Ok...... I got a 28% Wild hare extra special about a month ago. My first gasser. I'm about to start IMAC basic next year. I was at a IMAC competition this weekend and most of the people had 33%,35,% and 40%. A couple of the guys that I spoke to mentioned that there was a huge difference between the 28% and the 33% . And not that great of a difference in price. I know there is a million and one ways to spend your money on these planes. And there will be a difference in quality in relationship to the money put out. But is there much of a price difference between the 28% and a 33%. Can they us the same servos? I have currently JR 8611's all around. The motor I have is a DA50. So obviously I would have to shop for a larger motor.
I guess I'm looking for is two answers.
#1) What is the price range difference between the 28% and the 33%.
#2) Is there a "LARGE" difference between the flight characteristics of the 28% and the 33%. Or is it better to wait and get a 40% later on.
Thanks For helping a newbie in advance!
Shaun Russell

I fly mostly 35%'ers. I also compete in Unlimited in the NC region. Granted, the larger the bird, the better it will present. But you have to factor in the cost of putting a 40% together, versus a 35%. You are lookign at about $2-3K in difference. It just depends on which model/manufacture you go with.

For me, since I like practicality, I stick with 35%. 1- I can put it in my Explorer, and not need a trailer. And 2- cost. I save about $2200 +/- between the Carden 35% Extra and say the CA Super Extra 3m. The 35% and smaller are easier to transport, thats why I stick with them. Otherwise, I would be flying 40's all day long!!

HTH....

Chris~

While it can be done by an experienced builder who can build light and choses to use a single cylinder like a ZDZ80, 33% planes simply fly better with twins. That said, you will spend roughly 2X on the 33% over the 28% most 33% planes require 2 servos per aileron, matchboxes, more wiring, bigger batteries, more expensive receivers.. etc.. etc... it all adds up really fast. My 28% plane was $2K, my 33% over $4K

Just fly your 28% for a season or two and have fun. Bigger is better, but work up to it..... besides why worry about what everyone else has.... concentrate on pilot skills and when you get the bigger bird you will all the better...

DP

If you put in the time and practice with your 28% plane---you can whoop the pants off the guys with the bigger planes. Not all of them. Some of them boys know how to wiggle the sticks pretty good. But, you'd be amazed at how much airplane a fat wallet can buy---and the guy can just barely land his trainer.

Burn as much fuel as possible. Get in 3 flights and do that 3 or 4 days a week.

Don't horse around and hover it or practice that rolling harrier. If you want to fly IMAC and you want to be a good ppilot---then practice the pattern and do it over and over and over.

FLY ONLY 1 PLANE!!! You're never gonna get good with ANY plane unless you fly it for many gallons of fuel. Don't take out the Edge and fly it this week-----and then switch to the Extra next week----then pull out the Yak for Saturday flying with the boys. Find a plane and stick with it. Fly it--burn fuel--practice the pattern.

Repeat if necessary.

Thanks guys. I hear what you are saying. I think I will take your advise and just burn a lot of fuel this next year with practicing and flying IMAC. I fly three times a week now. and put an average three to five flights each day in now. I just seem to lose focus after about the fourth flight. I did catch myself playing with 3-d stuff after the fourth or fifth flight. So I took the 3-d rates off!!!! It's the only way I can MAKE myself get better aty IMAC!

Funny you should say this now. I recently saw a good example of this. I couldn't believe I was looking at this guy with a 40% decked out high dollar plane. He had just got in to starting basic IMAC. I learned the plane is important. "BUT", I saw a much cheaper 28%plane win. And the guy flying the cheaper 28% plane was the reason why he won.

Thanks again for the advise. I want to get in to IMAC the right way. We don't have very many people from my club that has been flying IMAC that long.I have been trying to read as much as I can on hear.

Hey Shaun,

If you wanted you can put together a 33% plane for around $2500. I have a H9 Sukhoi, all hitech digitals, ZDZ 80, Pilot, dash, Tru-turn spinner, CF gear, all the good stuff. Not bragging, just pointing out that it does not have to cost $4000+ to get into a great flying IMAC model (the Sukhoi is not good for IMAC by the way).

Having said all of that, since you will be flying basic, stick with what you have and burn fuel. Then burn some more. Don't worry about what the plane looks like, just get it flying, and flying well.

As for practice, I rarely fly my known sequence more than 10-12 times in any session. Usually 4-5 flights. Fly thru the sequences even if you zero something. Don't stop mid-way and start over! Fly as if you are in a contest. Only after the fourth fight do I allow myself to work on individual manouvers unless something really needs some work.

I very rarely 3D my IMAC model (it is not set up for it anyway) of fear I may lose something that I have worked for 100+ flights to get flying just right!

Ryan

Come on Ryan, I saw that Extra standing on its tail Saturday night!

I see your close to sherman. Do you fly with the Texoma RC club? If so get with Dan at the club, hes flying basic right now and could prolly give you a few pointers. I was at the SCR show this past weekend and it was a blast. I didnt do as well as I would have liked to, but I didnt come to win or show off my flying skills(which need more work still LOL) I came to fly and get some experience under my belt and have a good time. You would be surprised at how many of the guys flying IMAC are willing to help the new guys coming in. I did some of the best flying Ive ever done at the show, because it made me fly the plane and not just horse it around. The worst that will happen learning to fly IMAC is it will make you a better pilot. Something I did before I went down was fly the sequence find my weak spots and fly those areas the most and then fly the whole thing from start to finish. My " coach " so to speak really wants to see me do well next year so hes told me he will help me as much as he can and help fix my weakest areas, being the spin, and hammer head right now.
Go to the IMAC web site : www.mini-iac.com down load the proposed sequences for next season and fly the one with the highest K value. The manuevers seam to be the same each year jsut in different order of flying them. Hope some of this helps.


Oh Ryan I know for a fact theres evidence of that extra standing on its tail sat night

Dan just a quick thanks for the help and you did a great job CD'n the event. Cant wait to fly with you guys up there again next season.
Jarrod

It was the last contest of the season, and I have a new one on the way. It is becoming expendable so to speak

Ryan

Shaun,

Get the bird setup and trimmed out properly, and then just practice , practice, practice. I used a 80" Midwest cap that had a Moki 2.10 for power for my basic and sportsman years and still never really flew to the capabilities of the aircraft. Trust me......It's the Pilot......not the plane, that wins contests.


Bill

Does this mean that shaun should not get a .40 size glow plane for windy days?


Just kidding Shaun I couldn't resist.

Zero wind and 70 deg on Saturday night made for some awsome simeotaneous nose pointing.. I think my Dog Odie got the biggest kick out of it.

This was my 5th contest to CD and my 3rd to Fly Basic in I learn a lot every contest:

9th Annual Sherman....My loops and hammers were in serious need of work
Ft Worth.....................My uplines were too short(do do a prop overloading my sequence, I was tail heavy, the wind was blowing me out over the lake)

SC Regionals....I made the mistake of flying my first sequence with the wind, because I had practiced more left to right. This caused me to not get a clean break and zero both spins on round 1..................Round 2 I zeroed both spins for over rotating....after Watching/Judging Sportsman I realized that I am rolling and spinning a way too fast, the pilots that scored better had a much slower horozontal roll and spin than I did.

I wish the awsome weather on Saturday had stayed around Sunday I was looking forward to the unknowns(Including Basic) and the freestyle. It seemed that everbody wanted to fly but nobody was willing to.

I sent my ignition and 9Z off for some post season maintance, once these items come in I will go back to basic's. Slow down my rolls and spins, practice flying straight and level, and learn to make better use of the rudder.

Thanks guys see you at the 10th annual

Dan Powell

Ryan- I'll do a lot of learning this next year with the current plane.While I'm doing that I'll put some $$$ back for the 33%'er. Thanks for the tips. I'll need some input next year as I start flying for sure!!!! Please don't hold back if you see something I'm doing wrong.
I guess I missed the 3-d? That bites! I left a little early Saturday night I guess I missed out.
EXPENDABLE???? Hey buddy... Na...Just kidding. It will be late 2006 before I can get a larger plane.


Jarrod- Yes I do fly at that club. Dan's helped me out a lot! I just want as much input as I can!

Bill- I hear ya about the pilot being the one to win the contest. I'll get as much practice in this winter as I can.

Dan-Now I was just thinking about getting a smaller IMAC "like" plane for my SAITO 82 to fit in to get in a little extra practice. Ok,Ok...... I'll go ahead and say it. I was wrong .

Nyuk! Nyuk! Nyuk! Nyuk![&:]

I've got 5 little 40 size glow planes myself. They are great for cheap knock-around fun. I don't feel so bad when one of them meets an early expiration date. I can usually put one of these planes together for under $500. I like that, because I can rekit 4 or 5 of them before I'm out the same money as a 28% plane.

I just mean to keep flying the same IMAC plane and don't switch up all the time. But, you knew that.

(editd four speling)[:-]

Shaun,

Just get out and burn some fuel....don't be afraid to try new things. Learn your airplane. I have seen to many guys jump from plane to plane and never happy. I guess it like it's always greener on the other side. It all goes back to burning fuel.

My practice is 3 to 4 flights. Make the first flight a competition flight. Then work on the little stuff after that. If the first flight isn't working, meaning nothing is flowing right or going right. GO HOME. It isn't going to get any better on that day. Come back out the next day and start over. You don't want to pick up those bad habits.

Rick

LOL.........You got me pegged with that statement! Braddy's been on my back side about changing planes so often! I guess I have been falling in to the grass is greener type of thinking for awhile now. This plane I have now is with out a dought, the best flying plane hand over fist that I have ever flown. If I can stick with this plane long enough. And next year get good enough at IMAC. Then The following year I'll treat myself to a larger plane. Who knows. Maybe I'll find a good deal on one of your discarded 40%'ers.
Hey, you said you used a 40size plane that you and your dad kitted to fly with. What type of plane is it that he is making? Do you have any pic's?
I guess Dan and I will have to drag ourself down to Ft Worth to visit with you next time. I learned a lot when you came up. I know we all appreciated your time. It would be great to get together at a field again. Looks like the good days of flying are being numbered now because of the weather. What the heck happened to fall[]. It looks like it went from hot summer to winter. Heck.....Maybe I'm just getting old?

Shaun,
Sounds good! My ignition and radio should be back this week. Next weekend I plan on killing my first Bamby. It will take a lot of head scratching for me to figure this 9Z WC2 out. So if I am not working weekend after next I am in. Don't know if my next job will require weekends or not.

You might want to go ahead and Join IMAC $20 per year and get Bill H or Daniel R. to add you to the SC IMAC Yahoo group. Right now there is some great discussion on there about the 2006 proposed sequences and the dificulity of judging snaps and spins. The SC group is a great tool for somebody just getting into IMAC and there are a lot of great guys there in the upper classes more that willing to help newbies like me and you.

Dan

Ha!..One is bigger than the other. I had to say that...Shaun. As soon as I get my trailor and my trailor hitch attached to my car i will be out almost every decent day there is to fly. I expect you too also. I think its going to be safe to say this next year IMAC will be my life. Except for the occasional heli flying. So if you need any help I will be there to offer what i can. You got Me, Dan, and Brady. We are going to whip you in shape. Just get ready!!!