I already own a Four Star .40 but Im thinking about stepping it up to the Somethin Extra, GP Revolver, or U Can Do 3D, so I just wanted to know how these planes compare. Here's what Im looking for, (1)speed-I like doing fast low fly-by's. (2)Axial Rolls-all the planes Ive owned so far have dihedral in the wings. (3)Good knife-edge-Can hold knife edge with capability of slight climb. (4) Good inverted flight-love flying upside down and want to be able to pull up without having to roll it over(Four Star had good inverted flight characteristics) (5)Good entry level 3D plane.

If you are comfortable with the 4-star, the SSE might just be a great choice. I've personally owned the ARF and built a kit version. Both are excellent.

The SSE is a mid-wing airplane and therefore doesn't have any dihedral. I've heard others say that the SSE doesn't knife-edge well but both of mine had no trouble. You just need plenty of airspeed. The SSE, like the Twist in your other post, is very nimble. Use low rates for the first few flights just to be safe. Once you are comfortable, turn it loose and have fun.

By chance do you own or flown the GP Revolver or U Can do 3D?

I was just gonna post a similar question as I think i'm reaching the comfort level of an upgrade.

Have you tried Knife edge with your 4*? You should! I do about 5-6 knife edges each flight and it's does a great knife edge. I'll try to post a vid of it sometimes when I can get a cameraman out there.

The snap rolls are awesome with it, especially when you're in a 45deg climb, snap it and then continue your 45deg climb... it does that pretty well.

I love the 4* but I want something a bit more capable now. I've come to realize that I'm more of a 3-D freestyle pilot rather than a precise pattern flyer. That's not for me.

I already fly a MiniEdge 540 and it's a blast. It's a little heavy but still pretty acrobatic and I'm currently building a [link=http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=390003]Nasty[/link]

I'm looking forward to suggestions in this thread.

Ive been reading reviews on the U Can Do 3D and it sounds like what Im looking for. Just about the only thing Im not sure on is how fast it can fly. One review said it clocked the Revolver at 95MPH, but I really want more than just speed. So Ill probably go with a plane that has majority of the things Im looking for. But now I cant decide if I want to spend the extra cash and get a 4 stroke. I like how they sound and I hear people say that it has a better power curve and more torque for 3D, but they cost so much more!!!!

Everyone who flies a UCD totally loves it. People kill the engine as they turn into the downwind leg, and float in 1/2 way around the circuit with no engine running and it just floats right in for a landing. Supposedly very tame on low rates and can do just about anything on high rates. Recommended engine according to guys at my field is at least a 70 four stroke. One guy has a .90 and loves it.

Yes I have, both of them in fact.

Others may disagree but I'm not a big fan of the U-Can-Do. Sure it is an OK plane but the big control surfaces really tend to flutter easily even if you are very careful with the throttle. It is also a very fragile plane since it is fairly large but still very light.

The Revolver is another story... this is a beautiful airplane both to look at and fly. Speed? The thing is super slippery in the air and very fast with the right engine. Axial rolls? They are about as close as you can get. Knife edge? It will knife edge as long as you have the nerve to hold it there. There is very little coupling. Inverted flight? Just flip it over and fly upside down all day if you want. You notice a slight difference between inside and outside maneuvers because of the semi-symetrical airfoil but not much. 3D? Not so good. It isn't intended to be a 3D plane. It is a high performance sport plane. Yes it will knife edge, flat spin and just about everything else but no true 3D. It's strength is speed, stability and maneuverability. There is a down side to the plane too: it likes to land hot. It will not slow down as easily as your 4-star or the Somthin Extra. Using the Revolver as a third plane would really depend on the skills of the pilot I think.

You mention wanting a fast plane that is also a good entry level 3d plane. Those things really don't go hand in hand. 3D planes need big control surfaces that don't lend themselves well to going fast. Fast planes are generally very stable which isn't good for 3D. They are two different animals.

I'd go for the SSE. It isn't really a 3D plane but it is a good fun flyer and it can be pretty quick too with a good .46 in the nose. It will also slow down nice and land easily.

I touched on this in my other response but if you try a high speed pass with U-Can-Do, get the trash bags ready. It will shake itself apart. It is meant to be tossed around at low speed.

U can DO is not really that fast of a plane. one of the flier's 9 year old (yes NINE) son flies .90 U can do. It's a slow throw it in the air any way you want kind of a plane. It's a floater when it comes to landings, this kids almost just drops it like a heli.

Though you can toss it around in the air... it seems like thats all you can do with it. Then again IT IS a 3D trainer.

I got a Hangar-9 Tango powered by an OS 55AX, and I've had it going at a good clip with unlimited vertical. Maybe not 90, but pretty fast. It can really slow down good too, and be easily mistaken for a trainer until I open it up and set the rates on high! It will do just about anything you want, but knife edges do take some skill. The only object to the game here is taking off. Landing is the Tango's forte, and I have floated mine in many times on deadsticks. If you like 3D, it may actually be a good choice as a third plane. In my opinion, anyway.

NorfolkSouthern

What do you mean by " hot landings"? Do you mean they come in real fast? I'm not sure how to rate myself on landings, I fly at a very large field and just about 9 out of 10 my landings are smooth with no bounce. I like the SSE but Ive read they don't knife edge too well.

I am building a .46 U Can Do 3D as my third plane right now. I had a Saito .82 sitting around so I thought what the heck. I never really was into the massively fast airplanes, at least for now. I also have a Venture 60 (Basically a 4*) as my second plane. I am going to keep the UCD throttle low and have fun tossing it around the sky! I wish I could give you a flight report but I'm still about a week or two away from a maiden.

With the exception of the Revolver, of which I am unfamiliar with, none of these planes are fast. You can get fast 3D planes, but these aren’t it. To meet your other requirements, such as KE, good inverted, axial rolls, good beginner 3D plane, I’d suggest the UCanDo well above the rest. The longer tail moment and better distributed side area make this plane perform KE and hovers better than the Sig SE and the Twist, and it tends to be more stable in pitch and yaw, making the learning process easier (i.e. when panic mode kicks in the plane can be easily brought back under control.) 3D maneuvers that involve spins will suffer with the UCanDo due to the airfoil shape and thickness, but the same would apply to the Sig SE and Twist due to their airfoils/thickness, ect.

I recently asked the same question, "I want a fast aerobatic plane that can perform some 3D". A you can do 3D or a Twist are not "fast" planes, but will do about 70ish. I went with an extra 300s from phoenix models, and I had recommendations from someone with an aeroworks edge 540 who said that on low rates his was super fast, and at high rates can do 3D stuff. The big control surfaces on the actual 3D planes will cause flutter at high speeds. I have heard that flying a twist straight and level at full throttle is not good on it. I pick up my extra today, so I can't tell you how she performs yet.

Hey Chuck I just read your review on the Revolver. Can you tell me more on the plane?

The Twist is a very good all-around plane. You won't fly fast with it, but it can be set up to be either mild or wild and lands like a butterfly. Once you get confortable with it, you can progress to 3D flying.

The Twist is a great sport/3D plane. Good looks and an easy build (especially the 60 size), upright engine mounting, & no cowl to align/cut.

What would you like to know?

It is not a 3D plane and isn't intended to be. It is however a high performance sport plane.

The construction quality and ease of assembly are amazing. In my book, this is the best ARF I have ever put together.

The plane is fast due to its slippery shape and very aerobatic. The only downside is that the low drag airframe doesn't slow down as easily as other planes. It's manageable of course but could get someone in trouble if they aren't ready for it.

It's also a looker, much prettier in person than in some of the photos.

I also saw your post about the SSE and knife edge capability. Sig touts the knife edge ability in their description of the plane. Maybe my two were "special" somehow but they both would knife-edge beautifully. Maybe I'm missing something but I saw no problems.

If I were in your position, I would go for the SSE over the Revolver at this point. Then if you want to advance into 3D look at one of the profiles from OMP, Swany, etc.

www.ohiomodelplanes.com
www.swanyshouse.com

It sounds to me like you should get a Katana.

Well who makes a good Katana? Im a little bit away from making a final decision so any suggestions will be heard. Ive only been flying since November of last year. Started off with a electric Sky Fly, moved onto a Superstar with a .46 Evolution, then moved to a Sig Four Star .40 which I learned the hard way about over-stressing a plane when the right wing panel snapped off after I tried pulling out of a full throttle dive, then heard about the Pacific Knockabout which is about the same as a Four Star but bigger and tougher but not so good outside loops, so then decided to get another four star since I really liked the first one. I had the second four star for a little while and miss judged a landing and hit a pole at destroyed the left wing panel, so now I have a good left and good right panel but never got around to making one good wing, so then I put the Pacific Knockabout back together and just recently crashed that when the elevator linkage came loose on the elevator itself. So really I haven't lost any planes due too tricks but just poor judgment and faulty parts.

Try a Hanger 9 FuntanaX 50.... You will love it. In your choices I voted for the U-Can-Do based on your criteria for flying style. However in general 3D planes should not be flown "fast". They are built very lightly and will snap in half on you

I would highly recomend the Sig SE. I have one and am running a .46 AX in it and she roasts along pretty quick. My brother has one witha .55 AX in his and he loves that combo also. Both our SSE's knife edge pretty good. Ther is zero control surface flutter with ours at high speeds. My brothers Twist and my Phoenix Funstar and Funtana 40 all have flutter at high speeds. The SSE can be docile or a real preformer... your choice. Beef up the landing block area and install a differant tailwheel bracket and you will have one tough, durable, multipurpose flier that can take you to the next level and give you the thrills that you are looking for.

I've flown the Sig SE, the UcanDo, the Twist, and the FuntanaX. The Sig SE is a good plane, but their knife edge (KE) performance is lack luster, which was one of the criteria. Yeah, they will hold a KE, sort of, not really, kind of like the twist. The UcanDo however will hold KE all flight long if you want. Most the funfly plane types like the sig SE and twist are capable of fast loops and rolls, but they can't snap or spin properly, which leaves out entire groups of 3D moves, so I have a bit of an issue considering them a 3D plane. The UcanDo also has 3D issues, but it is very capable of KE, so out of the list, it got my vote since it met the most of the criteria the poster listed. However, with the mention of a new plane option, i.e. the FuntanaX, I change my vote from UcanDo to FuntanaX. The FuntanaX will snap/spin well, hold KE, and can handle moderate speed.

After reading all this I guess I'm withdrawing my recommendation for a Katana. From similar personal experience I'd wait until you have a plane flying that you're not making repairs on at the end of the day.

Sounds like you might actually need a trainer, sorry. If you can't keep from misjudging those then you don't need a fast agile "third" plane. Thats my opinion. Full throttle dive wing failure is more a pilot error than a part failure. You're not really supposed to do that.