I am thinking about buying the SFM Eindecker from Horizon Hobby. Anyone out there have experience with the model? Would like to hear pros and cons.
Thanks,
fmacvpusa

No one?
Well, I got one, and it is beautiful! Assembly is easy, and it flies really nicely. Powered with a MDS .40--just right.
The only negative is the vacuum formed pilot and machine gun. Trashed them and got Williams Brothers products-very realistic.

Gotta Pic of the completed "beast"?
Would be interested in having a look see.

I really like the looks of that plane! I've never seen one in person....but I'd like to. Seems like quite a bargain for $109. How's the covering on it?

I LOVE!! this plane. I am using it to get back into flying after many years away.

Easy to assemble, a very nice flyer and loads of fun! The covering was fine except for a significant wrinkle on the underside of one wing. I know others that have not had that problem. It's a great plane to get into tail draggers and for fun flying.

Pictures? You want pictures? How about three and a movie....





[link=http://www.wings-of-valor.net/uploads/E3_04.wmv]Eindecker Movie[/link]

This is one sweet flying bird....not the most aerobatic, but nice....only drawback is the landing gear - NO shock absorbing wheels or gear:-)

By the way, Chevelle, you did a nice job on that one!

Jerry

Yep. I suppose the biggest drawback to the plane is the machine gun. Pretty useless as far as I'm concerned. When it was clear that it would take me longer then the outcome would be worth, I trashed it.

I don't know if the lack of shock absorbing wheels/gear is a real problem. If there were more bounce in the gear it might make landing, well, bouncy.

All in all, a great setup for the money. (Mine just has an OS40LA in it and that's just fine. It certainly wouldn't need a 46 unless you really wanted to wring more acrobatics out of it.)

I LOVE the way this plane assembles-SFM apparently did their homework this time.
Landings are a little bouncy. The covering is screen printed sticky-back stuff. No wrinkles on my sample. Here's my attempt at photos...check out the Williams Bros. machine gun and ammo belt. I painted the cowl aluminum rather than mess with covering. (I'm not good with it)
Click on the photos.
Chevelle--- the scarf is a nice touch.
Glowplug----GET ONE!

Looks remarkably like a Top Flite Elder 40 kit, which I am considering.
Maybe this model might be a better way to go.
How much was yours?

$110.00 + shipping.....a bargain!

How did the plane balance with the .40 LA? I have a TT Pro .46 laying around...I think it's about 3 oz. heavier than the .40 LA..

Oh it will be tail heavy. Mine was considerably and the additional 3 ounces for your .46 won't be enough. You'll have to add nose weight.

Here is a Top Flite with a OS40FS, flies funny and slow. Don't ask what funny is just let me hand you the transmitter...you'll hand it back and say "funny". Everyone does.

Nice finish twostroker.

You've got me interested now. Still have to toss a coin though as to which it will be. The Topflite or the SFM.

fmacvpusa, any problems fitting the muffler?

Woody51,
The Elder looks more to scale than the Eindecker. If I were a builder, I would have opted for the kit. The SFM is an ARF, and goes together easily. The engine sits at a 45 angle to the fuse, and there is a large opening on the bottom of the cowel for the muffler---no cutting except for the needle valve hole--just bolt the engine on and hook up the fuel lines and linkage. I really like this arrangement because the exhaust residue is directed downward from the plane and requires very little clean-up.
One more thing-I have read reviews on the SFM model, and the guys say to throw away the supplied fuel tank. Mine hasn't leaked yet, and I plan on replacing it .

ARF or Kit. Doesn't really worry me, I have both in my hangar.

Another flier on another thread on the Elder 40 said that he had problems with 2 stroke muffler fitting (undercarriage got in the way) and in hindsight, he should have gone 4 stroke.

As for SFM tanks. I had an SFM Cessna C34 some years back, Tank was fine and model built really great, EXCEPT that the factory got the horizontal stab incidence all wrong. Being fairly new to R/C at the time, I didn't pick it up and wondered why the model was a "woof woof."

I gave it to a buddy who spotted the problem and fixed it. It flew just great after that. I could not believe it was the same model. He still has it, though it has been re-covered in Ultracote.

Anyway, the SFM tanks couldn't be as bad as some of the Vietnamese ARF Model tanks. Worst I ever encountered was in an early Phoenix kit.

Unfortunately there does not appear to be an SFM distributor "Downunder", so it may have to be the TopFlite kit after all.

But before I start proceedings, what size box did the SFM Eindecker come in?
Wondering whether it might be small enough for the USPS to handle?

Chevelle,
I'm still on the fence about this plane.....I need another plane like I need a hole in my head! I no longer have an idle TT Pro .46 laying around, but I do have a .40 LA that was originally going to be used in a twin-engine project......are you still happy with the performance of yours with the .40 LA, and also, you mentioned that it would need nose weight.....is it possible to mount the engine further forward than where you mounted yours?

Glowplug

I picked up an Elder in a trade once. The guy rebuilt the wings and used golden rods for the ailerons. They had so much slop in them I did not dare fly it, and never got around to stripping it and reworking the system. Both are great looking planes. I think mine is still in my mom's attic. I might just have to dig it out and start working on it again.

Hi guys. I'm really pleased with mine. Its just been built. I have an asp52 in mine. Only one thing however. Where is the COG. I cant find it in my manual anywhere? Its seems to sit nice and level on my finger tips at the fattest part of the wing...is this it?

cheers