I got my new Composite BobCat in today. I am very impressed !! Compared to the KingCat which is rather flimsy for what it is, the BC is solid, strong and light !! the booms have layers of carbon on both sides and are very stiff ... there is not area on the plane where you can "press in" on the dent/crack/delimitation prone compARF foam like on many parts of the king cat. The wing feels super solid to, and I’d actually say it feels as stiff and hard as the composite wings on my BVM Rafale. The fuselage is nice and solid also, with nice glue joints. All the control surfaces have carbon plate reinforcements where the horns get glued in also. After a quick review of the parts, it already went of to the painter [8D] ... it will be a quick sport 2 - 3 color scheme on this one ... I am ending up putting the p120 on this plane, as i already have the engine, and weight difference over a p70 which was my first choice is negligible ... I will post some pics of the plane and the assembly process when i have it back from paint next week ... Realy looking forward to flying this one ..



Wojtek

Hi Wojtek
I have ordered this jet 3 weeks ago, also in white, so I intend to paint it self.
I've never seen this new composit BC till today.
What you mean how many time to need for complete this jet ?

Thanks for replay.

F. Heer

I don’t think this one is going to take me more than 30 – 35 hours to get complete and RTF (+ whatever the paint takes you … im having a friend paint mine … ) , but this is after having already gone through a King Cat (which is nearly the same as the BC but just bigger). The KingCat took me around 50 hours to build, and that included a smoke system install, and non standard radio tray set up … If you are familiar with the building techniques involved ( cutting, sanding, grinding, gluing, drilling and tapping) and are well versed in your radio set up, I’d say the BC should not take anyone more than 40 – 45 hours to get RTF first time out.

For those that are curious, here are some key differences between the king cat and the bobcat composite which I have so far noticed:

- no removable nose cone on the BC, and no battery box in nose. Batteries and tank are held in place by foam.
- No more wing mounting tab through fuselage like on the King Cat, the BC uses 4.40 screws through blocks in the wing and into the wing tubes.
- The BC has only 1 elevator servo


I’ll post some assembly pics when its back from paint …

Wojtek

Thanks Wojtek
this is my second BC, the first one was a kit.
Unfortunately I lost this, due to stall in landing pattern.
So I hope the new one with flaps will stall later !!
BRG Fritz www.jetmodel.ch

I can tell you what I think of them...I bought a second one!!!!
Scott

Great thread.
Does anyone else have any real-world comparisons between the two 'cats'. I have a p-120 and am trying to decide. I think the KingCat with smoke might be a little too underpowered with the P-120. And I'm a little concerned about putting a P-120 and smoke system in a Bobcat comp.
Is the Comp Bobcat fuselage that much stronger? I have not been a huge fan of G-force ( comp-Arf) fuselage/wing skins. Hey Scott , you've flown both...which do you prefer?
Thanks,

A.L.

trust me, this plane is tough ! and strong !.. the skin is not chezzee and weak like on Roos, Eurosports, and some parts of the KingCat. The wing on the BC feels as ridged as the composite wings on my BVM Rafale, or like the strong Skymaster wings .. no give in the foam, or denting/delaminating. Booms are the same way, and fuselage is nice too. ... With a P120, you will have no problem hauling smoke around in the BC ,, and a p70 would probably handle it no problem also .... I am mounting my smoke system in an under the fuselage tank, which will also house the battery and pump for the smoke ... The tank in the picture, with the smoke pump, and battery weigh exactly 1lb ... figure 2 lbs if wet with oil in the tank .... this tank will be removable if I don’t want to haul the extra load, or it can double as an aux fuel tank .....

The KingCat is great on a P120 when done plain and simple .. but once you add a smoke system, bomb drops, cockpit detail, etc .. weight adds up . mine with all of the above on a at400 weighs in dry at 36lbs. With this weight, i think a p120 would be only of marginal performance.



Wojtek

Well I flew my Kingcat with a 120, 160, and a P200. All flew well. I really think the Bobcat is a bit overpowered with a p120, but I dont see any advantage to using a P70 since the weight isnt significant. The P60 looked great on this airplane, but be ready to be in the full power alot and would this be hard on the engine? I also flew the Bobcat with a Titan. Not fun. All the power is in the top end so your either cruisn or hallin ballz. I noticed the P80 are on sale. The are supposed to be 19lbs now. Probably best suited size engine. cheaper than P70, only .3 lbs heavier.
I would say P60, P70, P80 or turned down P120. If your going to be hanging stuff from the bottom and smoke, then go with P80 or P120.
The Bobcat is super strong, I believe the best arf ever.
Scott

Scott-
I guess that answers the question on whether I should put the P-80 on it!!! Getting ready to order the Bobcat, any tips on setting up/flying would be greatly appreciated!! This will be my first turbine.
Thanks
Tom

I could not disagree more with this … the p120 is the PERFECT engine for this plane, I could not imagine using anything less .. I have 2 friends who used to have p70s on their BobCats, one put a p80 on and the other guy went up to a p120 .. both say it’s a night and day difference for the better with the bigger engines .. anyway, that’s just my opinion ..

Voy