nice landing gear, noticed it is not stock, where did you get it?

If you meant me, I bought the plane used and I'm not sure where the gear came from, sorry. I like it too though.

Weighed my Venus II which has a OS 120 FS pumper in it without fuel and came up with 8lbs. 12oz. Is that about right? What does yours weigh? Thanks.

Hello,
I am interested in this airplane, and i fly pattern, but occasionally want my pattern airplane to do basic 3D maneouvers. flat spins, harriers and the likes. Would they be possible with this plane ? i have a pattern-like Javellin-90 and having a hard time doing these manouevers with it.

Thanks !
Gaurav

Don't think/so!

This plane is capable of hover and harriers inverted, do them all the time. Definitely not a flat spin! No plane with a long tail moment (a pattern ship) will do a flat spin.

Thank you ! I was just looking for this information. I am pattern-addict and would be getting this plane soon. Will power with OS 120AX.
Was wondering about flat spins, and other 3D manouevers i sometimes would like to do, but will have a different airplane for that purpose !
Thanks
Gaurav

I was going to buy a Focus Sport and a YS 110 engine. Now I find out the the Focus Sport is out of production and the YS 110 is being replaced by a 115. Apparently no one seems to know when the YS 115 will be available, it is already a year late. They have ARC Focus Sports in stock. I do like to build and cover, but I worry about availability of spare parts. You won't have plans, the wings are foam, so there isn't a good way to replace a damaged wing or whatever. So, I am looking at a Venus II with an OS 120 AX. I know this is an older thread, but most seemed pleased with that combo. I would like to use some kind of a shock mount for the engine. What are you folks thoughts?

I haven't flown the Focus Sport I do have the Venus. I used a YS 110s with a Hyde mount and it flies awesome. I won my first sportsman contest with it and then moved up to intermediate and won the next 2 contests. BUT, this summer I'm doing the switch to electric so I'm gonna be soon selling my YS 110s and Hyde mount. If interested, let me know. It has run about 2-3 gallons through it. I still have the original box and manual.

I have the YS110 with hyde soft mount, and Dubro tank repositioned at the CG. A winning combination. It flies rock solid in wind over 25mph and is quite capable of handling the sportsman and intermediate level AMA sequences.

I would pick YS110 again if I were deciding an engine for VII, because of its torque and throttle response. This has been proven in my recent win in local AMA pattern competition. Besides, the YS110 has good resell value if you decide to move up. RCU has very good YS maintenance threads in case you need some tips.

I don't think you need a soft mount with a 120AX. I didn't use a soft mount for either the 120AX or the YS110. The YS actually seems to shake less when it's running right, unfortunately which wasn't all that often for me.

I prefer the 110FZ but the 120AX is a solid choice as well; you will not be disappointed.

I also doubt that a soft mount is needed with the 1.20AX.

I run mine with a Jett engineering muffler and find the APC 15x10 prop to be the best for pattern. My 1.20AX turns the prop in excess of 9,300rpm and is very smooth.

I tried a 16x8 and got similar RPM's but the plane always pulled to one side with the larger prop.

Personally I like soft mounted YS because less vibrations are passed to the receiver, servos and control surfaces, which translates to much better stability of the plane during the flight. One has to use the hyde mount to truly appreciate it.

My well-tuned YS65 shakes the plane crazy when hard mounted.

I used 14.5X8 prop which provides pretty good speed control. The presentation before the judge was excellent.

I have the YS120 on a Hyde Mount. At low RPMs the front end shakes, but once I throttle up it is smooth as butter! I have a tuned pipe, more for show, but it does keep things quiet, too. With a 15X8 APC prop, she flies like a dream. The true definition of unlimited vertical.

I have a 120 ax in my venus II with no shock mount, it is a great flying airplane and my backup I take to the field everytime I go. I usually through in my Extra and the Venus when I go to the field.

Great combo Venus II and 120 AX.

I have the Focus Sport, and it blows the doors off of my beloved Venus II (RIP). True, spares are definitely going to be an issue with the Focus, but if performance is more important than sustainability, I would go with the Focus. If not, then you won't go wrong with the Venus. I've had them with the .120 AX as well as the .120 four stroke, whatever flavor powerplant you choose will give you satisfying performance. They are both great airplanes.

The Venus II is easy to fly and responds like it is on rails, it lands fast though, it doesn't want to settle down once it gets in the ground effect.

The plane responds like a knife cutting through the air.

If they quit making the focus, then parts can be a problem, cowls, canopy, etc.

Hi Chuck, Have a look at post #690 on this thread. I use Don's spoileron set up and it works like magic. So much so that I have set up several of my other planes with spoilerons as well. Lynton

it appears that most of you guys are having success with 1.20 15x10 prop combo, anyone try a 16x18 or 16x10?

I've been happy with a 16X8 on mine.

Well, I bought a Venus II. Tower had one scratch and dent with box damage only at a good savings. That plus the $60.00 savings and free shipping. I couldn't pass that up. The Monocote was very loose and wrinkled. I had to replace one section on the turtle deck and I spent many hours getting the rest of that stuff shrunk properly. I see why folks don't choose Monocote. I have only used Ultracote for a long time. The current Monocote is a real challange if you are fussy. I have it almost ready to fly. I used HiTech HS5485HB digital servos and mounted the 3 tail ones in the back of the fuselage. I also used DuBro single post control horns with ball rod ends and Quick links at the control surface. Carbon pushrods with 4-40 ends complete the hookups. I am using a new OS 120AX on the supplied mount. I have heard that most folks have to add a considerable amount of lead to the tail so I opted for a light MACS muffler. I mounted the battery at the very back of the radio compartment and the rcvr. just ahead of that where the servos go if you use the inside servo option. I mounted a 2-56 eye screw at the 6 1/2" factory CG location. This comes out inside the canopy area. So I can check my CG anytime just by unscrewing the canopy. It balanced perfectly with no lead except for 3/4 oz. in the left wingtip to counter the engine head. I have the engine rotated to aim the muffler out the middle of the vent area. I cut the stock OS 120 exhaust extender in half and re-surfaced my cut face. This put the muffler half in and half out of the cowling. I will post pictures and weights next week.

I have found that the os 1.20 AX 2-stroke is a No-brainer when it comes to tuning.
The saito 1.25 on the other hand is a-bit dif. experience...
It is easier to burn it out if you are not tunning it correctly. by ear, isn't were it's at...like on the 2-strokes...
I even consider myself a very good tuner...just not as good w/4-strokes apperntly.

If guys are needed tail weight, then the saito 125 would be perfect...
great running engine. Too bad the 50th anniversery sale is over...
I picked up mine for 300$ shipped! From advantage Hobby.
Compared to OS 110 for 450$...Yikes...

Here are the pictures that I promised of my new Venus II. Maiden will be tommorrow.

Maiden went great. It needed a substantial amount of rt. aileron trim, (not sure why), 2 clicks of up. This thing flies like it is on rails. Wow, even my early attempts at the sportsman sequence are 200% better than I could do with other airplanes. The field was a bit rough and even with all great landings, the gear bent out a bit. I just bent it back. I can see where this could be a problem down the line. Does anyone make a carbon gear for the Venus? This OS 120AX is awesome. It starts immedietly, runs great and has good throttle response. The engine just keeps getting better each flight.

what size prop are you using?