Tiger 2 vs. Pulse XT
 

I was looking into my second plane. I have already ordered a [link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXFG12&P=7]Sig Fazer[/link] with a [link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXKF97&P=ML]Thunder Tiger .46 engine[/link] as a winter project. Anyone know the ups and downs of the [link=http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=HAN4100]Pulse XT[/link] and the [link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXH755&P=ML]Tiger 2[/link]. Any help would be great!

RE: Tiger 2 vs. Pulse XT
 

I recently bought the Pulse, as i like the looks of it, and a friend has one I flew. It looks to me like a Hangar 9 answer to the Sig 4* or the Goldberg Tiger, both excellent 2d planes. The pulse is a good flier, but very lightly built. It is an excellent ARF, everything fits well and glue joints are good, assembly instructions are first rate, but I think it is nowhere as "robust" in construction as the Sig or Goldberg offerings. It is not going to withstand the occasional harsh or heavy handed treatment as the others might.

I side mounted my MDS 40 and it flies OK with an APC 11.5X4 prop, but it's not quite enough power to take advantage of the flight capabilities, so I am breaking in a Magnum 46XLS to swap out the MDS 40. I know Horizon advertises this for a Saito 80, but I have a hard time picturing that combination. This is not a big airplane, and even my MDS required a small amount of tail weight to balance.

I have around 10 flights on mine, mostly trying out different props and control throws, and I like it more and more. I would not recommend it as a second plane unless the pilot is very able to keep from "bending" it.

RE: Tiger 2 vs. Pulse XT
 

Jim mentioned "robust". He's got a good point. I'd like to back him up with further comparison.

I've got a Tiger2 and have been doing my best to wear the sucker out. I have just about worn out the tires. I put those funky treaded foam tires on it and the tread is just about gone. In a fit of not to well thought out humor, the other day, while showing a student how easy it was to land, I decided to show just how easy it was. And thought it'd be funny..... so I landed it upside down. Honest. And it was easy. And it'd be a way to save the tread on those tires. But it is a mite hard on that upright engine. And I favor wooden props, and if there is one shortcoming of a Tiger2, it's that there is very little prop clearance when landing upside down. Anyway, I digress.... :D

You betcha the Tiger2 is robust.

The other day, one of our members was flinging his Pulse around. And we "compared" maneuvers. And saw little difference in capability. So I shouted over that he couldn't land his Pulse like my Tiger2 could. Darned if I almost didn't blow another prop before I came back to reality. And after we both got a good laugh outa that halfwit stunt.... ok..... halfwit almost stunt..... we landed and taxied in. And I got a close look at the Pulse. And it is more thoroughbred than quarterhorse.

RE: Tiger 2 vs. Pulse XT
 

BTW, I would suggest that if you opt for the Tiger2, it should be with a 46 on it. It is one of the best flyers of all my 46size airplanes, but it is also the heaviest. It has good vertical with the 46AX on it, but it's not like my Ultimate for sure. I do not believe it'd be as good with a 40.

Hey, I just noticed it's time to go fly......... Taking the Tiger2 and the CAP. Gonna be a sweet day...... 70s and a breeze..... blue sky and 1/4 cumulus, medium puffy ones...... hoo hah................ see ya

RE: Tiger 2 vs. Pulse XT
 

I too liked the [link=http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=HAN4100]Pulse XT[/link] for the looks, but I think the [link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXH755&P=ML]Tiger 2[/link] is better suited for me. I can always get a sleeker plane once I become a more expierienced pilot. I dont want to be going through planes like tic-tacs. Maybe a Thunder Tiger .46 engine would be well suited for the Tiger 2. And thanks for the help guys. Helped out a lot :)

RE: Tiger 2 vs. Pulse XT
 

I absolutely love my T2 with a TT .46. It's a FANTASTIC second plane and an all around great flyer with increased control throws. YOu would not be disappointed with it.

RE: Tiger 2 vs. Pulse XT
 

I have an old Tiger 2 built from a kit about 14 years ago by a buddy of mine. The plane had been sitting in his garage untouched for the last five or six years, so last year he gave it to me. I put a new engine and flight pack in it and I've been flying the heck out of it ever since.

The Pulse XT looks like a nice plane, I've seen a couple of them at the club and they don't do anything to diminish Hangar 9's reputation for making terrific ARFs.

There's really no reason why you shouldn't love either plane. Buy whichever one you're leaning toward, you can't make a bad choice here.

RE: Tiger 2 vs. Pulse XT
 

I have the Pulse and I can attest to it being a great plane and a great flier but I tore the landing gear clean off of it on the very first landing! And it was a good landing...I hit a rock the size of a golf ball on the gravel field that I could not see and PLOP! There they went. I reinforced the area but haven't flown it yet to test the repair...maybe today!

RE: Tiger 2 vs. Pulse XT
 

C'mon you need to FOD check the active runway, taxiways and parking ramp daily.:D

RE: Tiger 2 vs. Pulse XT
 

We tuned up the runway with the bobcat last night and believe me...I checked it today before I flew! Plane flew great BTW:D

RE: Tiger 2 vs. Pulse XT
 

I have flown several of the Tiger series by Carl Goldberg. I have had 2 of the Tiger 2s. The Tiger 2 was my second plane, I started it as a tricycle gear, then was a very easy conversion to a tail drager. It worked great as a first low wing and a great first tail drager. I loved that plane so much I bought a Tiger 60 and a Tiger 400. The whole line of Tigers are so good for beginners, stable, robust and easy to fix if damaged. I flew both my Tiger 2s with OS 46s, they were so much fun.
I still have one of them finished in chrome covering, looks kida odd but still a great flyer and almost everyone has to come check it out and comment on it. Glare is not really a problem when flying, but I have been blinded by a flash when carring the wing around in bright sunlight. Good luck
Denny

RE: Tiger 2 vs. Pulse XT
 

My Vote Is For The Tiger 2. I Built Mine 3 Years Ago and It Has Been My Go To Plane.It Is The First Plane I Fly In The SpringTo Get The Cob Webs Out.Mine Like To Land Hot And It Sticks Like A Kaos.I Have A 46 FX And JR 6102.Dule Rates Are The Way To Go For This Ship.I T HAs Done All I HAve Asked Of It.CHeck Out My Profile.
The Pluse Is Pretty Just Don't Know The Plane.
Have Fun

RE: Tiger 2 vs. Pulse XT
 

Two questions;

1.) Say I wanted to do a different color scheme on the Tiger 2, would it make more sense to buy the kit, or just peel the covering off? (Keep in mind this would probably be my second build)

2.) What would be a great engine to put into the Tiger 2, I would like the most bang for my buck, and as most people, I like a lot of power :D

I would probably be able to spend up to $150

RE: Tiger 2 vs. Pulse XT
 

My Tiger 2 has a Super Tigre 45 in it, and with an 11x7 prop, flies like a fighter / trainer. The motor wasn't expense, and easy to break in and tune.

I would get the kit, the work it would take to strip the covering could go into the stick build, and you have a lot of small clean up work to do. I don't think its a tough build.

RE: Tiger 2 vs. Pulse XT
 

RC Jack, I too would build from a kit rather than re-cover.

Now, as for a color scheme, when I built my son's T2, I made it look like a tiger with Orange, white, and black stripes. So when I built my wife's Tiger 60 I did the same scheme in Pink and Pearl.

RE: Tiger 2 vs. Pulse XT
 

Anything other than the ST 45? Maybe with a bit more power? Or would the 45 be just right?

RE: Tiger 2 vs. Pulse XT
 

Try something in the 50 range

RE: Tiger 2 vs. Pulse XT
 

I have owned and flown 2 of the tiger 2s and both a .45 in them. If you put a larger engine keep in mind, it might go faster but you will most likely increase the wingloading because of the heavier engine and the weight you have to add to the tail to balance the plane. You will loose the nice wing loading this plane has resulting it higher landing speeds. I doubt there is much the plane could do better with a bigger engine. Mine flew great with the 45 and i didnt have to add any weight to get it to balance properly. the ideal situation.
just one persons opinion.
Denny

RE: Tiger 2 vs. Pulse XT
 

I didn't have to add any weight for balance with mine. I just changed to a 10x6 prop, to get the knife edge to work better. I had been using 11x5 and 11x7.

RE: Tiger 2 vs. Pulse XT
 

Hi Jim

Regarding the Pulse XT and fitting the wheel spats, did you find it easy or have any recommendations on fitting as find it difficult to get them set properly with non hex nuts?

RE: Tiger 2 vs. Pulse XT
 

I had no problems with the wheel pants on my pulse. I did set them fairly high on the wheels though since my runway is rough. The system provided works just fine.

RE: Tiger 2 vs. Pulse XT
 

I forgot to mention that I did replace the axle bolts with some of the du-bro axles that use collars to keep the wheels on. The stock axle bolts bend pretty easily and the nuts that space the wheels tend to loosen up easily.

RE: Tiger 2 vs. Pulse XT
 

AK,

Replacing the bolts with real axles sounds like a good idea. I already bent a bolt (in addition to tearing out the landing block) on one rough landing, but I straightened it back and am currently still using it OK. I did look into replacing the bolts with axles, but my LHS didn't seem to have a size that would fit, do you remember what size you used?

RE: Tiger 2 vs. Pulse XT
 

I used the number 248. They are 2" by 5/32. I just cut the length to fit inside the wheel pants.

RE: Tiger 2 vs. Pulse XT
 

Get the Pulse.... Get the pulse... Get the pulse!!!



That is one snazzy lookn' plane. I want one to make Brushless.. 40 size..

Maybee they will read this and make a 1.20 size!! That is what I want..