Best .15 S.P.A.D combat model
 

Im looking for the best .15 spad combat model for club combat. my club is starting into combat and engine size is going to have to be a .15 because of AMA SCC combat rules. Im going to build and sell couple because i think more people will get envolved if they dont have to learn to build to fly combat also a little gas money does'nt hurt . I have alot of spad building experience with bigger S.P.A.D models. Any imfo is welcome.

Also does any body have any flight charactoristics on the GNAT

RE: Best .15 S.P.A.D combat model
 

I'm liking the HOR here. Cheap and quick build. I used an OS LA which seems to work pretty well. I've got to get some others flying them locally to really evaluate them but I've watched others combat them while on a trip and was fairly impressed.

JESTER

RE: Best .15 S.P.A.D combat model
 

The Gnat is a nice flying little plane for club combat against other Gnats. Easy to build, cheap, and is fun to fly. Make sure the engine is peaked out as the small wing area needs the power to make it fly well.

The Gnat is not competitive against regular SSC planes, but would be ideal for Gnat club combat to get others involved.

Cajun[8D]

RE: Best .15 S.P.A.D combat model
 

Thanks Bill :) ...the Gnat is by far the most fun, and easiest to build plane for club combat...but Cajun is right, go with the Gnat all the way, as long as your going to fly Gnats against Gnats and keep it a fun fair fight...as soon as you introduce more refined SSC combat planes such as the HOR or some of the really nice kits that are coming out...the Gnats are dead meat. It's performance can be described as more like a Pizza box with a tail. It's top speed is average, It's roll rate is very good, it's maneuverability is extream...it almost cuts its own tail in a hard loop...but also looses all airspeed doing so. With a strong .15 sized engine it can do some simple 3D.

RE: Best .15 S.P.A.D combat model
 

Yup.. the GNAT,
A growing bunch of us up here in the cold of Minnesota have taken to winter GNAT combat! A few of us will likely move on to the fancier stuff in the spring. The GNAT is a good flyer once you have it trimmed out. We've been experimenting with throttle and fuel tank location and I think they are flying better with the throttle servo ahead of the fuel tank, but to each their own. Built to the plan the plane flew great. And here, in Minnesota, on a nice snow crusted or icy field the GNAT will even ROLL OUT after landing, not just FLOP to rest as it does on grass.

To get this going it helps to have a couple of guys get enough material together for several planes. Once other club member know you have them they will be willing to part with a few dollars to join in the fun. We are charging $10.00 for the baisic kit which just covers materials and beverage during the time spent getting the kits ready. Anyone in the Minneapolis area interested in trying this out let me know. We are flying on the north end at Grassfields, the guys to the south are flying at Rich Valley.
Dick B

RE: Best .15 S.P.A.D combat model
 

The HOR's are great planes! I don'dt know what the GNAT is.

One thing to worry about when flying the HOR is what your opponents are flying. If y'all are flying HOR's, no problem. But, if you are competing against some more advanced designs- you'll find that you will be outclassed in terms of flying speed, performance, and imortantly- durability. I've seen a lot of foam wing based models tear up HOR's, and not even flinch. As far as speed and performance, I think the foam wings give better aerodynamic performance. I remember my HOR's tended to bleed a lot of airspeed when turning hard.

have fun- Minnesota flying. I bet you really have to open the needle valves for those sub-zero days??

RE: Best .15 S.P.A.D combat model
 

Flysforfun,

On subzero days the planes should stay inside.... coroplast really doesn't like it that cold. 20 degrees, no wind and sunny now that's not too bad - if you really want to. You can fly all year here, IF you pick your days, and your quick about it.