phoenix ARF
 

So I got the arf version of this thing and looking into the e-flight 60-120 retracts, do they mount like the Robarts, Spring-Airs or is there going to be alot of fit work, also are the retracts any good, thanks for any help.......................Ed

RE: phoenix ARF
 

By the way, I still can do a better job building it from a kit than the they can with the ARF. I just dont understand why ARFs have so many problems. Pre hinged controls are all off, vertical fin tip not straight, aileron to wing root gaps way off. all takes time to fix. I called product support and sent a picture of the vertical fin tip and the reply back was It looks straight to us. ***. I actually like the Idea of ARFs of these type planes but they shouldnt bring it to market unless its done right. Pattern builders and fliers are picky. Hanger Nine could pull this off with a little more quality for the price..................Ed

RE: phoenix ARF
 

Ed, ya there are a lot of complaints about this arf.

RE: phoenix ARF
 

I too can build it better than the ARF, but not for $340.00. You get what you pay for, and when you get to fly yours, you will find it to be a real bargain indeed.

-Robert

RE: phoenix ARF
 

ARFs are ARFs, don’t set your expectations too high. Have you considered that it could have been built by a Chinese slave child working in a dirt floor hut? The Chinese people do not live in a free society. If it was made in Taiwan then the working conditions are better and it is a free society.

RE: phoenix ARF
 

They are not built by slave labor in dirt floor huts.

RE: phoenix ARF
 

Ed,
I had numerous similar issues. I did get a very decent deal from the LHS, still, some of the issues are simply QC oversights (or simply ignored all together). I also sent numerous pics, was told a new fuse would be shipped, called two weeks later and was told to ship the fuse back for inspection. Not worth the hassle. Now, after rectifying the issues and getting her trimmed, I can say I am happy with the way it flys. But the ARF part, well......

Ditto what stuntflyer said too.....
Mark

RE: phoenix ARF
 

So it was built in Taiwan?

RE: phoenix ARF
 

I agree Hook, I would have been very surprised if the ARF was perfect for that price. I feel it's a good value for the price, that said I think I would prefer a lot less pre-fab and better quality. I have two of the first kits to arrive. Once the construction bugs were worked out I have a very good, not perfect flying P7. Would I buy another? Yes I would but I'm glad I didn't sell my P8 and P7 kits because when I want a perfect version I can build it myself. I'm still glad H9 gave this option to us and hope it works out.

RE: phoenix ARF
 

90% of the airplane is in my opinion very well done, if they can get 90% right then 100% should not be a problem. My other problem is with Horizon, Why wont they even try to make this right with me, The customer service guy who put his 2 cents in about how everything seems fine to him. I wouldnt have bothered to call if it was right. Also I am still trying to figure out how he took measurements from a picture. I have been in this hobby for a while (before ARFs were oohed and ahh at the flying field) and it seems that the biggest thing ARFs have done for RC is allow every idiot imaginable in this Hobby. Sorry to get on a tangent but you guys know what Im talking about.

RE: phoenix ARF
 

When I get the airplane finished I will be ok but no more ARFs. I want an EU1-A to build.

RE: phoenix ARF
 

EU-1A...They're available new, reasonable price, fast shipping. Check Frequent Flyer's signature with his email.
Chris...

RE: phoenix ARF
 

Man,

with so many nice models now available from Don, it's hard to choose which one to build!

EU-1A , Speeda, Atlanta, UFO,...

One almost has to choose based on the type of engine installation one is looking for!

David.

RE: phoenix ARF
 

Anybody doing a build thread on an EU1-A. Maybe we can do one together. Last one I had I bought used and loved it. Should have never let it go. It weighed a ton but once it was on step it would groove like no other.

RE: phoenix ARF
 

ARFs are ARFs, don’t set your expectations too high. Have you considered that it could have been built by a Chinese slave child working in a dirt floor hut? The Chinese people do not live in a free society. If it was made in Taiwan then the working conditions are better and it is a free society.
[/quote]


Obvioiusly you have never been in a model factory in Taiwan or China if you were serious about this statement.......

RE: phoenix ARF
 

This is pretty good news! Hopefully it will filter down to the places that make ARFs. Interesting about the quality problems that are developing http://behindthewall.msnbc.msn.com/_...-american-jobs

RE: phoenix ARF
 

Hi,

Has anyone been in some of the largerChina ARF factories? How are the conditions for the model workers/builders?

/Bo

RE: phoenix ARF
 

Yes, thats what I do for a living bem. Conditions are good. Best factories are quite clean and organized.

RE: phoenix ARF
 

I have no problem with the country it was built in. Also I think Mike M. did a good job with this project and would love to see more like this in the future. I just like my stuff right no matter where its built or if its 1.00 or 350.00. I work hard for my money as do most others. Now if I could get the fuselage replaced without jumping through hoops I will be happy............................................. ..ED

RE: phoenix ARF
 

The problem with anything built in China is China itself. There are still way more workers than jobs. The factories know this and sometimes use it to their advantage by limiting benefits, long hours, few breaks, low pay etc. Knowing if the worker doesn't like it, there's 5 people waiting at the door to take their job. Numbers always come before quality. The other problem is the factory workers are not modelers. They may have been making anything from furniture to Barbie dolls in their last job. They don't know anything about the product they're making and could care less if a hole lines up, what type of glue was used or used at all or if a stab cutout is square. Same goes for the QC person. They know what to inspect for, by what was told to them, and they were told to make it look like this and make x many for x amount of RMB.
Knowing this, I'm often amazed at the quality that's produced. A LOT must go into setting up these factories to have a non-modeler produce todays ARF's.

RE: phoenix ARF
 

Funny thing....

I was just told this by an American based employer here in the States. Sounds a lot more like the conditions that exist here, unfortunately.

RE: phoenix ARF
 

I agree whole heartedly SuperV. Presuming economics are economics at work though, Ishould expect to get what I paid for with respect to the advertisements and reviews aboutthat product. Now if you tell me up front, after all the gloss and glimmer, that I may have to correct this or I may have to correct that then I can except those faults(or QC slip-ups)that can acompany mass produced products (if I make the purchase). In the end, the prospect for future classics are limited by the limited demand in the market, thus Ivery muchappreciate that MM took the project on and brought us one of these classics. Thanks to these forums, one can typicallywork out these faults, or incoveniences, and be rewarded with a very nice flying plane.

Mark

RE: phoenix ARF
 

I looked at another plane the other day (phoenix 7 arf) that was flawless compared to mine, I dont understand why horizon did not sell me one like the one I looked at yesterday. I have called them a few times and sent a picture and no good customer service in my opinion. If they will make it right I would buy two more, I have lots of kick ass engines that need this type of home.

RE: phoenix ARF
 

I’m having a little trouble understanding, “You’ve called them a few times” What are they telling you or what are you telling them?

Horizon Hobbies has bent backwards to make things right with their products when there is an issue.

I had a friend with a P-7 that had some issues with a fuse and they expedited a fuse ASAP.

My wife surprised me with a P-7 ARF just a few weeks ago and it’s perfect in all aspects.

I will be buying another since I always like to have 2 identical pattern ships flying at the same time.

RE: phoenix ARF
 

I called the first two times to talk to Product Support. Stayed on hold for 15minutes the first time to explain what problems I had and finally I gave them my call back info. Never heard anything back that day. Next day I call again after another 15 minutes or so I do the same with the call back info. They called me back within the next hour, I very nicely explained all the problems I was having and was willing to deal with fixing the misaligned control surfaces. But the crooked vertical and fuzzy paint lines I was not. they did ask me to photo this stuff and they and the experts at Horizon would get back with me. I never got a return call or email after a day and a half. I called to make sure they got it. After 5 minutes of searching they said yeah but it looks straight to them. So I told them that I would not be going through this if it was straight and would really like to get a replacement fuselage for the one I have now. They want me to send mine to them so they can evaluate it and then if they determine that it has fuzzy paint lines and a crooked vertical fin tip It would take 10 to 15 days for a replacement fuselage. ................