.25 size Gee Bee ARF
 

Has anyone seen/flown the AKM .25 size gee bee???? Looks really cute and maybe something fun and different to throw in the trunk. For $89.95 its not too bad of a deal either.

http://www.ak-models.com/geebee25.htm

http://www.ak-models.com/arfmodels/G...eebee120-1.jpg
http://www.ak-models.com/arfmodels/G...eebee120-2.jpg

RE: .25 size Gee Bee ARF
 

Interesting. I've got a bunch of engines that would work in that plane. Wonder what it would do with a Webra .36? That fuse is big enough, one might even be able to bury a tuned pipe inside. :D

RE: .25 size Gee Bee ARF
 

I'm sure the webra would work, gee bees usually come out tail heavy do to the short nose. I'm really thinking about getting one of these just to through around. Just trying to decide on the engine. I've had two GMS .32 and both were reliable rockets, but if it can take the extra weight up front a .40 might be even better, I hate putting dead weight in the nose of an airplane to balance it.

RE: .25 size Gee Bee ARF
 

Take close look at the "scallops" on the wing of the unbuilt airplane in the ads. The finished plane, and the kit they show are not the same.:eek:
To me, that is imediate "red flag".

RE: .25 size Gee Bee ARF
 

The finished GeeBee pictured in the ad and above is apparently the 120 size, not the 25 size. At least they were honest enough to post a picture of the actual 25 size kit. (Or maybe not.)

Jim

RE: .25 size Gee Bee ARF
 

My point exactly!

RE: .25 size Gee Bee ARF
 

I noticed the scallops also: very unscale like. Too large at the wing tip. Was going to purchase until I saw that. Would like to hear about flight characteristics though.

RE: .25 size Gee Bee ARF
 

Ok guys I give what are scallops? I can see a little difference in the kit and built pics but I can't see where it would look too different.

RE: .25 size Gee Bee ARF
 

For $89.95, what do you expect?

RE: .25 size Gee Bee ARF
 

Mugen: the scallops are the half-circular red patterns on the leading edge of the wings. As said by my compatriot... for $89.95 you get stand-way-way-off scale. Mark

RE: .25 size Gee Bee ARF
 

i have the 25 NIB and first impression that it's not as stubby as the other GeeBees. this is good and bad. good is that it's going to be easier to balance because the fuse seems longer than on the larger ones. bad because it doesn't look that scale. this plane is definitely fun scale. construction is not as robust and the cowl is thin but then again, it's only a 25 size plane so i guess all that is not unacceptable. i am putting a 32sx with pitts muffler in mine. second or third project.

RE: .25 size Gee Bee ARF
 

forestroke please post some pics of your plane. thanks,
Michael :)

RE: .25 size Gee Bee ARF
 

Just to bring all the red flags down, at the time of the website publishing we did not have actual pictures of assembled GeeBee25 so as you all guessed it we used GeeBee120 picture instead.
To see what the GeeBee looks like assembled please visit: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showt...01#post4030857
It is for electric set-up but the looks will be the same.
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/attac...hmentid=425027

RE: .25 size Gee Bee ARF
 

Well that picture pretty much confirms the odd scallops and out of proportion fuse.[:-]

RE: .25 size Gee Bee ARF
 

If you are looking for 100% scale than 1/48 plastic models would be the choice.
If you looking for good flying GeeBee 25 than our kit is the way to go.
There is always a trade off…

RE: .25 size Gee Bee ARF
 

That's a "LOT" of trade off.:eek:

RE: .25 size Gee Bee ARF
 

Then don't buy it. As has been said already, it's only $89.95. For that price, if it's recognizable and flies well, one has gotten their money's worth. If you want perfection, build one.

RE: .25 size Gee Bee ARF
 

Yeah, geez, this is the ARF/RTF forum, not the Scale forum.

Next there'll be somebody complaining that it won't hover...

Dave Olson

RE: .25 size Gee Bee ARF
 

"Next there'll be somebody complaining that it won't hover... "

I'm sure someone will ask if a ST 2300 will fit..... :D

[:-]

RE: .25 size Gee Bee ARF
 

If you guys are willing to settle for this, then ARFs will never improve.:eek:

RE: .25 size Gee Bee ARF
 

Not to be argumentative, but I have it in my head that this "Scaleness" issue will never be adequately "Improved" to the liking of scale purists.

Kits in general, and ARF's in particular, must be designed to fly well - the main criteria of those who must rely on the manufacturers. This often involves alteration of the lifting and control surfaces, and the moments - compared to the full-scale plane. Liberties are even taken - as in this case - with the color schemes.

If the buyers like them, lots of them will be sold, and the scale fans will object.

I might not buy one of these GeeBees.... but I submit that if you offer me an exact scale GeeBee for $89, that flies as well as my old Vmar Extra (or even the 40 size Tequila Sunrise that I retired), I will join the throngs of people ordering a copy.

Best wishes,
Dave Olson

RE: .25 size Gee Bee ARF
 

Either you've never seen an ARF from 20 years ago, or you've managed to put them out of your mind. :D ARFs are improving, but they're never going to get to the point where the person who builds competition scale models from scratch will be happy. I think it's safe to say that for the average sport flyer, strict compliance to the original airplane design is way less important than how the thing flies. What's the point of a Gee Bee ARF that looks exactly like the original if it's so difficult to fly that 95% of them crash on the first flight. ARFs are about flying, not concours d'elegance.

RE: .25 size Gee Bee ARF
 

i have to say i agree with most of the comments. its just that everyone has a different tolerance for scaleness. lets look at the kyosho geebee, which i believe adheres to piper chuck's notion that 95% of them crash on the first flight. it's a great scale rendition of the geebee but a monster to fly (so my friend, who's first flight ended up in cartwheels, says). on the other extreme there are the world models aircombat series which look absolutely un-scale. then there are all those in between.

i bought this geebee because it was easier to fly (guaranteed by the LHS owner) and looked still cute. of course i would like it to look more scale but then that is the tradeoff i'm willing to make on this plane.

RE: .25 size Gee Bee ARF
 

it looks scale to me, where can i purchase one? please someone send me a link. thank you

RE: .25 size Gee Bee ARF
 

They sure do, but they actually fly great!

RE: .25 size Gee Bee ARF
 

And the ailerons are different, too.
The pic is tip aileron, the kit is full aileron.
Any way, they have to show the true picture especially
in their advertizement. That's the minimum.

Tsutomu Mabuchi

RE: .25 size Gee Bee ARF
 

Sorry, I uploaded the same thing.

Tsutomu Mabuchi

RE: .25 size Gee Bee ARF
 

piper chuck - i was actually going to put that in and somehow it was omitted! it was suppose to read:

"on the other extreme there are the world models aircombat series which look absolutely un-scale but fly wonderfully!"

slip of the fingers... thanks for pointing that out!

RE: .25 size Gee Bee ARF
 

I also think it was not cool to show the picture of the 120 one for the 25 one. I have the big one already...I was looking at the small one...but after seeing the pic of the real thing here? No thanks.
It's just SO far off scale, it's cartoony. I don't care for it. It's only $89 bucks, but that ain't the problem...the problem is it looks only very remotely like a Gee Bee!
The bigger one is okay, have not flown it yet. It's not exact scale, but it definitely looks like a gee bee. The little one? That's a little TOO far off.

RE: .25 size Gee Bee ARF
 

Lets get real. First of all If someone has a 120 size do you even think they would buy a 25 size. In real life the Gee Bee flew like a brick and killed everyone who got in them. They have the general look and If they are changed alittle to fly better great. For $89 your not going to enter a scale contest. I have a freind with a GP Stearman. To keep it scale they have a factory built weight tray to hold 18 OZ and thats what he has in the tray for weight. If the wings were moved say an inch or so forward It might fly better and lose the 1 1/2 pounds but then it wouldn't be scale. But Alas, either our porage is too hot or too cold , But never just right.....

RE: .25 size Gee Bee ARF
 

looks very interesting.. I could care less about the "scale," at my field, most people would be impressed to see anything with a semblance of the GeeBee.. Now, can someone discuss it's flying characteristics? How does it land? Engine and Prop recommendations for this beast? Complete hardware included? Does anyone have pics of the real 25 size?

RE: .25 size Gee Bee ARF
 

See post #13 on page 1 of this thread.

Jim

RE: .25 size Gee Bee ARF
 

well you guys need to lay off ak-models!
obviously he makes planes for budget minded people and so for you to compare them to 120 size cm pro models is very stupid.

RE: .25 size Gee Bee ARF
 

I have the 120, and yes, I did want the 25 sized one also.
And the full scale plane flew fine, and the Delmar Benjamin replica still does.
And the models of this plane fly fine.
The 120 has some comprimise to make it fly better, sure, but the 25 one barely looks like a Gee Bee. It's not comprimise, it's cartoon. It's a bad job.

AK models does not make these. I believe they do make a line of very decent kits. They just recently started importing these kits. Most of which were already sold under other brand names by other people for quite some time, including this 25 sized Gee Bee.
Shame on them for showing a pic that is SO different from what you are really getting. No excuse. I would have wanted my money back if I had actually bought it.

RE: .25 size Gee Bee ARF
 

We made a mistake (and take a blame for it) with posting 120 size plane instead of 25. It will not happen again.
The strange thing thought is that people that actually got it, love it, and thus that did not hate it the most. I wonder if one can explain why…

RE: .25 size Gee Bee ARF
 

Good on your for admitting a mistake and correcting it.
Don't hedge on that and throw in a sales pitch, too, it kind of mitigates any apology.
I'm sure that plenty of people will buy it with the correct picture, but I(and some others who posted above) would have been VERY dissapointed at what would have shown up. They are really DRAMATICALLY different from each other, the two models.

The big gee bee, in case anybody is interested, is a STEAL for the money. Get one.
As are most of the planes AK is showing...most are sold elsewhere, too, but AK's prices are outstanding.

RE: .25 size Gee Bee ARF
 

There is nothing more valuable than customer feedback (good or bad), I know we have room for improvement and will do all we can to meet YOUR GUYS expectation.

RE: .25 size Gee Bee ARF
 

That's a terrific answer. Best of luck to you guys. And smart move to get into arfs. Arves?
You should get some of the odd ones, like KMP does, find a niche.

RE: .25 size Gee Bee ARF
 

i have no clue... maybe because those that bought it don't really know what scale looks like? also, those that know what scale looks like would be hesitant to buy a small gee bee as they aren't easy to fly. anyway, i bought it knowing it didn't look scale. had i been mislead to thinking that it was scale, i wouldn't have "love(d) it".

RE: .25 size Gee Bee ARF
 

It's nice to see open communication from a vendor rather than the silence from another that's mentioned (bashed) frequently.
People shopping at this price point are looking for a plane that looks nice and flies well. If it does these two things, most will be happy. Most will not notice small differences in trim. If they do notice, they will attribute them to production differences.