New Spirit 100

[Rod B.]

I picked up a new Spirit 100 kit to build over the remaining cold months. The kit looks pretty nice and the instruction manual is thorough with ample illustrations. It looks like it will be an enjoyable build. One thing I was surprised at were the ribs, they are 1/16" balsa. My Spectra uses 3/32" rib material, and they are spaced closer than those on the 100. I suppose they are adequate, but 1/16" sure makes me nervous. I report on the building progress after I get started.

Rod

[John_R_C]

I built a Spirit 100 about 9 months ago. I took the kit's advice and added carbon fiber to the top and bottom spars for winch launches, and wrapped the joiner box as indicated in the plans. I also used pointed hinges (hinge points) for the flap hings, locating the pivot at the bottom of the flap. I was concerned about the longevity of using tape to make this joint.

I had to use a huge amount of lead, perhaps 8 oz. to balance this bird. Lighten the tail section in any way possible to minimize this problem. I understand this is common with this bird. I used Hitec 225 BB servos throughout; however, they are really too large (thick) and tend to show through the covering (aileron servos) and I had to hollow out the balsa below the ply top covering to get them to fit for the flap servos.

The plane was an excuse to buy a Hitec 7 channel radio to get crow capability. I've got this dialed in, needed some down elevator, and it really makes bringing the plane down fast a joy.

I have had the plane on the club winch for our fall contest, and even standing on the winch didn't show any bad habits. I did bend the 2 meter Spirit joiner first try on the winch, so it was at least a reasonable test of the 100.

I'm using the slim 8 channel Rx, and an 1100 mah NiMH Rx pack. Plenty of room for everything. The Rx pack sits vertical, protruding into the canopy arrea - I didn't use the cockpit insert, but painted the canopy black (as I am prone to do)!

[Spaceship13]

Ive got mine a full house. I got it after it was passed aound 7 people for several years and nobody finished it. I got it and it was missing partsd. i did find enough and it flies on hs-81 and 85s
it hasnt given me any prob yet! :-)