After removing the upper sheeting and stregnthening the plate wich supports the upper cabines I checked incedences and prepped the plane for another flight. The flight went reasonably well except in midflight i lost my muffler pressure and went dead stick. I bring the plane around and allmost make it to the strip, I stall a foot off the weeds about 5 feet short of the blacktop and she sets down.
I get complemented on a nice save and go to get the plane.

The landing gear collapsed, Not just collapsed but busted out all the lower sheeting and stringers and cracked the rear lite ply support plate. Apon examination of the LG plate i find that except for the epoxy I added, the tristock I installed, and the dowels I epoxied the only thing holding the LG plate in was the original glue holding it to the soft balsa stringers. There is a interlocking tab set up to hold the LG plate between a fore and aft semicircular lite ply support plates but apparently no glue. The front plate is ok, the rear plate shattered taking everything out up to the forward wing mounting plate. It wiill take a bit of work to fix this. You might say that was a crappy landing but ive done worse and had no damage on more fragile planes. The biggest flaw ( aside from the missing glue ) is that the lite ply that is suppposed to be interlocked to the LG plate is semicircular not fully round ( as you miight expect ) so even if the plate was correctly glued there is insuficient structure to support an 8 1/2 lb plane. Sorry, two 1/4" balsa stringers and some 3/32 sheeting is not good aircraft engineering for landing gear support.

I showed the plane to the stafff at the local nobby people, he called his manager. They said to strip the plane and they would return it to the manufacturer. Assuming that they hold true to their word tomorow, I commend Hobby people for backing their products.

Im not bashing anyone but this is my experience. Take is as you will.

I am about to test fly my Waco tomorrow. I read your post and agree with you. Had I known that this plane was poorly constructed I wouldn't have bought it. Most ARF's are crap anyway but they let you fly quickly after you wipe out a plane. If I had been able to read the posts regarding beefing up the L/G and Cabane supports I would have done that. If I smash the gear or anything else on this plane I will roast marshmellows on the bonfire I make from it. ARF's aren't worth the trouble to fix in this price range!

WACO 60
I've flown mine about a dozen times this fall - had a First of the YEAR fly-in 1/1 in upstate NY We look forward to being able to fly this time of yr. LOL Sometimes we just look out see wind and snow... and wish we were elswhere! Anyhow... on a gentle landing that day 1/1/04, landed was turning to come back and while turning around wheels colapsed backwards and one wheel pant puncured the lower wing... After inspecting you have to reenforce the bracket area or it will break. End of story... I love the plane other wise... fun to fly and very relaxing... Don't have time to build and love how the arfs have come a long way... seems most have problems with Wheel brackent area... I'm sure in time they will get that down... Myself I'm thankful for arfs.. I have some pretty planes that for the most part after a little tweeking... are very nice planes... I do feel some of the frustration... someime we wonder why they just don't take a couple more steps and make really awsome planes....

I had the exact same damage with mine but the rear semicirculaar LG plate shattered into several pieces. To properly repair it meant rebuilding that area. The LG was poorly thought out. I was given a refund. The shop sold it to an employee who epoxied it together, The thing is going to fold on the first landing or maybe takeeoff. I used the refund to buy a somthing extra KIT, no more arfs for a while.

I have been reading all the posts about the Waco ARF from. I just e-mailed The Hobby People. The next batch of planes to come out is mid November. If the landing gear problem hasn't been addressed I will cancel my plane.

Bruce

Tha landing gear problem is not that big of a deal. Just CA a few formers to brace up the inside and reenforce the back side of the slot where the wheels mount. Mine held after that and it only took 15 - 20 minutes for the repair. The plane is worth the money! Check other reviews of this plane most love the plane after some mods have been made.

Alchemy, The LG issue can be a PITA but it can be strenthened sufficiently to keep the plane together. Personally I found a number of flaws in the kit, all repairable or replacable. If I have to spend that much time and repace half of the hardware, for me its not worth it.
Have you seen any of the sig arfs. They ( rascal and mayhem) have good to excelent hardware, are well covered, are built straight and fly well.
Sig and Vectorflight get high marks in my book.

I E-mailed the Hobby People and was assured the next batch coming out in mid November has had the landing gear problem addressed. What other flaws have you found in the kit? I don't mind working on planes if I know up front the problem is a quick fix. If it takes four or five days to build an ARF because of poor workmanship it becomes discouraging. I will take a look at the Sig ARF'S also. Thanks for the heads up.

Bruce

The LG was the biggest beef on the plane. As I remember some of the pushrods were too big to fit in the installed sleeves in the fuselage. Overall the hardware was typical arf stuff, I replaced half of it. I have some plans for an Andrews Aeromaster in the garage, Ill see if I can do better.