spirit kit

[zackesch]

i am thinking about getting the spirit kit. it is my first build. does anyone have anything to say about this model? is it cracked up to what it says to be?

[Sparky Paul]

The Spirit is a good airplane.. here's some ideas on making it better..
http://www.charlesriverrc.org/articles/kitmods/dickwilliamson_gpspiritmods.htm

[wingsnapper]

Buy a DJ Aerotech Chrysalis 2M or a Skybench Lil' Bird 2m and never look back... There is no need to ever know what you were missing. Don't ask how I know.
Jesse

[Wylie Shaw]

Buy a DJ Aerotech Chrysalis 2M or a Skybench Lil' Bird 2m and never look back... There is no need to ever know what you were missing. Don't ask how I know.
Jesse


I second these choices, can't go wrong with either one....


Best Regards,


Wylie S.

[Ollie]

I agree with Paul, Snapper and Willie.

In my opinion, the Spirit is a good kit but the Chrysalis and Lil' Bird 2M kits are much better yet.

[4444]

If it is the Spirit 100" (and not the 2M) you are asking about, then I'd buy the ARF from Tower Hobbies ($160 minus the $15-20 discount they continually run; see web-site homepage for this month's promotion number).
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXJYP9&P=7
The ARF weights less than the kit, has a fiberglass fuse, and the carbon caps and fiberglass webbing reinforcement to the jointer box are already done...I launch mine full peddle with a power winch all the time. It comes with spoilers installed, but I left them sealed under the Monocote and just use flaps.

The Spirit 100" is my first thermal glider and I think a good choice: strong, cheap, easy to see (good colors and 100 inch) and being an ARF, I don't have a build invested; and if you crash, you can by ARF parts. After I get better, I'll build the Bubble Dancer kit I bought from Polecat.

Bob

[Fred_L]

There must be hundreds (probably thousands, maybe tens of thousands) of pilots who cut their teeth on Spirits. I'm one. It is quite a low cost and easy way to dip your toe in and test the waters to see if you like it, without over-committing.

It is a good kit and the instructions were quite clear. Implement the modifications suggested in the CRRC site. I also removed the wing hold down dowels and placed them in a fore-aft orientation inside the fuselage (through the bulkheads) to get the rubber bands and the dowels out of the airflow at the critical wing-fuselage junction.

Building the kit will mean you acquire skills, materials and tools that will put you in good stead for doing any repairs and modifications you might need for the Spirit or any subsequent models.

For hard bungee or winch launches the wing joiner and the wing box are the weak points. Go gently and there is no problem.

If you enjoy the sport and develop as a pilot you quickly outgrow the Spirit. A big fat wing and a big boxy fuselage limit its ability to move around the sky searching for lift. I moved on to build a 2m Sagitta (also a built up and I feel it is a step up in performance) and then a 2m First (sheeted foam wings with a fiberglass fuselage). These are all rudder/elevator aircraft. I still have them all and compete with the First, use the Sagitta as a backup aircraft and fly the Spirit at the slope when it is really light and a floater is just what is needed.

I'm sure the other 2m aircraft mentioned in this thread are OK too.

Fred

[aeajr]

I fly a Spirit 2M RES along with a buch of other gliders. Love mine. It is totally stock with the exception that the servos have been moved forward of the wing so I could take out about 3 oz of lead.