I just put together a Hobbico BrightStar 40. It was put together per instructions. I installed a G-21 series super tigre 46 with muffler. This engine was left over from the past. I am having a problem trying to balance the plane. The plane is extremely nose heavy. I installed the servos to the rear of the cabin and put the battery then the receiver next. I have also put approximately four ounces of lead on the very end of the tail. The plane is still very nose heavy. Again this pane was built and balanced per instructions. I have been out of RC for some 15 years an decided to return and have so for about 2 years now. I have built several kit planes before then but not many ARFs. I don’t recall ever having one this nose heavy. Has anyone built this plane before had this problem or have heard of such. Is this characteristic of ARFs? I don’t really like adding this much weight. Any suggestions? Need help.

I did some of my training on a Brightstar and my instructor gave it to me after I finished training. I have some spare parts ( wing, new fuselage, etc. ) so I`m going to cannibalize the old one ( really beat up ) and assemble a " new " one at some point. The old one flew really well with an OS 46 in the nose and 2.5 oz. on the rear fuselage for balance. Don`t know why it would be taking so much or yours. Sure you`ve got the cg machine set up correctly? Personally, I think I`d get some help and another perspective from a buddy if I thought everything was right and I knew others balanced with less weight.

I took the plane to field this weekend and several of the experienced fliers could not figure out why it was taking so much also. One suggested that I had put a real engine on the plane or the engine was built when good metal was in the engines and the engine could be heavier than the ones built today.!!!!! Either way I can't explain the plane being so tail heavy. By the way, did the plane fly like a trainer or was it more agile? Still need help.

The Brightstar, being a low wing, does not have the self-righting characteristics of a typical flat bottom high wing trainer like an LT-40. It, along with other low wings, will go where you point it and keep going until you give it input to go somewhere else. My other trainer was an Avistar. Being high wing, it will not have a tendancy to drop out in a turn like a low wing ( Brightstar included ). Having said all that, the Brightstar has a flat bottom wing so is relatively docile. It will do basic aerobatics, but I`m not sure it will do them as well as an Avistar with its semi-symetrical wing. I remember the Brighstar being more of a floater ( trainer-like )than my Avistar on landing, and a wonderful plane to fly, particularly as a first low wing. The weight issue is a true mystery to me as well.