Hi my name is Rich and im 16 years old im getting into the hobby of r/c airplanes and there really is no place here in new jersey near me to fly gas Airplanes so im going electric.... I was wondering if anyone out there has flown one of the sig rascals??? and if you have how did it fly??? its greatly appriciated for your responses...

Thanks
Rich

I built one and it flys great. Altidude here is about 4800 feet and 80% of the electrics will not fly here. The real lite ones are fine such as the Tiger Moth, Belliot but the wattage line is a bunch of nice foam that are great for my 3 year old grandson to play with( ie sporty) I use a Jr Micro rec and servos and Jettie speed control. I know that many of the reviews on some electrics appear good but not at this alitude. Constructon is easy and quick use CA and keep it lite and you will have a nice bird. Good Luck

Rascal Photo

Very nice plane you got there :-D

Rich,

If you're new to RC then this is not the best plane for you, in my opinion. This has a tapered wing and is not the best trainer.

Furthermore, I've seen several people here locally (Dallas, TX area) that have this plane and hate the way it flies because it's under powered with the 400 electric engine (also a bad thing for beginners).

The one success I know of with this plane is a guy that took off the 400 engine (after MUCH wasted time trying more cells etc.) and put an AstroFlight .020 on it. The plane then came alive and now flies great, however he is an experienced pilot.

If you don't mind building, here is detailed thread for a really nice Sig LT-25 that is a nice flying plane and a good trainer (converted from gas to electric). http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showt...threadid=38685

Also, look through the electric discussion board on RC Universe and on The Ezone http://www.ezonemag.com/ .

Last word of advice, if you get anything other than a Zagi (that won't get destroyed when crashed), you REALLY need to get someone to help you learn how to fly. With any of these balsa planes you will crash and get discouraged if you try to fly by yourself. I was a good control line pilot and thought I could handle RC by myself with my first plane, I was wrong :stupid: . Ask anyone, it happens time after time that new guys show up, won't accept help, and drill their pride and joys into the ground.

Sorry for the soap box

Best of luck!!!
Keith

Thanks for the input but what i should have really put in my topic was that im getting into electric i used to fly gas since i was 7 so im pritty good on the controls but i ment to ask if this is a good slow park flyer for slow sunday after noons...thanks anyways


Rich

Well in that case it's a completely different story .

The only caution would be that guys around here weren't really happy with the performance, but give it a try. If it doesn't meet your expectations put a good brushless motor on it and it will rock!

Of course, many of the electrics I've seen seem to be under powered with the stock motors (even at our elevation!). And like bpannier mentioned, the reviewers never seem to mention this - I just don't get that. Maybe it's just my expectations

Good luck!

Keith

Very true…the Rascal electric is very poor on power with the speed 400 / gearbox setup. I bought one when they hit the shelves. I have always flown glow and figured this would be a good start in electric (not). Everyone, and I mean everyone I have seen around here with this plane including the electric flyers complain about the poor performance.

SigFlyer,

Put an AstroFlight .020 brushless (or equivalent) on it and it will fly very well!

Keith

ok since it is under powered that astro flight .020 brushless motor would that work with the speed control and batteries or do i need to upgrade all that stuff to cause im kinda short on $$$$

Thanks

Rich

The AstroFlight comes with a speed control. Not sure what, if any, batteries you have now.

I'd also check http://www.ezonemag.com/ . Recently there have been some new brushless motors come out that may be as good at a lower price. But honestly I haven't compared the prices vs. power on these new motors to the AstroFlights.

The brushless motors are more expensive, so you may also explore some other more powerful brushed motors if you can't afford the $$$ for the brushless versions. Be sure to include the cost of the speed control in your comparisons because some brushless have the speed control and brushed motors normally don't.

Also, keep in mind that the brushless motor will never wear out and will provide much more run time and more power on the same batteries because they're much more efficient.

Good Luck,
Keith Black

Keith, could you post some links for online dealers for astroflight 020 motors? I’m interested but the electric arena is something I’m not real familiar with. Which version of the astroflight 020 would be the best choice? Currently I’m running 7 cell 600 mah packs with the Rascal. Would these packs work with the 020 you are talking about? What kind of run time would I get with the astroflight? Thanks in advance….Johnny

Hi,

I'm using the stock engine, BEC and 7 cells battery pack on my Rascal. I only every got one good flight on it. The plane climbs about 20 feet into the air and banks to the left. I have full right and the plane just crashes into the ground. I tried putting right thrust into the engine but there is not much room. I also believe the plane is under power. I have a GWS zero using the stock engine, and FMA 20A controller and 8 cell pack and it files rings around this plane. Anyone have any ideas. Because if not, I'm going to revamp this bird and put my GP07 engine in it.

Dave

You can order directory from http://www.astroflight.com/ or Tower Hobbies and other resellers carry them. The price with speed controller is around $200.

They'd work with the 7 cell 600 mah packs and certainly do better than the 400 power engine, however you'd probably want to move up to at least 8 cells. Honestly I'm not an expert with this engine, I fly the AstroFlight .010 on a Virus Acro, but I don't own the .020. However as I mentioned one of the guys around here had success with it on his Rascal.

Keith

Dave, Do not know what would have caused your hard turn unles a surface wing, rudder etc had a warp. Set mine on the ground and advanced the throttle and it was airborn with no bad habbits. Every thing is stock 400 motor etc. It is not a hot rod as it was not intended to be. Try a Laser for a hot rod if that is what you want and is a good flyer and very acrobatic.

bpannier


I will check the wing for warps. As for the other I wasn't looking for a hot rod. On the contrary I was looking for a plane that I can just put around the sky close in while the gas guys are cleaning up. But, when the plane get's no more the 20 ft in the air and tetters on the stall to me it seems under power. I had more fun flying my Wingo then this plane.

Dave

If you have really problem with electric call me I can set you up with with cheap brushless motor. The AstroFlight is not way to go.


I have only electric models:
7 lbs. /Hacker B50 10L w/6.7:1/20x11 prop/ 16 cells=unlimited vertical

See the video of Diablotin Super:
http://www.espritmodel.com/images/diablotin1.mpg