[grosbeak]

The airframe is home - time to get the ball rolling.

This winter's project is an ARF - the RC Guys 1/4 scale Cessna 150 Aerobat. Specs:

Wingspan: 96"
Length: 67"
Flying weight: 12-14 lbs
Engine: 20-32cc 2-stroke gas

Planned components:

Engine: DLE 20 (subject to change; still thinking of something bigger)
Receiver: Futaba R6008HS
Servos:
- Throttle: HS-425BB
- Ailerons: HS-625MG x 2
- Flaps: HS-645MG x 2
- Rudder/nose wheel: HS-645MG
- Elevators: HS-645MG
IBEC: Tech-Aero Ultra
Battery: A123 6.6V 2500 mAh
Fuel system: 2-line Fiji water bottle, McFueler dot

[grosbeak]

After I got it home I realized I needed to do a little tidying before I got to the unboxing.




Here's the DLE 20 in perspective. Hmm...




All set.

[grosbeak]

I was hoping for a nice full colour hardcopy of the manual. Guess not!




Here's my printed B&W copy open to the parts list.




Fuselage - check




Cowl - check




Main gear legs - check

[grosbeak]

Main wheel pants - check




Main gear cover - ?

Nose wheel assembly - check




Wings - starboard - check






Wings - port - check

[grosbeak]

Front windshield - check




Rear window - check




Large wing tube - check




Small wing tube - ?

Main wheels - check




Side windows (and top windows) - check




Nose wheel - didn't we cover that already?

Elevators (and horizontal stab) - check

[grosbeak]

Rudder - check




Wing struts - check




Wing strut cuffs (and main gear cuffs) - check




Wing tubes - already done - and there's only one.

Nose wheel assembly - again?

Fuel tank assembly - check




Engine mount and hardware - missing (don't care, AFAIK it's a plastic beam mount)

Remaining hardware - check




Missing from parts list - tail fin extension - check




Missing from parts list - corrugated surfaces - check




Missing from parts list - elevator joiner - check (no photo)

[Just a Wannabe]

following along!

[grosbeak]

My impressions so far.

The good:

- Parts are well boxed and arrived free of damage
- Covering is first rate (I'm relieved, given reports of earlier versions)
- At first glance the fuselage and, wings and empennage appear to be very sturdy
- All of the fibreglass parts are well made

The not so good:

- The manual needs work - the part lists duplicates some items and forgets others
- The flaps - nice they are, fowler (as claimed by the manufacturer) they are not



- The nose gear aluminum is beat up and the fasteners are corroded







- The hardware is cheap





- The wheels are cheap (see photo in previous post)

- - -

I'm reporting all my findings for posterity, but don't get me wrong - all of the negatives are easily overcome and, overall, I'm pleased with the airframe. The flaps will work fine, I'm not overly concerned about the dings on the nose gear, the wheels are easily replaced and I've got plenty of quality hardware (and a well stocked LHS nearby).

Incidentally, the wheel pants are staying off, at least for now. I had to disassemble part of the nose gear to remove the front pant but that's no trouble.

[grosbeak]

That's it for tonight. My shop time is sporadic so there may be gaps between updates. But there WILL be updates.

[grosbeak]

Originally Posted by Just a Wannabe

following along!

Welcome!