All,

I have a Twister coming in next week and I've got two candidate engines for it: SK-80 and 0S 46FXi (w/Tower muffler). With this plane, I am mainly interested in pattern-type flight with good slow flight characteristics. As I read the forums, I see a variety of weights being reported and I wonder if I'd have to add much tail weight (I don't want to add any) if I strapped on the 28oz SK-80 as opposed to the 16oz OS. Will the SK-80 take this thing way out of its designed parameters? Based on most of the stuff I've read, the 46 would be a better choice. Any input/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Gary

I would go for the 46 and keep every as light as possible mine is just over 5lb with the OS50SX and performs great.

Thanks. Perhaps I'll save the 80 for the Formula 3D, which is next on my wish list :-).

The 80 will fly the Formula well I have an OS91FX in mine doesn't need all that power just makes it easy to get out of difficult situations.

Anyone running a YS63? Looking at this plane and have a 63 looking for a home.

One of the YT display pilots was putting the YS63 in his once it was back from being serviced.

Just in case anyone is interested in the Twister, it is a wonderful plane to fly. I ended up going with the OS 46FX, but I added a Tower muffler. I don't have a tach but it appears to pull better with the Tower muffler than the stock OS one. It won't pull out of a hover very well, so for serious 3D, you'd probably want to go the 4 stroke route. A larger 2 stroke would probably be too heavy and possibly degrade the performance of the aircraft even if balanced correctly. I'm more trying to get into pattern flying and this seems like a good intro plane for that. I had an experienced pilot at our club maiden it for me and he performed virtually every 3D trick in the book with it. I love this plane and can't wait to fly it again this afternoon.

how much does the twister cost?

$150 at Hobbypeople, I got mine on ebeigh for $140.

I just bought a Modeltech Magic Formula 3D from Jerry here on RCU and it is awesome. All I've done so far is glue the wing halves together, but this thing looks sweet. Nice glue joints and well fitting, covering is flawless. Absolutely beautiful. Since I'm gonna mount that SK-80, I will reenforce the firewall the best I can. The fuse is very tight, so I'm going to mount the rudder servo back toward the tail, and yes it will stick into the canopy, but it will act as a seatback for the pilot, hopefully it won't look too bad or affect performance. I'm using Dubro pull/pull cables, did that on my Twister too and they work great, no binding whatsoever. That really opens the fuse up and now I can add two battery packs just in front of the rudder servo, behind the CG because I'll need plenty of tail weight with that 27 oz boat anchor on the nose. Hopefully I don't have to do much more than that, but I'll likely need to more weight to the tail.

You guys with the OS91s, those must weigh about 22 - 24 oz with the muffler (?), did you have to add tail weight? Should be a fairly straightforward build, although I will replace the rear skid with a wheel.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Gary

With the OS91FX no weight needed, servos mounted in the back end nicads midships.

Sweet, maybe with my second battery pack and the rudder servo moved back about 8 inches, mine will be right on too. I'll know in a few days, I can't wait. I'm gonna have our club guru maiden it for me like he did my Twister. I'm still new, only been flying 5 months and I always feel more comfortable having the plane checked out, properly tuned (I'm getting pretty good at this) and to see what it is capable of. That is a huge confidence booster when I take it up the first time, knowing that it works.

One more thing...the [link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_2974168/anchors_2974168/mpage_1/key_modeltech%252Cformula/anchor/tm.htm#2974168]guy at the top of this page[/link], I believe I read, is the designer of this aircraft. Is this true? I could not find the thread where it was revealed. I believe you are friends with him, or you are he, one or the other. I can't recall. I've seen some of yours or his video footage and was wondering if you have more.

Thanks,
Gary