Your Thoughts on Balsa USA Eindecker 40
 

Anyone build this model and have any thoughts. Balsa USA tells me it's sport scale with ailerons and not the wing warping. I assume flying wires, etc are aesthetic.
mv

RE: Thoughts on Balsa USA Eindecker 40
 

It is VERY sport scale. If you just want an easy build and bit of a WWI feel, then it can be lots of fun. If you're looking for a scale model of the Fokker EIII then you may be disappointed. The wing is the standard fat airfoil BUSA design and the "rigging" is definitely just for show.

The most common modifications to the kit seem to be to replace the "slab side" fuse construction with a "stick" style frame and also to replace the push rods on the rudder and elevator with a pull-pull system. On the original EIII both the rudder and elevator were "full-flying" which means there was no fixed fin or stabilizer as on the BUSA Eindecker. So some modelers make this conversion.

Wing warping would only be possible with a wing of scale thickness and flexibility. It would be completely impossible with the BUSA wing type.

RE: Thoughts on Balsa USA Eindecker 40
 

Kit,
I'm currently building the Eindecker 90, which is basically a bigger version of the 40. Yes, it has ailerons instead of wing warping, the tail has a rudder and elevators and not single moving planes like the original. It comes with a way simple landing gear, but shows you how to add pieces to make it look more scale (worth the effort), and yes, the flying wires are purely aesthetic.
I'm adding aluminum sheet to the front of mine to make it look more scale than paint, and I'll probably add a few cockpit details as well. No, I don't expect to win Top Gun with it, but it will look the part, especially in the air. Have fun with yours.

papermache

RE: Thoughts on Balsa USA Eindecker 40
 

Thanks forth heads up ... they said it was easy building... slab sides is a bit much for a wwi plane though. I would like the full flying stab and rudder but not sure if i want to buy a kit and rthen e-engineer the fuse and tail either. I;m not aware of this model in kit form that is more true to scale. I don't need the wing warping.
mv

RE: Thoughts on Balsa USA Eindecker 40
 

I don't want to bad-mouth the kit because the problem was really with my expectations. The Eindecker 40 and 90 (as well as the SR Batteries eindecker) are structurally pretty much the same as an Ugly Stik, but with some cosmetic features that give them that Fokker feel. If what you want is a fun Sunday flyer, this is a good kit. It might also be satisfying for the kit-basher who wants to try out some new things.

But nothing at all about it is truly scale. The rudder and elevator have both been enlarged (as well not being full-flying). The rear of the fuse is too short and the nose too long. The wing is not in a scale location. The cowl is far to deep and the one piece wing makes it impossible to have a cockpit. I ended up only using the wing (which I cut in half, moved forward, and mounted on wings tubes to allow a scale cockpit) and tossed the rest, so $80 for a set of ribs was a bit of waste.

The only scale kit that I'm aware of is the Proctor kit.

RE: Thoughts on Balsa USA Eindecker 40
 

I should add that the SR kit is a much better kit and from all reports a joy to build (and fly). But it isn't much more scale than the BUSA offerings. Truly scale EIIIs are rarer on the flight line than truffles.

Here's a really informative page about the BUSA eindecker and possible modifications:

http://www.angelfire.com/indie/aerostuff/eindeckero.htm

RE: Thoughts on Balsa USA Eindecker 40
 

Hi abufletcher,
You're the one that told me how un-scale the BSA kit was and told me to just build it and have fun. The bird came out nice and it's a pleasure to fly. It's now one of my favorites.

Bob

RE: Thoughts on Balsa USA Eindecker 40
 

And you've done a great job on it! [sm=thumbs_up.gif][sm=thumbs_up.gif] I often think that the RC model version of the eindecker has taken on a life of its own and become "real" in its own unique way that no longer depends on historical accuracy.

PS. Can we get a close up of that pilot! :D

RE: Thoughts on Balsa USA Eindecker 40
 

http://www.aerodromerc.com/ and look for their 1/6 scale E.III. Much more scale, and has an undercambered airfoil. I can vouch for the airfoil, as I have a 57" Albatros C.III and a 78" Gotha G.IV with the same airfoil and they both fly fantastic, especially at slow speeds. The 1/6 scale Eindecker has scale outlines with full flying control surfaces. I does not have wing warping though, and uses ailerons. Maybe some conversion could be done. The model is designed for electric power, but I'm sure it would not be difficult to put a small 4-stroke up front if you must.

RE: Thoughts on Balsa USA Eindecker 40
 

Nice! And I like the way they've used the full span ailerons to retain the impression of aileron-less wings!

RE: Thoughts on Balsa USA Eindecker 40
 

good point on the full span ailerons..

I'm not lookiing for anything super scale.. but I like to build and would like it to somewaht match the outline of the original. I was looking at the eindeckeer b/c it looks somewhat easy to build and you don't them to often. I also don;'t want to go real big either, as in the SR offering. I'll take a look at the aerodrome.. I know they make real nice electrics.. may need some beefing up i suppose if you use glo. mv

RE: Your Thoughts on Balsa USA Eindecker 40
 

Here's a link to the build thread of the "Easy Build" version. Aerodrome offers two versions, the "Easy Build" being with a flat bottomed airfoil instead of the undercambered. For what it's worth, I'd stick to the undercambered. http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=510402

RE: Your Thoughts on Balsa USA Eindecker 40
 

I was just at the aerodrome site taking a look... was looking at the easy build thread and it looks like theelevator is full flying from the pics.. i assume rudder is too. Thanks for the build thread. if the only diff is the undercamber and landing gear.. i will see about going with the non-ez build version. My first trainer was a 3ch undercamber it flew great.
mv

RE: Thoughts on Balsa USA Eindecker 40
 

Here's the pilot close up:
http://www.rcuvideos.com/video/Eindecker-40-Pilot

I had fun building it.:)

RE: Thoughts on Balsa USA Eindecker 40
 

Pure fun! [sm=thumbs_up.gif] What's the trick to the mechanism?

RE: Thoughts on Balsa USA Eindecker 40
 

wicked cool . is that a skull ?? .... I suppose you could have him looking up and down as well.

RE: Your Thoughts on Balsa USA Eindecker 40
 

The full scale has a span of 31' 2" ad the aerodrome rc model is 66" which comes out to 5.6666. Would this still be considered in the 1/6 scale range? I woiuld like to put the upper section of a gi joe type doll with a foam body in if that works. they are 6" in length.

RE: Thoughts on Balsa USA Eindecker 40
 

It's just a micro servo mixed with the rudder. I know, I'm not normal[sm=wink_smile.gif]

RE: Your Thoughts on Balsa USA Eindecker 40
 

Not much different in scale size. In fact, I think it is probably even a better match, as not everybody was 6ft tall back then. (Assuming the full length of the GI Joe is 12")

RE: Your Thoughts on Balsa USA Eindecker 40
 

ooops right.. 12" in length..

phatbob02.. i was thinking you ran a post down the middle of the body with something similar to a servo output arm on the end inside the fuse and connected that to the rudder servo. yours is much easier.

RE: Your Thoughts on Balsa USA Eindecker 40
 

ok.. should be my last question for a bit... does anyone have images / info of Eindeckers with diff color. I have not found much on the web. I can't beleive they were all marked the same or very similar??
mv

RE: Your Thoughts on Balsa USA Eindecker 40
 

Not a huge variety of colour schemes for that airplane. Most were variations of the tan colour, although there were some green ones and some grey ones. Squadron/Signal has an "In Action" series book with a few colour schemes, and there area few more here: http://wp.scn.ru/en/ww1/f/418/59/0

RE: Your Thoughts on Balsa USA Eindecker 40
 

Thanks.. I do like the green at the bottom. A plane you usuually don't see at the flightline in most clubs in an unusual color.. poyfect !!:)