What size is the wing tube? Is it or 1.12" or 1-1/8"? Looks like it is is 26.5" long. This one is 4.3oz. Just trying to find one lighter. This ones going on a diet. How about a carbon gear replacement. Any suggestions? The two gear legs total out to 5.3-oz.

No responce or interest?

Mike Hester is planning a wood version once his plate isn't as full. That will be interesting.

Great CF Gear here http://www.bolly.com.au/models/undercarts.html

The F3A Std (I currently use this one . . and a F3A-Curved) weighs in at just over 3 1/4 ox. (95gm).

PS . . they have a "Winged" CF set coming soon (at 4 1/2 oz.) . . Apparently they are hollow moulded and very nice ! !

Cheers, Jeff

Now don`t go spreading rumers
I am a better source they will continue to be imported
they still have a few in stock and have more on the way
I will be in crowley this weeken if anybody wants to fly it your welcome to do so
this airplane is 10pounds 5 onces painted
the ones BVM has in stock are as good
Bryan

Hi, do you know what the recommende CG is?
Thanks

Hi Friends,

I thought i would bump this thread back to the front. I got to see one of these Shindens fly this past wknd., and was VERY IMPRESSED!! So impressed, i called Patty at BVM first thing this morning to order one! She told me their not in stock right now, and that the next batch is not due in for 6-8 wks.[] I'm pretty bummed with that news since, by the time they come in and i get one going i will have missed 6-8 contest's...... My decision choices are down to the Shinden (1st choice) and the Integral (2nd choice). I'd like to get going on a plane ASAP so what should i do??. I'm not sure if Integrals are in stock either so this might be a bust anyways for a while.............any thoughts from you guys would be much appreciated.

http://www.throttlestore.com/shinden_f3a.aspx?lang=NO

this store has in stock....but its in norway..maybe high cost transport???
planes is 1850 US$ dont know thta is compare to US prices.....

Skypilot,

Netbox Hoby has the genesis in stock for $1420.00 and the CA Model Passport for $1900.

I guess I was one of the lucky ones who got the Shinden when it was on sale for $1000.

Has the quality improved on the Genesis?? I read through the whole build thread and everything else i could find, and found MANY mentions of quality issues, so that has me afraid of it. I talked with Patty at BVM again today, and she said that UNFORTUNATELY............the Shindens won't be in until late May-early June[][] She DID say however, that she has a couple OTOP's in stock, so, i'll probably order one of those............unless you guys think thats a mistake.

I am just coming back to pattern and IMAC after about ten years away while flying jets, so i'm really in need of some feedback and guidance on airframe selection, engine selection, etc., so thanks guys for the feedback so far and please keep it coming

The Otop is a decent airplane, good price too. If you can handle the extra coin I'd really look at the Proline.

I would buy the Integral from Composite-ARF for the money. Much better model if you intend to fly the latest F3A schedules.

I don't think the Otop would be a good choice. The Astral XX, Proline or Shinden would be a much better choice. I have an Astral XX and have set-up and flown my friends Otop. No comparison even when you consider the price difference. Just my 2 cents worth.

Jayjay

Thanks for the input guys.

I think i'm back to looking at the Integral again. It was originally my second choice anyway. I got kinda sidetracted when Patty at BVM said she had Otops in stock. I did read everything i could find on the Otop, and from what i gather, the only real complaint about it is, that it does'nt slow very well on down lines. But their does'nt seem to be anything negitive written about the Integral, and it is in my price range. The others that were mentioned in the last post are nice planes but above my price limit

Skypilot

Check out Chief Aircraft. They might have some in stock.

Greg

I've got a unique perspective on the Shinden; I've bought two. One from the first shipment, one from the second. And, I've flown both the wooden prototype as well as the first composite model, owned by the designer. Further, I have third one on the way, and I've never owned two of the same pattern plane before!

I'm not one of the top FAI pilots, but I do know a few, and have seen most of them fly. Seems to me that there's two basic ways people are going with pattern planes right now; first, there's the rodeo rider..... get something that is marginally tameable and hold on for the count of eight. Try not to fall off. The Integral is one of those to my way of thinking. Lots of mixes. More unstable means it can spin and snap better, right? Or not....... On the other hand, you could be riding a well mannered thoroughbred; which is what the Shinden is, with no mixes. Nada. I can tell you which horse would win a race, and it's the one you can control the best. Snaps and spins are judged on precison, not on how violently they are entered. (although the Shinden does these maneuvers well) Models like the Integral (or for that matter, Hebert's Quest) are a bit difficult to stay ahead of. The top 10 pilots can fly almost anything, but everybody else needs something they can stay a split second in front of, control wise. Hebert's Shindin's are set up far too hot for my tastes, but I can still control them. Smoothly. I knew it the first time I saw the prototype fly, which was the maiden flight, flown in drizzling rain and a brisk wind. It was obviously Hebert's best design to date, with no close second. It did a knife edge loop on the first flight! At half the original control throw of the rudder, I might add. The rudder turned out to be much, much more effective than Bryan thought it would be! My main problem is using too much rudder on rolls; a habit built over years that needs to be broken with this model. With this one you just THINK rudder.

Word I'm getting is that BVM gets another shipment in 4~6 weeks. That will give me time to finish painting and test flying the one I'm working on now! Bryan finished his composite kit in four days, but I'm slower. My understanding is that the latest batch is the lightest yet, which should benefit the electrics crowd. I fly YS. And no, neither of mine is for sale.

WOW,

Thats some high praise for sure, and is spot on to what i personally watched last Sunday when i watched a masters class flyer putting a new Shinden through it's shakedown pace's. It was quite obvious watching the plane fly that it was very honest. I talked with him throughout the day and he said much the same things you just said. No mixes, no vises, etc. other then his rudder was also VERY touchey and needed little more than breathing on the sticks.

I did talk to Patty at BVM yesterday, and she said it would be late May to early June on the next batch, as the container is just now leaving the factory[] So it looks like i either have to wait, or buy something else for the interim. Maybe i'll just go ahead and get an Otop and deal with it for the next few months until the new batch of Shindens arrive, i mean, how bad could it really be??, plus, i'm only going to be entering basic anyways

Scott,

Yes, the Shinden would be the way to go with your budget. But if you will buy an Otop for the interim, then buy a Shinden when it arrives, you might as well get an Astral XX or Proline up front, depending on what is in stock right now. That way, you will only have to trim and get used to one plane. Just my thoughts.

Jayjay

Your right,

I wish they had those in stock, but the only thing they have in right now is the Otop. Your also absolutely right about the trimming and tuning part. I guess if i go ahead and get the Otop, i'd probably use it for the 08 season in basic. But i'll still buy the Shinden in May or June, whenever they come in. And just start buying parts and working on it this season. Then use the Shinden for the 09 season. It's not the greatest plan, but since the season here starts in just a few weeks, i'm thinking a little desperately right now

I have the otop and really like it. I feel that it slows down fine in the down lines. I use an 18.1X10 prop and that helps greatly in getting consistant speed.

IS THERE ANY ADDITIONAL COOLING HOLES NEEDED ?.I'M RUNNING A 140L. ANY PIX WOULD BE NICE .THANKS

hi Dave been awhile how are you keeping?

I'M BACK IN PATTERN ,SOLD ALL MY SCALE STUFF.WHO BE YOU?TATER?

Dave Gould use to live in Kamloops now live on Vancouver Island

ARE YOU FLYING IN THE N.W. THIS YEAR?