Veltro

My Feedback: (1)

I picked up one of the new Black Horse Macchi C.200s a couple of weeks ago. I'm very impressed with the quality. The instructions state it’s 95% almost ready to fly, and for once it’s true. There isn’t much to do – and nothing involving glue or epoxy. The hinges are even pre-installed. And they’re scale hinges!

I haven’t put it on a scale but it’s very light. The covering is well done and the colors are correct. The components all fit like they should. They even include the mounting bracket for the retract valve.

The only negatives are the landing gear and the position of the pilot.

The gear is typical ARF; poorly made and too lightweight for the job. I am going to replace them with a set of Robart 631s and Robostruts. Fortunately the design of the mounting rails will accept heavier gear without any issues. For the tailwheel, I’m just going to go with a steerable nose wheel bracket.

Veltro

My Feedback: (1)

The position of the pilot is much easier to correct. It wasn’t difficult to remove the bottom of the cockpit floor. I then added a wedge shaped balsa block (2 1/2" x 4 1/4" x 7/8") so that he sits higher and at the right angle. I also gave him a quick spray of Dullcote to knock down the shine. It is a decent bust, and it’s well painted. I also added a magnet while I had the cockpit apart in case I don’t want to keep using the screws to attach it to the fuselage.

JazzboneCuit

Hi Veltro...I've been eyeballing this ARFfor a couple weeks now but there's not much info on it around...
Iwas curious about the wings and how they attach to the fuse, are they easily removed for transport? Iwent through the manual, but it didn't cover that very well..

Thanks
JazzboneCuit

Veltro

My Feedback: (1)

Hi JazzboneCuit,

The wing attaches the same way as the giant Hanger 9 P-47, if that's any help. There is a left and right wing panel that side onto an aluminum tube. There are then thumbscrews that you tighten from the inside of the fuselage to secure the wing panels in place.

They also provide a second method of securing the wing. There is a small hole in the upper surface of the wing (by the white triangle) where you could insert a screw and tighten it into the aluminum tube. The have put vinyl tubing inside the aluminum tube to keep the screw from vibrating loose.

I'll probably just go with the thumb screws from the inside of the fuselage. It has worked fine on the P-47.

Hope this helps.

Jay

TimBle

Only thing to watch out for is that the thumb screw goes through a ply longeron former and a external former with nothing to prevent you from outtightening the thumbscrew. If you do you crush the longeron former and weaken the structure.

carlbecker

My Feedback: (3)

I just purchased one also. The kit weighs in at less than 8 lbs. I will be using a Laser 120 side mounted to align with the fuel cell. Unfortunately I will have to make a hole for the needle valve. The tires look to small and there is no disconnect for the air lines when removing the wings. I made a reducer in the OEM tubing at the wing split and will use Robart pieces from there. I don't do many ARF's, prefer to build but this one looks pretty good so far. I will be building a larger C200 after my current build is finished and a 1/4 scale PT-22.

JazzboneCuit

Thanks Veltro...Iappreciate the pics of the wings...helps out alot...
This is looking like the next plane for me, although it's built for glow/gas, it looks like it's able to be electrified real easy with the top hatch already there....

Cheers
Jazzbone

miklos

My Feedback: (38)

Well, here's a pet peeve of mine.... Why are so many manufacturers putting out these kits that are just shy of 80" wingspan? It can't be that hard to add another couple of inches and make it IMAA legal so we can fly it at the giant scale warbird meets. That's about the only thing that keeps me from looking seriously at some of the BH kits.

Lifer

My Feedback: (1)

It may very well be the case that they don't know about the 80 inch rule. The importers need to tell them.

Veltro

My Feedback: (1)

Good suggestion, TimBle. Thanks for pointing that out.

carlbecker

My Feedback: (3)

From the events I have been to no buddy takes a tape measure to the wing. I would prefer a bit larger myself so I will build one from the MAN plans enlarged sometime down the road. I do very much like this offering though.

paladin

My Feedback: (9)

just ordered one at LHS

Joe

Kostas1

Is the one and only thumbscrew per wing panel, enough?

Keep us posted!

carlbecker

My Feedback: (3)

Considering the construction and loads I would say plenty. The wing tube passes through the fuse. The bolts keep the wing from slidiing out, very little load if any. I had to make a fuel tank clunk and use my own tubing which where missing or I lost. No biggy. I don't care much for ARF's but this one looks pretty good.

carlbecker

My Feedback: (3)

I am ready to check CG. The BH Macchi is less than 11 pounds currently. I am fairly happy with this ARF. I plan to build a larger one from plans after a couple of builds. I do like the Macchi C200.

paladin

My Feedback: (9)

I got mine last night, what did you guys do to increase the tire size in the wheel well area.

Kostas1

Paladin,

will you please post some pictures from your new Macchi;

carlbecker

My Feedback: (3)

I am just using the supplied tiny tires. The struts are wrong also. I will be looking into changing the wing hold down and possibly the cockpit hold down. I usually epoxy the tube into one wing then do an underneath allen bolt to hold the wings together. Screws on top are ugly as are cowl screws but it is an ARF so flying is much more important for me. Maybe magnets for cockpit hold down.

I do like this ARF so far.

Veltro

My Feedback: (1)

It will take up to a 3.25 inch wheel without having to modify the wheel wells. I believe the tires it comes with are a little under 3". If you want to go larger, you're going to have to start tearing apart the wings. If you go to a forked strut, you're also going to have to tear apart the wings. Consequently, I'm just replacing the gear with higher quality Robart units that I already have, and am going with 3.25 inch wheels. My friend is going to use the Wingspan electric gear and Robart struts. I switched my cockpit mounting over to magnets.

JazzboneCuit

So the canopy is bolted down? Magnets should be an easy addition Iwould think...
With the canopy off does there seem to be ample space for a battery tray/Lipo should one choose to electrify this?

Jazzbone

Herbs_007

BH have these warbirds, do they qualify as IMAA legal?

http://www.blackhorsemodel.com.vn/in...detail&pid=248

http://www.blackhorsemodel.com.vn/in...detail&pid=247

http://www.blackhorsemodel.com.vn/in...detail&pid=232

& almost forgot

http://www.blackhorsemodel.com.vn/in...detail&pid=158

Herbs

JazzboneCuit

In order to qualify for IMAAthe bird has to be 80"or greater for monoplanes or 60"or greater for biplanes....every one of those BHmodels would qualify....Ido like that 109 listed

Jazzbone

carlbecker

My Feedback: (3)

I have the MAN Macchi C200 plans and if I remember correctly 4.5" wheels are listed. It looks like 75mm thin wheels for the BH Macchi. Hopefully I will maiden mine this friday.

There is a fair amount of room up ft minus the fuel tank. I would think fairly easy for convert to elec. I don't do electric though.

carlbecker

My Feedback: (3)

Unevenful maiden, some clicks for right aileron. Slow with a 15x6 prop on the Laser 120. A bit faster using a 14x8. The left aileron pin came out on the second flight but it landed sweetly. The pin is in the flap area. The air system doesn't hold pressure, either my install or bad parts, need to check. A member of the field backed up over the wing and did not offer any thing but sorry. I guess he is!

Light and good flying plane. If there is a need for speed something more than a Laser 120 and no more than 100 grams more in weight would work just fine. Robart just may be the gear for it.

Lifer

My Feedback: (1)

Somebody backed over your plane? Has he paid for the damage?