Has anyone seen/flown the AKM .25 size gee bee???? Looks really cute and maybe something fun and different to throw in the trunk. For $89.95 its not too bad of a deal either.

http://www.ak-models.com/geebee25.htm

Interesting. I've got a bunch of engines that would work in that plane. Wonder what it would do with a Webra .36? That fuse is big enough, one might even be able to bury a tuned pipe inside.

I'm sure the webra would work, gee bees usually come out tail heavy do to the short nose. I'm really thinking about getting one of these just to through around. Just trying to decide on the engine. I've had two GMS .32 and both were reliable rockets, but if it can take the extra weight up front a .40 might be even better, I hate putting dead weight in the nose of an airplane to balance it.

Take close look at the "scallops" on the wing of the unbuilt airplane in the ads. The finished plane, and the kit they show are not the same.
To me, that is imediate "red flag".

The finished GeeBee pictured in the ad and above is apparently the 120 size, not the 25 size. At least they were honest enough to post a picture of the actual 25 size kit. (Or maybe not.)

Jim

My point exactly!

I noticed the scallops also: very unscale like. Too large at the wing tip. Was going to purchase until I saw that. Would like to hear about flight characteristics though.

Ok guys I give what are scallops? I can see a little difference in the kit and built pics but I can't see where it would look too different.

For $89.95, what do you expect?

Mugen: the scallops are the half-circular red patterns on the leading edge of the wings. As said by my compatriot... for $89.95 you get stand-way-way-off scale. Mark

i have the 25 NIB and first impression that it's not as stubby as the other GeeBees. this is good and bad. good is that it's going to be easier to balance because the fuse seems longer than on the larger ones. bad because it doesn't look that scale. this plane is definitely fun scale. construction is not as robust and the cowl is thin but then again, it's only a 25 size plane so i guess all that is not unacceptable. i am putting a 32sx with pitts muffler in mine. second or third project.

forestroke please post some pics of your plane. thanks,
Michael

Just to bring all the red flags down, at the time of the website publishing we did not have actual pictures of assembled GeeBee25 so as you all guessed it we used GeeBee120 picture instead.
To see what the GeeBee looks like assembled please visit: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showt...01#post4030857
It is for electric set-up but the looks will be the same.

Well that picture pretty much confirms the odd scallops and out of proportion fuse.[:-]

If you are looking for 100% scale than 1/48 plastic models would be the choice.
If you looking for good flying GeeBee 25 than our kit is the way to go.
There is always a trade off…

That's a "LOT" of trade off.

Then don't buy it. As has been said already, it's only $89.95. For that price, if it's recognizable and flies well, one has gotten their money's worth. If you want perfection, build one.

Yeah, geez, this is the ARF/RTF forum, not the Scale forum.

Next there'll be somebody complaining that it won't hover...

Dave Olson

"Next there'll be somebody complaining that it won't hover... "

I'm sure someone will ask if a ST 2300 will fit.....

[:-]

If you guys are willing to settle for this, then ARFs will never improve.

Not to be argumentative, but I have it in my head that this "Scaleness" issue will never be adequately "Improved" to the liking of scale purists.

Kits in general, and ARF's in particular, must be designed to fly well - the main criteria of those who must rely on the manufacturers. This often involves alteration of the lifting and control surfaces, and the moments - compared to the full-scale plane. Liberties are even taken - as in this case - with the color schemes.

If the buyers like them, lots of them will be sold, and the scale fans will object.

I might not buy one of these GeeBees.... but I submit that if you offer me an exact scale GeeBee for $89, that flies as well as my old Vmar Extra (or even the 40 size Tequila Sunrise that I retired), I will join the throngs of people ordering a copy.

Best wishes,
Dave Olson

Either you've never seen an ARF from 20 years ago, or you've managed to put them out of your mind. ARFs are improving, but they're never going to get to the point where the person who builds competition scale models from scratch will be happy. I think it's safe to say that for the average sport flyer, strict compliance to the original airplane design is way less important than how the thing flies. What's the point of a Gee Bee ARF that looks exactly like the original if it's so difficult to fly that 95% of them crash on the first flight. ARFs are about flying, not concours d'elegance.

i have to say i agree with most of the comments. its just that everyone has a different tolerance for scaleness. lets look at the kyosho geebee, which i believe adheres to piper chuck's notion that 95% of them crash on the first flight. it's a great scale rendition of the geebee but a monster to fly (so my friend, who's first flight ended up in cartwheels, says). on the other extreme there are the world models aircombat series which look absolutely un-scale. then there are all those in between.

i bought this geebee because it was easier to fly (guaranteed by the LHS owner) and looked still cute. of course i would like it to look more scale but then that is the tradeoff i'm willing to make on this plane.

it looks scale to me, where can i purchase one? please someone send me a link. thank you

They sure do, but they actually fly great!