Reactor Covering ?
 

Has Great Planes ever make a statement on what type of covering was used on the Reactor? It sure isn't Monocote as advertised. Some of the adds say covered with Monocote and the new ones don't say anything about covering at all.

RE: Reactor Covering ?
 

I don't know what the stuff is but it's difficult to work with. The different colors seem to react to heat differently. It's hard to keep it tacked down and trying to reiron it is a pain. I crashed my Reactor and don't plan to get another one. [:'(]

RE: Reactor Covering ?
 

OH OH, here we go again.:D:D I got spanked for reveeling the truth on the RV-4.:)

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_52...anchor/tm.htm#

RE: Reactor Covering ?
 

Here is the main one that was locked down.[X(]

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.a...ote%2Ccovering

RE: Reactor Covering ?
 

First off, nobody at Great Planes "spanked" anybody. Any threads that got "locked down" were done by the independent decision of the RCU moderators. We did not ask anybody to close down any particular thread. We know that there are plenty of people who will not believe this, but the fact is that we do not go around asking for threads to be closed down or for individuals to be silenced. In a public forum, you may say whatever you desire, as long as it's either known to be a personal opinion or is a verifiable fact. Also, posts have to conform to the RCU rules, which we all agreed to conform to when we signed onto RCU for posting privileges.

RE: Reactor Covering ?
 

Bax,
There are quite a few on RCU that would like an explanation on the apparant missleading Monokote Advertisng. Why have things not been addressed. You still advertise the Skybolt as Monokote covered, but admitted in a past thread that the covering was sourced. If you call GP they still give you the run around like they have never heard of covering complaints before. Many people are wondering what the responce on the covering is going to be. I think you have had plenty of time to check into the facts like you told me you would, both in a PM and on the now locked thread. All I know is that every time I look at one of these Supposibly Monokote covered planes, it just about makes you sick.!!!!!
I myself have lost all comfidence in GP products, and have since switched to different brands. I am not the only one who thinks this way either. You should try a poll for your self, or read the actual threads, and not beat around the bush when answering them.:)

Here is a reponce somebody else recieved from GP.


This has been going on for quite some time with GP arfs, here is a post from the Skybolt ARF thread.

RE: Super Skybolt ARF - 3/1/2007 6:49:39 PM
tomcraig
Posts: 19
Joined: 12/1/2005
From: Tavares, FL, USA
Status: offline Here is the reply I got from Great Planes.

I'm sorry, but the checkerboard pattern on the bottom of the wing is not Monocot. In fact, it's actually a factory sourced covering that our overseas manufacturer put applied to the bottom wing. We don't carry the exact same checkerboard pattern material. If you need to make a repair you could use Monocot covering , cut the size of the damaged are or Top Flite Trim Sheets.

RE: Reactor Covering ?
 

As far as the Great Planes Reactor is concerned, it depends upon which one you are asking about.

The tech notes says this one has Monokote covering: GPMA1021 REACTOR .46-.70/EP 3D ARF

The tech notes don't say what kind of covering on this one: GPMA1540 REACTOR 3D EP PERF SERIES ARF

This one is Monokote-covered: GPMA1580 EP REACTOR BIPE 3D ARF

I can only go by the tech notes.

Per my original post, the Great Planes Skybolt ARF has Monokote covering except for the bottom of the wing with the checkerboard pattern. That is not Monokote, but a different material.

If you call Great Planes Product Support, they can only provide the answer that's on the sales sheet or in the tech notes...it's the same info I have.

[edited for typos]

RE: Reactor Covering ?
 

Why do they not change the advertising so that it is acurate and not false and missleading. If the bottom of the wings are not Monokote, then you cannot say that is is professionaly covered in Monokote (This is false aand missleading advertising). The RV-4 and Rector with the problems of the covering sererating, still are not addressed. Nobody has ever mentioned problems with the little electric on this thread, or the blocked thread. They were all talking about the Gas version. You stated in the past that Monokote has never been changed. It has been or somebody is lieing, it is simple. Monokote has never done this in the past.

Look at these pic's. I have personally seen it on two RV-4's myself. You will see quite a few complaints yourself if you would actually take the time to read the RV-4 thread. The White will also seperate. Are you going to continue to say there is nothing wrong with this. The clear will lift right of the pigment. Even when you simply take the little strips of tape, to seperate the hatch from the fuse, or the ailerons and flaps from wing sections.[X(][X(]

You are simply doing the same BS beat around the bush that you did back in Oct 07.[:@]

RE: Reactor Covering ?
 

:(Yesterday I lost my reactor. The covering blew off of the right elevator enough that the trim changed so much it went in. The plane flew so good, but I am not willing to by another one and have the same problems all over again. To bad I can't get one as a ARC so I could cover it in real Monocote or Ultracoat. Whats that old saying? Fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me !

RE: Reactor Covering ?
 

I guess its like buying a leather couch,where everything but the actual top surface is vinyl...
After reading so many GP complaints about builds and covering,I will stick with H9 and others.
They do have some cool planes,but their prices are top also,and one would expect better than average from them.

RE: Reactor Covering ?
 

I am currently building the Reactor with a Saito 82 and the clear is coming away from the color already on the top of the elevator. I also would like to know is GP is going to stand behind their product. I wouldn't want a roll or two of new covering because if I wanted a kit to cover I would have bought one. I do realize that for people to try and send these back would be a pain since most are in the build stage or completed so how about a partial refund. Mine says it on the front of the box that it is Monokote.

RE: Reactor Covering ?
 

I am currently building the Reactor with a Saito 82 and the clear is coming away from the color already on the top of the elevator. I also would like to know is GP is going to stand behind their product. I wouldn't want a roll or two of new covering because if I wanted a kit to cover I would have bought one. I do realize that for people to try and send these back would be a pain since most are in the build stage or completed so how about a partial refund. Mine says it on the front of the box that it is Monokote.



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RE: Reactor Covering ?
 

:(Zippi It realy did fly great. If you want to keep it for a while I would strip it now before you completely put it together and recover it. Sure wish I did.:(

RE: Reactor Covering ?
 

Here is a pic of the Warranty that is on the front of the Reactor Instruction Manual. I would think that if you plan on putting this Warranty on your product you should be bound by it. I can guarantee you that if you buy a new car and the paint starts to peel off that it would be repaired for no charge because it is under Warranty. The same should apply here. They have a Warranty and they should be bound by it. Never again will I buy a Great Planes product if they won't stand behind it.

RE: Reactor Covering ?
 

Zippi,
Good luck, I think they will only stand behind it if you have not started it.[X(][X(] The reason I started the big thread last year was to expose the crooked advertising. You can present the evidence in front of Bax, and he will dodge the question this way and that. In the end you do not know any more about the covering than when the thread was started, other than it is not Monokote like advertised.[X(][X(] I have also wrote off GP last year. They have to have about the most diss honest advertising in the Hobby.;)

RE: Reactor Covering ?
 

MOTORMAN37,

My plane is over half finished so I'm SOL as well I guess. I have already passed this information on to my club members and it will get from club to club pretty quick around here.

RE: Reactor Covering ?
 

Zippi,
Here is a message that I sent to Bax last week.

Your message
To: Bax
Subject: Covering advertised as Mookote
Sent: 4/3/2008 9:51:22 AM

was read on 4/3/2008 9:58:04 AM.

He read it but did not respond.[sm=thumbs_down.gif][sm=thumbs_down.gif]


Bax,
It has been quite some time, and you never got back with the answeres you said you would have. The problem still exists, do you guys not follow this site at all. I have since switched over to other brands and will not be looking back just like many many others have.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_1154095/tm.htm

• The RV-4 ARF is factory-covered with Top Flite®
MonoKote® film. Should repairs ever be required, MonoKote
can be patched with additional MonoKote purchased
separately. MonoKote is packaged in six-foot rolls, but some
hobby shops also sell it by the foot. If only a small piece of
MonoKote is needed for a minor patch, perhaps a fellow
modeler would give you some. MonoKote is applied with a
model airplane covering iron, but in an emergency a regular
iron could be used. A roll of MonoKote includes full
instructions for application. Following are the colors used on
this model and order numbers for six foot rolls.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_7325080/tm.htm

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_52...anchor/tm.htm#

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_52...0/key_/tm.htm#

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_52...0/key_/tm.htm#

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_52...0/key_/tm.htm#

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_52...0/key_/tm.htm#


I see that you no longer list it as Monokote covered, except in the Manual. You never got back like you said you would after recieving more information, from the trip's to China like you stated in the past. I see you still advertise the Skybolt as monokote covered when you admitted in the Monokte thread that it was not in some places.

The mod said they would open up the old thread for you post a responce, but low and behold it seemed to have been forgotten. Was that a attempt to see if the problem would just go away.

Believe me, it is still be talked about, and not by me. I just was helping a friend with his, and his is worse than mine was "delaminating covering". I am currently going through my RV-4 for another season, and looking at the covering just makes you feel sick. Untill this plane takes a dirt nap, which is very rare with my planes, it will be a very sore spot for me.

Someone just started a thread on the reactors covering, and it seems like it is starting all over again.

RE: Reactor Covering ?
 

:(:(:(Bax, Just all you have to say is if Great Planes is going to stand up and honor the warranty or not, and this may go away. There was a time when there was only a few manufacters of planes, but as you must know we can by planes from hundreds of importers now. There will always be new flyers that don't know alot about quality built planes to by your products. I don't have deep enought pockets and time to waste on poor quality that won't last that long and must be replaced or repaired almost out of the box.[:@]

RE: Reactor Covering ?
 

Larry,
Don't waste your time. I used to really enjoy GP products, but I have learned the hard way. I have since purchased planes by Horizon and Aeroworks, and I will not be looking back. The Covering on the RV-4 is horible, the clear is constantly peeling up from the pigment. It is a shame that this has been going on since last year, and GP will not address it. Bax admitted The bottom covering on the Skyboldt, but when you ask why the advertising has not been changed, you will get the total run around. He still has not responded to the RV guys who have been complaining since last year. He told me he would get back when he knows something. I know I will never hear anything, so I have switched brands with my new purchases. The only way they will ever learn, is if people quite buying from them.
There are to many good Manufactures that actually give you what you paid for.

RE: Reactor Covering ?
 

We have stated time and again. We'll do so here. If you believe you have a defective Great Planes product, you can send it to us and we'll work with you. This has always been so, no matter what some naysayers will want you to believe.

Please ship your item to:

Hobby Services
3002 N. Apollo Dr. Suite 1
Champaign, IL 61822
USA

Package your item(s) carefully against shipping hazards. Please make sure it's insured against loss or damage in shipping. Include a letter with your name, return shipping address, daytime telephone #, Fax, Email (as much contact information as possible), and a detailed description of the problems you are having with your equipment. If your item is still within the warranty period, please enclose a photocopy of the purchase receipt to validate any warranty claims. As soon as it arrives, we'll take care of you as quickly as possible.

RE: Reactor Covering ?
 

Bax, As I stated in earlier post the plane now has damage due to the crash caused by the elevator covering coming off, causing a severe trim change. Will you still be willing to help. The tail section is still assembled requiring a very large box . How do you want it packaged. Cut apart the tail section? Would you have a idea how much it would cost from Belleville Il. Not very far but far enought?

RE: Reactor Covering ?
 

I bought a Big Stick 60 a few months ago and started building by shrinking the covering back in place( It was a mess ). The next night went back to the shop and the covering looked like it had never been touched, did this for 3 nights and finally called GP and all I got was sorry or send it back to let them look at it. I just spent $150.00 for the kit and now they want me to send it back at my expense so they can tell me there is no problem.
I did something better, I put it in a corner and maybe later I will strip it and recover but in the meantime I will not and never again buy GP products and do not recommend them to friends but support the manufacturers that build a good product. Hopefully they will get back to doing things right.

Ron9844

RE: Reactor Covering ?
 

i can really relate to these covering problems. i have a number of gp planes and have spent a lot of time geting wrinkles out. red seems to be the worst. the last one i put together, a minnow, was terrible. on the other hand my revolvers have been perfect. what i have learned is to take all the parts out of the plastic and let them sit out for a few days. this hasworked really well for me and saved me a couple of hours per plane. also, i think hobby services should reimburse the customers for shiping and ins when they have some of the issues as stated above.

RE: Reactor Covering ?
 

We have a club member who got a Revlover from his wife for Christmas. The covering is great on it. Must have real Monocote, not Chinacote on it.

RE: Reactor Covering ?
 

Looks like several guys posting problems here are from either Illinois or Wisconsin. Maybe you all need to take a vacation day, pack your problems into the family truckster and head out to visit Great Planes in person.

Like many here, I have had problems with Great Planes ARF covering jobs and have recovered 4 airplanes before they were assembled or flown. Kinda defeats the purpose of an ARF, doesn't it. I'm no newbe at this either as I have been at this hobby for nearly 40 years now. I'd hate to think how many yards of Monokote and Ultracote I have applied over the years with no problems using the "real" stuff.

In a post above, one person mentioned a problem with black covering on a Wild Hare plane. I have a new, unassembled Wild Hare Extra here and its black covering is clearly not UltraCote .... the yellow and red are the real stuff though. The black has a separation problem that will have to be repaired by replacing part of the covering before the plane is assembled. Looks like covering problems are not limited to GP products.