Dear Twinman;

I installed the ruddervader, throttle and tail wheel servo's. I've roughed in the control rods and now cutting the engine barrier for the fuselage engine...the one that came with the kit was cut for a .40 size motor. It would be nice if I could finish off the fuselage this week.

I do take pictures before first flights...religiously... I ain't lost one yet on the first flight...accept once, and that was a U-control model, which does not count. I am taking pictures...now.

A good CG, good running engine(s)...all controls going the way they are to go...and a deep breath. Works every time...:0

I'll keep you posted.

Soft landings always,

Bobby of Maui

I have a "simple" twinstar with 40LAs and 10x5 2 blade props. Y connector to ailerons "stock" elevator/rudder connection, no retracts, but I do have one engine on the flap knob on my 6 channel futaba transmitter which helps a little with synchronization. The plane easily gets 8 minute flights at 2/3 throttle on the teeny fuel tanks and it is very responsive although not very fast. I will fly this plane in winds that I would not think of flying other planes. I, too, wish they (Hobbico) would bring it back. Very cool!

I know that this is a rip for the Twin Star...since Mr. Tiwinman started all this...

I'm building a Three engine Slow Poke .40, with a "V" tail. I've the fuselage finished accept some detailing at the tail it self. The "V" is in, and framed over from the aft head rest. Center engine installed, with the throttle servo installed and the push rod is finalized. All fuselage servo's are in for the ruddervaders, including the steerable tail wheel servo. All servo's are hooked up. I've fuel proofed the engine well, fuel tank well, and aft to the rear, trailing edge bulkhead...it's drying now. I've built in the fuel tank hatch and tie down. lI've the center wing section built, and have the nacelle shape finalized, and have cut the nacelle form onto plywood for multiple duplication/tracing. I've the three bulkheads and formers roughed out in shape.

I Will have room for an 8 oz. fuel tank and a servo too...ala the Twin Star. I use micro servo's for my engines, and three of these little Airtronics beauties, weighs less then a Airtronics 94102 standard servo. I use Airtronics equipment and love the gear...all first rate.

The nacelles look exactly like the standard Slow Poke .40...just a little smaller, but the Nacelles are wide too. Fowler flaps 1/2 span (via...Hobby Lobby easy Fowler flap hinges), with dual main wheels...and that's four 3" Trexler tiers...I tried for 3 1/2" Trexler, but Tower was out of stock. 3" will get the job done.

I've pictures, and I just bought a computer camera...now just to figure out how to get the shot for e-mail. The film gets developed tomorrow at Cost co. and then I'll post them.

Soft landings always,

Bobby of Maui

I bought a Twinstar and was thinking of putting the Magunm XL52RFS on it , finding out that fuel would be an issue also a lot of engine I have decided to try Magunm XL 28 ARNV 2 strokes or the Magunm XL 30 RFS 4 strokes
does any one know anything about these engines or have any sugustions
also what kind of 8oz tanks are you using and what mods do you have to do to put them in
Thanks

I would believe that you will be seriously overpowering your model. I've seen this model fly with OS .25 fx's with authority, and I did power my Twin Star with four .32's. I almost ripped the wings off with four .32's. The wings are not built up to take much more power the twin .40's and even that is way more power then you need. The larger the engine installed into the model, the higher the Single engine control speed will be...all things being equal. The heaver the model the more power it will be able to take on a single engine and still remain in control of it. You will need to enlarge your rudder and grab all the rudder deflection you can get...Get it all...for you will need it with the torque of two .52's. Before you go full speed down the run way, do it in steps and build up your speed on several passes first. I had a problem with my wings vibrating with four .32's. It was not flutter, but my wings did vibrate to the point that I managed to rip the covering loose and almost lost the model.

This model has a lot of drag to it, and mine has lots more due to four nacelles, and dual main landing gear. I did not build up the rudder larger...a mistake, for it can barley hold its own with one outboard engine shut down.

It's the most fun twin model that I have. You can also install two aileron servo's and have flaperons...I did and will help your elevator a little on landing and take off.

My best to you, and soft landings always,

Bobby of Maui

Plan B, several guys in this area (Houston) have added a center engine for three and it flies fairly well.
Hint, set the outer engines to kill and taxi back to the pits on the center engine.......too cool!!!!!

I've now installed four AP Yellowjacket .15's into my Twin Star Sq. I had to set aside my current project, to do the work. I wanted to get my Twin Star Sq. back into the air and I've had the last engine sitten on my work bench staring at me for ten day's now. The engines went in with a little more work then I originally thought, but they are now in and running. I've three of the four beginning to do their thing, but one will take more time. I will not fly until all four are singing and stay running in the vertical. So I've more work to do to brake them in.

The AP .15's came out at about the same weight as the OS Max .10's I removed. I had muffler extensions and full mufflers on OS .10's to fit the nacelles. The AP .15's have a much more compact muffler and lends itself to install in nacelles easier too. I've put 8 X 4's on the .15's, wood Zingers. I do not use plastic props...of any kind...But that is another story.

I've enclosed a picture of the new instillation.

Soft landings always,

Bobby of Maui

This is what the OS Max .10's looked like with the exhaust extensions. The little .10's would fly the model Ok, but not with the power reserve I usually like in a model. The original .32's way overpowered the model and almost lost it due to all the vibration...and the covering that started to remove itself while flying. The wings are not built up strong enough to hold that much power, especially with the outboard nacelles mounted so far out on the wing. The four .15's should be perfect.

Hopefully it'll be arriving next week, so a couple of questions....

How does it compare to the Brightstar, is it just a twin version of the same plane? I'm currently putting together my Brightstar I got a couple of months back from TH...

Engines... I've got low air time Irvine 39, 25LA and 46LA laying around. All would need a matching mate. I think the Irvine might be a bit much, its the most powerful of the three. Would the 25LA be adequate or should I go for the 46LA? The 46 is currently happy on a 10x6 (only turns 12,000) and is a pretty light engine for its size... the power reserve might enable me to turn 10x6 3 bladers...

Two LA46's would be great, I have two LA40's on mine and its perfect. I can imagine the plane on .25's..

Thanks John, I might go for the 46LA option and just get another engine. It'll only need 4-5 tanks through it to match run time...

The 46 is actually a couple of ounces lighter than the Irvive 39, so its probably no heavier than many 30 sized engines...

I'm looking forward to the new arrival, these things must be getting rare now...

Had OS 40 FP's on mine, flew great but had short flight times(8 min) due to the small tanks.
I used the "X" shaped flat motor mounts that mount to the engine back- plate and then to the firewall on rubber mounts, also mounted the engines on their sides so the mufflers pointed down under the wing.

Don't glue the nose cone on, you'll need to get at the nose gear for maintenance. I glued mine together for a tight fit on the nose of the plane and held it there with a 2 inch piece of Scotch tape on each side. Mine never came off.

These things land just like trainers.

What are the best engines for the twin star? I've read anywhere from os 25s to 46s. I don't want it under powered but want to have a decent amount of flight time. I'm still thinking of TT pro 36s. Edwin mentioned GMS 32s. Anybody have an opinion or info about GMS? Is glassing the center section really necessary?

I think the TT 36's would be the best all around engines for this plane. Good run times, small and easy to mount.
Second choice, LA 40's.

Boy, for a plane out of production the Twinstar sure gets a lot of traffic.

I have TT GP42's on mine and I love the combo. They seem to be less thirsty then some other engines, I easily get 10 minute flights.

I wanted one.

Had to have one.

I lusted for it.

Then I got one.

And sold it NIB.

I do not want another. Too much plastic to suit me, and reworking it to eliminate the plastic is almost as much trouble as building a plane from the start.

But there is hope for those who still want one.

Go to Hobbico.

Get the Skyvista - it's near as can be the same airplane set up for a single engine, with 6" greater span. $160.

Another, almost as close, is the BrightStar 40. $130.

The sleek one, nowhere nearly as boxy looking, is the Starfire 40. $140.

Building and installing Twin Star style necelles on any of these would be a trivial operation.

No one need bemoan the loss of the Twin Star as right here we have three versions of it.

Bill.

Looks like all of those planes are discontinued. Luckily, I got my Brightstar a couple of months ago from TH @ 93.49... The price told me they wouldn't be around for much longer.

Hopefully, I'll find out soon how closely related they are. I might have a Twinstar and a Tristar!

Hi All..
I would like to buy a Twinstar....anyone has one for sale or do you know where to buy one ??
Please help ...

I'm looking for a pair of Twin Star engine nacell covers.
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