Originally Posted by torg12

Isn't the Hacker A20-22L a better motor with even more weight savings?

Use a Hacker.. Beats E-Flite hands down for quality.

Dan

My tail wheel is finally on order!

i never thought of e-flight as high end, but im still new @ this

E-Flite makes the E-Flite Taylorcraft 450. The quality of E-Flite products is apparent in the ARF. Surely the excellence that E-Flite put into their E-Flite Taylorcraft 450 is apparent in their branded motors. I might not put E-Flight at the top of my short list for RC motors, but the E-Flite motor makes the short list as a solid, dependable, reputable, high quality motor from a company in the United States that is known for their top notch customer service. Could they make a better motor? Possibly. In my experience their reputation is based on their ability to stay competitive and be a leader in the industry with a full line of RC equipment and services. There is a lot about E-Flite that makes them a solid, top notch company with some solid, high end products. E-Flite did not get where they are today by ripping off their customers with inferior products.

However, I have limited experience with RC motors but I do now have my first Hacker motor. It is the $80 Hacker A30-12XL V2 Motor. It is in my 3DHS 42" Vyper Bype biplane. It rocks at 195 watts/lb on 4S turning a 15x6E prop.

I will have to see how the Hacker continues to run. My 6 year old E-Flite 450 motor is still running great and it has been through a lot.

Freddy

Eflite is like Ford quality wise. You can't really go wrong, but it's nothing special.

When you buy Eflite over the better Chinese direct brands is excellent post sales support. That is where your money is going. So, know yourself as a consumer, if you think you need post sales support, Eflite is worth it.

Direct Chinese brands, there are good and bad. You need to research and only buy from the good ones, and understand that if you get a lemon, you just throw it out. No support.

Hacker is like... I dunno.. BMW? Higher quality, higher price, excellent buying experience. In normal day to day is it really all that much better? Yes. Do you NEED it? No. If I was building something very high performance, Hacker would be a consideration, as well as other even more boutique brands.

For my money, in my Taylorcraft, you will find a Hobbyking power system, Futaba radio components, and a couple Hitech servos.

-Jay

I agree with you CyberJay. I pick and choose my components too. I have an E-Flite 480 in my Taylorcraft. I chose it because I knew it would fit up properly. But I have a Turnigy Sentry 40 amp ESC in it along with Turnigy servos. I use GensAce Lipos.

If you know what you are doing, you can use some cheap stuff. As an example, when I ordered the Turnigy servos, I needed 4 but ordered 6 just in case 1 or 2 were DOA or otherwise defective. I know that attempting to return a defective item to Hobbyking is a lesson is futility. And fighting with them is like trying to catch a pig in a greased pig contest. Sooner or later you learn that the pig likes it.

Freddy

+1 with what Cyber Jay says as well. I use an eFlite 450 in my Taylorcraft with a CC Thunderbird 36A ESC and have not had an ounce of trouble with either of these items. That being said, I also use Turnigy motors in a number of planes along with some HK ESC's, and again, no problems. Maybe I'm lucky, but the cost of Hackers and the like would limit the number of birds I own and fly, and have yet to build.

I got this model right when they came out. Loved the way it flew. I use a 480 eflite with a Thunderbird ESC. No problems at all... I only got to fly it 5 or 6 times and my boy was running his RC Car and he ran into it right after it landed. Crushed the side and wing. That was a couple years ago...and finally decided to get another one. Will be tearing out the electronics and rebuilding. I really like the way it flies...so had to get another. I've had the same set-up in other models and never 1 problem. You just always should use a seperate BEC when running close to the max of the ESC, epecially if there isn't great cooling.

Hey guys finally got a TC after wanting one for a while. Couple of questions. Mines got the 480 eflite and I'm running some 2100 3S batts. How are you guys mounting your lipos?

Also, do they make a cockpit kit for the dash and what not? Lastly, I'm running an APC prop but what would you recommend for a wooden prop? Same size?

Originally Posted by tamiyafan1975

Hey guys finally got a TC after wanting one for a while. Couple of questions. Mines got the 480 eflite and I'm running some 2100 3S batts. How are you guys mounting your lipos?

Also, do they make a cockpit kit for the dash and what not? Lastly, I'm running an APC prop but what would you recommend for a wooden prop? Same size?

I just use a velcro strap to hold mine in & cinch it down tight. 1 piece of advice on the battery, notch out the framing a tad on the backside just in front of the landing gear. Do the same on the trailing edge of the cowl. Makes the pack a LOT easier to get in/out without snagging anything. I use 2170's & 2200's.
No cockpit kit per se. I did make a lite balsa plate that screwed in & mounted my seats to it though. But those part's are long since gone. I'm throwing in an image of the panel if you want something to work with.
I ran a 10x7 wood prop on the E-Flite 450 I used to have in it but since I went to a Motrolfly motor, I'm now running a 9x6 APC. I could still pull the 10x7 but am just to lazy to do it. The Motrolfly motor has more power & less weight than the E-Flite 480. I still fly it scale but once in awhile... I go stupid.

Dan

I really like the look of the TC with a wood prop. It looks like it belongs there. I, too, have an E-Flite 480 in my TC and use a Turnigy Type A Beech wood 10x7 propeller. It is one of a few items that I will buy from HobbyKing. I especially like the shape of this prop on the TC.

I run 1300mAh LiPo's in my TC just cinched in with a velcro strap. The 2200mAh's I started with were a little difficult to get in and made the TC nose heavy and overall a little heavy in general for me. The 1300's eliminated all of these and I can get 11 minutes of sport flying using 70-75% of the battery. If I do go crazy with a flight I keep the time closer to 9 minutes.

Freddy

Thanks for the info guys. So I put a 12x6 prop on mine since its the 480. You think that's too big?

Originally Posted by tamiyafan1975

Thanks for the info guys. So I put a 12x6 prop on mine since its the 480. You think that's too big?

That sounds big. Better check the amp draw. I'm drawing 16.5 amps or so with the 480 with a 10x7 prop.

Freddy

Originally Posted by tamiyafan1975

Thanks for the info guys. So I put a 12x6 prop on mine since its the 480. You think that's too big?

It just doesnt need a 12x6 dude,,,10 x 7 is good power and top end speed,,not tried the 9 x 7 yet but think it would be a good prop or drop down to a 6 pitch for slow scale flight,,,i used that cockpit pic in my TC and also came up with the idea to cover the interior with photo paper,,just colour the paper as you like and fold n cut to size,,low weight and looks great

Originally Posted by Magic k2

It just doesnt need a 12x6 dude,,,10 x 7 is good power and top end speed,,not tried the 9 x 7 yet but think it would be a good prop or drop down to a 6 pitch for slow scale flight,,,i used that cockpit pic in my TC and also came up with the idea to cover the interior with photo paper,,just colour the paper as you like and fold n cut to size,,low weight and looks great

I wonder why eflite recommends the 12x6 for the hop up with the 480?