Anybody who has read posts of mine knows that while I have no problem with people buying and flying ARFs, I personally prefer to build. However, Tuesday, I broke down and bought my fifth RC ARF, a Goldberg Skylark 56. Did it because I've liked the design since it first came out, and was also curious to see if ARFs have gotten better since the last one I bought somewhere around 1995. I currently feel I will have it ready to fly in about four more days.

There are a few things I found out that are better than my last ARF, especially the fact that it seems all the joints are well fitted and adequately glued. I've seen ARFs that were apparently only spot glued with what looked like a hot-melt crap.

Instructions are written in understandable English. About the only missing part is a single 3.5 mm wing hold down bolt. The plywood seems decently firm, unlike other ARFs I've had that had plymush.

It still has a brittle wire instead of the nice American quality wire for pushrods and landing gear. In fact, I tried putting "Z" bends in three pushrod wires, and had the wire crack at a bend on each one. Luckily, an LHS had DuBro 1.5 mm threaded rod which fit the ends of the clevises quite nicely, and easily takes "Z" bends without breaking. Also, on one of the last ARFs I bought, the clevisses, although threaded, slid onto the threaded rod.

Tuesday night, in about 2 hours, I inspected the parts, joined the wings, used a heat gun to remove wrinkles, hinged the ailerons onto the wings, mounted the two aileron servos and the control horns. Wednesday morning, I sprayed the engine, radio and tank compartments with 2 coats of Lustercoat, and installed the aileron pushrods. That took about 20 minutes. After I got back from work, I spent about another 30 minutes to install the main LG and join the elevators to the stab. This morning, I spent about 1.5 hours total to make up and install the pushrods, glue the stab and fin to the fuse, Lustercoat an engine mounting plate, add elevator and rudder control horns, nose gear, and the elevator, rudder, and throttle servos.

I am still leery of the plywood for the firewall. Although harder than the ply I've seen in a lot of other ARFs, it is still only three ply, not the 5 ply I would use by choice. I am hoping that the lg blocks are reinforced with ply gussets on the ribs, not just mounted in balsa ribs like others I've seen.

I am also leery of using #6 sheet metal screws to mount the engine into the wood bearers. If there is enough room, I may try to put in threaded inserts for 6-32 machine screws.

I had hoped to use either my Fox 45 or 46 for power, but the fuse area is too narrow. Since all my Fox 40s which would fit are in use, I seemed to have a choice of an OS Max 40, which is a reliable engine, but with over 2000 RPM lower power than the Fox, or a Magnum 40 I bought from a Co-op I mentored, with which I am not too familiar. However, when I got the Dubro threaded rods, I also picked up an Italian made ST 40 that the proprietor was willing to let me have for $45. My other choices were to use the ST 51 I have, or buy a ST45. If this plane is as efficient as the original kit (Fully aerobatic with a Fox 25), it doesn't need the 51. In fact, probably the 45s would have been more power than needed.

Anyway, if it rains Sunday, the plane will be finished after the Brown's game. Otherwise, Sunday will be a flying day, and I will need about two more days to finish it.

I kind of feel like the time I was part of a team that built a computer based data collection system to use on test vehicles, then a new owner said we had to switch to a corporate standard plug together off the shelf component data collection system. It didn't do more than about 80% of what our system did, and was more difficult to set up and operate. Also, there wasn't the satisfaction of seeing something you helped design and build working, and even outperforming more expensive commercial units. It's nice, but the system we designed and built was nicer, better, and more emotionally and intellectually satisfying.

That's kind of how I feel about ARFs.

There are 3 kinds of ARF's - the good, the bad and the ugly! In general the hardware supplied is junk. Some ARF manufacturers DO include good stuff, depends what you buy. Unfortunately consistency, even by any specific distribution house across all their ARF's, leave much to be desired. So if you do get a good ARF don't expect a different plane to be the same. This is where the LHS comes in. Inspect the ARF you are interested in and then decide.

I know quite a few people that buy ARF's just to have the woodwork. Covering is stripped off, refinished and personal preference hardware is used. As one poster put it, ARF's are ARC's with fancy wrapping.

Dang, raining hard outside and we have a flash flood warning. Can't fly today. Nngg!!!!

Safe Flying!

If your using the supplied hardware, I would be "leery" of the whole thing too. I always toss it and the fuel tank. I beef up firewalls inside and out. With these litle improvements, my planes last a long time

Found an interesting situation. I bought a new ST 45 for this plane,and in fitting the engine and mounting plate in, found that the engine fits low. The backplate of the 2.25" spinner is about 6 mm below the bottom edge of the fuse nose. Since they provide 3 different mounting plates, I expiremented and found out that adding one of the other plates brings the engine to the correct position, so I laminated the two together, trimmed the assembly to fit with a sanding drum in my trusty Dremel, marked the mounting holes, and am just waiting for 3 coats of Lustercoat to dry so I can drill the mounting holes and add 4-40 T nuts. I usually use 6-32 machine screws to mount anything over a .40, but I am concerned about having enough wood to hold the T nuts. Since about all I have left to do is mount the engine, tank, throttle push rod, battery, canopy, and reciever, I might be able to give it it's maiden Sunday. And so far I have less than 6 hours involvement.

I have been leery of using the imported hardware for years. In fact, in an article in the English magazine Aviation Modeler International, one of the contributors actually recommended replacing wire and other hardware in the non-American kits and ARFs with American K-S, DuBro, and Sullivan products.

Got the mounts drilled, 4-40 T nuts installed, and the mounting plate epoxied into place. I was a little concerned about how easily the plywood of the mounting plate compressed, but maybe the engine won't have as much pull on the nuts. I also drilled an oil drain hole at the lowest point of the engine compartment and coated it with epoxy. Also had to do a little trimming on the sides to fit the carb. Just have to install the throttle push rod, tank, and radio. This has not only been the most decent ARF I've had, but also the fastest assembly.

Oh, BTW, since I was a little concerned about using 4-40 screws to hold a .45, I got hold of some high strength hardened socket head bolts. Easier to install in tight spaces, and I've had the regular 4-40s loose their heads on engines as small as .15s.

Only thing left to do is mount the canopy and add the AMA number. With a little luck, might get to give it it's first flight Sunday after the club meeting.

Finally got the plqane out to the field, got it started, squeaky tight engine. After a couple minutes, started blowing exhaust out the cylinder head, couldn't keep it running. Three head screws on the Super Tigre loosened up, and the idle stop screw joined one of them in the engine compartment. Had to take the plane home without flying, and remove the engine in order to retrieve them.. Never had that problem with a Fox, or any other engined I've ever had. Still, a lot of people I know wouldn't have any other brand. Maybe next week. Should be loose enough now to start leaning it out.

Also kind of funny, I set the engine into place using a Dubro 2 1/4 inch spinner, but I didn't have that size in a color that matched the plane. Found a Goldberg spinner in a matching blue color, and I prefer the bolt-together spinner over the snap-together type anyway. However, turns out that the Goldberg baseplate is a little thicker, and rubs the nose bulkhead. Can't use it. Luckily, I happen to have a white Hillcrest spinner, in which the base plate mounts between the prop and the prop washer, and gives adequate clearance. Hopefully, it's probable 20+ year age shouldn't have weakened it.

Finally, the weather cooperated Sunday, and after only the previous 4 runs, a replacement for the ST glow plug using a Fox Miracle plug was installed, and the Skylark got it's maiden flight. The ST .45 out turning the Fox .40 on the plane I used for my first flights of the day by almost 200 rpm on an APC 10-6.

Very good flight, very smooth, as expected from a Carl Goldberg design, just a little bit of trim needed to be cranked in. Would probably profit from coordinating a bit of rudder on the turns. Loops and vertical manuvers at 2/3 throttle. Landed on the fuel left in the feed line, engine ran dry during the taxi back to the pilot station. quite a good glide path and smooth landing, Very satisfying flight, even though I didn't actually build the plane. My next comparison is to probably fly an original kit built Skylark in my posession that has a TT .25 just for comparison.

During the clean-up and dissassembly, got hit by a feeling of Deja Vu. The port landing gear leg was wobbly. Apparently, the block that supports the torsion stub split. Based on my previous experience with ARFs, I really wasn't surprised. Now, I'm going to have to open the underside of the wing covering and repair and reinforce the blocks on both sides.

Am I dissapointed? Not really. Would I buy another? Maybe, although not necessarily the same design. I think, after this, I might prefer an ARC (Almost Ready to Cover) rather than an ARF, just so I can have some confidence in the components and construction, and could more easily strengthen obvious weakness before finding the hard way.

Have ARFs improved over the years? Definitely. Are they better than what I can build from a kit or scratch build? Close, but no cigar. Did I have as much satisfaction assembling pre-built components as I would have gotten from kit or scratch building? Only in the context that I was recovering from a stroke while assembling the plane, and would have had some frustrations with traditional building.

Am I knocking ARFs? No!! At least, not the better quality ones. They fill a need and have a purpose. And their quality has definitely improved over the years, at least from what I would think of as a quality company.

Keep 'em flying!

My next question is, will this plane hold up as well as planes I've built myself? Only time will tell.

50+AirYears I too like to build but don't have as much time too as I would like, I have 8 flyable planes right now and 4 of them started as a box of wood (kits) I built 3 of them however Goldburg is no longer the quality company it once was. Since Laniar purchased Goldburg there quality and customer servise has become weak at best. In my opinion Hanger 9 makes the best quality ARF'S and have the best hardware with them in comparison to most of the others. Great planes is not too bad either but a few friends have had some issues but only minor ones. If you ever deside to try another ARF take a look at the Hanger 9 planes and it may surprise you on what they are selling as ARF's

Dauntae

Unfortunately you started out with a Goldberg/Lanier product......don't give up on all ARF's until you try a quality product from Hanger 9, Great Planes, Sig, World Models, Kangke, etc. I've flown ARF's from each of these with great results.....I'm also flying my last Goldberg product (77" Yak 54) unless things with them change drastically. Poor quality and horrible customer service..........

Like I've said in other posts, my first ARF was a Wen-Mac Aeromite RTF control liner about 1949 or 1950. ARF/RTFs are not new. Quality has always been spotty, not just from manufacturer to manufacturer, but also from one individual plane to another. And overall, this Skylark was one of the better ones I've seen. My personal favorite ARC/ARFs are ones people I know have built either from kit or scratch which I've acquired. All very high quality, compared to some I've seen on the market.

Lanier is probably one of the oldest ARF manufacturers around, and currently I think it is only second to Cox, if you date the Current Cox organization back to L. M. Cox and their TD-1, a rather innovative plastic bodied formed symetrical airfoiled aluminum winged control liner powered by their Space Bug .049 glow engine, that was rather high priced at $19.95 around 1952(?).

My comment about the Skylark being my 5th really just refers to this being my 5th Serious, larger sized RC ARF. My fleet currently has 3 Control Line, 18 RC, and 6 FF commercial ARFs, and 7 CL, 17 RC, and 3 FF models that were built by other model builders which I was either given or which I purchased. With the things I see happening to pension plans and the attacks on Social Security, I see myself going into retirement in maybe 3 years relying only on my current flyable fleet and my collection of kits and materials and plans to sustain my addiction.

I'm not a newcomer to ARFs by any means. In fact, some years ago I did have a GP Modern Stick .40 ARF with a Fox .46. Not bad, although I did discard the imported hardware and LG and used DuBro and K&S products. Dumbthumbed by giving up elevator on point 2 of a low level (About 10') high speed 4 point roll.