I hav been flying the Aerobird for a month and enjoying it after 15 years out of the hobby. Looking for thoughts on next plane the JERRY from hobby lobby. Is this EASY and I mean EASY to finish and does it fly well. I am looking for an easy to fly (but aerobatic) and EASY to complete airplane. I appreciate any thoughts or suggestions.

I love my Aerobird too.

Don't know the plane you mention, but if you are looking for aerobatic or 3D type electrics, some of these might be interesting.

Here are a few planes that would be lots of fun. Most have videos associated with their links.
>
>Pitts Special Biplane - I really like this one
http://www.hobby-lobby.com/pitts.htm
>
>Crazy Sparrow
http://www.hobby-lobby.com/crazysp.htm
>
>three-d
http://www.hobby-lobby.com/threedee.htm
>
>Firecat
http://www.espritmodel.com/l_firecat.html
>
>Eagle 3D Aerobatic plane - This one looks like a lot of fun
http://www.hobby-lobby.com/eagle.htm
>
>The Chilli
http://www.hobby-lobby.com/chilli.htm
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>Tipsy Nipper
http://www.hobby-lobby.com/nipper.htm
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>the CAP232
http://www.hobby-lobby.com/cap232.htm
>
>Sukhoi SU 31 Aerobatic
http://www.hobby-lobby.com/sukhoi.htm
>

Well, here's my experience. The first "Jerry" was shipped to me with some of the holes uncut, and some of the wing-mounting hardware missing, but Hobby-Lobby were as good as their word, and replaced the whole kit (apart from the radio, motor, and electronic controller), and reimbursed the shipping costs.

The second kit had all the correct holes in the right places, and contained all the necessary mounting hardware.

Despite the great write-up (see Hobby-Lobby site) I had one or two problems with mine - for instance, getting the control-horn on the elevator took 3 attempts before it worked correctly - I almost rebuilt the elevator control surface (if you look closely at the pictures, you can just see the original attempts...) - it just didn't want to work as they suggested...

The plate and the screws securing the horizontal stabilizer was also one of my mods, as the original was far too flimsy, and had little strength.

The elevator servo was a very tight fit being slightly too thick for the size of the fin, so that the servo arm fouled the cover - I fixed this by adding a couple of spacer blocks inside the fin. If you look closely at the pictures of the tailplane, you might just see that it "bulges" slightly where the spacers are located... (P8132738 and P8132743 show this)

Everything else went together pretty well. I strengthened the firewall with some ply and glass-fibre. The motor and the prop are beautifully made, and went together very well. The electronic controller is well made, and is easy to connect up.

The aileron servos also went in pretty easily, although I used a modification mentioned in the "E-Zone" review.

I thought at the start, that the radio was overkill, but I've since learned to program it, and am using it for my other 3 gliders. I would say that if you already have a computer radio, you might be able to cut cost (I think I paid nearly $900 for mine - I was starting from scratch, so that included everything - glider, motor, prop, batteries, radio, servos, transmitter, plus all the other bits & pieces).

Here is a link to some pictures of my "Jerry":

http://www.k1wd.net/misc/aero/glider/jerry/

Can you believe I still haven't flown the damned thing yet - I've been really busy with other things - so I can't tell you how it flies!!!! - although acording to all the reports, it's really nice...

I have trimmed it and checked all the controls, and set up all the throws/deflections etc - all I need now is to take it to the field...

Hope this has been helpful -

Good Luck -

- Wil

I had pretty bad experience with the Jerry, however, Hobby Lobby has resolved the issue 100% to my satisfaction.
Read about it [link=http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=148332]here[/link]

Randy at HL offered me a refund or another kit, I chose the refund, and will get a [link=http://www.shredair.com/hook.html]Hook[/link] from Shredair.

Michael

If you want a fairly simple, fairly easy to fly aileron plane you might want to look at the Sky Scooter as an ARF, or the Sky Scooter Pro II as a RTF. Similar in power to the Aerobird, but aileron/elevator/throttle as opposed to rudder/elevator/throttle.

http://www.hitecrcd.com/Funtec/Index.htm

It is a foam plane made by Funtec, a division of Hitec. So, you know what kind of radio gear comes with it. Many of the reviews and videos are of the original sky scooter 2 channel or the original sky scooter pro. The Pro II has improved features. FYI

I have an Aerobird. Love it!

I am helping my friend learn to fly his Sky Scooter Pro II, so I have flown it. A little more work than the aerobird as it is not high wing so it does not self correct. however it looks like it is going to be a lot of fun, fairly rugged and not to hard to fly.

If you want a fast plane, you might consider one of the ZAGI flying wings, a Multiplex microjet or TwinJet Delta wing planes. All are ARF foam planes.

Then there are the ones I provided in the links above.

Have been flying the "jerry" for two summers now. It is a fast sailplane that is very clean. Am using a 45/3 electric motor that will go vertical! This is a fun machine. If you go with this plane be sure to put a 3/32 shim under the leading edge of the stab. have fun.....

Can you convert 3/32 shim to metrics mm? Is this true for all the Jerrys sold by Hobby Lobby ( I have one flying for more than 10 months)

1 inch = 25.4 mm

3/32 inch =3/32*25.4= 2.38 mm


And, yes , mine had the same problem, had to shim the stab.

fraction - 3/32 decimal - .0937 millimeter - 2.381

Go to: www.mgs 4u.com/chart.htm

lots of good info.