Good knock-around plane suggestions
 

I need a good everyday type sport plane. I used to love the old Flite Line Skooter II but they are out of production for the time being. I'm looking at the Dazzler ARF and the Ultra Stick 40. I have a couple .40s that would be good to use so I want to stay with a 40 size ARF. Something relatively cheap, say under $150 with good flight characteristics. I want a plane that slows down for easy landings and would be decent for old-time type funflys, limbo touch-n-go etc. It needs to be forgiving when it gets horsed around and maybe not treated real gentle on spot landings and such.
I can get the Dazzler for $135 at LHS but not sure thats what I want. I don't think it has a removeable wing which is a PITA. The US 40 seems a bit heavy according to my Horizon catalog at 5-6 lbs. I think the Sig somethin Extra would be real good but I'm not paying $200 for the ARF and don't have time to build one. I already have too many waiting in line. I have a wasp built and flying and a Morris the Knife next on the board but they tend to be a bit fragile for the abuse my everyday planes tend to get.
So, do you have any other ideas.
Thanks,,,basmntdweller

Good knock-around plane suggestions
 

Thunder Tiger Lazy Tiger 51. This is my knock around plane and I love it!!!

Good knock-around plane suggestions
 

You can't beat the Sig Somethin Extra, go ahead and spend the money you will not be disappointed. It will fly like it is on rails or flip, flop when you want it to, then land like a trainer.

Good knock-around plane suggestions
 

Ultra Sticks rock but really come alive with POWER. The 4-servo wing setup isn't necessary, but adds to the flight envelope. And the expense.

Many people here have praised the WM Super Stunts .40.
Here's a link.
Its a lightweight Stick clone. $99 bucks from QuantumModels.com. Pick up an extra bottle of CA and get yuor order shipped free..

Good knock-around plane suggestions
 

"Oh oh it's MAGIC.... you know"

Good knock-around plane suggestions
 

SIG RASCAL 40!

Good knock-around plane suggestions
 

MHawker,
I've read reviews of the Magic but most weren't very favorable. What engine are you running on yours and how is the planes durability? I have an OS 32sx that would work on a lighter plane such as this one but it's on one of my other planes and I hate swapping stuff around. I'm leaning towards using a new, old K&B 40 I've had since the 80's for whatever plane I end up getting.
later,,,basmntdweller

Good knock-around plane suggestions
 

Save your change for a couple of weeks and get the Sig Somethin' Extra - a great little plane with plug in wings and it will act like the big ones! I think it is hard to beat.

Good knock-around plane suggestions
 

World Models Super Sports Senior.

Good knock-around plane suggestions
 

I second (or third I guess) the Sig SE ARF - it's worth the extra $49. You won't be sorry. Or build from the kit. You can knock one out in a week or two.

My only concern is the engine. A ball-bearing 46 is the minimum I would put in the SE.

Another suggestion would be the World Models Super Stunts 40. They are like $99 or so. Great ARF.

Good knock-around plane suggestions
 

Bas..

I have a 46FX with a Mac's pipe on my Magic. Doesn't need that much power, but I like having it! :-) A lot of guys are running webra 32's and are happy.

I really like my magic. I haven't really read any bad reviews on it? I was the first at our club to get one, and now we have four of them. The only weak points I can see are the landing gear (very cheap, but easy to replace) and the vertical stab. The rudder is HUGE, but the actual stab is pretty small. I've had no problems with mine (the rudder that is). Nor have any of the other club members.

The deal with the landing gear is that the point where it's welded/brazed or ?? is very weak. It came apart on the third, soft landing. Pretty cheap fix. I put a set of plastic gear and some big foam wheels on it and I think it looks good. I've also added a tail wheel to help with taxiing.

I cannot argue with anyone's recommendations. I've flown the super stunts. I don't think it's as agile as the Magic. I've seen the SE flown and it's a definite contender. It would be a tough decision between it and the Magic. To me, the SE looks a little tougher. Plus, if you don't like rubber bands, the SE would be your choice.

Good luck. You'd be happy with either one!

Good knock-around plane suggestions
 

In the same boat. I have this nice Enya .40, runs great, but just isn't enough to make any of the "40 sized" planes much fun.

I've been flying this Preditor flying wing a lot recently. Looks a bit intimidating, but really is pretty well behaved, and a blast to fly. unlimited vertical with a 28. They make a couple 40 sized versions too. great for burning holes in the sky. Light weight, cheap, easy to build, tough too. Worth a look, might be just the thing for you.

www.tufflight.com

Good knock-around plane suggestions
 

You won't find a nicer flying sport ARF than the Ultra Stik. I've had mine for just a few weeks now, but I love it!

The Knife will do you.
 

I have the Ultra Stick .40 and the Knife. Let's talk about the toughness of the Knife. Would you consider running the Knife full throttle into a drainage ditch and it surviving without a scratch tough (I just knew it would take off before I hit the ditch)? Sure I broke one of the plastic dubro landing gear and the prop but the plane was completely unscathed! I had her ready to go in 15 minutes. The Ultra Stick would never have made it. I probably would have ripped the fuse in half and maybe even pulled the fire wall off. If you want tough build that Knife. It is the King Daddy of air and ditches!

Good knock-around plane suggestions
 

Sig Something Extra would be a great knock a round plane. Right now I'm getting started on my TOPCAP, any Morris funfly plane are GREAT flyers and good knock a round flyers.

Good knock-around plane suggestions
 

I agree that the Morris fun fly planes are good knock around planes, but you can't take the wing off. The Somethin' Extra breaks down pretty small so you can carry a couple of planes to the field if you are limited on transportation space.

Knife Eldo
 

That 48 inch wing will fit nicely in the trunk of my 76 Eldo but might not be the average size trunk (or car)!

Good knock-around plane suggestions
 

Yea, I would like to see that Knife Eldo fly! Cute plane! You should offer it as a kit

Sig Somethin Extra!
 

Got to get the Sig Somethin Extra! Get the arf or kit, I have the ARF and it is the most complete small arf you can get. I have it paired up with a TT 46, and it has unlimited vertical! You cannot go wrong with this plane. You can do it all with this one!

Good knock-around plane suggestions
 

I think some of you should really read the original poster's preferences and requirements.

If you want alight wingloading knock about plane you can power with a .40-46 and with good flight characterisitics and removable wings for less than $150, the WM Super Stunt 40 is the ticket.

It has almost 900sq.in. of wing area, built light and roughly the same size as most other manufacturer's .60 size Stiks. Put a mild .40 on it and it'll be a real pu$$ycat with wing loading lighter than the Sig LT40. Bolt on a .60 or .75 and enlarge the control surfaces, it'll do 3D. The wing is symmetrical so it'll just about do anything in the book.

I also think the Sig SE and the Magic are both good plane, but each belong in a little different niche. The Sig SE ARF is a little pricey IMHO, especial compared to the 80" wingspan WM Super Stunt 60 I got for the same $199 - a giant compared to the little SE. It'll come down to what style of plane and flying you prefer most.

Good knock-around plane suggestions
 

I will second the Magic3d. You can fly it as wild or mild as you want. It will come in at least a full lb lighter than the dazzler arf, have a removable wing, and over 100 sq inches more wing area. Want to fly a sailplane, take it up to a dot in the sky, and shut the motor off. It will glide better than alot of arf gliders. Want to do Touch n Gos? No problem. With the big gangly stork main gear, you can do a 15-20 degree angled one wheel touch n go. Stall turn to touch n go, up to stall turn can be a very relaxing evening. Switch it over to high rates and try climbing flat spins, waterfalls, hovering, torque rolls, etc. Come by doing a harrier pass that is as slow as you can walk. Enable flaperons and rotate the plane in its own fuselength. Throw in a 10 mph wind, and you can back it up, park it still, or loop with no forward airspeed, trying to end the loop at the same altidude and placement as you started.

All that and more for the low low low price of 99.95. Uses standard servos and radio gear, and will hover on an OS LA40. I am actually using mine to begin training my daughter (shes 6 1/2), by cutting the rates wayyyy down on the computer radio.
The only thing the magic wont do is knifeedge, because it has a small fuse.


The Sig SE arf is a good all around sport flier, but the arf is about 1lb tooo heavy to do alot of really extreme stuff. Neighbor has one with an os 70 surpass (5th different motor in the plane, trying to find the right combo). Comparing the two are like apples and oranges. For the price of one sig SE arf, you can get a magic, a new 40 or 46 two stroke, battery, and props. Or you can do the smart thing, and buy TWO magics, for after you dork the first one trying to do tail touches :D

Good luck, and let us know what you choose.

Steve

Knock around plane
 

Stevezero

I've seen a picture of the Magic3D, but don't have a lot of information on it - where can I go to learn more about it. Is there a web site that gives details and more photos?

Thanks,
Jim
(SearchMan)

Good knock-around plane suggestions
 

At this point I've pretty well decided to get a magic if I can find somebody that has them in stock. I'll call Quantum tomorrow and see if they have any. With their free shipping they'll be the least expensive and probably the quickest since they are only one state away. I talked with a couple guys at the LHS today. One guy had a Dazzler with him and I though it was rather heavy feeling plus it has some generic covering that I'd never be able to repair back to original. The LHS owner had commented that he's been wanting a Magic as well. He said several club members have them and like them fairly well. My wasp would probably have been a decent knock-around but I built it with the single wheel gear and after having dorked it numerous times it has gained too much weight to fly like I want. It's still very good, just not what I'm after. It hovers decent but my tired old OS 45FSR just isn't what it used to be. I was putting my MVVS 40 with pipe on it when I found I had a bad servo. So, till I can get another servo it's dead as well.
If and when I get a Magic I'll post with my $.02 on it's fitting of my needs.
Thanks to all,,,basmntdweller

Good knock-around plane suggestions
 

replying to basmntdweller re: the weight of the US40.

My new US40 has a Saito 72 on the nose, a sullivan tailwheel with a ply shim and a 3000 mAh battery pack (!) and total weight is only 5.25 lbs, for a wing loading of 16.4 oz/ft^2.

Though I have only had about 15 flights with it, so far I like it very much.

Good knock-around plane suggestions
 

All this talk about a Magic almost persuades me to get one too!