|
|
|
 |
RCCars |  |
Crack Roll | |
Flying Giants | |
RC Power | |
The E Zone | |
Lift Zone | |
Our Sponsors |  |
|||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||
|
Introduction
The 3D parkflyers have been hot planes lately, and Great Planes has been rapidly expanding their electrics lineup. So it is no surprise that Great Planes has jumped in with their Sukhoi 3D. The kit is made of Depron foam and a Balsa wing and covered in a lightweight covering that seems to resemble nelson lite film or solite.
Kit Contents
Everything needed to complete the model is in the box except for glue and your radio/motor system. It was packed well and nothing was damaged in shipping. Lets get started!
Construction
Since this is an ARF with quick and simple construction, I won't spend a lot of time on step-by-step assembly, but rather just point out some highlights and things to watch.
Wing Installation
I install the main wing next, so I could properly line up the tail feathers. To mount the wing you need to carefully cut the covering off the center section where it will make contact. When the wing is inserted, mine wasn't a very tight fit and didn't really contact much of the top area of the fuse unless it was held together tightly. I cut the covering away form the center of the wing so the glue can contact the balsa ribs then slid it in. I used 15 minute epoxy to glue the wing on, and had to sit and hold it until it was dry! I would use 5 minute epoxy if you can so you won't have to hold it as long as I did. After it was dry I still had a small gap between the wing and the fuse but most of it was glued on and it seemed tight.
Using UHU Creative adhesive
The tail section is next. The control surfaces are made from depron foam. The instructions say to use epoxy to glue them, but I have been using a glue from the craft store called UHU creative, it is a kind of contact adhesive and it works great on foam or wood. You can use it 2 different ways, you can put it on the part to be glued and then put them together to dry, or you can put the glue on each part, allow it to dry, then stick the parts together. For the second method you need to be sure your parts are in the right position as you more than likely won't be able to remove them after they are stuck!
Power
Next was the power system. The recommended motor is the Kontronik Fun 400-36 motor geared 4.2:1 and the Kontronik smile 30-6-12 ESC. I didn't use the included connectors; instead for minimal connections and simplicity, I simply soldered the speed control directly to the motor, shortening the wires a tiny bit so excess wire wasn't hanging. The instructions specifically covered installing this longer can motor into the aircraft -- nice touch! To install this motor in the plane, the instructions had me cut a small bit of foam away on the fuse at the rear of the motor mount. This is so the longer motor can fits without sticking out too far. They also had me drill a new hole for and zip tie rear of the motor to hold it securely.
Radio
The radio system was next, I used 4 Hitec HS-55 servos and a Hitec 555 receiver. The instructions said to install one wing servo before the wing was installed, but there was no real advantage to doing that as the hole for the servo wires to exit the wing was clearly visible thru the transparent red covering. The receiver was just stuck to the fuse with velcro in the plastic tray. The control rods already had the z bends made into them and were cut the proper length, all you need to do is slip them thru the included kwik links and you're done. Nice touch, GP!
We now have a completed airframe!
Flying
Throws were set per the manual for low rates, and as much throw as I could get for high rates -- the included longer servo arms really help out in that area. I used about 40% expo on all the surfaces also. I put the 8 cell nicad pack all the way back as far as it would go in the battery tray and the CG was a touch in front of the 4 1/4" recommendation. This plane does everything in the book -- hovering, waterfalls, harriers and knife edge loops -- with no problem. The flat spins it does can be slowed down and almost perfectly flat. With the thick airfoil, it can really slow down to a crawl. The 'conventional' spins are very nice, with no tendency to drop a wing. Harriers are predictable and straight vertical, without any tendency to fall to one side or to fall 'on its back'. It floats on landing with no tipstalling or bad tendencies whatsoever. As you can see it can be flown in a small area, but it doesn't like to roll on grass very well and tips over. The flaperon mixing really makes the loops tight and I would recommend using it over using a y-harness for the aileron servos if your radio can do it. There are some great loopets as well to show just how effective the flaperons are! Knife edge is really impressive for this profile foamy, with no coupling. I have flown other foam sukhoi's and they don't knife edge near as well as the Great planes one does, possibly because of the stiffer fuse.
I set it on the runway, hit the throttle and the plane jumped off the ground. It was ready to perform in an instant! I was quite pleased with the recommended power package's performance. It will slow down to a crawl, even with the weight at 25oz or so. If the weight is having any negative effect as far as slow speed performance, it isn't noticeable. With the recommended 8 cell pack, my power was a little on the low side for my personal preference (I'm a power hog, what can I say?), as it took 3/4 throttle to hold a hover and climbed out a more slowly than I would've liked. I decided to experiment with a variety of battery options, 3 of which are flown below. In the video you will note that the model is noseheavy with the 11.4oz pack, and is not holding vertical in hovers or doing blenders and such as cleanly as with the heavier packs.
ConclusionThis is a great 3d plane for the seasoned pilot or for the beginning 3d pilot. It does everything well and is really easy to hover. Kit assembly was simple and only took about a night of working on it. The recommended setup will fly it nicely. Lipoly batteries can make the stock set up lighter, and a 3s2p 1500 will provide about 20 minutes of flight time. Of course there are also lighter, more expensive, and more powerful motor/esc setups out there if you choose to spend the extra funds and go that route. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
Thread Tools |
|
|
Jun 03, 2004, 03:23 PM
|
#2 |
|
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 132
|
I plan on getting this plane. wqhat are some other motor choices than then suggested one from GP which they are out of stock on ?
|
|
|
|
Jun 03, 2004, 03:29 PM
|
#3 |
|
Fun Manager
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Villa Grove, Illinois
Posts: 1,694
 |
Please keep this discussion focused upon the REVIEW ITSELF. Any discussion regarding the background of the design has been moved into the vendor talk forum. Thank you!
Sincerely, Mrs. AnnMarie Cross Fun Manager RCGroups.com |
|
|
|
|
Jun 03, 2004, 04:29 PM
|
#4 | |
|
Registered User
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Provo, Utah, United States
Posts: 746
|
Quote:
Last edited by utahrc; Jun 03, 2004 at 04:31 PM. |
|
|
|
|
|
Jun 08, 2004, 11:54 AM
|
#5 |
|
Nasgul Pilot
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Ciudadano del mundo
Posts: 78
|
<<EDITED BY SITE ADMINISTRATOR....PLEASE keep manufacturer discussions in the manufacturer's forum. This discussion is SOLELY for discussing the actual article at hand.>>
I'm flying the Airwave Sukhoi 3D with a Hacker BL20-12L with a 4:1 geared and 10 NiMh 1100mAh, I suppose you can use the same setup. With my setup, the plane has plenty of power to do almost all 3D maneuvers you can dream about. I fly for 5 minutes with this setup. Last edited by AMCross; Jun 08, 2004 at 12:47 PM. |
|
|
|
|
Jul 23, 2004, 01:01 AM
|
#6 | |
|
The Lipos cost how much?!
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Toluca Lake, Ca USA
Posts: 194
|
Quote:
Hmmm, I guess all the don't post about the background of the kit warnings killed the interest in this thread. Shame, I like this plane. Oh well, Pumi |
|
|
|
|
|
Jul 24, 2004, 05:35 AM
|
#7 | |
|
veni,vidi, roto volubilis
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Aberdeen, Scotland
Posts: 6,062
|
Quote:
 phil |
|
|
|
|
|
Jul 24, 2004, 11:46 AM
|
#8 |
|
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Raleigh/Durham Intl, North Carolina, United States
Posts: 5,046
|
The Sukhoi fly's great and does everything you can think of and some things better than other sukhoi's..
Last edited by Steve H.; Mar 12, 2006 at 12:52 AM. |
|
|
|
|
Oct 22, 2004, 05:17 PM
|
#9 |
|
Me hover rong time
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Salt Lake City Intl, Utah, United States
Posts: 147
|
Would an Axi 2814/12 fly this plane well, or is it overkilL?
|
|
|
|
|
Mar 11, 2006, 09:43 PM
|
#10 |
|
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 1
|
love this plane...have a AXI-2212-26 LOVE IT
|
|
|
|
|
Jun 03, 2006, 11:49 AM
|
#11 | |
|
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Valencia, Ca.
Posts: 54
|
Quote:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Thread Tools | |
Similar Threads
|
||||
| Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
| For Sale Great Planes YaK54 3D ARF | XtremeAerosport | Aircraft - Electric - Airplanes (FS/W) | 13 | Jun 10, 2007 11:57 AM |
| Great Planes Sukhoi SU-31 3D Profile power??? | ChrisK7 | Power Systems | 4 | May 24, 2005 01:17 PM |
| Great Planes Sukhoi SU-31 3D | JoeM | Foamies (Kits) | 3 | Oct 06, 2004 12:00 AM |
| News Great Planes Sukhoi 3D ARF discussion | Speed E Freak | Vendor Talk | 11 | Jun 05, 2004 07:27 AM |
|
|
Downloads
