Does anyone have any comments on this plane like how it is built, and how it flys? I am currently flying a Sig SE but I am wanting something that can fly more percision aerobatices but also can do some 3D. Would this fit my bill? Thanks!

I plan on writing a full review, but it's not done yet. Will have some tips on building and setup.

My plane was flown and setup dialed in this past weekend by a current IMAC competitor. I also flew it ... I'm a sport flyer on a good day, so the relevant flying comments are from someone much more talented than I!

The Freestyle will fly pattern, IMAC, and most 3D. It is quite an incredibly precise flying plane, yet it does not have to be flown at blistering speeds like some pattern planes need to, in order to be extremely precise. I fly a YS63 with APC 13x6. This amount of power and prop is recommended, or something else with equal power. A 46FX or Mag 46XLS is not enough. A Saito 72 could be an alternative, identical in weight and nearly identical power to the YS63.

In a word, AWESOME if set up properly by someone knowledgeable.

Replace the main landing gear with available replacement gear from the Global 40 sized Sukhoi. Much bigger, much beefier, and better looking, too. And only $10. You will have to slot out the fuselage slightly to accomodate the gear, which is a little bigger front to back than the smaller, thinner stock gear.

Very highly recommended.

Any must do's when assembling this plane??

My Freestyle will be waiting at my door today (according to UPS tracking).

I am using a TT .61 2 stroke with a macs muffler, total weight 21.5oz, not too much more that the YS.

George

My YS63 is only around 17.9 oz including muffler. With the extra 3 oz, you may have a challenge I didn't face in moving the battery much further back behind the servos perhaps, unless you want more tailweight plus a heavier plane. I added 1 oz of tailweight to get to the rearmost CG, 4-1/4".

Assembly, it goes together very well, with a very well written manual. Excellent parts fit on mine.

Because of the narrow fuselage, the is no room behind the firewall for one of the blind nuts for the motor mount. A wood screw is supplied for that 4th hole. I selected a Great Planes medium adjustable motor mount, since the bolt pattern is smaller than the stock motor mount. Therefore I could use 4 blind nuts. You could also select a Dave Brown mount if there is one that fits your engine. Note, the firewall to thrust washer distance is pretty big, so you will need a long mount. You will need to drill new holes through the supplied wedge-shaped thrust plate to accomodate your new motor mount.

Unusual for me building an ARF (maybe my 20th ARF?), I was able to use all of the hardware supplied, including the pushrods, horns and tank. I never use ARF fuel tanks. This one was sweet. I chose not to use the nylon clevises, but opted for the Dubro composite ones instead. These are the black nylon ones with the brass plated pin, and the sliding lock retainer for the pin. Nice.

If you fly off grass, you will probably want to upgrade the wheel size. I went with 2-1/2" (the largest I could fit in the wheel pants) lightweight wheels.

That should get you started.

I'm flying mine with a OS .46 FX and that is all one needs to fly the IMAC sequences which I do to practice at our smaller field. Not enough for full 3D.

With the OS.46 FX it will be tail heavy, I add a 5 cell 1300ma NmHd battery right under the muffler and added a heavy spinner nut.

As always, engine choice depends on what you plan to do with it. At under 6 lbs all up, it will fly fine with a nice 46, but as you said, it won't have enough power for 3D.

Note: we didn't need more than 3/8-1/2 throttle stick most of the time with the YS63. Except for vertical stuff and 3D. It's just a more impressive overall plane, IMHO, with the added power, as it becomes more versatile.

Thanks for the tips RCAddiction. I will keep that battery back so I can get the CG at 4.25 without adding weight.

Two guys at my field fly the Freestyle. Really smooooth plane. You're right, this plane flys pattern, IMAC, and 3D all pretty well. Why don't more people have them, it's the best of all 3 worlds?

Hopefully I'll be flying it Sunday and it will be JUST under 6 lbs