Great Planes Z-526 ZLIN Akrobat Build Thread
10-09-2009, 09:48 PM
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Great Planes Z-526 ZLIN Akrobat Build Thread
Yes, my title says "Electrics Moderator," but when I started in R/C about 12 years ago, I flew nothing but glow planes. Even now about half my fleet are glow planes, and I still fly glow on a weekly basis.
In the interest of full disclosure, I am reviewing this plane for the RCUniverse magazine.
The Great Planes Zlin Z-526 "Akrobat" is patterned after the full scale version seen at airshows through the 1960's. Moravan Otrokovice of the Czech Republic produced the "26-series" of aircraft beginning in 1946 with the original Z-26, progressing through the subject Z-526, and finally culminating with the Z-726 in the 1970's.
With a full scale wingspan of 33 feet, 9 inches, and a model wingspan of 58 inches, Great Planes' rendition of the Z-526 is roughly 1/7 scale. It's a perfect size for a .46 2-stroke glow, .70 4-stroke glow, or a 700 Watt electric power system.
SPECIFICATIONS
Stock Number: GPMA1024
Wingspan: 58 in (1470 mm)
Wing Area: 633 in² (40.9 dm²)
Weight: 6-6.75 lb (2695-3005 g)
Wing Loading: 22-24 oz/ft² (66-74 g/dm²)
Length: 52 in (1320 mm)
Requires: 4-5 channel radio w/4-5 servos; 2-stroke .46-.55 cu in (7.5-9.0 cc) or 4-stroke .52-.70 cu in (8.5-11.5 cc) engine; OR RimFireâ„¢ 42-60-480kV outrunner brushless motor, 60A brushless ESC & (2) 11.1V 3200mAh 20C LiPo batteries
In the interest of full disclosure, I am reviewing this plane for the RCUniverse magazine.
The Great Planes Zlin Z-526 "Akrobat" is patterned after the full scale version seen at airshows through the 1960's. Moravan Otrokovice of the Czech Republic produced the "26-series" of aircraft beginning in 1946 with the original Z-26, progressing through the subject Z-526, and finally culminating with the Z-726 in the 1970's.
With a full scale wingspan of 33 feet, 9 inches, and a model wingspan of 58 inches, Great Planes' rendition of the Z-526 is roughly 1/7 scale. It's a perfect size for a .46 2-stroke glow, .70 4-stroke glow, or a 700 Watt electric power system.
SPECIFICATIONS
Stock Number: GPMA1024
Wingspan: 58 in (1470 mm)
Wing Area: 633 in² (40.9 dm²)
Weight: 6-6.75 lb (2695-3005 g)
Wing Loading: 22-24 oz/ft² (66-74 g/dm²)
Length: 52 in (1320 mm)
Requires: 4-5 channel radio w/4-5 servos; 2-stroke .46-.55 cu in (7.5-9.0 cc) or 4-stroke .52-.70 cu in (8.5-11.5 cc) engine; OR RimFireâ„¢ 42-60-480kV outrunner brushless motor, 60A brushless ESC & (2) 11.1V 3200mAh 20C LiPo batteries
10-10-2009, 05:51 PM
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RE: Great Planes Z-526 ZLIN Akrobat Build Thread
No problem! That's what I'm here for.
I unboxed the whole ARF last night and took pictures. Other than the typical wrinkles in the covering, which you're going to get with any ARF, the Zlin arrived in perfect condition. An extended engine box and removable canopy/cockpit allows you to see most of the structure. The fuselage is all interlocking plywood sheeted with balsa. Pretty conventional. Out back, the fin is already integrated into the fuselage structure, and the stabilizer slot has an airfoil profile.
I unboxed the whole ARF last night and took pictures. Other than the typical wrinkles in the covering, which you're going to get with any ARF, the Zlin arrived in perfect condition. An extended engine box and removable canopy/cockpit allows you to see most of the structure. The fuselage is all interlocking plywood sheeted with balsa. Pretty conventional. Out back, the fin is already integrated into the fuselage structure, and the stabilizer slot has an airfoil profile.
10-10-2009, 06:00 PM
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RE: Great Planes Z-526 ZLIN Akrobat Build Thread
Let's see if this picture comes out. Inside the cockpit is the most detailed instrument panel I've seen in an ARF to date. The recessed instruments are a nice touch.
10-11-2009, 04:16 PM
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RE: Great Planes Z-526 ZLIN Akrobat Build Thread
The wing construction is rare to find in a .46-size ARF: Sheeted foam core, and two-piece to boot! This is the type of thing you'd expect to find in 33% and larger models.
Reading through the instructions, it gives you the option of permanently joining the wing halves with epoxy. Normally on a plane this size I would join the wings and reinforce the joint with fiberglass, but the joint will be plenty strong as-is: I think you could use the aluminum wing joiner tube as a weapon, and the wing dowels and hold-down bolts will keep the halves together.
Reading through the instructions, it gives you the option of permanently joining the wing halves with epoxy. Normally on a plane this size I would join the wings and reinforce the joint with fiberglass, but the joint will be plenty strong as-is: I think you could use the aluminum wing joiner tube as a weapon, and the wing dowels and hold-down bolts will keep the halves together.
10-11-2009, 04:37 PM
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RE: Great Planes Z-526 ZLIN Akrobat Build Thread
Okay, sorry about the out-of-sequence posting there... I forgot to hit send last night!!!
Anywho, yes it's covered with Monokote. I wouldn't worry too much about the wrinkes. Those will come right out with some heat, and they're to be expected with the changes in temperature, air pressure, and humidity during shipment.
Maybe this is what you were talking about, but in that last picture of the tail you can see that extra seam in the covering at the rear of the stabilizer slot. Fluorescent lights show every little flaw in the covering, and a Nikon SLR camera accentuates them in vivid detail. In normal light those seams pretty much blend together, and besides, the elevator will cover that area up once it's installed.
Having built a couple of airplanes with similar profiles, I can say that's a pretty tough area to cover. Impossible, with a single piece of covering unless you're a LOT more skilled than I am.
First flight is at least a week away. I'm still waiting on the shipment with the engine and servos. Once that stuff gets here, the plane should go together quickly. There's only one operation in the entire assembly of the airplane that will require glue.
Anywho, yes it's covered with Monokote. I wouldn't worry too much about the wrinkes. Those will come right out with some heat, and they're to be expected with the changes in temperature, air pressure, and humidity during shipment.
Maybe this is what you were talking about, but in that last picture of the tail you can see that extra seam in the covering at the rear of the stabilizer slot. Fluorescent lights show every little flaw in the covering, and a Nikon SLR camera accentuates them in vivid detail. In normal light those seams pretty much blend together, and besides, the elevator will cover that area up once it's installed.
Having built a couple of airplanes with similar profiles, I can say that's a pretty tough area to cover. Impossible, with a single piece of covering unless you're a LOT more skilled than I am.
First flight is at least a week away. I'm still waiting on the shipment with the engine and servos. Once that stuff gets here, the plane should go together quickly. There's only one operation in the entire assembly of the airplane that will require glue.
10-11-2009, 06:58 PM
#10
RE: Great Planes Z-526 ZLIN Akrobat Build Thread
I will agree that sometimes the picture looks worse than the real thing. I have a Great Planes Ryan that is a few years old, but there are a couple of wrinkles that would never come out due to the covering not being applied correctly. I hope the newer planes would have a better covering job. There has also been some talk about some of the Great Planes not having real Monokote on them. This is the main reason for my scepticism. I do think this is a beautiful plane and hope to hear soon about how well it flys for you.
10-13-2009, 07:17 AM
#11
RE: Great Planes Z-526 ZLIN Akrobat Build Thread
Me too mate,sorry if i sounded a bit fired up but i sometimes wonder what people really expect from an arf.Accuracy surely but you do have to look at them carefully and take precautions depending on how you want to fly them.Matt what engine and servos again
10-13-2009, 09:13 AM
#12
RE: Great Planes Z-526 ZLIN Akrobat Build Thread
Well, my Aussie pal
, I have a couple of ARFs that have a perfect covering job, with no wrinkles at all out of the box, so the bar has been raised as far as my expectations of what a high quality ARF can be. But I will cut any manufacturer some slack, since sitting in a shipping container for weeks during the hot summer and then coming to a different country with high or low humidity will cause wrinkles on even the best covering job, ha, ha. But they should be able to be ironed out without the wrinles reappearing, if the covering is of a good quality and put on right. I am awaiting Matt's verdict on how easily he got this bird cleaned back up. Otherwise, it looks like a really nicely done plane.
, I have a couple of ARFs that have a perfect covering job, with no wrinkles at all out of the box, so the bar has been raised as far as my expectations of what a high quality ARF can be. But I will cut any manufacturer some slack, since sitting in a shipping container for weeks during the hot summer and then coming to a different country with high or low humidity will cause wrinkles on even the best covering job, ha, ha. But they should be able to be ironed out without the wrinles reappearing, if the covering is of a good quality and put on right. I am awaiting Matt's verdict on how easily he got this bird cleaned back up. Otherwise, it looks like a really nicely done plane.
10-13-2009, 12:01 PM
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RE: Great Planes Z-526 ZLIN Akrobat Build Thread
Hey guys, I lost all yesterday evening visiting my new nephew in the hospital. They'll be bringing him home this afternoon
Besides, the engine and radio equipment weren't delivered yesterday either, so I really couldn't get going. Step 1 is installing the aileron servos...
Besides, the engine and radio equipment weren't delivered yesterday either, so I really couldn't get going. Step 1 is installing the aileron servos...
10-13-2009, 05:27 PM
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RE: Great Planes Z-526 ZLIN Akrobat Build Thread
Uncle Matt has the worst luck in the world... Instead of going home to a fresh box of R/C airplane goodies, he's stuck at work waiting for the service tech to come replace a power supply.
Do you remember the classic Goldberg Super Chipmunk? This Zlin has that same kind of aura to it, that 1960's airshow flair. Makes sense, since the Z-526 and the Super Chipmunk were conceived around roughly the same time. I've always had a thing for the Goldberg Super Chipmunk, and swore one day that I'd own one. That day may still come, but so far I think this Zlin will satisfy that "Jones," at least for a while.
Do you remember the classic Goldberg Super Chipmunk? This Zlin has that same kind of aura to it, that 1960's airshow flair. Makes sense, since the Z-526 and the Super Chipmunk were conceived around roughly the same time. I've always had a thing for the Goldberg Super Chipmunk, and swore one day that I'd own one. That day may still come, but so far I think this Zlin will satisfy that "Jones," at least for a while.
10-14-2009, 09:22 AM
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RE: Great Planes Z-526 ZLIN Akrobat Build Thread
ORIGINAL: GP G-Rod
Matt will be using an OS .55AX....and standard 3004 BB servos.
Matt will be using an OS .55AX....and standard 3004 BB servos.
Also does old school air show tumbling. 45 upline and throw the sticks to the corners!
Jason
10-14-2009, 04:56 PM
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RE: Great Planes Z-526 ZLIN Akrobat Build Thread
Yes, I admit it... I didn't know what engine and servos until the box arrived this afternoon. Sorry to keep you in suspense there. 
I've got an OS 55AX and S3004 servos now, so we can get under way with the actual build... starting tomorrow night, because I've got an R/C club meeting in about and hour.
I've got an OS 55AX and S3004 servos now, so we can get under way with the actual build... starting tomorrow night, because I've got an R/C club meeting in about and hour.
10-14-2009, 08:10 PM
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RE: Great Planes Z-526 ZLIN Akrobat Build Thread
Saw on in a hobby shop today and came really close to buying it. Walked out with a TF spitfire kit instead. The Zlin looked like a nice airplane though. It is on the list.
10-14-2009, 10:08 PM
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RE: Great Planes Z-526 ZLIN Akrobat Build Thread
There are separate pushrods for the elevator halves. I'm a little hesitant about the way they suggest you join the pushrods together at the servo, though. GP joins the elevator pushrods parallel to each other with two wheel collars. My plan there is to set it up and see what I think, because I've never been a fan of that kind of setup. It may be okay, because rather than grub screws, they use full-headed cap screws so you can really get some torque on them.