KyFBCGuy

Hey guys,

Now i know it's not a spad, but it could be the next best thing for those looking to
try an ARF. I just got one last week and am slowly assembling it.
No hurry as its been cold, rainy and windy for the past 4 weeks.
Take a look here. I will post some pics when i get a chance.

http://www.raidentech.com/stev4siiiarf.html

Jeff

Throttle

Yep, not a SPAD.[]

FantzyPantz

Not a SPAD, but I know that I can clone a SPADet to look just that. Happy building, and when it crashes, smashes, busts up into a zillion pieces...well we won't say nothing.... [:-]

$38 bucks?! Heck I'd even go for one of those.

upnflyin

Just ordered one. For that price I just might play around with a balsa again. Almost as cheap as coro. Gives my spadet a rest.
Just courious as to how the quality is but for the price ?????
Al

ChrisSpad

i'm curious as well. But, with only 1 degree dihedral, its not going to be very self righting. I'd almost bet that its gonna be heavy, and the wings not very long - 57" span. Doesn't give the chord, but, my guess would be between 11 and 12". I'd be willing to bet that the wingloading on it will be comparable to the spadet, or higher.
Don't think i'm trashing it, cause i've not seen it, nor flown one. But, just going by whats printed on their site, i'm guessing that its closer to a second plane than a trainer - but, if i'm wrong, it sure wouldn't be the first time, or probably the last.

upnflyin

I agree with ya Chris. I flew your spadwalker for a while after I got it from you so this is not going to be a problem. I just want something extra to knock around with. I know its not tough like a spad but the price is good.
Al

ChrisSpad

that big spadwalker was the floatiest plane i've ever built. It was a whole lot of fun - provided the wind wasn't blowing. With all that dihedral, the rudder was super effective - crabbing it was a trip, and it was almost too self righting, but, a very easy going plane at that - i wish i could've kept all the planes that i got rid of - i actually bought the CLT and the 25cc stick that i built back from Second Childhood last SF.

flying poodle

Whatt!!! It can't be heavy!!

Quote: "Strong and Performance airplane with plywood ribs!"

Clean

SIG Skyray 35's have ply ribs, they're light. It's that light ply stuff, most of it is cutout. Really equivalent to some of the heavier balsa that they use in prefab wing ribs.

Crash Master

The VNH Line of ARF's are built in Vietnam and use a wood that is common to that region. It is not (or was not the last I heard from VNH) the balsa type wood that we are familiar with. It is also covered with some kind of a pvc type material (don't remember exactly how they described it). I have heard other reports about the ARF's coming out of Nam as being very heavy and quality not quite what you might expect.

For $38, it might be worth looking into.

For What It's Worth,
Vance

smokingwreckage

I enjoy kit building so I fly balsa and SPADSs. I also pick up an ARF from a yard sale or swap meet occasionally. I've had a couple of planes from Viet Nam, and both flew very well. No ARF flies as well as my scratch built planes, but ARFs usually fly better than most SPADS. If I pay attention to weight and avoiding warps and twists, my SPAD designs will fly better than most ARFS, but they don't hold a candle to my scratch builts. During the school year I don't have much time to fly. I fly SPADs when conditions would put the survival of a balsa plane at risk. I fly SPADs in anything except rain, so far sustained winds of 50mph with gusts to 70mph being the most extreme. The HOR on wheels survived, but it wasn't much fun.

If you have the hanger space and the expendable income, go for it.

FantzyPantz

I just ordered one of these. Maybe it will get here in time for my birthday.

KyFBCGuy

Here are some pics of the trainer as it nears completion.

Couple of things to look at if you get one.

Nose gear - use longer / better screws to hold it to the firewall.

Check glue joints in Fuselage. Added some extra glue around servo tray.

Check hinges on tail assembly, Elevator and rudder. I replaced mine.

Control hardware - little cheap, i replaced mine with some good stuff.

Almost no dihedral in wing. A good thing depending on what you want.

I wll fly it when the wind goes down and it warms up a little.

Jeff

upnflyin

I got mine and you are right about the nose gear. It came right off in my hand. It is not a great quality plane but for the price????? I haven't got it ready to maiden but it is definitely not a trainer as they say. It has no diehedral and the wing is more symetrical than flat. It is just as everyone has described it. Not balsa and covered in ???pvc??
Design is spray painted on. Hinges are very stiff. Control links are in the trash can. Made it into a tail dragger.
Should be fun anyway and if it doesn"t work out still worth the price.
Al

KyFBCGuy

Cool... How did you do your tail dragger version of it??

I was thinking of it and even glued in some plywood but then i couldnt figure out how
i was going to do the tail wheel.

What engine are you going to put in it?? I was goin gto try a .46 in mine but was also
thinking of putting a O.S. 40 LA in it that i have that is brand new in the box.
The thing should be a rocket with a TT.46 pro in it.

Post some pics of the Gear set up of you get a chance.

Jeff