Conference vmszoo::rc

    Jim,
    
    I've seen a few of the fun-scale bipes you mention.  By and large
    they were all flown by experienced modelers but they appeared plenty
    friendly/forgiving enough for the average modeler's 2nd-or-3rd plane.
    One thing though, they were frightful on the ground [asphalt runway]
    but this may not be a factor operating from grass.
    
    BTW, yer' observation that the Aeromaster is "not" a beginner's
    airplane is dead on the mark.  A guy should have 3-or-4 ships under
    his belt and be "real" comfortable with flight-basics before trying
    an Aeromaster on...not that it's particularly treacherous, understand,
    it's just verrrry nimble/agile/crisp in the response department
    and requires that the pilot be capable of keeping up with it.
    
    Adios,	Al

     I DON'T HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH IT MYSELF BUT CLUB MEMBERS TELL ME
    THAT THE GREAT PLANES SUPER SPORTSTER BIPE 40 IS A GOOD FIRST BIPE
    PLANE.
    
    

        Re:< Note 412.0 by AKOV11::CAVANAGH "We don't need no stinkin badges!" >

        Jim,
        
                The Mark's  Models  bipes  are not good beginner's planes
        because of the  very  short  tail  moments.    They are extremely
        squirrely at takeoff and  nose over on landing.  Once they are in
        the air they fly very  well.  I have the Fokker D7 with a Sito 45
        in it and it is a beauty when it's put-put'ing around.
        
                A bipe that I would strongly  recommend  is  the ACE 4-40
        bipe.  It has a much longer  tail moment and the CG is far enough
        behind the gear that you don't have to  worry  about nosing over.
        I have one that I flew all the time  for several months until 3IM
        got  it.    Mine  had an O.S.  40 Surpass  in  it  and  performed
        beautifully.   Servo  installation  takes  a fair amount of work.
        There's not a  lot  of  room  and they recommend micro servos.  I
        don't - use regular size servos and fit them very carefully.  The
        ACE was a delight to build and fly and I may very well purchase a
        new kit.
        
        Anker

     Try a Balsa USA Phaeton Bipe with a .35 in it or their Phaeton
    II with a 45-50 in it.  I've has several of these and they fly
    extremely good. They are also very reasonable priced at below 30.00
    for the Phaeton and I think 37.00 for the Phaeton II. With any bipe
    your going to have to learn to use your left hand. I would suggest
    that you build a shoulder winged tail dragger ( sweet stick 40)
    and start the spring with this. When your comfortable with takeoffs
    and landings then transition to the bipe.
    
    
    
    						Tom

  Well, I would like to get the ACE 4-40, but the price of the kit
and the engine are currently out of my range.  The Phaeton (SP?) 
sounds pretty good though!

  What about the ACE All Star Bipe?  It comes with foam wings and is 
only $22.  The other thing is it uses a .09 to .15 engine and I have
an OS Max .15 sitting at home waiting to be used.  I suppose the 34 inch
wing span would be a consideration for me (going from a 6 1/2 foot 
trainer to a <3 foot bipe could take some work).

  I still have lot's of time to think about it and look around (I have 
to get flying first).

  BTW - The Towers cat. has a the plans for a plane called the 
AVIA B534-IV by SIMCOE.  This thing looks just like Al's Mig-3, but in
bipe form.  It is really strange looking [no offense Al, it is just the 
double wing and the large wheels on the fixed gear that makes it so 
unusual].  If I take the gear and wing off and change the german insignia
to Ruskie, I'd swear it was the Mig!


  Jim  (Merry Xmas everyone)

    NOTE 412.6 REFERENCES THE ACE ALLSTAR BIPE. I ALSO HAVE A .15 ENGINE
    WITHOUT A HOME. DO YOU HAVE ANY MORE DETAILS? 3 OR 4 CHANNEL.
    GOOD FLOATER? IS THE .15 ENOUGH POWER?
    
    THANKS,
    BOB G.

Jim,

I bought the Marks fun scale Pits... And I would NOT recommend it for a first
bipe... better yet I would not recommend it at all!!!!!! I put an O.S. 25
max in mine, and once it was off the ground it was "all right"  but once 
in flight, ANY rudder deflection put the bird into a violent spin.  I think
the SE 5 and the Folker are better, but the basic design is the same.  I've 
built and flown quite a number of ships, and the fun scale is the first that 
I truly didn't enjoy flying.  They have a very short tail moment, that results 
in some very "snappy" response to control movement.  Al is correct(again), the
things are a real fight on the ground.  RCM published an article about a year
ago on the SE 5 and the Folker... if I can find them I'll let you know the 
issue.  If I recall, they got pretty good reviews!?

Although I have no personal experience with the sporster bipe, I've heard it's
a nice ship.

Best of luck,

Brian

>  Are there any biplanes that are friendly enough to be considered for
>the beginners 2nd plane?  It would appear that the Aeromaster is not

I recommend the Midwest Models "Das Bipe Stick".  It builds easy.
Flys easy and you are a little hard on it - it can take it.  

I've cartwheeled mine in grass 3 times. No damage.
I've ground looped on tar maybe 20 times.  Scraping up the lower wing tips
each time and loosing some Monokote.
I've stalled during landings 4 or 5 times only bending the aluminum
landing gear - except one time when I sheared the nylon gear bolts off.

In short - it takes a licking and keeps on ticking.  It is now over a year old
and I'll be pulling the radio again till next spring. 

Whatta plane.  I never take the wings off.  My only complaints are about
the (*&^%&$ing Saito .45 that I have in it.

              _!_      
Bye        ----O----   
Kay R. Fisher / \     

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