I've done a search and found some information on this subject but I thought I would ask the question again to get some more input. My GP Skybolt kit arrived today. I've always liked the looks of this plane and I am eager to have one of my own. What engine have you found to be a good match for this kit? How does it perfrom with a .60 2-stroke? I'm leaning toward a .90 2-stroke, what experience have you had with one? What about 4-strokes? Which 4-stroke have you found is a good match? Thanks in advance for the help. Also, if anybody has any building tips or suggestions for this kit, I'd love to hear them.

[link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_3561097/anchors_3561097/mpage_1/key_/anchor/tm.htm#3561097]club sktbolt[/link]

LOTS and LOTS of info here. feel free to join in. i'm nearing completion of my kit now.

[link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_4146074/tm.htm]skybolt flight report[/link]

the beginner's flight report, his skybolt is powered with an evolution 1.00

mine will be powered by an o.s. 1.20 surpass should maiden within the next couple weeks.


however, i wouldn't suggest a .60 size 2s on this kit. it would fly it but that would be all you could do and probably not have ANY vertical.

I love mine with the Magnum 120 and 15X8 prop, nearly unlimited vertical. If I had the money, I would've went Saito 125. I fly at 3500 ASL.

Check your local laws - It is illegal in some states to put a 2-stroke in this plane (or at least it should be)

Check out the review I did on this ARF:

http://www.rcuniverse.com/magazine/a...article_id=750

In the video it is flying with an OS 91 Surpass, and the engine was not even broken in yet, so it was still running pretty rich. If you're not at a high elevation (I'm at 1200ft ASL) it's a very good match. I am planning to upgrade to a YS 110 and adding a smoker. That should make it scream

I put an OS .91 2 Stroke on mine with a pitts muffler. It had excellent vertical, and very easy to adjust...the engine never hiccuped at all! This plane builds tail heavy, so you need a big engine in the front to balance.

I'm with the older fellow, something isn't right with a screaming high pitched Cub or bi-plane. My smaller Sig Skybolt has an 80 4c , so the 91 thru 110 should be perfect.

Older fellow?

Watch it, or I'll beat you with my cane

Minn isn't old...He just looks that way!

which smaller sig is that?


minn,

i've always been told you're only as old as you feel. i FEEL like half my age, just wish my body would go along with the FEELING!!! LOL

Deadeye: Recently I compared my Magnum Four Stroke 1.20 size with Saito 1.25 numbers published at the Fly Rc magazine on its latest issue.
Magnum: Saito:
Prpeller: 15 x 8 15 x 8
Fuel: Omega 15% Wildcat 15%
Glow plug: OS F type Saito
Altitude: 4,000' 1,000'
Max RPM 8,740 8,600
Idle rpm 1,700 Don't remember, I have to check the magazine again

I have always used Saito engines I have 5 of them (.40, .72, .82, .91 and 1.00) and I love them, but when I was about to buy the saito 1.25 I had the chance to buy the magnum trough Tower Hobbies with a great discount so I finally bought the Magnum 1.20 Four Stroke and paid almost 100 dlls less than what I should pay for the saito 1.25, Big savings!!. But it was my first Magnum and had some doubts about the performance. I broke in by the manual with Omega 10% adding 2 oz of castor oil to the entire fuel galon, then tested with several propellers until I found out that the best performance was obtained with the 15 x 8 on my Hobbico Sukhoi. Now it flies great.
I still love my saitos but I have now a lot of respect for this Magnum 1.20 and there is only one thing where the Saito 1.25 is better than this Magnum=Total weight. In my sukhoi happens that I needed nose weight to balance properly the plane, I had The Saito 1.0 running on this plane adding weight was a must, now with the Magnum I do not have to ad any weight, Of course the plane is heavier but the performance is much better so I will keep this set up for a while.
I hope this info can give any clue for this forum purpouse, but I must confess that I am very happy with my Magnum performance and wanted to tell everybody that I was not wrong choosing this one instead the Saito 1.25, at least for this particular purpose, where weight is helping.

Thanks for reading my toughts.
Happy flying

Mine flies great with a ..........YES....2 stroke OS 1.08 with pitts muffler.
You'll love the way the wing struts attach and the top wing just slides on the cabane strut.
The skybolt will do a fantastic inverted flat spin, just get it way up there.
Take your time.....build it straight, don't modify anything and it will make you a better flier.
You may want to do yourself a favor and get an incedence meter.


Happy Flying

Tom

Minn:
I'll help you beat him with my cane but first you may consider checking your heaing aid...this is the KIT....not an ARF!!!
LOL

Happy Flying


Tom

I live in California... EVERYTHING is illegal. I would definitely prefer a 4-stroke for this plane. I did a little trading though and ended up with a nice .91 2-stroke. I'm not sure what I'm going to do yet, we'll see.

I'm doing a skybolt during the winter and plan on over powering with a O.S. 1.20 AX
It has been doen before.........

Mine has a Saito 120 up front turning a 14x8 3 blade prop. If mounted inverted its easier to balance laterally and you can't see any holes chopped in the cowl. Mine has on bord glow but I don't think you need it, just easier to deal with than a glow starter under the plane at start up. The plane flys great maybe a Saito 125 would be better but it wasn't available when I built mine.I tied to keep the tail light as everything I read talked about it being nose heavy. I cut some lightening hole in the side of the fuse but ended up having to put the battery in the nose to balance properly. Sorry for the long winded answear but I love this plane like to hear of more people building kits and was sorry to see it come out as an ARF.

sorry I meant that everything I read said the plane was TAIL heavy.

I know that on MY kit, with the original engine (OS 91 Surpass) It balanced without any extra weight

Have had a YS120 in mine for about 12 years now, my favorite airplane.
Goes vertical on take off, up oos if I want.
Heavy airplane, but it uses the weight to its advantage.
Does great tumbling manuvers, like the Lumchevok(sp).

I am also going with the Magnum 120 four stroke. THat is if I ever git R dun. The magnum is an excellent value and runs and starts real easy.

Looking to pot an ASP 108 in the skybolt any comments

How about a Zenoah G-20?

Well after spending many hours reading thru all of the skybolt posts I have been inspired and starting working on my kit some more. It has been in work so about a year and I have done more in the last two days then I have in 6 months.

I have one issue that I can not get past and I am about to the stage of needing to order parts.
I am going to put a large two stroke in this plane, I was going to put a magnum .91 in it (I already mounted the motor mount for it but it will more than likely be a Evolution 1.00, I have a .46 in a kit built Bridi Kaos and I like the look and I like the price.

The question that I have is
I want to put a Pitt’s style muffler in it but I want it to fit inside the cowl. After reading about MODs... cowl issues I don't want to get that creative. I already have the fiberglass cowl and really did not want to cut it up.

Are there are two stroke skybolt flyers whose muffler fits in the cowl?
Is it the Slimline? Because the Bison that MODS used did not fit like I thought it would and I was just about to order that one

Those that have on that fit, did you mount the motor inverted or is it on its side?

Thanks for the input.
This is also posted in the 2nd Newbie Build- GP Super Skybolt

If you are putting the ASP 108 in a kit, I have used this combo for some time. Although the model came out a bit heavy, (paint and solartex) it flies a treat.

Stuart

One of the problems with Great Planes kits is that they are all much too heavy to begin with. I have the kit and left it on the shelf and built the Sig kit. If you can do the work and reduce the weight by getting rid of a lot of heavy wood and ply and relpace with contest balsa and some C/F it would be a great plane. As is till you add a very heavy 4 stroke and some need pumps and then a smoke system I'm astonished that the thing doesn't fall out of the air.
Oh and my personel view is that biplanes are not meant for unlimited vertical, betterl left to the Extras and such.
dennis

well said dennis. i totally agree with you on the part about unlimited vertical should be left to the 300s and such. my skybolt came out flight ready (minus fuel) with an older os 1.20 surpass w/ pump at 9lbs 4oz. i thought this was a bit heavy for a .60 size plane but it flies great nice big aerobatics, slow and docile, or fast and wild. i use the weight for an advantage. snap rolls only need the sticks to be bumped to the corners and back to center. just getting the maneuver started is enough, the weight carries the plane through the rest. mine is built per specs and plans except for a top and bottom hatch. i find that i have to make around 1 1.2 to 2 patterns to get this thing slow enough to land. ( i guess the thin wings are serving their purose )

long live the skybolt (my first bipe and still my favorite plane.