Picked up my Sundowner 50 tonight, very nice looking plane. The covering job is fantastic, hardly a wrinkle can be seen on any of it. I am going to let it sit overnight and look again tomorrow, but the covering all looks very tight. The instructions are just like what can be seen on the website, clear and easy to follow. The control horns are pre-installed and the wing hinges are glued in, although I am going to check them real close. The tailwheel is already installed on the rudder, but I am not a big fan of the assembly being attached to the rudder itself, I will more than likely replace it with something. The firewall is pre-drilled and the blind nuts are in for either 2 or 4 stroke installation or for electric power if so desired. The holes for the cowl mounting screws are already drilled so we'll see how that works out.

The colors are very good and the paint on the cowl matches the covering very good. The wheel pants are good and solid. I am not sure about the landing gear. Out of the box it feels maybe a little soft but we'll see how it looks and feels after it's together.

Anyway, just wanted to share. It should be a quick and easy build and I hope it flies along the same lines as it's giant scale counterpart.

T.

I'm interested in following along with your progress. Decided on a motor yet? Keep the pics coming too!

I'm sure your psyched to get her going..... congrats! Looks like a winner!

FlySafe! Larry (Larrys4227)

I cannot believe how perfect the finish and ultracote is on this plane. The hardware parts are bagged and labels applied. My engine and servos are due on Tuesday. Hate the wait. Have Fun!!

What engine are you going to use?

This is by FAR the easiest ARF that I have ever assembled. Everything fits great. All the little things that are already done for you saves a ton of time! I think they said to themselve's, "what do most hate about building an ARF?" The cowl blocks are already glued on (with the blind nuts insatlled), the horns are already mounted on the ailerons/ele/rud. the blind nuts are already in place in the firewall, the tailwheel wire is already mounted into the rudder,etc.etc. ( I hate doing all of this!) I am using an old 46FX that by far exceeds the power of my 46AX. Good stuff

Still not sure of the engine yet...Waiting to get a little further into it and see what the weights are coming out. Should find out here shortly...

I am using the evolution 52.

I have not got my kit yet, but I looking to put in a tower .75 Do you all think that would fit up front.

I would guess the Tower .75 would fit, looks like there is plenty of room. The individual components are very light, the fuse is about 15 oz and the wings are around 7 oz. each, (this is without any of them being assembled or any of the servos, etc., installed).

wow that is very light. Will have to reforce the firewall

All of that pre done stuff is great ! the only drawback is if you wanted to modify to a bigger engine the pre drilled holes will not line up for say a 60 size two stroke. You have to use what is specified. So I decided to go with the Saito 82 for power. Also had planned to use robart control horns, and I'm not too comfortable with pre hinged alerons.......Don't get me wrong! I don't mean to sound like I don't appreciate all the prefab , It's a beautiful plane and in only a few hours of work yesterday I've got a plane that is 95% complete ! Hangar 9 is the shiznad !

Ray

I can't wait to hear from you after your first flight, be sure and let us know.

The owner of my LHS is putting one together. It looks great and it seems to be a pretty quick build.

I'll post a few pics in the am. weather is pretty crappy here for the next week.....let you know how the maiden goes. Mean while guess I'll get started on my new kit ......Top Flight P-51B kit purchased at a swap meet over the weekend....It was a steal !

Ray

Well, I got my Sundowner pretty much complete. The only thing left to do, besides the balance and finish tweaking the control surfaces, is to locate the switch and the fuel dot. There are a couple of things I didn't really like, but nothing real seriuous. The location of the holes in the clowling were a bit off and the fit of the cowl against the wing was a little troublesome, but nothing a little time and patience didn't cure.

I decided to start with a Thunder Tiger Pro .46 under the hood and the plane weighed in on my scales at 5 lbs. 12 oz. I compared that to my 4 star-40, (kit built), with a TT Pro .46 and it weighs 5 lbs. 4 oz. on the same scale.

I am not really looking for an all out speed demon at the moment, but if the .46 doesn't do the trick, I may switch it out for a .61 or .75.

T.

T.,

Where is your exhaust going? Looks like it's inside the cowl.

Never mind; I just saw the manual online which showed the exhaust coming out of the bottom of the cowl.

I was hoping I could rotate the outlet and have it come out the side of the cowl. The outlet is just barely too short, it would basically be coming our right at the edge of the fuse. For now, I am just going to run and extension out through the hole in the bottom of the cowl like the instructions show. I may change things up a bit later on, but I'll see how it flies first.

T.

tsawyer good pics. let us know how the 46 does.

Hey guys, a question from an old guy - I have a YS 60 with a tuned pipe and I am looking at this plane for some speed as in the old pattern days. How hard do you think it will be to mount a pipe on this aircraft. So far the local hobby shop does not have one to look at. Any help is appreciated.

Looks great. I just recieved mine yesterday. I will be mounting a os 75 in mine. Plane looks real nice. Looks like it will be a quick assembly.

easton24 I like to know about the mounting of that 75 as I plan to put a tower 75 on mine

Well I had a look at it today. Looks like I will have to punch out the blind nuts and fill the already drilled holes with wood dowels and redrill. But other than that looks like a pretty easy installation. I will definetley have to cut the bottom right side out for the muffler but I was expecting that. Looks like with the way the muffler rotates the exhaust will clear the cowl. I measured and I will probably have to trim the cowl a little where it curves in for the head to clear. I am mounting it on its side. I did look at the 91 at the lhs. The case looks like the same size but the muffler looked about twice as big so I chose the 75.

thanks Easton24

Anyone had any issues of the engine running hot? After about 1 minute (right after take-off) The engine starts surging up and down at full throttle (46FX). It acts like its running hot. I will try new fuel and a glow plug and fuel lines first I guess. Thanks

Is the engine new and are you running little rich