RE: TF Contender
 

Here is mine with electric power

RE: TF Contender
 

Try again, Here is mine with electric power.

RE: TF Contender
 

GC: You have done an excellent job. I like your detail. I have a Contender. I think there are some ics of it in earlier
posts in this thread. I have only flown mine on buddy box. Not competent enough to solo it yet, but soon, maybe.

Flies like achamp with .61 OS fx. Very fast and aerobbatic. You will like it. Electric outght to be very nice.

Good luck. Again, Nice looking build.

RE: TF Contender
 

gchenry1937,

Nice Looking Contender. What did you use for a motor and battery combo? I thought about electrifying this airframe on perhaps a second build. I've seen some guys who have lightened them up a bit by removing some of the built up fuselage sides.

Regards
Mike

RE: TF Contender
 

Mike, Here are the details ofthe power system. Rimfire 42-50-800 motor, Electrifly SS60 esc, 4 cell 3200 battery,Hydramax 750 flight battery, 12x6 apc prop. I am experimenting with the CG and different props to fine tune the flying. It is overpowered and not trimmed out to my liking yet.
Henry

RE: TF Contender
 

Here are two that I built. The black and white one in 78 powered by
an OS 60 GH/RV with goldberg retracts, silk & dope. The gray and
white one in 83 ST X60. Good flying planes.

RE: TF Contender
 

Changed to a APC 14x7 prop. What a difference. Straight up out of sight, almost. Flies like a 60 or better 2 stroke. No trim required for inverted flight. What a dream ship this conversion has turned out to be.

RE: TF Contender
 

Here is a shot of the large hatch for battery installation and flight battery charging.

RE: TF Contender
 

Henry,

What's the weight and flying time of your Contender?
I love those panel lines, what did you use to make
them? I may try to do them on my next Contender.

Ron

RE: TF Contender
 

Ron,
It weighs 5 pounds 8 ounces which is less than the advertised weight. Tried it today with an APC 13x10 prop and it goes straight up like a rocket. The panel lines are done with two different kinds of auto pin striping from Advance Auto Parts. As you may guess, I did major lightening of the kit. Especially aft of the CG as electric is much lighter than the engines the kit was designed for.
Henry

RE: TF Contender
 

Ron,
Flying time 10 to 15 minutes, I usually land at around 12 mins.
Henry

RE: TF Contender
 

Im hoping people in this thread are still around... I read through it and got some good ideas thanks! i want to kit bash a contender into a trimotor. I have a thread started in http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_9442466/tm.htm Any ideas that you contender veterans have I would appreciate.

RE: TF Contender
 

Hey Aerofly' That link does not work for me
Henry

RE: TF Contender
 

Yeah it had a stray . in it... fixed

RE: TF Contender
 

Hi This is my contender From France

RE: TF Contender
 

RE: TF Contender
 

This is my Contender Tail dragger

changed nose and retracts

61fx 7 lbs

Test flown in Oct 2010

RE: TF Contender
 

Check out my vid on youtube. Mine has the upswept wingtips, and I think it performs beautifully. I love this plane, and have designated as my main gal (for the time being)!

I have the OS 61fx, and the uniflap is installed. I've had this plane for three years now. The flap provides great realism when landing. It really makes you feel like you're flying a real Navy trainer!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqnB0KEgGyM

hafidy

RE: TF Contender
 

Spitfire60, that is a pretty plane! How difficult was it to convert to a taildragger and add retracts? What did you use for covering?

RE: TF Contender
 

The same, but different. Mine is the green one. All three built like Spitfire60's above, as taildraggers with retracts. We hope to have some fun trying to fly formation with them.

RE: TF Contender
 

Clean and Dirty fly-bys.

RE: TF Contender
 

Well,I just purchased myfirst topflite kit:D. I hope to start building soon.Mine will have tricyle retracts,plus be converted to electric power.What retracts are being used?
stefanP

RE: TF Contender
 

I used the standard 90 degree mechanical Robart with 3/16" struts. They work great. You might have a tough time finding space of air retracts and the mechanicals work flawlessly.