*****I've edited this post as the webpage weight has been changed from 7.2 to 8.9 finished weight. This is a recent change (last 48 hours).
I purchased my kit with the listed weight of 7.2 pounds.*****The engine size has also been modified from .46 to .60 2s and .60 to .80 4s, the build manual still states this.******
Ok further to the last post, I've received a response from Ken Charron at MB planes. I've been unable to respond as I'm currently unable to get past the anger I'm experiencing and draft a diplomatic response to his fodder.
A little preamble prior to posting his response:
Ken Charron contacted me last Friday wanting to know how I built a 10 pound plane. In the interest of making me happy, various offers were made by Ken to replace the fuselage with a Balsa version, laser cut servo boxes for the Mr. Mulligan I'm currently working on, and his cost on a future product purchase. The cost purchase of a T-Rex I did show interest in.
www.mosquitobiteplanes.com
Above is the URL for the website with the product details. Please review and notice the finished weight and the power requirements for this model. One other note; look at the build pictures and notice they show a balsa version of the kit being built. Nowhere on the webpage does it say this is not the version that will be shipped. You will get a plywood version.
Anyway, here is the response from Ken. Please feel free to post your response, whether it’s positive or negative as this will assist me in drafting my response to Ken. If you choose to PM me as many of you have in the past please, please send a copy to MBP as they have a right to know. You can find the contact info on their webpage.
As a note I fly at a club of approx. 300 and I was awarded builder of the year last year. Various members have used my skills to build and repair their models over the past years.
email as received:
Daryl.
Since we last spoke, I called a number of customers with the same version of the kit as you, and I asked them about the balance and weight of their plane. Of the 12 people I called one mentioned he had to put a little weight up front. He did mention he was around 9 pounds for weight, but the Saito 82 with a 14x8 zinger had it in the air in 20 feet.
I talked to the president, and he reminded me that a 70 4-stroke is the bottom of the range for the ply version. The 65 4-stroke was the bottom of the range for the balsa version. The CG for this plane is not so critical. But I have to ask: Did you set the CG with a full fuel tank? After all, that's condition you need to take off on. Lifting the plane by putting your fingers under the main spar of the wing should show balanced with a full tank of fuel. If it wasn't balanced with fuel, the the plane is nose heavy, and would explain part of the sluggishness. The absence of a nice fat prop (zinger 14x8) would also account for the sluggish behaviour. If the plane came in at just over 9 pounds, then that would be perfectly acceptable. I still won't dismiss the possibility that you received a odd kit.
The presidents only regrets that we weren't involved in your issues at the time it happened - and not as a result of other customers calling to tell us. It's unfortunate that you have changed the engine, and the gear layout - as this means we can't resolve the issues of your particular kit.
In that respect, I haven't asked him about the T-REX I was putting together for you. I want to wait until he cools down first.
I'm real sorry that you've had these issues. Perhaps more instruction in our manual could have prevented this.
Ken Charron
Senior Product Designer
613-256-0008
www.mosquitobiteplanes.com