Hi,
Has anyone built any of this company's ARFs?
I talked with a supplier at the AMA show in Pasadena and they make some nice looking planes. Wondering what their quality is and how they fly?
Thanks,
Rick

I built and flew the Tango with a 46 TT engine, long ago.
It's made of sheeted foam wings and duraflex (sort of plastic) fuselage, as most of the aeromodelli planes.
They are stiff and a bit heavy, but fly ok.

Well, with only one response to this question it makes me wonder how long they will be in busuness?
Rick

i have a ready 2. personally i love the plane. but comparing it to others i cant do cos its my first and ive only flown it once. but most people that do fly it do love it. building is simple although the instructions need to be read carefully several times because the translation from italian to english is a bit ropey at best. the biggest problem with the ready is the steerable nosewheel, either have it fixed or or get a stronger control bar. also the wing is held on to the fuse by a nylon bolt into a metal nut and does need replaced every so often.

check out
www.falcon-trading.com

My Bipe Special is over 5 years old with hundreds of flights. I found it very easy to put together looks great and it flys extremely well plus it is a very very strong model eg I tried cart wheeling it down a grass strip on landing once, not a problem just brushed off the dirt and grass and flew again ...
I have flown mine with an O.S. 91 FS and a Y.S.91 the Y.S. is much better if you really want to throw it about a bit. The bonus is it also fits into my car in one piece with both wings still attached

Although not really an ARF in the true sense of the word eg finished and just needing gear install. There still was a reasonable amount of building and the models duroflex fuz needed painting and the wings and tail need finishing. I glassed mine then painted with auto spray cans, Although you could go with film covering if preferred....

It is a nice change from the all the Pitts Specials and this model is a semi scale version of the EAA Bipe.

Highly recommended, I would buy another one tomorrow.....

Cheers

Hi all, a new flier at our club recently bought the aviomodelli cessna trainer and the Tango. Much more work than your average ARF, but they do look great when finished, don't they?

On the Cessna, we had to increase the incedence on the wing to about 2 degrees + . This plane is a great flier....or should I say was.

The owner, (my pupil) started doing landing last week, and on the last flight yesterday, he came in, bounced on landing and openned the throttle. He flew out of a stall and after I'd finished screaming at him , he came in for another landing. He bounced the plane again and openned the throttle again, this time the plane stalled and went straight into the tarmac at full throttle from about 15-20 feet nose first.

I was sure the plane would be ruined, but after looking it over this guy should be flying again by wednesday!!!

The fuselage has a few slight dents in it and the wing will need a bit of foam and balsa on the leading edge. the firewall came loose, but a bit of 30min epoxy will deal with that.

I think this is a great plane for the price, and with an irvine .53 it flies great, lands a bit fast till you realise you can bring it in with the nose quite high, and allow it to slow for pretty landings.

Christie

Hi guys. I Just got my bipe Special by Aviomodelli. Wow. Confusing. 90% Ready? Lot of ? , how to build that. What type of paint i must use? Tail parts is looks like maded from balsa, how to paint them. I have to cover them with monokote or so ? or i have to glassed? What is engine size ? is 91 is not to big for it? and firewall looks weak for that size of engine. How epoxy works on fuse material? iIt will hold firewall?
If some one builded that plane, please let me know how?
Thanks

PlaneRacer- I agree its definetely not 90% RTF out of box... I found the instructions adequate and had no problems with assembly as all parts fit well.
As to painting etc. I glassed the wings and tail on my Bipe. First lightly sand plastic parts eg. fuz and inner cabane struts and prime. I used Top Flite Lustrekote primer and colour coats... Then used the stock firewall and preped inside the forward section of fuz where firewall sits by sanding plastic with 80 grit sandpaper. Although at the time I glued firewall with 30 epoxy, if I was to do it again I would use either BVM Aeropoxy or Loctite Hysol epoxy glues as these are much stronger. After glueing firewall in place I ran four small self taping machine screws through front of fuz to pin the firewall, this has worked well and has never looked like being a concern....
As to engine size- I have flown my Bipe with an O.S. 91 and Y.S. 91 four stroke with 16x6 and 16x8 props and it performes great.... The one major modification I would recommend is to do away with the single centre mounted aileron set up and install 2 x servos, one each outbord in each wing for the ailerons, reason for this is I have had mild aileron flutter at high speed with the standard kit designed central aileron design. Mind you the model is only designed for 40-60 2 stroke engines, and I have been flying mine mostly with a Y.S.91 By the way I have about 300 flights on my bipe over 6 years and still going strong. You will love this models flying qualitys, its every bit as aerobatic as a Pitts Special yet has the unique EAA AcroSport semi scale look

Let me know if you have any further questions [8D]

Thanks . I like to use os 90 4-stroke on it. I have on other os 120 pump. dont know, i think this engine too big for it.
Thanks for reply.

I've always wanted to get my hands on their calypso or the aerocommander...

But alas, they're like hen's teeth in australia.

I've only ever seen one tango, but to it's credit it flew straight out of a mid air, with only a cracked canopy and a ding in the leading edge, whereas the other plane got torn to ribbons....

amazing!

Plane Racer- I think the 120 is way overkill, as the O.S.91 is plenty of power. The Y.S.91 is near as powerful as most 120 4 strokes and I have to overprop the Y.S. with a 16x6 prop to tame the power somewhat. If you do use the 120 most definitely modify the stock aileron set up and install 2 x high torque servos, one for each aileron. You will have to cut out aileron servo compartments into underside of lower wing. This is really a suggested mod anyway, as I mentioned mine has stock aileron set up and I see mild flutter using the Y.S.91 if I let to much speed built up...

Rendegade- Good to see another Aussie on the boards. I am originally from Sydney myself : ) Now living in Canada.... I was recently in Perth for the first time, even went out to visit the local R/C flying field. Awesome club vacilities sealed runway, taxiway, club house etc. But I guess the local Perth beaches are what really impressed me wow, you have it made mate!
Re- Avomodelli kits they are indeed Tonka Tough! I have even cart wheeled this Bipe on more than one occasion, when nosing over on landing and still 'No Worries' they are indeed strong models... It is the Duraflex plastic fuz's they have that are very hard to brake... You may just have to mail order Avomodelli kits if living in Australia, at least they are back in production and available

Cheers-

I'm currently working on the Aviomodelli cessna cardinal (83inch wingspan). definitely more work than your average arf. The Fuse is duraflex plastic, the wings are balsa sheeted foam and then Gel coated. The tail feathers are foan, and covered with what looks like cardboard. I e-mailed Mantua and asked them what this covering was. They informed me that the so called cardboard on the tail feathers is something called " Mantupoxy", they insist that it will stand up to heat, and is fuel proof. I'm not so sure, so I plan on covering the wings and tail feathers with Ultracoat. motor is a ST G90. Should be a nice plane when it's finished.

A friend just first flighted his big Avio Cardinal. The covering on his wings is the same as the covering on the tail feathers. Because of the raw balsa exposed in several areas, he elected to paint the entire airplane with LusterKote.

If flew much better than expected (OS 1.20 SII). The hardest part is slowing it down for landing.

Jim

Ozcan,
Can you tell me, your kit was older version? What kind cover was on wings? Was balsa wood or some kind of ABS or plastic?
My is plastic, now , i glue couple balsa wood thinks on it, and i dont know how to paint. I know ,you glassed yours. any way to
cover just wood side?

I have the Calypso and the Bipe... I tried to sell them for $125 at a swap meet, no takers! However, after seeing ozcan's bipe, I'm going to build both of them, and give them a try.... I don't think the construction is difficult (I have the Calypso ready to cover/paint), especially, if you have a kit or two under your belt....

Ozcan, have you had any trouble with the paint cracking on the Bipe... the Duraflex seems to be very flexible?

frieshoo,
Really, you tried to sell. I was looking for that bipe almost 3-4 month. Did you put that on rconline? Ok. any way my friend get that plane for me from italy . Nice plane.

I never placed an ad on Rconline or RCU... just took it to a local swap meet... I'm going to build it now, especially if the paint does crack on the fuse (and by the looks of Ozcan's, the paint will hold up).... I'm almost finished with the Calypso... I have a sweet running ASP .75 I'm going to use on the Calypso... I'm thinking about finishing it in a US Navy Corsair scheme (because I have the insigna blue paint on hand LOL!).

I just bought my first plane. It is a Aviomodelli Radar. This is my first plane (is this a OK plane?). I am a complete newbie at this and was advised to buy this because it was a good trainer. I recieved it today and although i knew i was going to have to do some assembly, i was fully unaware that the manual was all in Italain. Does anybody have a manual in english, or point me in the right direction to download one. Also what basic tools should i go out and buy..................Thanks In Advance, TM

Whoever recommended that airplane as your first one didn't do you any favors. I would recommend that you return it and buy one of the dozens of very good trainers sold by the major US companies. If that isn't feasable, ask the guy who recommended it to assemble it for you, since he must have some experience with it.

Jim

For those interested check out the latest issue of Model Airplane News. They do a review of the Piper Arrow 2. Looks like an outstanding plane.

I guess im stuck out and outta luck on both of those options[] I bought the plane off ebay, and my friend lives in brazil. I will continue to look on the net for a assembly manual. Thanks for your input. Tony

Try www.internetrc.com They are the current importers of Aviomodelli kits.

Jim