Razzle???
If it fly's anything like the Funstar, it could be a good thing...

Just finished building the Fun Star - the one with a green pilot wearing lipstick. Went together quite painlessly. I have the foll hardware in it.

Futaba 9402 servos in the tail for elev and rudder
Futaba 3001 for ailerons
Hitec 225 for throttle
OS 46 FX for power
Battery under pilot
receiver behind tank.

I was disappointed to see the Plane balanced 160mm from the leading edge while the booklet with the kit recommends 100-120mm. I am loathe to add lead to the nose and plan to move the battery in the tank compartment and move the servos below the cockpit and rig up a pull-pull on rudder and perhaps the elevators.

However, I am not looking forward to this extra work. This was supposed to be an "assemble and fly 3D plane" wasn't it??

Will be interested to see how others are balancing the plane.

CMSRP you mentioned that the latest plane is longer than the previous one. That might explain the rearward CG in this one. Hope to fly it this weekend with lead in the nose and then do the mods later.

Cheers!!

I've been flying mine now for the past month. I'm using the OS 46FX and Hitec 425 servos all around. First flights were made with the airframe balanced at the center of the manufacturer's recommended range. The balance was achieved with the cowl mounted using battery placement. All my flights on this plane, so far, have been with the cowl removed. To compensate for the cowl removal I added 2 ozs. of stick on lead as far forward on the fuselage as possible. The plane flew fine this way, but as I've flown it, I progressively removed weight. I fly it now with no weight and no cowl. It flys much better this way and will slow to a crawl. Soon I'll be reinstalling the cowl, when I do, I'll move the battery aft.

IMO the recommended balance range is too far forward, but is a safe place to start for first flights.

Yep, flew the new (second Funstar) today, and the balance was WAY out. I new I was a little bit back from the 120mm stated, but thought I may get away with it. It flew like a pig!!!!!!!!!
I shifted the battery pack, and receiver right up the front, behind the tank, and it transformed into an even better flyer than the old Funstar!!!!!!!!!!!
It hover's so much better, and just feels alot nicer...

To balance the old (shorter) one, I had the battery pack right under the cockpit, and the receiver down behind the throttle servo. Big difference with this one!!!

Anyway, I'm so glad to have a Funstar again. I had a "Blast" today!!!!!!!

cmsrp,

You obviously have the c.g. in the optimum position. Could you please post how far back from the leading edge it is now.

Do you still have the servos in the tail. I have mounted elev and rudder servos where behind the cockpit and the throttle servo forward of the cockpit with the battery in the tank compartment. Couldn't fly this weekend as it was too windy and wet.

Cheers!!

Well I have my first thing I don't like about the funstar and that is it's covering color...

I was out showing it off as usual on a Sunday fly when I lost my heading due to a quick pass in front of the sun... That light clear yellow/orange color and a bright sunny day make for a real hard plane to follow...

Anyway long story short thought I was back vertical about 30 feet off the ground and I wasn't gave it up realized I was inverted way to late, wished I had one more foot and I would have pulled it out... Just caught the wheel in the deep grass and it sucked it in like a black hole...

From the way it sounded when it hit I thought it was tower time... Anyway looks like she will fly again it broke the elevator in two, one of the ailerons is broke about 4 inches back and the ply wing hold down mount is tore out of the fuselage but for as hard as it hit, I think I am really lucky..

I am going to take some photos of the damage and write a little article on the repair for our local club, so I will put a link or the article on here when I get done... I do plan on changing the bottom wing color to a solid as well…

Gravity hum think it won this time........ Guess I will have to make it stronger and better!

Any suggestions on a bottom wing color... I am still debating..... I am thinking a solid orange, a solid white or a navy blue...

[sm=confused.gif] You are joking right?

Mine balanced right at the aft end of the recommended range with the battery behind the tank (On end), no added wieght. Tower .46, Macs pipe, mini throttle servo up front. And it could still be more tail heavy for my taste.

Mine bit the dust this weekend. I hadn't flown anything in over a month and I went out with my Fuinstar. I lost orientation shortly after takeoff(I was doing my favorite "multiple-ailleron-roll-on-takeoff" move) and nosed into the ground from about 60-70 feet. The nose is completely finished and the light wing is crushed. I loved this one plane, but I'm not one to buy the same plane twice. I'll get something new to replace her. I'm already working on the pheonix Sukhoi and the Giles. Puttintg a 65 LA in the Sukhoi and I guess I'll try the 46 LA I had in the Funstar for the giles-might not be enough.

Yes I hear you on the orientation, the color schem on the FunStar looks great but it is not really pratical for flying, as it is to easy to lose orientation in the bright sunlight...

I am putting a white bottom on my wing I will let you everyone know if that helps.....

Audio, I don't think the .46LA will be enough for the Giles......my TT Pro .46 is just enough for scale aerobatics on my Sukhoi..........

I may just put the Giles on ebay. Anybody want it for $125.00 shipped?

I got the Sukhoi together last night-with a 65LA in the nose. Not too far off balance. I might be OK if I just move the battery back behind the servos.

These planes look great.

Hey guys,

I just got this plane from Tower today. Overall impression is great plane for the price.

However, I am a little disappointed with the maximum throws in the elevator and rudder. They didn't do the best job with the hinging there; as a result the leading edge of the control surface binds with the trailing edge of the stab when deflected (double beveling would have helped here). Its not bad, I just thought a little more throw should be available on a 3D plane.

The ailerons were hinged much better. They actually dug out a little wood on the leading edge of each aileron so the binding doesn't occur until very large (3D-like) deflections.

I'll try attaching some images to show max throws available on my surfaces. Anyone seeing similar results?

Thanks,
Kurt

It must just be the "Mass-Produced" situation because mine were perfect (on both the first and second Funstar(s)). The elevators are real responsive though, so you should be ok...

Thanks for the reply.

The rudder was a bit short of 50 mm of throw, as recommended in the manual, so I cut the hinges and re-hinged it myself. The hinges were well glued! I couldn't yank them out, had to slice through them with an Xacto. With new hinges installed, I have plenty of throw. The elevs just barely reach the throws in the manual, so I left them alone. I still wish they had more.

Kurt

Just found mine on the way out also... Ran around it with the CA and Kicker, so should be good now...

Someone asked me a while ago about where my CG ended up, and I forgot to reply, sorry. Its right on the furthest back measurement (120mm).

Guess I'll chime in here, I just purchased one before I even thought about checking RCU for others with this plane. I am just under the build right now still waiting on parts to come in. Thus far I have decided to use the Hitec 225 for the aileron's. I had to construct a small bridge to fit the servo's. I plan on useing a mini for throttle but that may change as I continue to read others reports on this plane. Seems this bird needs weight up front.

As far as the rear I plan on using the Hitec 605 on the elevator and 422 on the rudder.

Blackie

hi do they come with a cowl in the books they don't show cowls i want a cowl and with a 46 two stroke do the come out nose or tail heavy i was thinking of putting a irvine 46 on it but its heaver than a lot of the 46 and what brand of covering do they use is it any good thanks