Hobby Lobby Escale Samurai Powered Glider Review - Page 2

FASTBEN · Oct 12, 2011, 11:35 PM

and that's what i need it for slope,it too looked very lazy in the video maybe one more flight video with vertical climb out wood help,is there a way to buy this without power pkg?
Ben

78dave · Oct 13, 2011, 05:16 AM

Boys, just try to video a plane moving at full speed. I slow things down to allow my videographer to keep it in the window. The Samurai can indeed light it up with speed. This is one of the best fiberglass and built-up wing gliders out there. It is not a hotliner, but looks like one. The flight stability is incredible. It's a natural in the thermal and uplifting slopes. The flaps increase lift like they should and are not just a bunch of drag hanging down with not improvement in flight.

Flyboone · Oct 13, 2011, 10:21 AM

Here's the HL Video.

Hobby Lobby Samurai Sailplane (2 min 52 sec)

JimNM · Oct 13, 2011, 11:19 AM

Jason, please stop posting videos like that one

I am needing a Samurai in my fleet and you are making it very hard to hold off. The slope sites around here are full of cactus, Yucca and lava rock, but you showed us that you can fly off a postage stamp clearing in the mountains with tress all around - so the glove has been dropped and the challenge has been made. Darn you

Flyboone · Oct 13, 2011, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimNM

Jason, please stop posting videos like that one

I am needing a Samurai in my fleet and you are making it very hard to hold off. The slope sites around here are full of cactus, Yucca and lava rock, but you showed us that you can fly off a postage stamp clearing in the mountains with tress all around - so the glove has been dropped and the challenge has been made. Darn you

Oh you mean this video?

All on board footage was shot on my Samurai. Tight landing zone at the second site.

Slope Trip 2011 with FlyCamOne HD (4 min 33 sec)

UlteriorModem · Oct 13, 2011, 07:54 PM

Advernterous... Awsome...

Enjoyed that!

FASTBEN · Oct 13, 2011, 09:55 PM

now that was great this is just what i need for small slope we have.....im sold
Ben

jzanutto · Oct 16, 2011, 10:43 PM

I've had one since the summer. It thermals really well, I have yet to take it out to our little slope.

My only issue was to get it to CG with the suggest point I had to add a lot of weight up front. however while flying it I could tell it was nose heavy and I kept taking out the weight

It doesnt need any other motor or battery pack in my opinion

lornecherry · Oct 20, 2011, 03:20 PM

...looks MUCH better in the HL video; especially the four point rolls. Looks ideal for slope aerobatics and mildliner flying. Might have to try one of these; price is right.

aeajr · 05:04 PM

According to the specs, the motor is running about 33 amps or about 363 watts at 11 volts. At 33 ounces that is 176 watts/pound. Should climb straight up quite nicely.

That should be PLENTY for a warm liner and should get you to 200 meters in well under the 30 seconds required for an ALES contest. But some people really love things way overpowered.

I would probably go for a lighter battery pack, maybe an 1500 25C pack, to try to get the weight down a bit for thermal soaring. Might save 2 ounces. But it really looks good for the slope.

78dave · Nov 17, 2011, 05:30 AM

It climbs pretty much vertical with the larger battery. Not a hot liner, but only because of the wing spread. Just too much drag, but certainly warm!

Macattaka · Nov 19, 2011, 01:57 AM

I've had one of these for about a year now and really like it. With a decent 2200 3S it climbs almost vertical and floats around all day. It does everything reasonably well at a great price.

The only negative I could say is the covering doesn't hold it's tension very well and wrinkles quite a bit in the Oz summer heat.

Apart from that it's one of my most used planes.

Cheers,
Al

Kiddio · 09:47 AM

Gee, this looks like the OK Models Pilot Stevia electric glider, right down to the hardware used. Rebranded for a different market?
Check out the link.
http://shop.singahobby.com/?q=node/19805

In any case the Stevia is a great glider.
Cheers
Andrew

CrazyJB · Dec 15, 2011, 02:17 PM

To those that aren't impressed with this plane: That video does not do this plane justice as far as penetration and speed. But the following video sold it to me (watch the third flight near the end of the video):

Samurai rc electric glider ! (4 min 52 sec)

aeajr · Feb 29, 2012, 10:02 AM

I would love to hear more about this glider's performance as a thermal duration glider for ALES contests. Any opinions or experience? At 10 oz wing loading it is in the higher end of what I would prefer, but still workable, and maybe better for wind than a real floater like a Radian.

At 69" the visability will be difficult at long distance so you can venture our all that far.

Not knocking the glider in any respect, just wondering what thermal pilots think of it.

Nov 11, 2011, 04:55 PM	#25
aeajr Registered User LI, New York, USA Joined Mar 2003 22,120 Posts	According to the specs, the motor is running about 33 amps or about 363 watts at 11 volts. At 33 ounces that is 176 watts/pound. Should climb straight up quite nicely. That should be PLENTY for a warm liner and should get you to 200 meters in well under the 30 seconds required for an ALES contest. But some people really love things way overpowered. I would probably go for a lighter battery pack, maybe an 1500 25C pack, to try to get the weight down a bit for thermal soaring. Might save 2 ounces. But it really looks good for the slope.
	Last edited by aeajr; Nov 11, 2011 at 05:04 PM.

Nov 29, 2011, 06:22 AM	#28
Kiddio Registered User Joined Aug 2011 1 Posts	It looks like another plane I have Gee, this looks like the OK Models Pilot Stevia electric glider, right down to the hardware used. Rebranded for a different market? Check out the link. http://shop.singahobby.com/?q=node/19805 In any case the Stevia is a great glider. Cheers Andrew
	Last edited by Kiddio; Nov 29, 2011 at 09:47 AM.

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Oct 12, 2011, 11:35 PM	#16
FASTBEN fast,,,, faster KELLER TEXAS Joined Feb 2002 3,134 Posts	and that's what i need it for slope,it too looked very lazy in the video maybe one more flight video with vertical climb out wood help,is there a way to buy this without power pkg? Ben

Oct 13, 2011, 05:16 AM	#17
78dave Dr. Dave USA Joined Nov 2005 1,312 Posts	Boys, just try to video a plane moving at full speed. I slow things down to allow my videographer to keep it in the window. The Samurai can indeed light it up with speed. This is one of the best fiberglass and built-up wing gliders out there. It is not a hotliner, but looks like one. The flight stability is incredible. It's a natural in the thermal and uplifting slopes. The flaps increase lift like they should and are not just a bunch of drag hanging down with not improvement in flight.

Oct 13, 2011, 11:19 AM	#19
JimNM WAA-08 THANK FRANK! Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States Joined Jun 2002 6,359 Posts	Jason, please stop posting videos like that one I am needing a Samurai in my fleet and you are making it very hard to hold off. The slope sites around here are full of cactus, Yucca and lava rock, but you showed us that you can fly off a postage stamp clearing in the mountains with tress all around - so the glove has been dropped and the challenge has been made. Darn you

Oct 13, 2011, 07:54 PM	#21
UlteriorModem Registered User Joined Aug 2011 712 Posts	Advernterous... Awsome... Enjoyed that!

Oct 13, 2011, 09:55 PM	#22
FASTBEN fast,,,, faster KELLER TEXAS Joined Feb 2002 3,134 Posts	now that was great this is just what i need for small slope we have.....im sold Ben

Oct 16, 2011, 10:43 PM	#23
jzanutto Registered User Fresno, CA Joined May 2005 1,021 Posts	I've had one since the summer. It thermals really well, I have yet to take it out to our little slope. My only issue was to get it to CG with the suggest point I had to add a lot of weight up front. however while flying it I could tell it was nose heavy and I kept taking out the weight It doesnt need any other motor or battery pack in my opinion

Oct 20, 2011, 03:20 PM	#24
lornecherry Registered User Joined Dec 2009 67 Posts	...looks MUCH better in the HL video; especially the four point rolls. Looks ideal for slope aerobatics and mildliner flying. Might have to try one of these; price is right.

Nov 17, 2011, 05:30 AM	#26
78dave Dr. Dave USA Joined Nov 2005 1,312 Posts	It climbs pretty much vertical with the larger battery. Not a hot liner, but only because of the wing spread. Just too much drag, but certainly warm!

Nov 19, 2011, 01:57 AM	#27
Macattaka Beyond the BlackStump Australia, SA, Adelaide Joined Mar 2006 198 Posts	I've had one of these for about a year now and really like it. With a decent 2200 3S it climbs almost vertical and floats around all day. It does everything reasonably well at a great price. The only negative I could say is the covering doesn't hold it's tension very well and wrinkles quite a bit in the Oz summer heat. Apart from that it's one of my most used planes. Cheers, Al

Feb 29, 2012, 10:02 AM	#30
aeajr Registered User LI, New York, USA Joined Mar 2003 22,120 Posts	I would love to hear more about this glider's performance as a thermal duration glider for ALES contests. Any opinions or experience? At 10 oz wing loading it is in the higher end of what I would prefer, but still workable, and maybe better for wind than a real floater like a Radian. At 69" the visability will be difficult at long distance so you can venture our all that far. Not knocking the glider in any respect, just wondering what thermal pilots think of it.