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Everyone wants to see it fly, and after they have seen it fly, they want to see it fly again! Albert Wahrhaftig this MIG-29 from Yard Bird RC.
 
Yardbird RC MIG-29 Park Jet/Motrolfly USA Combo Review
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By wahrhaftig wahrhaftig is offline
Old Dec 28, 2007, 02:32 PM
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Introduction


Wingspan: 24"
Weight: oz.
Length: 34.5"
Servos: 2 HS55 or equivalent
Radio: 3 channels with v-tail mixing
Battery: Dualsky XP1303GT
Motor: Motrolfly USA DM2210 1700kv
ESC: Motrolfly USA FM20A
Prop: APC 7x5
Available From: Yard Bird RC
Price: for combos see text

After the pleasure of reviewing two different electric powered P-40 Warhawks, I was glad to have an opportunity for a change of pace to a different era, a different side of the former Cold War and a very different aircraft design and system of construction.

At any distance at all, Yard Bird's version of the MIG-29, although constructed from flat and unpainted depron foam, has a convincingly realistic 3D appearance. Unlike most prop driven jet simulations which have motors mounted in the tail, this MIG-29 mounts its motor mid ship near the CG and in a location where it is practically invisible in flight. Unlike many flat foamies with electronics pasted conspicuously to their fuselage sides, the MIG's electronics are all secreted within the fuselage. Interlocking parts provide a stiff and sturdy structure. There is a whole lot to admire in this design, and of course, as we shall see, it flies great. Good work, Yard Bird!

When I bring this one to the field, everyone wants to see it fly, and after they have seen it fly, they want to see it fly again. This simple airplane seems to have a kind of magic.

Kit Contents

The Yard Bird Mig-29 kit contains

  • CNC cut depron foam airframe parts
  • Carbon fiber spar, stiffeners, and pushrods
  • All required hardware, e.g. elevon horns and connectors, screws, hook and loop tape, etc.
  • A pre drilled plastic motor mount
  • An instruction book
  • Decals including extra markings
To complete the kit you will need
  • A three (or more) channel radio with v-tail mixing
  • 2 servos HS55 size or equivalent
  • A brushless outrigger motor, prop, and ESC
The Yard Bird MIG-29 is available as
  • The MIG-29 kit alone, for $54.99
  • The "combo" reviewed here consisting of the kit, a Motrolfly 220-1700 kv brushless outrigger motor, a Motrolfly FM 20A ESC, a DUALSKY XP13003 GT LiPo battery and an APC 7x5 prop for $156.46.
  • A "combo"consisting of the kit, a DUALSKY YM2826CA-12 brushless outrigger motor, a DUALSKY XC1812BA ESC, a DUALSKY XP13003 GT LiPo battery and an APC 7x5 prop for $163.99

What you see is what you get. I like the simplicity and honesty of the box art. This array of accurately cut foam parts builds up into a handsome MIG.
 
A bag full of small parts completes the kit contents. Several options for markings are furnished with the decals.
 
Yardbird furnished a DUALSKY XP13003 GT battery, an APC 7x5 prop and a bottle of Yardbird RC Ultimate RC Foam Glue for this review. Thanks guys! They also furnished the required motor and ESC. My apologies for forgetting to photograph them.
 

In addition, Motrolfly provided the required motor and ESC and, in addition, a programming card. Most generous and many thanks.

motrolfly 220-1700 kv motor furnished for review FM 20 ESC, furnished for review
 
Programming Card for Motrolfly ESCs, furnished for review
 

Assembly

This is not an Almost Ready to Fly kit, but it does go together quickly and painlessly. The completeness and clarity of the Instruction Manual help to make assembly a pleasant and relaxing experience.

I used Yardbird RC Ultimate RC Foam Glue, which I have previously reviewed on this site throughout the build (except for one step where CA is specified). This glue sets quickly, but requires 24 hours to develop full strength, so assembly is reminiscent of old times (anyone remember Ambroid?) when you glued a few parts and waited until the next day to continue. The very few hours of work involved may actually occupy several days. No matter, I've got loads of other stuff to do. Don't you?

While the completed airframe is tough, prior to assembly the foam parts with narrow areas like the hatch frame are easy to break if you don't take care. Be assured that if you do break something, it will easily glue back together.

The very complete Instruction Manual, 10 pages long, is well thought out. The instructions are concise, clear, and well illustrated.
 

Wing

The wing, elevons, and "flat" area of the fuselage consist of foam pieces glued together along with a carbon fiber spar and carbon fiber stiffeners. You need to have a couple of heavy books on hand to weight things down, and don't forget to place wax paper beneath and above the foam pieces in case the glue oozes.

The left and right wing decks and the nose piece ready for glue. A flat carbon spar will later be placed between this assembly and the aft wing deck when the latter is added. Here the left and right wing decks and the nose deck are glued and setting up. Wax paper beneath the parts and between them and the books keeps things from sticking where they shouldn't. Two heavy books are mandatory (but they don't have to be d
 
The elevons are hinged to the back of the wing deck. Both the deck and the elevons are stiffened with carbon fiber rods. I found an X-acto knife handle handy for seating the glue covered stiffeners into their slots.
 
The fore and aft fuselage deck with carbon fiber spar setting up under books.
 

Fuselage

The upper and lower portions of the fuselage are built onto the flat wing-fuselage-elevons. Tab and slot construction makes accurate assembly easy. Note that the vertical stabilizers also serve as stiffeners for the aft section of the airplane, so be sure to glue them well.

The lower side of the fuselage is built up over the bottom of the wing deck. Hinges are glued into the bottom of the hatch cover. In use, the projecting hinges are simply inserted into the hatch frame. The top of the hatch cover is held in place with a patch of Velcro.
 
The hatch frame is attached to the lower fuselage sides. All the radio gear fits in here with loads of room to spare.
 
Looking at the underside of the MIG to see the placement of the motor mount. Looking at the top of the Mig to see the placement of the motor mount.
 

Radio Installation

There is loads of room for your radio. The servos fit into slots on the fuselage sides. Everything else hides under the hatch in the fuselage. The carbon fiber pushrods are fine. I can't say that I am a great fan of gluing the clevis to the carbon fiber push rods, but I have to admit that so far this has held together well.

Motor, prop, receiver, ESC, and battery, all mounted and ready to go. Servos attach to the fuselage side and wing bottom and use carbon fiber pushrods.
 

Completion

In case you find elevons a little confusing, just follow the set up shown in the Instruction Manual and you will get it right. CG is 2.125" in front of the back of the engine mount. Yard Bird recommends adding 1/8 oz of weight to the right wing (a finishing nail pushed into the tip will do) and setting 4 to 6 degrees of up trim into the elevons. My one small criticism is that no dimensions are given for the low and high throws on the elevons. Approximating the deflections shown in the photos at Step 28 in the Instruction Manual worked out OK for me. Add the decals, and you are ready for flight.

For a ship made of flat foam, the MIG presents well.
 

Flying

Basics

When I first saw this airplane, I thought flying it would be a challenge, but I couldn't have been more wrong. This is a high performance airplane, but it is remarkably stable and easy to pilot. I really get a kick out of its responsive yet worry free handling.

Taking Off and Landing

The MIG has to be hand launched. (In the video, a buddy launches it in the manner recommended for the first test flights.) Once the plane is checked out, the pilot can easily launch it alone. At about 2/3 throttle, it will lift itself from your hand.

I have never encountered an easier to land airplane. In fact, it doesn't need you. Just stand aside and let it land itself.

Aerobatics/Special Flight Performance

Aerobatics, of course, are not what this plane about. It is a top dollar (ruble?) twentieth century jet fighter, so what would you expect it to be able to do? Climb vertically? Tight, tight turns? Instant loops? Be the kind of plane that can get on the 6 of another flier and stay there? This baby does all of that readily. Want to fly jet combat? You are in business. This MIG seems to have no weird habits and can fly very slowly with no loss of stability. Pretty amazing, actually.

Moreover this Mig will fly itself out of trouble. The video shows what happened one day when the air stream blew an ESC wire back into the prop which severed it, leaving the MIG with no power and no controls. And what did it do? It descended almost vertically to a gentle landing.

On another flight, both pushrod connectors detached themselves from their elevon servos (because I forgot the instruction to secure the nut on the E/Z connectors with a drop of CA) leaving the MIG with motor power but no controls. Chopping throttle and hoping for the best, I watched the MIG, as before, simply settle downward until it gently contacted earth. Could you possibly ask for more?

Is This For a Beginner?

No. This is a surprisingly obedient and stable airplane, but it is on the small side and speedy enough to get very small very fast. With its light gray bottom and dark gray top, it can be hard to distinguish right side up from upside down, especially when the sky is gray. Disorientation can happen easily and very fast. So, no, not for beginners. This airplane is best saved for someone with enough experience not to get flustered when it has suddenly become a dot in the sky going who knows which way.

Flight Video/Photo Gallery

Climbing out A high speed pass.
 
A pass past the tree line. Flyin' fast and easy
 
Cruising at altitude On approach for landing
 
Gently touching down.
 
Downloads
Type Name
Size
The MIG-29 on its initial flights
1.55 MB
Watch what happens here. After the initial climb out on the very first flight, I opened the throttle wide. The increased air flow blew the ESC wires rearward until the prop cut through one of them. Powerless and without controls, the plane simply landed itself.
866.6 KB

Conclusion

This MIG-29 is fun!! It is a sturdy design and is turning out to be quite durable. Weekend after weekend I am exploring its capabilities and am now flying with much greater control deflections than I was using in this review's videos. If the reaction at our flying field is any predictor, Yard Bird's MIG -29 is going to be very popular, for four of our small band are already talking about getting together to build MIGs of their own. Formations, anyone? I hope so.

Pluses:

  • Well designed model
  • Impressive flier
  • Easy to assemble

Minuses:

  • None at all!
Last edited by Angela H; Dec 30, 2007 at 07:56 PM..
 
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Old Dec 28, 2007, 02:44 PM   #2
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Thanks, this plane does look like a lot of fun, and the price is decent too.
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Old Dec 28, 2007, 02:58 PM   #3
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Nice review.

I have flown a friends Mig and Raptor from Yardbird. They both fly well.
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Old Dec 28, 2007, 03:39 PM   #4
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Nice review! I will be reviewing the Raptor soon, looks like they are both keepers!
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Old Dec 28, 2007, 04:00 PM   #5
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Nice Job
Dear albert

nice review very well written. you did a nice job on the build too.

scott
www.MotrolflyUSA.com
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Old Dec 28, 2007, 07:24 PM   #6
Just one more flight...
 
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Excellent combo. Nice work guys!
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Old Dec 29, 2007, 08:49 AM   #7
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great entertainment
this has become one of my favorite models of all time for what it is. i fly mine around in a 80 degree high alpha most of the time. use throttle for altitude management. also enjoy nose into wind, 0 throttle, full up and after initial stall break it will float down at a gravity defying speed or actually float down flying backwards if wind is above 10 mph. great fun. donnie
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Old Dec 30, 2007, 12:06 PM   #8
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Wow.. Someone got reaaaallly lucky on that second video...

I had my US 25 ESC shut down on me the other day and watched the US25 drop straight and level and go behind a hill.. I always walk up to a crash sight wiggling the sticks so I can hear if "something" survived..

There she was, sitting in 1 perfect piece.. Zero damage.. Sometimes, it just works..

Great review!


Jeff
www.CommonSenseRC.com
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Old Jan 01, 2008, 03:03 PM   #9
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good review, I bought one of the raptors from Mark at 2dogrc when he first got them. AWESOME plane, plenty of power, handles great, and floats really nice too.
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Old Jan 01, 2008, 03:08 PM   #10
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Hey Kissfan-

Where are you guys flyin' now? You flyin' with Curtis and those guys?

Jeff
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Old Jan 01, 2008, 09:09 PM   #11
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yeah, mostly. still on 6th street some too.
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Old Jan 01, 2008, 09:17 PM   #12
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I need to come out and see you fly the Raptor.. I've eyed it for a while..

Not very many electric fliers still in Florence..
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Old Jan 12, 2008, 11:09 AM   #13
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Dr Kiwi
dear fans

heres some more info on the Motrolfly USA DM2210 line he has testing on the 1400kv and the 1700kv motors.

your will have to read thru a little for all the info.

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=798391


scott
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Old Feb 22, 2008, 11:17 PM   #14
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opps,
turned mine into popcorn last week. full throttle, full down but a foot low. have built number 2 and flown it. this is one of those things i'd say is a must have. donnie
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Old Feb 26, 2008, 02:01 PM   #15
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New CV/FMS YardBird MiG-29 Park Jet
Hi folks!

I have just completed a model of the YardBird RC MiG-29 for ClearView and FMS.

I love the look of the MiG-29 in the air either flying fast or going into high alpha for some awesome flop-over loops or harriers. As you may have seen in the online videos, the MiG-29 flies quite fast, slows down nicely and has enough power with the recommended motor to go vertical at will.

This model can do everything you want a Park Jet to do. Check out the videos on the YardBird RC web site.

AUW: 11.5 ounces typical (.32kg)
Span: 24" (.61m)
Length: 34.5" (.88m)
Materials: Depron and carbon fiber airframe
Motor: 12T brushless motor XM2826CA
ESC: 18A brushless ESC
Prop: APC 7x5, 12 amp draw
Batteries: 3 cell 11.1v 1300 mAh 20C LiPoly



Any YardBird MiG owners out there, please try the model with ClearView or FMS and let me know how it flies or whether any adjustments are needed.

-- Gary
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