Pocket Rocket
02-06-2011 | 04:34 AM
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From: Dubbo, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA
Pocket Rocket
G'day
I test flew my latest "trainer" today. It is a semi scale model of the famous WWII German Me 163 "Komet". It is produced by a small Australian company called S&B models.
Two versions are available. One arrives as several foam shapes, several pieces of cored plastic sheeting and some hardware and the second more complete version comes already skinned with one of several semi scale finishes. The instructions which come (on CD) mainly relate to the less complete version but both are reasonable easy to build though there are some real clangers in the info provided - one glaring clanger being a very wrong CG of 165mm from the leading edge. I think it should be trailing edge of the wing.
My version is the pre-skinned (Japanese) version and assembly was fairly straight forward. If you buy the cheaper version you need to skin it with some sort of covering. The CD recommends using coloured packaging tape and I used this on a previous model.
I fitted a 2700kV inrunner motor with a 25 Ampere ESC and a 5.5 x 4 Graupner prop. With a 2200mAh 3 cell 25C Lipo this gives excellent performance and a flight time on mixed throttle settings of about 15 minutes.
The initial flight was a little exciting as the model is difficult to hold (I will add some grips under the wing) and it did not get much airspeed from its hand launch and headed for the ground but once it started flying it rocketed away in fine style.
So, if you would like something a little different AND just about indestructible (I have tried several times to kill my previous one and ended up giving it away) then this is well worth a look. They are not cheap but they fly really well and they really are tough.
Mike in Oz
I test flew my latest "trainer" today. It is a semi scale model of the famous WWII German Me 163 "Komet". It is produced by a small Australian company called S&B models.
Two versions are available. One arrives as several foam shapes, several pieces of cored plastic sheeting and some hardware and the second more complete version comes already skinned with one of several semi scale finishes. The instructions which come (on CD) mainly relate to the less complete version but both are reasonable easy to build though there are some real clangers in the info provided - one glaring clanger being a very wrong CG of 165mm from the leading edge. I think it should be trailing edge of the wing.
My version is the pre-skinned (Japanese) version and assembly was fairly straight forward. If you buy the cheaper version you need to skin it with some sort of covering. The CD recommends using coloured packaging tape and I used this on a previous model.
I fitted a 2700kV inrunner motor with a 25 Ampere ESC and a 5.5 x 4 Graupner prop. With a 2200mAh 3 cell 25C Lipo this gives excellent performance and a flight time on mixed throttle settings of about 15 minutes.
The initial flight was a little exciting as the model is difficult to hold (I will add some grips under the wing) and it did not get much airspeed from its hand launch and headed for the ground but once it started flying it rocketed away in fine style.
So, if you would like something a little different AND just about indestructible (I have tried several times to kill my previous one and ended up giving it away) then this is well worth a look. They are not cheap but they fly really well and they really are tough.
Mike in Oz
02-06-2011 | 03:11 PM
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From: Dubbo, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA
RE: Pocket Rocket
G'day
Yes it flies fine with the CG set at 165 mm from the TRAILING EDGE of the wing rather than from the leading edge. This works out about 115 from the leading edge and is about 1/3 of the chord which is pretty usual for most models.
The model is currently a little difficult to launch because its skin is slippery and also because it is not easy to hold underneath the wing but I am going to add some grip points to help with this. My brother-in-law who has he one I built four years ago says he flew it yesterday and it was launched for him by throwing it by a wing tip like a boomerang. He said it worked well. I have not been game to try this.
Once in the air the model flies really well. It has a very high roll rate when set up as recommended so I tamed this with 35% exponential and it now flies like any mid wing model.
The wing is set up with about 3 degrees of reflex on the ailerons. That is, the ailerons are 3 higher than the mid line of the wing which is slightly asymmetrical. I believe that this adds to stability at lower speeds.
The model also glides very well. The original plane was patterned on a glider and at the time, German gliders were among the best in the world.
Landing is easy. Point it at the strip, pull the power off and it just settles very nicely and lands on its belly skid. (I added some extra tape on the skid to protect it.)
Cheers
Mike in Oz
Yes it flies fine with the CG set at 165 mm from the TRAILING EDGE of the wing rather than from the leading edge. This works out about 115 from the leading edge and is about 1/3 of the chord which is pretty usual for most models.
The model is currently a little difficult to launch because its skin is slippery and also because it is not easy to hold underneath the wing but I am going to add some grip points to help with this. My brother-in-law who has he one I built four years ago says he flew it yesterday and it was launched for him by throwing it by a wing tip like a boomerang. He said it worked well. I have not been game to try this.
Once in the air the model flies really well. It has a very high roll rate when set up as recommended so I tamed this with 35% exponential and it now flies like any mid wing model.
The wing is set up with about 3 degrees of reflex on the ailerons. That is, the ailerons are 3 higher than the mid line of the wing which is slightly asymmetrical. I believe that this adds to stability at lower speeds.
The model also glides very well. The original plane was patterned on a glider and at the time, German gliders were among the best in the world.
Landing is easy. Point it at the strip, pull the power off and it just settles very nicely and lands on its belly skid. (I added some extra tape on the skid to protect it.)
Cheers
Mike in Oz
02-06-2011 | 06:00 PM
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From: Dubbo, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA
RE: Pocket Rocket
G'day
Yes, there are a few Me 163s around in museums. The Australian War Memorial in Canberra has one. It also has a Me 262 and an Bf 109 on display. The 109 is unique in that it is still in its wartime paint scheme and has not been restored in any way apart from conservation to keep it stable. Sadly, the 163 was also in its original state until it was lent to an overseas institution some time ago and they thought they would improve it by painting it. AAAAAAAAAGH. The curators were not impressed.
If you ever get to Australia and to Canberra, the War Memorial is a Must See venue for people who like aircraft and militaria. There is a large display including a Zero, Mosquito, P-40, Mustang, SE5a, the 262, 109, and 163 as well as G for George - a Lancaster. There is a lot more too including a Japanese midget submarine; one of four which made it into Sydney harbour during the war and tried to sink a US cruiser, USS Chicago, moored there. The torpedo which one of them fired went under the cruiser, hit the wharf and the concussion sank a retired ferry, the Kuttabul, which was being used as quarters for sailors. Twenty one sailors died. There is also a large amount of other material in storage which makes appearances from time to time.
It is very windy here today or I would be out flying the Komet.
Yes, there are a few Me 163s around in museums. The Australian War Memorial in Canberra has one. It also has a Me 262 and an Bf 109 on display. The 109 is unique in that it is still in its wartime paint scheme and has not been restored in any way apart from conservation to keep it stable. Sadly, the 163 was also in its original state until it was lent to an overseas institution some time ago and they thought they would improve it by painting it. AAAAAAAAAGH. The curators were not impressed.
If you ever get to Australia and to Canberra, the War Memorial is a Must See venue for people who like aircraft and militaria. There is a large display including a Zero, Mosquito, P-40, Mustang, SE5a, the 262, 109, and 163 as well as G for George - a Lancaster. There is a lot more too including a Japanese midget submarine; one of four which made it into Sydney harbour during the war and tried to sink a US cruiser, USS Chicago, moored there. The torpedo which one of them fired went under the cruiser, hit the wharf and the concussion sank a retired ferry, the Kuttabul, which was being used as quarters for sailors. Twenty one sailors died. There is also a large amount of other material in storage which makes appearances from time to time.
It is very windy here today or I would be out flying the Komet.
