Poenix Models See Bee
 

Well it arived today. I have only opened the box, but it looks very promising. No hot glue, everything is straight and appears well glued. Granted an ARF is an ARF, You can nit-pick any airplane to make it seem like a pile of junk.

The few BAD things I have noticed so far:
1: Hinges are not parrallel to the hinge line. ( They are secure and no binding or twisting that I can notice. )
2: As with 94% of all ARF's, most of the hardware included is not up to par. (clevises, fuel tank, foam tires, and pushrods) I will replace with quality pieces.
3: Firewall is painted, but I don't think it is fuelproof.
4: Fuel compartment is not fuelproofed
5: One Ugly Pilot!!! (I'll probably be taking him out!)
6: 2 piece landing gear. (I'll get a small aluminum plate welded onso the gear is "one piece".
Some of the good things:
1: Construction seems to be well built, good glue beads along all visible joints.
2: Very Complete right out of the box. Join wings, attach tail feathers, install radio gear, motor, and landing gear, and it's ready to go.
3: Canopy is already attached (one of my least favorite jobs, I can never get te right amount of glue. Either have huge globs, or gaps)
4: Hinges pre installed and pinned with metal pins. (heads of pins are showing and I will probably add some covering over them for looks and incase the start to work out)
5: Cowl and wheel pants are sturdy fiberglass, no seams, good paint job.
6: Everything is fairly light weight.

Here are some preliminary pics.

Poenix Models See Bee
 

Nice cowl, good quality

Poenix Models See Bee
 

Straight, and what looks to be a well glued fuse

Poenix Models See Bee
 

Fuel Tank compartment

Poenix Models See Bee
 

Butt Ugly Pilot

Poenix Models See Bee
 

The usuall run of the mill ARF hardware.

Poenix Models See Bee
 

First thing done was installing the Ail servos. They mount to a hatch that is then mounted to the wing with 4 screws. The Big Sig Cap 321 mount the same way so I see no worries about this holding up. I will have to get longer servo arms though. The instructions have been pretty good so far. I did notice they say to use a hobby knife to remove covering in several places. Inclding where the stab and fin meet the fuse. I always heat up the soldering iron and melt the covering where they tell you to cut. That way the wood is not scored by the knife.

The wing/dihedral brace was a decent fit. One side was a little sloppy, but filled with epoxy just fine. I stuck 2 steel rod through the wing hold down bolt holes and wrapped rubber bands around them to pull the aft end tight. Then used a quick clamp on the alignment dowls. The center ribs were a near perfect fit, I had to sand the aft area just a hair to get full contact.

I measured out the stab, i will get that glued in the morning before work I hope.

I still hate that pilot!!! Looks like a Gay Lumberjack. ( Not that being a Gay Lumberjack is a bad thing, just don't want a pilot that looks like one!!)

Poenix Models See Bee
 

What engine are you using? I'm going with an OS46 and the instructions call for the engine thrust washer to be 4 3/4 inches from the firewall. No way this is going to happen with the included engine mount. Mine mirrors yours in what I found. Made in Vietnam too.

Poenix Models See Bee
 

I have a MDS .48 I got in a trade I'm gonna try. If the engine doesn't behave I'm going to get either a OS or ST, I've had lots of luck with them. I have another plane I have an Irvine .53 in. If I find that engine behaves I might pick up another one. Need to run some fuel through it to find out though.

Poenix Models See Bee
 

Jim,
I have a problem, Landing gear. The holes in the gear do not line up with the holes in the fuse. In the gear they are about 1/8" farther apart than in the fuse. Did you have this problem?

Poenix Models See Bee
 

Yup, I just re-drilled one of the holes in the gear. Funny, some parts of the plane are very well done and then this... go figure.

Poenix Models See Bee
 

Yeh thats what I'm gonna do, Just mill out the hole to fit, then add aluminum plate to sturdy it up. I just dont like the 2 pcs gear.


I've got everything glued on, servos in, just need to add my engine and get some new axels. (I stole the ones that came with it for my Sig SE) Ordered some from the LHS. Still contemplating the pilot!! :confused: