I just received my yellow base color Andes biplane that I ordered from F3A Unlimited. Mike Mueller took care of all the ordering details from CA Model Argentina. This is a yellow base color and it only took five weeks to arrive. So far the quality is very good and the fuse paint job is nice. I'm not sure who supplies the metallic blue covering. I'd like to order a roll as a back-up. These are the component weights:

accessory pack: 378g
Fuselage: 966g
Canopy: 160g
Rudder: 58g
Right stab: 82g
Left stab: 78g
Top wing: 470g
Bottom wing: 528g
Spinner: 30g
Wheel pants: 50g
Wheels: 20g
Front Plettenberg plywood nose mount: 10g
Landing gear: 120g

By my build weight spread sheet, it should come out around 5.0kg to 5.040kg. I can possibly shave off some more weight, but I am using build components I have on hand.

Attached are photos of my three motor options with mounting hardware weights included. I plan on using the Hacker C54 Acro motor. The estimated final build weight should be approx. 4950g. Now just need to determine recommended right and down thrusts.

Here is the set-up information provided by Marcelo at CA Model:

Hi Steve

On all of my pattern planes, I reinforce the motor rear mount brackets and the landing gear mounting plates. Attached are photos of the Andes reinforcements using Dave Brown CF toe.

I like plenty air flow for cooling. I have enlarged the rear fuse air exits and cut out the fuse wing bulkheads for some additional air flow. When I fly the plane, I'll compare temperatures to my 2m mono planes.

I like to seal any small gaps of the stab with the fuse. First I install the stab tube CF rod screws. Then I put a bead of clear RTV along the edges of the stab. Wax paper and masking tape is used and the stab is installed. I use a straight edge to scrap off any excess RTV. I let the RTV cure for eight hours before I remove the masking tape and wax paper.

Well Steve, I see from the Budd soft mount you are going with the Hacker C54. That 2 ozs does make a difference overall! Want to sell me the Pletty Advance? Please contact me if you are interested.

I am waiting for mine. Very iterested in your built thread. Also thinking in motor choice.

I weighed my ESC's

OS 1100 - 132g
Hacker Spin 99 - 122.4g
Jeti Mezon 95 Opto - 132g
Jeti Mezon 115 Opto - 152.2g

I am going to use my OS 1100 ESC

I am installing a 83mm Falcon spinner and Falcon 20.5 x 14.5 CF prop

I am installing the Falcon long Allure CF gear. It only weighs 106g. I am also installing CK Aero Allure wheel pants and MPI thin wheets. This set with axels only weighs 58.5g. I ended up installing blind nuts in the landing gear plywood mounts. I had to cut access holes in the bottom of the fuse for the soc hd cap screws.

I chose the Falcon gear because they were lighter. Falcon also makes a shorter gear that fits as well. It's the number 102 gear. The two holes on each fuse side are too wide for either the CA landing gear or the Falcon gear. I simply just drilled holes that were less far apart. I used the factory ply battery tray. It was fairly light. I did paint it black simply for looks.

Here are the wing weights with servos and linkages

Battery tray installation


CA Model wheels


Andes fuselage paint scheme (very good quality finish)


Andes wing and stab colors (yellow factory base)


Andes painted wheel pants


Arming harness

Good observation. I used parts I had on hand. I would need 2" turnbuckles and some more 2-56 ball links. It may be slightly heavier but only maybe 5g per servo. I have only located Seacraft 50mm long x 3mm thread aluminum turnbuckles sold by F3A Unlimited. If I need to replace the servos, that what I will use.

I don't have a picture of the finished and assembled airplane. Final Andes weight ended up at 4940g. If our weather clears up and the winds die down, hope to maiden the plane next week.

4940g with which batteries?

I would think a ball link on the servo arm to keep the push rod straight would have been better.