Help pick a first 50cc size ARF.
01-15-2010 | 12:11 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Help pick a first 50cc size ARF.
I have several 50cc size ignition motors laying around. I would like to find out from the masses, what is the best choice of aerobatic ARF's that I might consider as a first time 3D flyer. I am a Warbird only flyer, and am looking for something a little different. I can't hover for very long. I don't do rolling circles. I want to practice formation aerobatics with some of my buddies. I figure I better start with a small 50cc size toy first before going to anything bigger. 50 cc size motors are kinda small for me, as far as warbirds go. Unless it is a small twin Warbird.
My engine selections are:
1. DA-50 with stock can muffler.
2. Brison 3.2 with Bisson, Pit style muffler.
3. Fuji 50ei. No muffler yet.
I tend to like stronger, more landing friendly aircraft. I prefer Bi-planes but would not be opposed to Single wing aircraft.
I also want a real airplane. No profile planes. No non scale type at all. No pattern.
Easy to put together at the field too. I fly off rough surfaces, so I wont be using wheel pants either.
Any and all opinions are welcome. Be SPECIFIC with your choice too. What type of servo's used would be helpful.
Thanx in advance for your advice.
I will sit back and watch now.
Rebel
My engine selections are:
1. DA-50 with stock can muffler.
2. Brison 3.2 with Bisson, Pit style muffler.
3. Fuji 50ei. No muffler yet.
I tend to like stronger, more landing friendly aircraft. I prefer Bi-planes but would not be opposed to Single wing aircraft.
I also want a real airplane. No profile planes. No non scale type at all. No pattern.
Easy to put together at the field too. I fly off rough surfaces, so I wont be using wheel pants either.
Any and all opinions are welcome. Be SPECIFIC with your choice too. What type of servo's used would be helpful.
Thanx in advance for your advice.
I will sit back and watch now.
Rebel
01-16-2010 | 06:05 PM
#2
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From: Idaho Falls,
ID
RE: Help pick a first 50cc size ARF.
The best bi-plane out there for 50CC is the Great Planes Utimate. It's available from Tower Hobbies here: http://www.towerhobbies.com/products.../gpma1307.htmlWow!!!! I just noticed Great Planes has a brand new Pitts Bi-Plane. That sure looks cool also.
For monoplanes you have a bunch in this class.
I'd start by looking at Wild Hare. They have Edges, Extras that are scale. The also have the amazing Sukhoi there: http://www.wildharerc.com/index.html
Aeroworks has a whole bunch of planes that work well in there also, including the Edge, the Extra, Bi-planes and Yaks. They also have a nice 50CC P-51. http://aero-works.net/store/
Troy Built Models have a great selection of RC Pilot planes and others. Mostly Edge, Yak, and Extras. Nice company to deal with. http://www.troybuiltmodels.com/
Another one is Extreme Flight. They have a new Extra and their great Yak. But you have to have a bit of a hard shell to fly these. But they do fly nice. http://www.extremeflightrc.com/
That ought to give you plenty of great planes to chose from. All of the above companies I've persoanlly dealt with and can give every one high marks in customer service and product knowledge. Any of them would suit your purpose well. The easiest to learn 3D with is the Edge. It's a sweetheart....but my favorite planes are Yaks. They do everything pretty good and are easy and fun to fly.
Hope this helps.
Thanks
Barry
PS: You may want to post this in the giant scale forum. You'll get a lot more replys there. http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/forumid_110/tt.htm
01-16-2010 | 08:35 PM
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From: Alabaster,
AL
RE: Help pick a first 50cc size ARF.
3dhobbyshop Extra 300 is real nice. Builds light and strong.
What sold me were the videos of the harrier landings. If it can put up what that punishment, my landings will be a breeze.
The plane is a real floater. Perfect for your DA50. Watch your servos though, most warbird servos are not up to the task. 200oz is minimum, espically on the ailerons.
http://www.3dhobbyshop.com/detail.aspx?ID=2280
What sold me were the videos of the harrier landings. If it can put up what that punishment, my landings will be a breeze.
The plane is a real floater. Perfect for your DA50. Watch your servos though, most warbird servos are not up to the task. 200oz is minimum, espically on the ailerons.
http://www.3dhobbyshop.com/detail.aspx?ID=2280
01-16-2010 | 10:08 PM
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From: mcallen, TX
RE: Help pick a first 50cc size ARF.
well...there is a lot of companies out there with great selections. I think you need to focus more in what airframe is better for you, Yak, Extra or Edge. And then see who has the best one and the color that you want.
01-16-2010 | 10:36 PM
#5
Thread Starter
RE: Help pick a first 50cc size ARF.
Wow... What alot of info. There are alot of choices. I just started to delv into this. I have been flying a Real Flight, flight simulator(5). Do they fly like the RC models? Alot of them have a wing rock to them. Is that a stall? I want to find a stable plane. One that it does not continue to to try to recover over and over. I guess it does whatever stick input I put into it.
Thanx for the servo advice. I guess I will have to go digital now. I also like round cowls too.
Any personal pics would be good also. Keep up to good advice.
Rebel
Thanx for the servo advice. I guess I will have to go digital now. I also like round cowls too.
Any personal pics would be good also. Keep up to good advice.
Rebel
01-16-2010 | 10:56 PM
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From: mcallen, TX
RE: Help pick a first 50cc size ARF.
i think this post can help you a bit to have an idea:
is located in my thread when i was in the same boat like you are right now.
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_89..._1/key_/tm.htm
ORIGINAL: gboulton
I think your list is perfectly suitable. While there's 1-2 things on there I, personally, might do differently in one of my own airplanes, there's nothing on there that i think will give you problems, or create an unsafe situation.
And I agree with Andrew....I think either of your two finalists will be a fine choice for an airframe. Like Andrew (admittedly, on the other end of the scale) I can't say I've ever heard a bad thing about the AW birds, and can vouch for the excellent quality and support of WH birds. I'd wager you'll have great success with either.
I WILL offer this insight...and it absolutely falls in the 'for what it's worth' category. This is an awfully subjective viewpoint here, but here it is:
Your choice of airframe might just come down to some specifics of what you like in airplanes...specifics that have nothing to do with brand name, but instead are related to the airplane being modeled. By their very design (owing largely to the sweep...or lack of it...in the leading edge of the wings) the Extra and Edge have certain characteristics that differ from each other.
Extras tend to be "snappers"...and I don't mean this in a bad way. They tumble with ease, start and stop snaps very crisply, cleanly, and precisely, and are widely regarded as the superior "precision aerobatics/IMAC style" airplane of the two. They do not, however, tend to be quite as stable in high alpha situations (harriers, for example), and tend to want to rock the wings a bit and fall off to one side or the other when stalled.
On the flip side, Edges tend to excel at high alpha stuff. Harriers can be flown at ridiculously slow speeds, with no evident wing rock. Stalls are frequently very gentle nose-down and we're flying again events, and the airplane is very forgiving of "mistakes" in these attitudes. They also tend to be very crisp and precise in rolls. Unlike the Extra, however, snaps can be pretty sloppy, if not downright impossible to start and stop cleanly. The edcge is not an airplane that likes to tumble, and it'll whine about it if you ask it to. For this reason, it is frequently seen as a poor choice for precision routines requiring clean and precise breaks.
While my own personal experience (a .40 sized Extra, .60 sized Edge, 50cc Extra, and 100cc Edge) has roughly followed the descriptions above, those are VERY general "traits" of the two airframes, and any particular airplane, pilot, manufacturer, or airframe may minimize, enhance, or eliminate some of those traits. I present them here merely as starting points for discussion and research on your part.
As they say, YMMV.
I think your list is perfectly suitable. While there's 1-2 things on there I, personally, might do differently in one of my own airplanes, there's nothing on there that i think will give you problems, or create an unsafe situation.
And I agree with Andrew....I think either of your two finalists will be a fine choice for an airframe. Like Andrew (admittedly, on the other end of the scale) I can't say I've ever heard a bad thing about the AW birds, and can vouch for the excellent quality and support of WH birds. I'd wager you'll have great success with either.
I WILL offer this insight...and it absolutely falls in the 'for what it's worth' category. This is an awfully subjective viewpoint here, but here it is:
Your choice of airframe might just come down to some specifics of what you like in airplanes...specifics that have nothing to do with brand name, but instead are related to the airplane being modeled. By their very design (owing largely to the sweep...or lack of it...in the leading edge of the wings) the Extra and Edge have certain characteristics that differ from each other.
Extras tend to be "snappers"...and I don't mean this in a bad way. They tumble with ease, start and stop snaps very crisply, cleanly, and precisely, and are widely regarded as the superior "precision aerobatics/IMAC style" airplane of the two. They do not, however, tend to be quite as stable in high alpha situations (harriers, for example), and tend to want to rock the wings a bit and fall off to one side or the other when stalled.
On the flip side, Edges tend to excel at high alpha stuff. Harriers can be flown at ridiculously slow speeds, with no evident wing rock. Stalls are frequently very gentle nose-down and we're flying again events, and the airplane is very forgiving of "mistakes" in these attitudes. They also tend to be very crisp and precise in rolls. Unlike the Extra, however, snaps can be pretty sloppy, if not downright impossible to start and stop cleanly. The edcge is not an airplane that likes to tumble, and it'll whine about it if you ask it to. For this reason, it is frequently seen as a poor choice for precision routines requiring clean and precise breaks.
While my own personal experience (a .40 sized Extra, .60 sized Edge, 50cc Extra, and 100cc Edge) has roughly followed the descriptions above, those are VERY general "traits" of the two airframes, and any particular airplane, pilot, manufacturer, or airframe may minimize, enhance, or eliminate some of those traits. I present them here merely as starting points for discussion and research on your part.
As they say, YMMV.
is located in my thread when i was in the same boat like you are right now.
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_89..._1/key_/tm.htm
01-19-2010 | 03:56 PM
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From: mcallen, TX
RE: Help pick a first 50cc size ARF.
btw hope this info helps.
here is the way i ordered everything
- hitec 7985 for throttle, really fast servo
<font color="#800080">http://www.troybuiltmodels.com/category/SEHI/Hitec-Servos.html</font>
- hitec 7955 for all surface
<font color="#800080">http://www.troybuiltmodels.com/category/SEHI/Hitec-Servos.html</font>
- swb 1.5" arms for aileron, elevator and 3" for rudder
<font color="#800080">http://www.troybuiltmodels.com/category/SESW/SWB-Servo-Arms.html</font>
- <font color="#000000">dle</font> 55 engine with 22x8 Xoar prop.
<font color="#800080">http://www.valleyviewrc.com/Gas%20Engines.htm</font>
- any HD switch for your ignition and rx
<font color="#800080">http://www.troybuiltmodels.com/category/EL03/Regulators-and-Switches.html</font>
- Azure <font color="#000000">Carbon</font> Spinner, really nice and cheap
<font color="#800080">http://www.azurehobbies.com/product_info.php?cPath=33&products_id=82</font>
- 4.8V 1200-2600 mah for ignition
<font color="#800080">http://www.valleyviewrc.com/NiMH%20RX%20Batteries.htm</font>
- A123 2600 mah for your rx, no regulators need it
<font color="#800080">http://www.hangtimes.com/a123_rx_packs.html</font>
There is also another great online shops like <font color="#800080">www.chiefaircraft.com</font>.
here is the way i ordered everything
- hitec 7985 for throttle, really fast servo
<font color="#800080">http://www.troybuiltmodels.com/category/SEHI/Hitec-Servos.html</font>
- hitec 7955 for all surface
<font color="#800080">http://www.troybuiltmodels.com/category/SEHI/Hitec-Servos.html</font>
- swb 1.5" arms for aileron, elevator and 3" for rudder
<font color="#800080">http://www.troybuiltmodels.com/category/SESW/SWB-Servo-Arms.html</font>
- <font color="#000000">dle</font> 55 engine with 22x8 Xoar prop.
<font color="#800080">http://www.valleyviewrc.com/Gas%20Engines.htm</font>
- any HD switch for your ignition and rx
<font color="#800080">http://www.troybuiltmodels.com/category/EL03/Regulators-and-Switches.html</font>
- Azure <font color="#000000">Carbon</font> Spinner, really nice and cheap
<font color="#800080">http://www.azurehobbies.com/product_info.php?cPath=33&products_id=82</font>
- 4.8V 1200-2600 mah for ignition
<font color="#800080">http://www.valleyviewrc.com/NiMH%20RX%20Batteries.htm</font>
- A123 2600 mah for your rx, no regulators need it
<font color="#800080">http://www.hangtimes.com/a123_rx_packs.html</font>
There is also another great online shops like <font color="#800080">www.chiefaircraft.com</font>.
01-20-2010 | 05:18 PM
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From: Niceville , FL
RE: Help pick a first 50cc size ARF.
Best aerobatic 50cc, in my opinion, is the Extreme flight Yak. The Aero Works Extra is good as well.
Can't go wrong with hitec 5955's or tower hobbies TS-170's. If you have the money, Hitec 7955's. If not Hitec HS-5625's are excellent, would need two for the rudder though. Run a Life or A123 6.6V 3200mah or so, that way you don't need a regulator. Tower sells 3200mah Lifepo's now.
The GP Python is built very HEAVY, 20lbs+. Should be pretty sturdy though.
Good Luck!!
Can't go wrong with hitec 5955's or tower hobbies TS-170's. If you have the money, Hitec 7955's. If not Hitec HS-5625's are excellent, would need two for the rudder though. Run a Life or A123 6.6V 3200mah or so, that way you don't need a regulator. Tower sells 3200mah Lifepo's now.
The GP Python is built very HEAVY, 20lbs+. Should be pretty sturdy though.
Good Luck!!
01-21-2010 | 12:17 AM
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From: Cottage Grove,
MN
RE: Help pick a first 50cc size ARF.
I am in the same boat as Rebel, and liked your feedback on the Edge and the Extra.
Do you have any flight time or feedback for a Sukoi or Yak ?
Thanks
Toggle
Do you have any flight time or feedback for a Sukoi or Yak ?
Thanks
Toggle
ORIGINAL: JOHNS3D
i think this post can help you a bit to have an idea:
is located in my thread when i was in the same boat like you are right now.
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_89..._1/key_/tm.htm
i think this post can help you a bit to have an idea:
ORIGINAL: gboulton
I think your list is perfectly suitable. While there's 1-2 things on there I, personally, might do differently in one of my own airplanes, there's nothing on there that i think will give you problems, or create an unsafe situation.
And I agree with Andrew....I think either of your two finalists will be a fine choice for an airframe. Like Andrew (admittedly, on the other end of the scale) I can't say I've ever heard a bad thing about the AW birds, and can vouch for the excellent quality and support of WH birds. I'd wager you'll have great success with either.
I WILL offer this insight...and it absolutely falls in the 'for what it's worth' category. This is an awfully subjective viewpoint here, but here it is:
Your choice of airframe might just come down to some specifics of what you like in airplanes...specifics that have nothing to do with brand name, but instead are related to the airplane being modeled. By their very design (owing largely to the sweep...or lack of it...in the leading edge of the wings) the Extra and Edge have certain characteristics that differ from each other.
Extras tend to be "snappers"...and I don't mean this in a bad way. They tumble with ease, start and stop snaps very crisply, cleanly, and precisely, and are widely regarded as the superior "precision aerobatics/IMAC style" airplane of the two. They do not, however, tend to be quite as stable in high alpha situations (harriers, for example), and tend to want to rock the wings a bit and fall off to one side or the other when stalled.
On the flip side, Edges tend to excel at high alpha stuff. Harriers can be flown at ridiculously slow speeds, with no evident wing rock. Stalls are frequently very gentle nose-down and we're flying again events, and the airplane is very forgiving of "mistakes" in these attitudes. They also tend to be very crisp and precise in rolls. Unlike the Extra, however, snaps can be pretty sloppy, if not downright impossible to start and stop cleanly. The edcge is not an airplane that likes to tumble, and it'll whine about it if you ask it to. For this reason, it is frequently seen as a poor choice for precision routines requiring clean and precise breaks.
While my own personal experience (a .40 sized Extra, .60 sized Edge, 50cc Extra, and 100cc Edge) has roughly followed the descriptions above, those are VERY general "traits" of the two airframes, and any particular airplane, pilot, manufacturer, or airframe may minimize, enhance, or eliminate some of those traits. I present them here merely as starting points for discussion and research on your part.
As they say, YMMV.
I think your list is perfectly suitable. While there's 1-2 things on there I, personally, might do differently in one of my own airplanes, there's nothing on there that i think will give you problems, or create an unsafe situation.
And I agree with Andrew....I think either of your two finalists will be a fine choice for an airframe. Like Andrew (admittedly, on the other end of the scale) I can't say I've ever heard a bad thing about the AW birds, and can vouch for the excellent quality and support of WH birds. I'd wager you'll have great success with either.
I WILL offer this insight...and it absolutely falls in the 'for what it's worth' category. This is an awfully subjective viewpoint here, but here it is:
Your choice of airframe might just come down to some specifics of what you like in airplanes...specifics that have nothing to do with brand name, but instead are related to the airplane being modeled. By their very design (owing largely to the sweep...or lack of it...in the leading edge of the wings) the Extra and Edge have certain characteristics that differ from each other.
Extras tend to be "snappers"...and I don't mean this in a bad way. They tumble with ease, start and stop snaps very crisply, cleanly, and precisely, and are widely regarded as the superior "precision aerobatics/IMAC style" airplane of the two. They do not, however, tend to be quite as stable in high alpha situations (harriers, for example), and tend to want to rock the wings a bit and fall off to one side or the other when stalled.
On the flip side, Edges tend to excel at high alpha stuff. Harriers can be flown at ridiculously slow speeds, with no evident wing rock. Stalls are frequently very gentle nose-down and we're flying again events, and the airplane is very forgiving of "mistakes" in these attitudes. They also tend to be very crisp and precise in rolls. Unlike the Extra, however, snaps can be pretty sloppy, if not downright impossible to start and stop cleanly. The edcge is not an airplane that likes to tumble, and it'll whine about it if you ask it to. For this reason, it is frequently seen as a poor choice for precision routines requiring clean and precise breaks.
While my own personal experience (a .40 sized Extra, .60 sized Edge, 50cc Extra, and 100cc Edge) has roughly followed the descriptions above, those are VERY general "traits" of the two airframes, and any particular airplane, pilot, manufacturer, or airframe may minimize, enhance, or eliminate some of those traits. I present them here merely as starting points for discussion and research on your part.
As they say, YMMV.
is located in my thread when i was in the same boat like you are right now.
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_89..._1/key_/tm.htm
01-21-2010 | 06:12 PM
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From: Niceville , FL
RE: Help pick a first 50cc size ARF.
Stay away from a Sukhoi, unless you really like it. A yak is great for 3d, it has the benefit of having much more drag, this makes it quite a bit slower than the flat sided fuselage planes.
01-25-2010 | 04:50 PM
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From: Greenville, SC
RE: Help pick a first 50cc size ARF.
I was just in the same boat as you, except that 50cc is still big for me AND I had no gas experience. I've got an Extreme Flight 88" Edge and I'm so in love with that plane it's not even funny. I spent like 3 months looking up 3D planes in that range and narrowed it down to 3: EF Yak, EF Edge, and 3DHS Slick. I'm partial to the way that Edge's fly so I bought the EF Edge.
01-25-2010 | 10:43 PM
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From: St. Peters, MO,
RE: Help pick a first 50cc size ARF.
I would not try to learn 3D with a 50cc airframe. I would start with a profile electric and work my way up.
But if you must go with a 50cc airframe I really like the Great Planes Ultimate Bipe. Best bargain out there and it fly's great. Under $400 from Tower if you use a coupon or some other sale. I am building my second Bipe now. At Christmas I got $40 off and free shipping for a total savings of $50.
My second choice - which I have never flown would be tha 88" Wild Hare Edge.
** Pay Attention to Wing Loading**
But if you must go with a 50cc airframe I really like the Great Planes Ultimate Bipe. Best bargain out there and it fly's great. Under $400 from Tower if you use a coupon or some other sale. I am building my second Bipe now. At Christmas I got $40 off and free shipping for a total savings of $50.
My second choice - which I have never flown would be tha 88" Wild Hare Edge.
** Pay Attention to Wing Loading**
