Any comments on Piper/Hybrid F3J?

[SpeedMaster]

Hi,

Can anyone who owns the Hybrid/Piper tell me what they think about it? I`m considering the Hybrid Contest with X-tail. It can be found at these webpages: www.f3-modellbau.de The price is very good.

[Komet]

Ive just ordered a D box version and I'm interested in hearing any comments as well.

[tknuutti]

I flew a D-box v-tail Hybrid for a couple of seasons as my 1st 'open class' plane. Was very happy with it, especially for the price. RTF weight was low, around 1650gr, so it handled very easy (basically wouldn't tipstall no matter what) and showed lift well. Wing has a good spar and handled a strong winchlaunch and zoom fine. Very easy to launch, again due to low weight.

On the negative the fuse was pretty fragile (not made for hard spot landings) and the covered wing is also best suited for nice landings only. And it won't quite launch and range out like the molded gliders do - ballasting would have of course helped this but I rather moved on to molded planes where the weight is in the stronger structure.

It would make a very nice electric thermaller as well, since starting weight is so low.

Really pretty in the air with the transparent wings :)

[Mark Miller]

My customers find the Piper to be a great value at a great price. I would suggest getting the Hybrid with the Soprano tips as it is a bit easier to fly. I call this the Piper in the US as it is a different planform from the Hybrid.

Mark Miller
Isthmus Models

[Mark Miller]

Also, I do not find the fuselage to be fragile. I have stress tested it many times over the years and find it to be as good as most planes out there in it's price range. The Hybrid/Piper and Soprano share the same fuselage. It has a Kevlar nosecone with Carbon/Kevlar hybrid cloth around the wing pylon. The boom is Kevlar with carbon strips. The cross tail fin is a glass/Kevlar/Balsa/Glass sandwich. One key with this model and others is to make the wing wire harness access hole in the fuselage as small as you can. If it is to large the pylon will flex and crack. But because of the Kevlar it will not come apart.

Mark Miller
Isthmus Models

[Komet]

Thanks for the comments Mark. I’m really looking forward to receiving mine (hopefully tomorrow). I’m glad to hear the quality is as good as you say. This will be my first model with ballast tubes. I am aware that ballast tubes come with the kit, but do you supply your own ballast? And if so, what do you use?

[Mark Miller]

There are 2 tubes for ballast. You will need to make slugs to fit in the tubes. I have seen 2 different diameter tubes. .41" and .45". I either fill one or both tubes. I see no need to do partial tubes. I have found a supplier of lead rod and I just cut them to length.

Mark

[Komet]

Thanks Mark, I’ll look at the lead rod option. I received my Hybrid on Friday prior to going away for the weekend and have only had a quick look so far. I have to say that the quality is great. The fuse looks quite strong, with plenty of room for servos, batteries etc. I can’t wait to start assembling it.

[SpeedMaster]

Could you post some pictures?

[Komet]

Me? I've never posted photos before but I suppose I could give it a go. I'll try and get down to my shed tonight but that might not happen because of family commitments.

My impression of the model so far is that it's well built, strong and good quality. I am putting it together when I get the opportunity to do so, but I am a slow builder at the best of times and as this is my first big F3J type glider, I'm even slower. I'm working on the fuse at the moment, trying to install push rods so they're supported and slop free. Pushrods didn't come with my model so I'm using carbon tube. I'm using the review of the soprano on lift zone as my guide.

[Mark Miller]

Photos can be found on the link given in the first post or on my website.

Mark Miller
Isthmus Models

[Mark Miller]

If anyone is willing to do a LiftZone review on the Piper or the Trio Let me know and I'll give you the details.

Mark