Considering picking up a Model Tech Giles 202 .60 size ARF. I have owned a Model Tech ARC before and was very happy with the product and was thinking the Giles might be fun. Anyone fly this plane and if so what size motor?

Had one with a Saito 100 on the nose. Had to add 11 oz of lead even with the heavy engine to get it to balance and the covering is very low temp stuff, so be careful when you de-wrinkle it or you'll burn a hole in the covering in a heartbeat. Had a bit over 100 flights on it when the horizontal stab failed during flight. Was a great flying airplane and lots of fun while I had it and the lead in the nose didn't seem to hurt the flight characteristics. I'd brace the tailfeathers if I was to do it again.

Thanks for the info. I did a search and found a few others had the stab fail as well. Might be worth installing wire struts on the tail section... doesn't sound like the extra weight would be an issue.

I put a Webra 120 in mine with a Brisson muffler. I put the Elevator and rudder servos in the most aft position and the battery under the tank. It balanced right on the money and weighed a disapointing 9 lbs (30oz/sqft). The plane flys well and has very little control coupling. BUT, but, but it takes very little elevator to cause it to snap with any speed or power on. A teeny bit of rudder correction just results in a snap the other way. Amazingly it will do a level deep stall cleanly so it doesn't cause any problem landing. But its tendency to snap takes the fun out of a lot of maneuvers.

On the first flight doing straight and level trim laps at half power a piece of the plane came fluttering down. I landed and found that half of one elevator had broken off. The outer hinge on the other elevator was broken and the elevator was cracked and one side of the stab was cracked about 4 inches out from the fuselage. I replaced all the CA hinges in the elevator with real hinges and wire braced every thing. Now it's fine.

The Model tech Giles G-202 has a horizontal stabilizer issue.

IT WILL FAIL.

The question is when. I've had three of these. Number one failed on the test flight, the third circuit if I'm not mistaken. A complete right off, which included 3 servo's and one TT Pro .61 carb.

Number two had 11 flights on it and bingo, off comes the left side stabilizer. I was prepared for this and landed it no worries with no other damage. I since replaced the horizontal stab with solid laminated balsa and have had no other issues with it.

Number three arrived and they told me the problem has been rectified. Upon inspection, it looked the same to me. I traded it in at the hobby store.

The giles will snap too easy and performance with an O.S. 1.20 surpass is just adequate for 3D. Every plane has it's good and bad points and the giles flies very nicely for most manoeuvres, however when the local club expert was flying mine I'll leave you with this quote.

"Yuck, I don't like that. You sure your CG's right. Engines nice."

I don't mind having to beef up the stab a bit but the tendency to snap all the time is somewhat discouraging. I had a Vmar with the same problem and really don't feel like dealing with that again. Thanks again.

see reviews at :

http://www.rcuniverse.com/magazine/a...?article_id=18
and another
http://www.hobbypeople.net/review/123730rcm.htm

Tim