Well I was just ablout ready to order a skyshark rc 540 and I spotted a new edge 540 3d coming from seagull on 1/17/2006 #sea4000 from horizon $174.99

Specifications
Wing Span: 63.75 in
Overall Length: 60 in
Wing Area: 671.7 sq in
Flying Weight: 7–8 lb
Engine Size: .61–1.00 2-stroke; .91–1.25 4-stroke
Radio: 4 channels minimum
Servos: 5 servos required

What do you guys think? Is it worth waiting for? the price is right if the quality of their arf's are good. But since I have never owned or flown a seagulls product plane I have no idea what to expect...

Mike[

I have Seagull's 1/4 Scale Laser 200 and the quality is very good. I also have the Skyshark edge 540 running a Saito 1.00 on the business end. Skyshark kits are also very high in quality.

Hello Mike,
I've owned two Seagull Edge 540's, the first crahed duw to pilot error during an inverted spin. My second one I"ve dlown for the past two summers and is still in one piece. There were problems early on with the wing ribs being cracked and not enough CA glue uased in the joints. They were very tail heavy because of the rudder & elevator servo in the tail. Both my Edges were great for learning advanced Aerobatic's but too tail heavy for 3D. My my 3D I bought a Funtana 90. All in all for the price the Edge 540 60/90 was a good Aerobatic plane. I really dont have any complaints about it.
Hust check the glue joints and check thewing ribbs for cracked ribbs. Nothing a little CA wont clure.
NEDYOB

Wow, Thanks for the fast reply's. Maybe I'll wait a little longer and see if anyone starts a thread on this new plane...

mike

I think you just started the "official" thread. From looking at the pictures it looks as if they have increased the control surface size and decreased the weight by about a pound compaired to the original Edge. I also have been looking for something to put my .91 surpass in that would fly IMAC and a little 3D with. This looks as if it has definite possibilities.
There also had been a Seagull Edge flying at our field all summer and it flew nice and looked to be very well done.

If the new design is anything like the new Seagull Superstar 120 3/D I just built you'll be amazed at how they have improved their ARFs. (Except for those darn heavy two piece landing gears. Which I simply replace with a one piece carbon unit by Graphtech for the Sig 4.Star 120) The Seagull company has really been busy updating and coming on board with the other high quality ARFs. You'll see the differance the minute you pop the hatch off and look inside the fuse. Very nice.
I'm going to get one of these Edge 540s if funds permit. (Available in January)

Kurt,
Your 120 looks awesome! How about a few more pictures?

I placed an order today for the new 540. Shipping date is 1/17/2006.
Also purchased the new saito fa125 to go with it.
Anyone have suggestions on servos that will center corectly evrytime? I was thinking of hs5625 and maybe something a little stronger for the rudder...

Mike

I know we are talking about Edges and Extras here.... but,,, this bird really flys like a combo of the two. It has the slow stable characteristics of the Edge (yes, with the coupling in KE ) and the point and shoot abillity of the Extra.
Running the Saito 150 but could go bigger for better 3/D. The firewall and cowling area gives you room to hang most anything on the business end. Servos are Futaba S3305 High-Torque Standard w/Metal Gears all the way around. Except throttle. Plenty of speed and torque with a 6.0vt battery.
Reason I got it ?? It's differant. Looks kinda like a cross between the Edge, Laser and Extra. Comes with very decent hardware. Loose the landing gear and go with something lighter. Replace the 4-40 metal tail support rods with carbon . Before going carbon gear and tail rods, etc, etc... my superstar full of fuel came in at 11lbs even.


MIKE !! Keep that info coming on your new Edge ok ?

I have one of the seagull Edge 540's from last year. It is about 3/4 finished, collecting dust in the shop. It is a very nice plane so far. What is the difference between this 'New' one, and the old one?

Doesn't the new design have larger control surfaces and a lighter frame ? More of a 3/D style than the old model ? At least that's what I was told. I may be wrong.

I talked to horizon today and the plane and motor should arrive on the 17th. Still looking for suggestions on servos. Iv'e been using 3010 for the high torque and good speed at 6volt and 9001 on my ucando, also I use hs5645 on my wm extra but there fairly slow.


Mike

I've had the 3010s fail under high stress Gs. They have nylon gears. [] With the setup your running I'd at least go for the Futaba S3305 Servo High-Torque Standard w/Metal Gears . The security of the metal gears is worth the extra $10.00 or whatever it is.

I have one of the old ones and I have had alot of poor luck with it. some my own others due to the poor glue the factory uses.
the first flight I stalled it coming in and didn't hit the nose to hard but it completly ripped the front of the plane off. After looking at it closely most of the wood parts didn't break they just came apart.
after about 15 flights I had about 7 crashes most minor but due to the plane being so heavy it didnt have any glide factor and it was really hard to get it back to the field if it dead sticked. (root cause of most crashes was a bad pick up in the factory fuel tank)
but I still fly her today after some extensive repairs it still looks really nice and flys Ok just heavy.

I dont think I would buy another Seagulls model but thats just me, Most people like them alot.
and if I would have known to glue it up before flying it I might have avoided some of my problums.

It looks good as long as you are not going to fly 3D.

I may do some 3d, but thats what my ucando and electrics are for. I really want to work on imac and some pattern flying, so servos that will center correctly every time is really what I am looking for.



mike

My edge arrived today at work along with my saito 125 and my boss is making me wait to open it up. So tonight I'll post some pictures..

Mike

Hurry up, please. BTW, Horizon site shows it being out of stock until Mar. Sounds like they sold like hot cakes.

What a coincidence.. My LHS has one on the shelf and a briefly looked it over. It looks nice but based on the specs, I don't think it will excel at 3D. Less wing area than a Funtana 40 and 7-8lbs.. Not a great recipe for slow 3D, really. Time will tell, though!

Well I opened the box and long story short Horizon is sending me a replacement. So it should be here on monday. Wing tube was not secured and there is more HANGER RASH and DENTS than my last two seasons with my UCD60.

Mike

Bummer Mike.
But,,, Horizon does have a good turnaround and you shouldn't have to wait long.

Hello,
I bought one of the new seagull edge 540's and it looks real good. I have a mvvs 91, which I might put a jett turbo muffler on it. I dont know if this will be enough motor for unlimited vertical, but the turbo muffler is supposed to give about 25% boost in power. This should give close to 3 hp. I am going to try to build it light as I can to keep the wing loading down. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

You guys are driving me nuts! Get those digital cameras out and get some pictures to post! Any comments on hardware quality and finish. The one on Horizons site is a very sharp looking aircraft.
dawg

I had the old one, and loved it. Did they prehinge and pin like they did on the others?


Ted

I think they stopped pre-hinging the surfaces. I may be wrong. My Superstar did not have the pre-hinging done.
Did your new Edge come with the new hardware too ? I really like the carbon fiber push rods and metal linkages they include now.
Seagull is putting these new large planes on a diet and an OS160 or a big Saito 150 thru 220 will hover them easy. The new Edge and the Superstar come out around the same weight, etc.
My Superstar hovers at 3/4 throttle or less with the Saito150. I can just imagine what a small gasser or a 160 would do. Let alone the big SA220.
I think they would fly great with a Saito 120 as well. You'd just be limited on 3/D stuff.

The manual says they're pre-hinged but then it has instructions on gluing in the CA hinges. It looks like they're already slotted & installed but not glued yet according to the manual. Then again, the manual also says the wingspan is 68.2" while the website says it's 63.75". Guess we'll have to wait to hear from somebody who has one.

I wonder how the Saito 1.25 would 3D it?