Has anyone built this kit?

Do does it fly with recommended power plant?

Duration?

Thanks in advance

bwillhite

i do but it's not done yet and i have there power pack also , don't like there die cutting at all wood is all smashed. not happy at all. would not tell anyone to buy it it's a new kit so the wood should come out better then it does hay this is not what you asked ! is it?

Have you contacted Great Planes about the quality of the die-stamping in the kit?

I have had go luck with GP kits and with their customer services.

bwillhite

NO IF I FIND BAD WORKMANSHIP THEY LOOSE MY BUSINESS,THERES WAY TO MANY GOOD COMPANYS OUT THER TO HAVE TO TELL A COMPANY THAT'SBEEN DOING THAT FOR SO LONG HOW TO DO IT. LIKE SOMEONE CARES ABOUT ONE PERSON'S FEELING ABOUT THERE PRODUCKS

I've had the Ryan STA EP in the building que for a couple months now. Bought it when it first came available. The parts in this kit look pretty good (compared to others from GP I've seen). I was concerned about the balsa sheeting density when I ordered it (there's a lot of sheeting!), but it all checked out to be good, uniform, lightweight pieces.

Personally, I would not consider GP's recommended power system for this model. Flying a sport plane on <60W/lb (about what their recommended system will deliver) would do nothing but reinforce the belief that electric airplanes are slow, underpowered, short flight time novelties. For about the same money, it can be fitted with a Kyosho Endoplasma or Atomic Force car motor using the GP gearbox with 10 or 12 tooth pinion and an 8-10 cell Cs or 4/5Cs battery. With this setup or something more ($$), this airplane should be able to do all the things its appearance suggests.

Brad

Thanks for the reply.

I have been looking at a Olympus Belt Drive (2.3:1) with a Graupner Speed 600 BB 7.2V. With 8 cell pack of 1900SCR or 3000HVs.

I am very new to this stuff, it is amazing how much stuff there is to learn! I think I am getting the hang of it. Need to get ElectriCalc.

Thanks Again

Bwillhite

This is a great flying plane when properly setup. Yes we all know it is not laser cut but it will go together and make a very pretty plane. The recommended power is going to be a little whimpy. I powered mine with an AF Cobalt 05 ( 6t) w/2-1 belt drive (home made) APC 9-6E and 10 cp2400s. This equals 75-80watts/lb and would rog from grass ( after bending the gear forward to the leading edge) do large loops from level, enough verticle for a slow roll on the up line and impress the dickens out of the glow fliers at the local club field. This was my favorite plane for about 50 flights until a case of dumb thumbs did it in. One of these days I will build another one.

John

Hiya,
I built one of these and powered with an Astro 05 FAI, 2.38-1 gearbox. Flies nice, and built out at 3lbs RTF.
Went ahead and cut new tail parts from the plans. Mine were throughly die-smashed as well.
HS-81's work great.
Won't take off from our grass field with wheelpants, but that's to be expected (I took 'em off).
It's a sharp little plane.
Too bad I bought a boat and now I'm selling (see elecs for sale).
Whodathunk a 30HP marine diesel engine costs $8000... snif!

I am currently building the plane and am in a quandry about motors. BTW, the only die smashing I had was on one of the plywood panels. The rest were good. The burn marks on some of the balsa die cuts mean GP does not seem to be 1)making their dies well, or 2) not maintaining them well (or they are laser cutting and not doing that well either).

I have researched a lot and found that the least expensive way to get power is probably the EndoPlasma w/reduction drive. Any one used that in another model?

Have been curious about brushless for a while, but, am nervous about that much money in the motor/controller/gears.

Have still not decided but the pocketbook will probably drive me to the Kyosho setup.

I'm far from being an expert at bigger motors (most of my planes weigh about an ounce), but here's a thought... I'm waiting for a AXI brushless rotating can motor for a smaller application, and I'm looking forward to testing their products. You might check the larger ones out (http://www.hobby-lobby.com/brushless_axi.htm). The 4120's can deliver 600 to 900 watts to the prop (according to their tests). They claim performance equal to a 4-stroke 90 sized motor. The large diameter and the way they're built gets rid of needing a GB. These might be a solution...

I'm thinking about putting an AXI 2820/10 in one w/ 3S2P lipos.

Is there any new news out there for this kit? I am looking at this as my first kit build, and my second plane. I have 30+ successful flights on my trainer, and am ready to move on. The original thread is a couple of years old - any newer motor choices that will not break the bank?

Thanks.

Craig

ckpuder, yeah this is a pretty old post, but I hope we can drum up some more news about this plane. I would recommend this for a first kit builder. The steps are very well laid out and of course with all GP's lots of nice pics in the manual.

This is my 5th kit and for some reason I always find myself buying GP. I've had, or currently have; Goldburg Gentle Lady Glider(the only non-GP plane), .40 Ultra Sport, .40 CAP 232, Li'l Poke Park Flier, and finally the Ryan STA EP. That's basically also my progression of planes from beginning to current... although there was a trainer of some sorts in between the glider and the Ultra Sport.

But anyhoo, I've just started getting into electric as well, with the Li'l poke... but it is what it is... a slow park flier! =) I wanted something a bit zippier in electric so I grabbed the Ryan when I say it on sale at my hobby store (plus I have a hankerin' for 1940-50's racer planes recently =). I was hoping that the other people on this post a couple years ago would now have their planes built and would know more about good power plants. I don't want to use GP's recommend plant, so does anyone have any new ideas?

btw, I didn't have too much of a problem with the die-cutting. Although there IS a heck of a lot of sheeting!

-Michael R

Gentalmen here you go.The kit and plans are very well laid out and first time builder,so it shouldn't be to bad.One thing I found was my plane turned out tail heavy even with the batteries all the way foward.So first I modified the fire wall so I could slide batteries farther foward.Another thing is that the lading gear wire is to stiff.What has happen if you land in grass to fast it will catch the wheels and ripp the pine blocks out of the wing instead of the gear bending.I would recommend going to 3/32 wire.For me this plane is still a on going experiment to see what I like the best.I also do static thrust checks,watt out put and amp draw at my house before I fly .This way you have that more confidence in the plane to fly. Next I will list batt combo& props that DO WORK!!
R.T.F. 3lbs 8oz Motor; Brushless Jeti Phasor 30/3 &JESA40 controller 8x3000 NimH cells
11x7 204 watts, 1 1/2 lbs thrust,24.5 to23.0 amp draw(well under motors max)
11x8 215 watts,2lbs thrust 26.5 to 24.5 amp draw. These two will work good for the first time flyers. With VERY GOOD throttle management and just flying traffic patterens I have flown 10min.(and these cells are about 3yrs old!) On average you can expect 6 to 7min flights.But it depends on THROTTLE MANAGMENT!.Rite now I'm flying with new cell count of 10x1700 cp cells and graupner 10x7 folding prop.Only have 3 flights but very lively flights.The times have been best at 6min.But wind has been a factor so higher throttle is needed to maintane flying.As for motor mounting I modified & strengthend the mount that came with the kit.So far it has flown very good.Now on to flying.Taxi the plane so you get a feel for how sensetive the tail wheel will be.I also modified the tail wheel by place it forward off the rudder and making a linkage to slowit down.Anyhow this ismy take procedure,up elevator start to add throttle,plane starts rolling along then add small amounts of RIGHT RUDDER as the plane lifts off release elevator and keep the nose down as to penatrate wind.I try to do about 25 to 30 degrese angle of take off.I keep full throttle for about 35 to 40 seconds to get the plane up into atmosphere.Then back off to 1/2 to 2/3 throttle.The radio I use is Hitec flash 5X .I use high rate elevator on take off.Ailerons are set at low during take off.Flying ailerons on low rate very slow rolls so keep the plane some what high.On high rate the roll is way more lively.You may find also elevator touchy on high rates when flying.You can go to low and it will be les sencitve.There is more I can say but don't have time rite now.Email me or post here and I will try to ansewer.Good luck,stefanP