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by **tianci** on Sun Jun 21, 2009 9:22 pm

Ever since I was young I wanted a few planes, how ever back then RC was not for kids and money was not something my parents had for me to splurge. I liked the following planes back then:

i. Super Chipmunk
ii. Laser 200
iii. Ugly Stick

Now that I earn my own money, I have owned the first and second planes. I got the Green Model 72" Laser 200, that plane flew well. The I got the World Model Super Chipmunk and that was another good flying plane. The Ugly Stick was something I never bought. Recently, Monster picked up one from NTC. The Great Planes Big Stick 40. Unfortunately, I was with him and ended getting one too.

The Great Planes products are sold at NTC Hobbies in Ara Damansara and this plane retails for about RM480 only. The plane specs are as follows:

Wingspan: 58.5 in (1485 mm)
Wing Area: 770 in² (49.7 dm²)
Weight: 5.3 lb (2.4 kg)
Wing Loading: 15.7 oz/ft² (48 g/dm²)
Fuselage Length: 51 in (1295 mm)
Engine Required: 2-stroke .40-.51 cu in (6.5-8.5 cc) or 4-stroke .60-.80 cu in (10-13 cc)
Radio Required: 4-5 channel w/5 standard servos

: parts.jpg (18.91 KiB) Viewed 382 times

by **tianci** on Sun Jun 21, 2009 9:29 pm

Construction

This plane is well built. The balsa may not be the best but its good enough. You will note that everything is clean without any glue smears and drips.

Finish

The covering is Monokote that has been very professionally done, nothing to complain about in this department. Its beautifully done.

Hardware and accessories

As with any Great Planes product you always get quality hardware and accessories. From a sturdy motor mount to stiff control horns and a solid under carriage.

My set up:

Motor - Plettenberg Orbit 25/18
ESC - Turnigy 60A
Batt - Rhino 20C 5S 4,900 mAh
Prop - 12x10 for starters
Servos - JR 539

by **tianci** on Sun Jun 21, 2009 9:38 pm

The construction is pretty straight forward, only thing is you have to be careful when attaching the horizontal stab. Its just glued onto the fuse so you will need 2 clamps to hold it in place as there are no slots.

The conversion was simple. I hacked off the engine rails on the motor mount as I need to use the original mount so that the nose gear can be maintained. I used some aluminum stand offs that I had to ensure that the motor was pushed further forward. ESC was put just behind the tank compartment and I built a simple battery tray after checking the CG. I am lucky as this is a nose heavy plane, so with the light motor I could place the battery so far back and need not slot the whole thing into the tank compartment.

by **tianci** on Sun Jun 21, 2009 9:39 pm

Here she is complete ... a very pretty looking plane for sure! On a 12x10 prop, the plane was pulling a mere 35A only. That gives me about 525W only. How will this plane fly on that? I wonder. I would usually want about 750W as a minimum on this sort of a plane.

by **tianci** on Sun Jun 21, 2009 9:56 pm

Now how does she fly? This plane lifted off with after a 50' roll out. I was most surprised that I hardly needed any trim for this plane.Its built nice and straight! She maneuvers very well in the air. Smooth is the word that comes to mind. For a shoulder winged plane, she rolls pretty axial. I wish that the rudder had more authority, as stall turns were kinda lacking in rudder authority.

I put the plane through its paces, Loops were easy as there was sufficient power for the uplines, Reversed Half Cubans are clean and she will also confidently execute Outside Loops. Of course with small control surfaces on the tail feathers the snaps were more like Barrel Rolls. Coming in for landing this baby will just float in gently. Not as light as a feather but just nice. Rudder authority is more than sufficient for landings.

Powerwise, I would love more as I just enjoy seeing a plane pulling vertically as far as the eye can see. This plane with 525W is just about right for sport flying. I believe the wing generates a good amount of lift. I do not have superb uplines but its enough to pull big loops. Best of all with a 35A draw my batteries come down with hardly any increase in temp.

How would I rate this plane? Overall ... 8 out of 10. This plane is a keeper. Ask Monster, he loves his Big Stick too!