I want to compete in beginner IMAC this year.

These are the choices I have available for planes:

MW 80" Extra with 50cc gasser

AW 25% Edge with ST3000 or MDS 148

MW G-202 27% 72" wingspan with ST3000 or MDS 148

Lanier Laser 200 25% with ST3000 or MDS 148

I know the 80" Extra will probably fly better-- bigger is better. I just don't have the plane yet--and it's gonna cost me about $250 for the kit. I do have the engine. It will turn a 22-8 MA Schimitar wood at 6800-7000RPM

The AW 25% Edge is about 50% done. It's framed up and thats about it. I would really like to run a 40cc gasser on this plane-- but I don't have one of them. I could be totally rediculous and run the 50cc gasser on this plane-- but I'd probably just rip it apart. The AW Edge will probably be less than 11 pounds RTF. I can get a 42cc conversion for about $300. I do have the ST3000 engine and it runs very strong-- I just hate feeding it. Also have the MDS 148-- but its a bit low on power for the plane size and weight at this altitude.

The MW G-202 is a NIB kit. I have no idea how it will fly. It seems a bit heavy for its size at 12-13 pounds. Even my great running ST3000 will be a bit short on power with this heavy of a plane at 6000' above sea level. The 50cc gasser would work here-- but it's kinda low on sq. inches at 960 sq. inches. the weight of the 50cc engine would probably make it fly like a brick.

The Lanier Laser is crashed and needs a new fuselage. It was extremely light at 10 pounds RTF with an MDS 148 engine. Unfortuneately-- I have no idea how it flies-- as I crashed it on my maiden flight with a deadstick after only about 3 seconds after takeoff. Darn MDS engine. The 50cc gasser on this plane would probably be too big.

Any ideas or suggestions to get me started with what I've got. I can get the MW 80" Extra if I'm really nice to my wife -- but the $250 for the kit is just the beginning of THAT can of worms.. The servos will need to be very nice and expensive. Figure about $400-$500 for the servos. The hardware and covering for such a big model will be about another $200-400.

I really want to get started this year, but am on a limited budget. Keep in mind that even though I have the glow engines-- they are very expensive to operate. And the 50cc gasser is a bit big for the kits I currently have. So-- where do I bite the bullet and spend the money? Buy a bigger kit or get a smaller gas engine or just build the smaller planes and fly with glow for another year? What do you guys think?

Thanks for looking.

Midwest Extra! You already have the engine, so the only thing holding you back is getting the kit and servos. It is quite a project but well worth the build. Keep in mind the new kits don't come with cowl or pants. You'll have to order them separately. You'll find it flies very well, and you can even do some freestyle maneuvers with it. Not bad for a plane designed before the current 3D trend. The plane is very honest with no bad habits such as snap overrotation or tip stalling. It is also built fairly strong compared with the ultralight Aeroworks planes. There are no surprises or strange techniques to build this plane.

I started a thread in the Giant Scale forum about this plane, and hopefully in a few weeks I'll report on its first contest. I'm running a Brison 52cc gasser in mine, and it rockets out of a hover with a Zinger 22x8 prop at 6700 rpm. You can see a pic and a vid of mine at http://www.rcsites.net/flyfalcons/ . During the video I'm just playing around and not doing precision maneuvers but you can get an idea of how the plane presents in the air. I did not need any mixing for a straight knife edge. JR 4131 servos on all but the rudder which got a 4721 - a total of 300 dollars worth of servos, purchaed used. I'm using a Futaba 9C radio.

The easiest way to convince your wife is to tell her that you won't want to fly any other plane after flying this one, so you'll sell some stuff and won't be burning much glow fuel in the future

Although I don't know much about the Midwest kits (having never flown one myself), I will second Flyfalcons' comment about selling stuff. I have found that by selling lots of my "old" equipment (and even some relatively new stuff) you can bring in a bunch of $$. If you have old receivers, servos, glow staters, etc., put them on Ebay. I cleared house before I bought my first 29% Edge, and managed to bring in close to $700. You will be surprised.

Also, if you can go with a gas motor for competition--particularly your BME 50--it will make your life easier. I am sure you know how easy they are to start. There is nothing worse than your turn in the lineup coming and not being able to get your engine started.

Your comment about your wife made my smile. I was recently divorced when I started flying IMAC with a Goldberg Ultimate/Saito 150 combination. My girlfriend at the time came with me to a contest. After the contest, she turned to me and said, "It looks to me like if you want to be competitive, you need to get a bigger plane." Wow! Keeper! We're getting married this summer after 3 years of dating and flying IMAC.

Have fun,
Ken

Trying to liquidate the smaller glow engines and a couple of used planes right now.

I guess I'll try and sell my JR 517 standard servos and a few R600 receivers too. Trying to raise the $$$$$ any way I can at this point.

I've outgrown the smaller 40 and 60 size planes, engines, and radio gear. Hopefully I'll be able to get a little money for that stuff and get the MW Extra.

A side note-- I don't have a BME 50. It's a Poulan Pro 335 chainsaw engine that I converted. It's 54cc I put a Synchro-spark ignition system on it and had a few parts made. It's pretty strong and should pull the 80" Extra around with plenty of authority.

I'm going to bite the bullet and go for the bigger MW kit. Some nice JR coreless servos should make for a nice bird.

Thanks for helping me get this all sorted out.

I'll bet there are some kits for sale in the classifieds here. Try to get the airfoil tail version as teh tail is very strong and looks great. It also comes with a bigger rudder and counter balanced elevators..

I found an 80" Midwest Extra here in the classifieds.

I've sold almost everything I have. I got rid of some JR standard servos, 2 JR RX's, and a bunch of glow engines. I even traded a guy an airplane for some Hitec digitals.

Now I'll have everything to get started.

I'm selling the hitec digital servos. I'll use that money to buy some nice JR coreless servos instead. I'm looking at the JR945 PCM dual conversion RX. It's very expensive- but the only RX's that seem to work at our field are dual conversion. I wish JR made a cheaper dual conversion RX.

I'm getting two JR7005 servos in the mail. They are about 62oz. in. They are coreless and low profile. I'm not sure if I should use these on my elevators or on my ailerons. I will run a 6volt RX pack. So the torque will probably be around 70 or 75 oz. in with these servos. Any suggestions or things to worry about with these servos?

Getting excited. Been rushing home after work everyday for about a week; and checking the mailbox.

I got the Midwest Extra 300S kit today. Thanks UPS guy.

I'll get started building soon. I purchased a JR8411 for the rudder today. I'm confused about what servos to use for this bird. I would like to avoid using digital servos in the entire plane-- can't afford them and I'm not a good enough pilot to realize the difference anyway.

Anyone have suggestions for servos in the elevators and ailerons? Was thinking 8101 or 4721 JRs.

Congrats on getting the kit. Did you get the flat or airfoil tail? The plane is quite a project but it takes shape quickly if you work dilligently on it. The flat tail should build much quicker than the airfoil tail.

I might be taking mine to its first contest this weekend. We'll have to see if that pans out or not.

Im got the flat tail version. I called Midwest and they don't offer an upgrade to the airfoil tail.

Good luck at the contest this weekend Flyfalcons.

I think Dick Hanson might sell an airfoil tail if you are interested in that. From what I hear the flat tail version fliew almost the same as the airfoil tail. Just be sure to add flying wires from what I hear.

I have the MW Extra 300XS (airfoil version). Here is my equipment:
G 45 for engine (bad choice, just power for basic aerobatics)
Servos: Rudder JR 8411 (155 oz at 4.8v, is a good servo for this plane)
Elevator: two HItec of 110 oz each.. good but noisy
Aileron: two futabas 9202. works good...
Radio: Futaba 8U PCM Mode......

The plane have about 45 flights and flies great.... Good luck with yours. If you have any questions regarding construction of the plane you can email me. ([email protected]) bye

I was wondering where you fly? I fly at Chatfield with the Jefcoaeromodlers. If you know George Powers he has a Midwest Exrtra he could probable give some suggestions.

Don B Miniatureturbine Sales & Service

Rcpilet,
I have been flying a MW Extra for a few years now, and I thought I'd give you a little info, too. This is the airfoiled tail version, so i was able to put the elevator servos, 4131's, out in the horizontal stabs, which worked well. I have heard from one guy that he prefers the flat tail feathers, so I can't say how differently they really fly. I would suggest metal geared servos on the ailerons if you want to avoid flutter stripping them out. I went with the JR2721's and have been pretty happy with them. Nelson control arms, 8-32 size, would give you the ability to adjust your throws precisely.
As for the rudder, I started with a 4721 on a pull-pull, with a JR servo standoff to help reduce the sideload. Then I tried the 4721 in the tail. then I tried the Hitec 5945 in the tail. It was by far the most effective.
At a little over 14 lbs, the BME 44 in the plane has plenty of power for most of the maneuvers until you get to intermediate.

I started building tonight. I started with the fuselage.

I've aquired all the servos. I'm using a JR8411 on the rudder. JR4131 on the ailerons. And JR7005 for each elevator half. I don't know if the 4131 are metal gears or not.?? Anyone know??

I know the 7005 are nylon gears. I'm a bit concerned with using them in the tail. At 6volts-- each one of these servos should deliver about 75oz.in. I think this enough for each elevator half--it equivelant to a single 150oz.in servos for both halves. But I'm afraid that I'm misjudging the strain on the elevators in this plane. I might chicken-out and get 2 more 4131 or 8411 servos-- just to be on the safe side.

As for control arms and linkages--- I like Rocket City stuff. One of my close friends flies a lot of big gassers. He showed me the Rocket City stuff one day and I've been sold on it. I always use 4-40 ball-links on my servo arms and Rocket City on the control surfaces. It makes for a nice tight linkage without any slop.

Thanks for the help guys. I'm about 50% finished with framing the fuselage.

My 4131's I believe are nylon gear. The 8411 will be good power for the rudder, but take full advantage of its torque with a good metal servo arm. 4131's will definitely work for your elevators, even if you incorporate 3D rates, so I'm sure your 7005 servos will be up to the task for sequence flying.

Here's a couple things I learned with my plane:
Mount the rudder servo in the pull-pull mount. Mine with a Brison 3.2 came out tail heavy with the rudder servo in the back.

Make a paper tube like you did for the aileron servo extensions and put it in the fuselage to keep you elevator servo extensions neat and tidy.

Use a pushrod guide tube in the fuselage for the antenna to keep it separate from the elevator servo extensions.

Use a Sig tailwheel unit or other good quality unit.

Get thick gauge servo extensions. To save money get them from Batteries America or Ace brand etc. Don't get JR brand extensions - too expensive.

1800mah pack should be considered the minimum. I got a 1400 pack and it's only good for a couple flights before it starts to get pretty low.

I'm sure there is more I learned while building this plane, but those tips should get you started for now.