I just got my GSP Katana today, going to power it wit a saito 180 four stroke. What an awsome ARF looks easier to assemble than my Sig Somethin Extra. BUT WHAT WERE THEY THINKING WITH THAT TRANSPARENT WHITE COVERING! All of the white covering will have to be replaced. The red and blue are not great but the white totally sucks! It is not just light colored but transparent with a shade of white mixed in. The rest of the plane looks great all the wood parts were laser cut and assembly looks good.

Question, those of you that have one what servos are you using? It looks like standard torque servos would be ok since every control surface has its own servo (to include two for the elevators) the instructions don't specify.

I bought mine at the Toledo show for $200 even. I like the top hatch mod, seems like a real pain accessing the inside of the plane thru the bottom. What is the rudder servo mod everyone is doing? I felt that the rudder servo location was OK.

This is a much better arf than the typical GSP stuff. I'm impressed with it thus far. Not many problems have been encountered.

I'll keep an eye on this post and add as I find or don't find problems.

Andy

I did a full review of the Creek (Protech) Katana-s180 on Rcairport.

http://www.rcairport.com/product_gui...86&kit_id=2204

I just finished my GSP Katana 140. The plane was recovered in Monokote and Ultrakote, as I said earlier the factory covering is unacceptable. The plane is powered by a Saito 180 with a 16*6 prop (three flights), next I am going to try an 18*6. The plane weighs in at 12.5 pounds on my bathroom scale. I downloaded and used the instrument panel from the "Project Extra" from the AMA website. Its about the right size and the price was right (FREE). I can't get the pictures to come out here but they are in the picture gallery (planes). Just do a search under Katana.

Folks,
Great thread.
I've got one of these CMPRO Katanas on order and am keen to hear more tips on what to expect.
Anyone able to give a detailed flying report? Did it need much trimming to work properly?
What weight to expect with 2C and 4C? I'm considering OS160FX, would MOKI 180 be too heavy?
thanks
RTD

I have about 10 flights on my Katana and like it better each time I fly it. Mine did not require much trim to fly hands off just a couple clicks. My only problem was that the Saito 180 is such a fuel hog the stock fuel tank would not let it fly more than about five minutes. This resulted in two deadstick landings which resulted in minor damage. I finally replaced the stock fuel tank with a 35oz Zephyr Hills water bottle mounted over the CG I now get about 10 minutes at full throttle. The Saito 180 with a 18*6 gives good vertical power, not unlimited but it sounds GREAT!

I mounted the 6 volt receiver batttery in the nose and added about 8oz of lead on the firewall. I don't think you will have a problem if you decide to use the MOKI 180, it should be a rocket with that engine. I was considering taking the rudder servo out of the tail and mounting it up under the cockpit with a pull pull but I like the way it flys now so I am not going to mess with it. You would be wise to replace the landing gear bolts with nylon bolts. Because of the way the landing gear is mounted to the fusealage if you tear out the landing gear on a rough landing it causes extensive damage to the fusealage.

The small access hatch on the bottom is a real pain to work in. I have seen the top hatch modification someone did but I think I am going to enlarge the bottom hatch and just make it longer. it should be an easy modification.

I must say I have needed a couple of additional parts from Giant Scale Planes (as a result of my two deadsticks) and their customer service is great. They even sent me a new wing tube for just the cost of shipping and they shipped parts the same day I requested them.

Let me know how your Katana flys and which engine you decided to use.

I have the Creek Katana with a 3W24 for power.It's not quite unlimited,but it's not challenged either.It tumbles great,does a really nice flat spin as well as a great knife edge spin.I am running a 3W 18x8 wood prop for break in.I have an 18x8 carbon fiber waiting to go on.It should gain about 300 more rpm.This a great plane as far as I'm concerned.You just have to take your time in the setup.

Hank

I am kinda suprized at your weight bike, mine with Brison gasser came in at 12 lbs 4oz on the packing scale at work. With a 16oz tank I can fly 10 minutes and have about 4oz to spare. The engine gives me unlimited power and will pull it out of a torque roll. The palne flys great and really slows down for landing. The only draw back I have seen with this plane is the white covering !

The creek version might be made by laser/protech. I know the version I have (red and white) is made by China Models/Flair. Here is a link to the info page:

http://www.cmpairplane.com/katana.htm

Scott

My brother just received his Katana from Creek.It's white and blue and has the 2KRC.com logo on the rudder.It's covered with ultracote.I think thats whos making them for Creek,but don't quote me on that.By the way,my plane is just under 12 lbs.

Hey Superfast,are you using the Brison 2.4?Thats what my brother wants to put in his.

Hank

I am using an older 2.0 Brison on mine, but another guy at the field has a 2.4 on his. Weight comes out about the same.

Scott

RTD

I have the Creek Hobbies/GSP Yellow Katana, and it flies great. I have an OS 160FX, and it has plenty of extra power. I put all the rudder and elevator servos up front with pull-pull connections, these planes tend to need a fair amount of nose weight if your not using a gas engine. My plane camein at just over 11 lbs.

Stephen

Folks,

Now I'm getting confused with all these different brand names ... GSP, Creek, CMPRO. I'm keen to find out about the China Model Productions (CMPRO) version, Katana - 140. It spans about 72" and recommends a 140 FS or 160 2C power plant. Superfast provided the link in a previous message.

http://www.cmpairplane.com/katana.htm
http://www.cmpairplane.com/index.htm

Any tips on CG problems, motor selection, servo requirement and general assembly would be appreciated.

Thanks
RTD

RTD:

CMPRO is the manufacturer of the kit and Creek/GSP sell the kit here in the US, and protek and some other companies sell it overseas.

Here is a link to a thread that talks about the setting up the katana. I put pictures of my pull-pull setup there. If you are using a glow engine, and mount the servos in the tail you will probably have to add about a pound of weight up front to make it balance correctly. But if you relocate the servos close to the CG you will not have to add any weight at all.

As far as power goes the OS 1.60 in mine gives this plane all the power you need and then some.

for servos I used 605 BBs all around and they work fine.


Stephen

Katana Thread]

I just saw one built up at my LHS. A guy that works there bought one and out it together. he also tells me this is his first plane, hehe. he is a chopper pilot and wants to try planes..good luck!

anyway the plane is beutiful and looks aweseome. Fit and finish appear excellent. For the price its very hard to beat for what you get.

I will be purchasing one this July for myself.

Not qiute, they are 2 different planes. The Red/White/Blue Katana 140 is made by China Models and has built up wings and airfoil tail surfaces. The yellow Creek Hobbies version has foam core wing and flat slab surfaces. I just when to GPS website and they no longer show the Creek Version on the site ? Wonder why ?

Scott

Hi guys,

Sounds like you all like that GSP Katana 72". I'm going to order one. I have plans of installing a 36cc Poulan gas engine. Any comments/suggestions???

Thanks,
AV8TOR

If you go with that combo let me know how it works out for you.

Has anyone had any experience with the 80" version of the Katana at GSP??

I must admit I am also very impressed by what I am hearing about the CMPro Katana.

I've only ever flown my 40 size planes (trainer and a Vmar arrow 40) and I know I'll be 'real' nervous when the time comes to maiden this bird.

The best engines to suit seems to be either the Saito 180 or OS 160fx, however the new Zenoah G26 is going to be my choice.

(Glow fuel mess & costs is a major issue for me).

Also, I have been advised that the futaba 3003 servos should be fine. What do u guys think?

Inter the 3003 will barely be sufficient if you plan on putting a load on the plane. Regardless if you fly hardcore or not those servos are underpowered simply becuase of the large control surfaces that the plane has. id go with something a little higher in size and power if you can.

Yeah,

That's been in the back of my mind. Lol, I have 5 of the little suckers sitting around.

An Australian R/C mag did a review on the quick worldwide 1.08 to 1.60 Sukhoi 31m and quote something alone the lines that if u have a strong battery pack with 5 cells to increase the torque, all should be fine........

At least the throttle servo will have a 3003.

I just got an incredible deal on two Hitec Digital Servos and will use in my Creek Katana. I plan to use the HS-5945 MG (153oz/181oz torque Coreless) for the elevator and the HS-5645 MG (143oz/168oz torque on a pull pull system for the rudder. This is my first plane of this size and I have several questions I hope some of you more experienced modelers can answer.

1. Is it a problem using a servo with too much torque?

2. Most builders are using two elevator servos. Should one powerfull servo with a y-connector be ok for the elevator?

3. Should I switch the servos (ie. coreless for the rudder, reg. digital for the elevator?

By the way, I have a new MDS 1.48 for power. I started to break it in this weekend. It pulls like a mule.

Thanks for any suggestions/answers.

BMB-

welcome to the forums!

I have yet to have a problem with havig a powerful servo. I like the holding power they provide even on smaller planes. I dont know if there is too much difference using coreless etc on the rudder. Maybe someone else might be able to answer.

The MDS is a decent motor and I think it will be enough to fly it but you might want tot hink about something bigger i.e. 160FX or larger

matt

Hay Guys
I have a katana from creek hobbies with the white sceem with a mds 148. moved the servos up front and it weights 11 pounds unbeatable verticle preformance. also it has APC 16-8 prop with truturn spinner. the only thing I see wrong with this arf is the tail NEEDS supporting.