Hey everyone,
Been flyin 3D for a few months now and i think i'm gonna give pattern a good try. I have an electric E-Streak that i fly on a 10 cell burshless and that has gotten me to the point of relatively precise flying, but i'm now ready to step it up a level. Are there any good quality, great flying, 50-60 sized pattern ARFs out there? I'm looking for something slightly above a pattern trainer like the Aresti, Majestic 1400, etc. Does the Zen 50 meet my requirements? Any others that you know of? Thanx again guys.

Mike

Try the Zen 90... probably above what you were expecting when asking about "mid level", but to be really serious about pattern, that is just about "mid level"... "entry level" can be any sport pattern plane!

Cheers,
Ken

I'd get the Widebody kit from Planes Plus.

Pugs

As Kenchoo said, the Zen 90 is good. I have been flying a Tai Ji 60 for about 2 years now. This is a nice pattern plane at 1700 long by 1700 span, not much smaller than an F3A machine. Later this year I will have finished my first F3A ship. The Tai Ji has been a great plane to prepare me for the next level.

Alan

I really don't think the Zen 50 meet your requirements Mike, it doesn't really differ that much from the pattern trainers you wrote about. The Zen 50 is a good choice, but I think you'll have to go up a level in size to fulfill your requirements. There are a lot of nice flying .40 size planes available, don't get me wrong, however, a 60/90 size would fly better. If you choose to go with a small 60 size in stead of a 40-50 size, I think you'll end up with a better flying plane.

Look at the Atlantis here http://www.bissonmufflers.com/en/ai...sting_id=114515 I have one with a ST 61 it is VERY well built and flys like its on rails and its cheap. it also looks better in real life.

Check out Creek Hobbies and the new Quest, 72" W/S. Pete

Airborne models Intruder is not a bad choice for a 2stroker 61 or a 4 stroker 91. Tough to beat for $165. I'm flying this model for two years now and it does all the maunvers that are presently in the SPA (Senior Pattern Association.com) novice thru expert. Check it out !!

thanx for all the suggestions guys!!

i will check out all of them in detail when i get home from colorado on wednesday. don't have much web time out here.

mike

I own a tai ji 40 and it flies absolutely wonderful with a os 50sx ring. It got me up to advanced and has already given me a promotion point. I think the tai ji 60 would be even better and the zens look realy good as well.

The swallow ex might fit your needs, they also offer two smaller magpie and Lark, come to think of it youmight want to look a the lark or swallow. I am getting a swallow after much thinking and debate.
www.giantscaleplanes.com
(look into arf 50 - 75 ")
Other candidates were the Tai-ji 60 and zen 50.. but ath this time they were too$$$

building isn't a problem if its a really good kitting job; like the laser 3d or seduction series from PILOT.

mike

Is the Quest available yet? I keep checking their website and it just says coming soon. Saw this one at Toledo and have a new Saito 100 to try on one. thanks

Ron

MK have just released the Synergy CPLR, for the YS 63 or thereabouts. Their other planes, in kit form, should also be very good.

what would be a good engine for the Zen 90? that one is looking the most promising right about now... what 4-stroke/2-stroke engine is relatively inexpensive (relative to others of similar displacement/stroking) but will still give the performance for the higher mid level pattern maneuvers? i'm looking for close to, if not unlimited vertical performance. thanx again.

mike

btw, what is the price for the zen 90? i should probably consider it quite a bit b4 i get to far into the planning process for my summer savings...

mike

found pricing on the zen 90 @ airborne models. like the price of the tai-ji 60 somewhat better, and i really like the prices of the tai-ji 40 and the zen 50. how much would i be sacrificing as far as flight quality if i went with of the 50 sized planes (t.j. 40/zen 50) instead of a 60 sized (t.j. 60/zen 90)? i would like not to blow a HUGE amount of money on this, so the 60 sized planes are still in my range of possibilities, but anything much larger is out. i noticed the zen 90 is $40 more than the tai-ji 60. is there a boost in quality that would be reflected in that? sorry, i know thats a lot of questions at once, but try to answer them... thanx.

mike

how would the lark 70 compare to the zen and tai-ji 50 sized planes?

i'm gonna post a differnt thread concerning kits... the title on this one is kind of biased against people with kit suggestions.

mike

Hello pattern planes flyers,

I have exactly the same problem. I am trying to decide beetween Tai Ji 40, Lark 70, Zen 50 and Swallow (all ARFs, I don't have a time for the kits) . I also have two engine for use Rossi 45( for .40 plane) and MVVS 77 w/ tunned pipe(for 60-90 plane). I guess my question fit this tread perfectly. Please help.

Thank you in advance.

I have the Zen 50 and the Zen 90. The Zen 90 is a great pattern plane with the right amount of power. I use a YS120 16x8 on YS2020 and it is one smooth running plane. I simply love it.

The Creek Quest is still awaited, I have one on order; when and if I get it, a YS140L will go in it.

I use a YS63 on the Zen50 though I have seen great performance with an OS50fx (or whatever the new variety is)

lol its looking like you and i are in the same predicament! right now for me its looking like i'm gonna go with the lark or the swallow. my biggest question is the difference in flight quality between similar designs but one in the 40 class and one in the 60 class. (i.e. lark v swallow) help?

mike

If you was talking about me. Yes I had the same problem, and your last post was taken from my mind....