Any folks here flying an Ace Cloud Dancer ARF? I am considering one for my Enya 53-4C when it comes in. I was curious about the quality of this ARF. I am very impressed with the SIG ARF's.

I know the plane is a dream to fly. I scratch built the Cloud Dnacer from RCM plans many years ago and it was one of the best flying planes I have ever owned. Unfortunately, I really do not have the time to build anymore. I still haven't finished the Flyin' King I started over a month ago.

Thanks all

David
AMA 336517

I have the 60 CD, very nice arf. The only negative is the landing gear legs are a little too soft, so after ever couple of flights I just bend the gear forward.

Like you say it's a dream to fly, at least the 60 one is. I have a .90 OS mounted inverted with a 3 bladed prop, looks great, flys great.

Cool! So the quality of the ARF, wood etc. is good? I really do not know how much they go for; I have only seen it on the Ace site.

Yes, very well made and covered with Ultracoat. I've had mine since they came out, ordered it before they were even in country, I must have 150 flights no problems other than soft LG. It would have been nice if the cowl was FG, but the plastic one has held up fine.

I have the .60 CD as well. The wooden airframe structure is very well made and easy to assemble and it has very durable covering. The clevis/horn/rod hardware is cheap looking but mine has held up well for a total accumulated flight time of about 90 hours.

As Soarrich says, the cowl is a flimsy ABS affair - mine is just starting to develop fatigue cracks. The stock landing gear wire is softer chromed steel that can be inclined to fracture. Using standard US-made music wire of the same guage sorted out the problem with bent gear for me.

If I assembled another one, I'd use more right thrust on the engine mount and would reinforce the cowl with glass. I'm using an OS .91 S2 with pump in mine.

It's been a fantastic model with great flying manners.

I have heard that the .40 ARF's ailerons are inclined to flutter at speed. Unlike the .60 sized ARF, they use a single aileron servo.

If I'm not mistaken Fred Reese designed that cloud dancer.

Way back when I was looking at starting RC I went out to the field and Fred was there flying one of his prototypes for the cloud dancer. I was all of 13 I think and Fred saw me there and asked if I'd like to give it a try. Of course I said yes and that is the first time I ever got my hands on the sticks. I don't remember too much except he was a really nice guy and I'll never forget that day I finally got to fly.

I guess this doesnt add much to your thread but he was a nice guy that went out of his way to help a kid get into flying, so I thought I'd share.

I've pretty much just heard good things about it, that it's a nice flying sport plane.

Dmrcfly2,
I had an Ace Cloud Dancer 40 with an OS46FX and Thunder Tiger 40 size retracts. It was one of the nicest flying planes i've had (died in a spin due to the rudder horn screws ripping out of the ripping out of the backplate) and the retracts cleaned it up well. It was set up as per instructions for throws and c of g and was great. It did suffer from flutter as the aileron torque rods to the servo in the wing were quite sloppy from factory. Rather than pull it to bits i made two small servo trays and mounted a JR 331 in each wing direct to the aileron. No more flutter with independant aileron servo's. Here in Oz the ARF is around $230 AUS so they are quite pricey compared to other planes on the market. If they were a bit cheaper i'd have another in an instant. Hope this helps.

damagedgoodes

I was just quted a price of $139 from my LHS. I told him to put one on order. I think I will try going with the retracts as well. Any ideas how much it eneded up weighing with retracts and 2 aileron servos? Those items should add close to .75 -1 lb of weight. I will have to consider that closely because it is also a good idea to glass the inside of the cowling to help it longevity.

Thanks all for you input.

Dmrcflyr2,
Sorry to take so long to reply, i get to this site when i can at work. I never actually weighed the plane. The retracts were driven by a hitec hs75BB retract servo and the weight of the two smaller JR 331 servos was the same as the JR 537 they replaced (or slightly more but not much). The plane was very light all up. Mine was powered by an aging OS46FX turning a bolly 11.5x6 prop. It had very good verticle performance and was very agile. It would not hover but thats not what the Dancer is about. If i did it again it would be in the same configuration. I never glased my cowl, the supplied plastic cowl is thin but thats the point, it flexes if it has to. Mine never cracked in the planes 67 sorties (over 12months). Consider if you glass the cowl, you increase stiffness and weight that the cowl screws are trying to hold up. Thats when holes start cracking if not bushed to reduce vibrations. If i can be of any more assistance send me a personal em so i get it quicker. Good luck,
Dave (damagedgoodes)

Hi DamagedGoodes,

I know this is a little off topic, but I just picked one up at $165 in melb from Addies Hobbies.

Steve