Hi,

I have a GP Little Toni with a OS 91 FS. I have about a dozen flights on the plane and I really like it. But, I found an interesting problem. I can move the engine up and down about 1/8 inch. All my screws are tight between the mount and the firewall. The mount has no crack and the prop is balanced. What I found is the fiberglass front end buckles slightly when I move the engine up and down. The plywood mount is solid on the back end of the fiberglass and I see no cracks on the outside. I've email GP and awaiting their answer.

But, I'm wondering has anyone else seen this problem? Also, should I worry about it? Any suggestions to fix it from the inside?

Dave

fiberglass the inside of the fuse . that is not good. you will be flying the cowl foward not good!!!![X(]

Dave, did you get resolution on this? Mine's just arrived and I'm about to start assembly.

Thanks in advance,
Grant

Harry,

I haven't heard from GP. I will call them tomorrow and post the results.

Dave

I am really interested in this plane as well. Dynamite looking unit!
Can I ask, how does it slow down for landings and is it as fast as it looks?
Thanks

Dave,

Don't hold your breath for an e-mail response from GP.
I have e-mailed them several times on different subjects and never been honoured with a reply.

Regards

Ari

Apalsson, the important thing to remember is "they've got your money" Now you can figure out how to resolve the problem. The plane is an average performer. Huge amount of dihedral in the wing does'nt help the with high speed . The GP Shoestring is a better plane. Did'nt notice any "play" in the firewall area. After selling my previous one to a friend, I will certainly get another. Basically, a nice plane. MM.

Hmmmmm ... glad I did not pick it up ... I hear many good things about the Shoestring. It looks kewl too!

Hi,

I talked to GP today. According to the tech no one has reported my problem yet. Their solution to send the fuse back to them for a check up. As for solutions they could not come up with any. So, in short order no help, go it alone to determine a solution or send it back for check. I'm not sure what I'm going to do. I really like the plane and I want to keep it around. So, I'm in a Catch-22 to send it back or try a fix the plane myself. But, which every way I go I wouldn't be able to decide for a little while. I had a water leak in my house, in which I need to do major house repairs over the next few weeks so airplane tweaking, repairing and flying will have to take a back seat.

To answer some of the questions about the flying habits of the plane. The plane has good slow speed qualities and it can get up and go when I put the hammer down. Rolls are awful, without rudder and elevator input. There more like a barrel roll. I really like doing stall turns with this plane. As for snaps, they look nice and quick. The first time I did a snap roll I did two before I realized it. Overall, I really like the plane and once I get this firewall issue solved it will fit my needs well.

I also have the Shoestring, the "String" rolls better and lands a touch slower. I liked "Sting" so much, I bought a second one. I'm running a OS 61 in my String" and OS91 FS in the Toni. Both planes are great and each have their own personality.

If you have any questions, drop me a line.

Dave

I AM HAVING FIRE WALL PROBLEMS ALSO I WAS THE FIRST ONE IN OUR CLUB TO BUY ONE
AND IT COUGHT ON. I ONLY HAVE 6 FLIGHTS ON MINE AND MINE IS CRACK ALL AROUND
THE FIRE WALL. I AM USING A OS91FS IN MINE WITH NO HARD LANDINGS ON MINE AT ALL.
I REALLY LIKE THE PLANE SHE IS A REAL BABY IN THE AIR HATE TO SEE HER GO. I CUT THE
ELEVATOR OFF MINE AND SENT IT BACK TO GP THIS IS A REAL SAFTY ISSUE DON'T NEED
TO BE STARTING IT AND LOSE SOME BODY PARTS. EMAIL ME IF ANY BODY HAS ANSWERS
OR FINDS OUT WHAT GP IS DOING FOR THEM [email protected] MY NAME IS RON

Yes,
I had a similar problem when building it. The front of the firewall cracked and collapsed or sucked in as I was sinking the blind nuts to back of firewall. I basically had to use a different mount than was shipped with model, I mounted an Saito 100 which required a different mount. This required that I patch the holes that I had made for the original mount and these original holes is where the fiberglass over the firewall was collapsing in as the blind nuts were being sucked in from the back. This resulted in some cracking of the fiberglass. I worked with this and studied it for several day since I was very concerned about it. At the end of the day it seems that the firewall plywood behind the fiberglass seems stable other that it is splintering a bit and blind nuts dont want to stay. I have had 2 flights so far and I seel no further deterioration. I did have to re tighten the bolts holding the engine mount to the firewall and I CA the cracks and indentations on the from and got a good amount of epoxy inside the fuse around the outside of the firewall to harden it up a bit more. I hope it does not deteriorate any further. The new mount I used for the SAITO had a smaller bolt patter, closer to center of firewall than mount shipped with the kit. Seemed to be more stability in this area of firewall. I think in manufacture they got some air or space between plywood firewall and the glass.

I don't have this plane (yet) so I don't know what it looks like but is there room enough up front that you can get your hand in there and line the firewall/fuselage junction with additional glass and epoxy? If the plane needs weight up front (again, an assumption) then you may as well make the weight useful.

Don

Hi!
Just pour in some Ca glue..........both thin and medium (Flash) spray on kicker! Ready!!

Regards!
Jan K
Sweden

FIRST OF ALL SEEMS LIKE THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM THIS
IS NO ACCIDENT!!!! THIS IS A PROBLEM!! SECOND YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE TO ADD CA
OR EPOXY TO A KIT I JUST PAID $250 FOR. THE WEIGHT IS ALREADY AT 8 POUNDS IF YOU
ADD THAT MUCH EPOXY TO THE FRONT THAN CG CHANGES. AND IF ANY ONE HAS SEEN THE
FUSE IT IS GOING TO BE A GREAT TRICK EPOXY UP THERE WITH OUT MAKING A HUGE MESS.
I HAVE TALKED TO GP AND THER TECH KNOW NOTHING THEY ALWAYS SAY (I HAVE NOT HEARD OF THIS YET) MAYBE THEY NEED TO READ RC UNIVERSE.

Nice to have this info. I sold my first one to a guy at an airshow. Now I was all set to buy another one till I read this thread. Keep it going . When the problem gets resolved, I certainly will get another. Thanks guys, MM[X(]

From reading these posts, there are three definite cases where people see a difficulty with the firewall in their Great Planes Little Tony. These are the only reports to date that there is a difficulty. Three is not "a lot of people having the same problem".

In all cases, if a modeler believes their model to be defective, and sends it to us, we'll replace any defective model. Great Planes stands behind their models and does honor the warranty, which is stated in the instruction booklet of every model they produce.

Maybe not. But it could be the tip of the iceberg. There might be many more out there with the same problem, but since they don't post here on RCU "we" might not hear from them on the subject. "We" don't have the privledge of knowing just how many notices GP has recieved on the issue.

It is a fairly new plane on the market and as time goes it will be interesting to see how this thread grows...or not.

Jim

I AM NOT BASHING THE PLANE IT IS A SMOOTH BABY , SLEEK, AND VERY EASY TO BUILD,
WITH VERY GOOD INSTRUCTION'S. BUT THAT IS NOT THE ISSUE HERE. I AM NO SAYING GP WILL NOT
STAND BEHIND IT . THE REAL ANSWER HERE IS TO FIX THE PROBLEM NOT TO SEND OUT
ANOTHER FUSE EVERY TIME THIS HAPPENS. THE PLANE IS NEW ON THE MARKET AND COSTLY
FOR A 60 SIZE PLANE. I THINK ONCE MORE PEOPLE START SEEING IT IT WILL CATCH ON.
2 GUYS FROM MY CLUB BOUGHT ONE 3 MORE ARE THINKING ABOUT IT. WE ARE NOT ALL
TALKING ABOUT DIFFERENT PROBLEMS FIRE WALL SEEMS TO THE ONLY THING! IF IT 6 PEOPLE
OR 6000 PEOPLE IT DOES NOT MATTER IT ONLY TAKES ONE PERSON TO GET HURT. BAX
I YOU LIKE THE NEXT TIME I SEE CRACKING I WILL CALL YOU AND YOU CAN COME START MY
PLANE FOR ME AND YOU BETTER WEAR A HELMENT.

Hoppy, please lose the Caps Lock.

Hi folks,

I finally got my house in order so I could examine my Little Toni up close. I found a large crack at the bottom of the fiberglass section of the firewall. I also, saw makings of other cracks around the fuse. I talked to my LHS and they are supplying a box for me to return the plane to Great Planes. I'm planning to send the plane next week. I will keep you posted.


Dave

Bax,
I have a GP Lil' Toni, I have to concur that the front end is built a bit light for the type of power being used .60 and above.
Things I have noticed:
Firewall: the Fiber Glass sides of the tapered "box" that extends out to the firewall itself, flex and allow the engine to be pushed off center about 1/8" + in any direction. I feel the lay-up in the front is just too light. (the plane needs lead to balance anyway)

The spinner is pretty, but poorly balanced, a 3" Tru-Turn P-51 looks more scale and really helps on the vibration, with the included spinner one needs to bring a bag of cowl screws to the field as you will loose one or two each flight.

The area around the gear block is a bit light too, mine started cracking on the first couple of flights, I added a plywood plate across & between the fillets and tabbed them in with cloth, much better now.

The landing gear is pretty soft too, doesn't take much to "splay" it out.

I am using a new ST .90 Brisson muffler APC 13 X 8 prop, plane is pretty fast, can pull through huge loops. Lands very nicely.
For the guys with roll problems, check your aileron differential or something as I have a lot dihedral on mine ( I just pulled the wing roots up tight to the built in angle) Mine rolls quite nicely, not quite pattern quality, but great 4 point rolls.

Talked to GP couple days ago about my spinner and a new one is on its way!!!!!!VERY nice to deal with.......Thats my 2 cents.

If you buy a shoestring, know that the landing gear is mount so weak and is held in with only 2 bulk heads and some stringers. I had one and I was just turning at the end of the runway to slow it down, it hopped once and the entire bottom of the airplane blew out. Flew nice though.

Hey guys, I have a little tony and I put a YS 120 4 stroke on the front of it. I have had no troubles with the firewall
PS, I am turning a 13.5X14 prop on this airplane, and it really halls ass.

Let's hope GP does'nt incorporate the Little Toni firewall problem into their new Cosmic Wind Minnow. MM