New DH-88 Comet

[mmmdowning]

:D Has anyone recieved the Hobby People cataloge? It shows a 80 something inch wingspan. Its an ARF. It looks very sweet. I called and its listed to show up in mid December. But could be later. This is a beautiful bird. I have to have one. Keep bringing the oldies. (GOLDEN ERA)

[donjiskra]

Can't bring it up on the internet.
Do you have any photos or details??
Thanks

[mmmdowning]

I'll scan the picture in and post soon. I've never heard of the manufacture before.

[Dereck]

Welcome to the pointy wingtip club!

Just bear in mind that the prototype was a blisteringly fast racer designed with the sole aim of going very fast for a long while in a straight line. I've seen the original, but it was grounded at the time as it needed a much longer into-wind runway than its owner (Old Warden / Shuttleworth Collection) ran to at the time. See http://www.shuttleworth.org/shuttleworth/ for an abridged version.

This is truly an aircraft that looks fast even when its in a hangar.

However. Any model that shape will be somewhat unforgiving. Not exactly unflyable, but extremely demanding. However, models of the 88 and its spiritual descendant, the Mosquito fighter/bomber, have flown successfully.

Having designed and successfully flown a Chilton DW1 with equally extremely tapered wings, here's a few areas I suggest you stick to lest the ground reach up and bite hard. CG is all important - too far aft, stall and those wingtips are going to squabble over who stalls first. The result can be from entertaining - a larger version of my Chilton could never get over a loop without snaprolling out off the top - to disastrous, if you tipstall turning finals...

Aileron throw - I engineered mine to be 90% up, 10% down. This, before computer radios, took some working at, but then again, I knew the design and build teams well :) This ensured I'd not get a downgoing aileron on a nearly stalled very pointy tip without a lot of effort on my part.

Wing loading. We don't have to go into why lightly loaded models tend to handle slow speeds better than heavy ones, do we? That's down to a bunch of little Chinese women building the models in a sweatshop in downtown Peking probably. I'd feel better if they were Czech, but I'd feel even better if it were me in charge of construction.

FLight profile. See comments ref what the Comet was built to do. I would be real wary of looping and rolling one - not that I'd avoid it.

Keith Shaw built a very good flying DH88 - last I heard of it flying was in the early-mid 1990's. Still, Keith knows more about this sort of thing than around a dozen of we mortals, and learned it before the Chinese had learned to say "Blought All-leady to Fry". Check out Ken Myers' pages at http://members.aol.com/kmyersefo/sitetoc.htm for all sorts of good stuff from the likes of Keith Shaw, it might look old by the dates, but the info is still rock-solid good stuff.

Finally - good luck with it. It's a model I have a bunch of stuff on and would love to find a quiet six months to build a really good big 'un (fat chance on the peaceful six months!). Sure is a showstopper in the air.

Regards

Dereck

[mmmdowning]

Trying to add the picture of there ad. Its only posted on there catalog and not on the website. I can't wait for this bird to come out.

Derek thanks for the info. I would be happy to just park it on the field and not fly. What a beautiful plane.

Can someone tell me what this means? I try to bring the image in and I get this note:

In order to accept POST request originating from this domain, the admin must add this domain to the whitelist.

[GWR]

D'oh!:eek:

[donjiskra]

Photo looks very nice, Thanks.
The website states it will be available soon (?)
Can't wait!!

[donjiskra]

Hobby People state that it is coming soon and the price is $349.00.
Guess that ends my anxiety!!:mad:

[mmmdowning]

You know $349 doesn't seem bad if the quality is good. Has any one heard of the company. I try to go to there site and it's always down.

[Dereck]

www.galaxymodels.co.uk

Second page of their "Galaxy Kits" section.

46" span, 2 x S400. Price is 60 UK Pounds - say $100 in US. Then you've shipping etc. I know there's one in the US, and the builder was pretty happy with the kit.

Slightly more affordable, doesn't need a furniture van (or a Chevy Subdivision ;) ) to haul it around... Galaxy have a good, long standing reputation in UK aeromodelling too.

I have a CAD drawing I pulled off the web sometime back for a pretty big - 80"-odd - Comet slimer. Ocassionally pull it up and mess with it with a view to electrocution, but it's far too much time and involvement than I can take right now (present project is a really basic 40" sports aerobatic model for geared S400 to baby BL!). If anyone with delusions of suchlike wants a copy - there's four or five pages of it - be happy to send them a copy. No idea as to its 'provenance' or ability to fly though ...

Dereck

[donjiskra]

You know $349 doesn't seem bad if the quality is good. Has any one heard of the company. I try to go to there site and it's always down.

I totally agree with that philosophy, however when I factor in the cost of two brushless motors with two brushless ESC's and li-po batteries then the cost is out of my range. I can't wait to see those that can afford it put one in the air.
I've seen the full scale replica at EAA's AirVenture several times, it is awesome to behold on the ground , up close and in the air.

[donjiskra]

www.galaxymodels.co.uk (http://www.galaxymodels.co.uk)

Second page of their "Galaxy Kits" section.

46" span, 2 x S400. Price is 60 UK Pounds - say $100 in US. Then you've shipping etc. I know there's one in the US, and the builder was pretty happy with the kit.


Dereck

.....a Westland Whirlwind, which is a neat looking plane also!!!

[Dereck]

Don
Scrat around some more, there's definitely a Comet in there someplace, as well as a slightly larger Mossie for 480s. I tried to paste the Comet's URL in directly, but can't seem to figure out C&P into this forums reply boxes.

D

[wdahlstrom]

The Hobby People kit must be made by the same folks who make Stuart Mackay's version as its just too similar, see for yourself:
http://www.moki.co.uk/comet.htm
or perhaps somewhere in China someone is reverse engineering the moki.com.uk version
Either way it will be an awesome looking plane. I've been told that tip stalling is the problem with this plane and flying replicas.
We'll see...

[Dereck]

Let's face it - you get one "made in China", you just gave it to the world.

Anyone remember what became of a copy of RCM's plan that was bought from the mag, and turned up later as Chinese made BARFs in the US, and endorsed by a top RC flier to boot? Of course, that was nearly a year ago...

As to the Comet tip-stalling. The Shuttleworth collection wouldn't fly theirs out of Old Warden because its 'original' wing was too critical on landing parameters to make it safe to operate out of their short-ish grass field.

However - the US built Comet replica had washout built into its wings, and was routinely flown from a shorter strip than Old Warden's.

The original didn't have washout as its wing was optimised for going fast in a straight line at cruising height. However, it did have a pair of extremely good pilots sitting in it, who were more than capable of dealing with making sure they didn't get out of the envelope during the approach and landing phases.

Which raises questions - is a buyer of this BARF going to take time to learn about the landing issues before a landing becomes compulsory?

Is that buyer going to select a test-flight field based on that knowledge?

Do the sellers of this model give a hoot?

One day, I'll find the time to finish off my Comet drawings, learn all about scale retracts and build one behind a couple of mid-size BLs. 100" would not be unreasonable, though 81" would be easier to haul around and still "IMAA Legal". With the correct 'fixes' in the region of the wingtips and a light airframe, I don't see it being any problem as a sports flier for nice days and very low crosswind landing limits.

Slight bias, having not only seen her for real, but even rubbed my hand over her nose-cone, but I reckon the Comet has to be one of the most beautiful aircraft ever built, and far too good looking to 'bodge' into semi-scale, IMO

Regards

Dereck

[mmmdowning]

Recieced an email stating they just got them in. Going to place order now. (Hobby People)

[donjiskra]

Thanks mmmdowning, here's the site for anyone interested:

http://www.hobbypeople.net/gallery/190101.asp

Truly a nice looking plane. Wish I had the $349.00

[mmmdowning]

Well it should be here next Friday. I'm planing on 2 Axi 4130/16 motors. I will build it later around may or june. I'm working on a 80" Velocity and making it electric with the Axi 5320 and 10s packs. Going with a custom paint scheme.

[donjiskra]

I'm almost as excited as you are! This is a fantastic plane, with an incredible history. I've seen and photgraphed the full scale replica at EAA's Air Venture several years ago. Truly a sight to behold!!!
Can't wait to get your progress reports.
Best wishes.
Don

[bhchan]

Well it should be here next Friday. I'm planing on 2 Axi 4130/16 motors. I will build it later around may or june. I'm working on a 80" Velocity and making it electric with the Axi 5320 and 10s packs. Going with a custom paint scheme.


That may be too much motors for the the plane. I can fly an 72" Cub with the 4130/16 on 18 cells ( with a 13x8 prop). I don't think you will need two of them to fly the Comet. May be 2x Ai 2826/10. Also not sure how much prop clearance will you have with the short LG.

see http://www.wattflyer.com/forums/showpost.php?p=35169&postcount=4 He is flying a 120" aerocommander with the 4130.

Did you order the retractable landing gears? They are bit pricy at 230 a pair!!

Brian, an EAJ

[mmmdowning]

BHCHAN,
They haven't recieved the hole package on the gear, I figured I would get the plane first then go thru everything and get a feel for whats there.

As for the motors this plane is made to fly fast and stays fast. Its a low wing and require's more motor but you may be right. If I can go with a smaller motor it would save some money. Im also waiting to see what others are going to do. I'm a little worried about there not being much info on the manufacturer. So first I would like to test the waters first. It's a lot of money to go down in flames up front with a new plane and I don't want to make a mistake. I will post pictures of this bird when it comes in.

[Dereck]

http://members.aol.com/kmyersefo/page3.htm#TOP

Download the PDF of Keith Shaw on twins. Basic and 'mature' but the essentials are all still there.

Idly recall seeing a video of an old KRC meet with Keith's Dh88 doing a low inverted pass - as in, have to clean the green off the fin tip after flight! Keith did most of what many think is new and exciting while the rest of us were trying to figure out which end of the soldering iron was best to hold...
Dereck

[bhchan]

mmmdowning,

The spec list the 0.32-0.40 cu in wet power. I use an AXI 2826 on my Rascal 72(which spec for 0.40-0.46 cu.in.) and the climb is good.

Brian, an EAJ

[mmmdowning]

Dereck,
Great reading, I read allot of what was on the site from your earlier post on the site. Sometimes I tend to over power my planes.

[mmmdowning]

Went to the Hobby People site and they raised the price to $369. They are going to turn people away. They don't list the weight of the plane. As soon as they get the struts and retracts in I'll order them.

[bhchan]

I will wait for your report on the kit before I make my move. I will be going to Anaheim in a few week, may be I can stopin and check out the kit.

[mmmdowning]

Here are the retracts and struts for the DH-88: They seem to be good and the struts have built in springs, the real test will be at the field.

[bhchan]

mmm,
What about the kit itself? Is it any good?

Brian, an EAJ

[mmmdowning]

It seems to be, It all looks good. Very lite, the fuse is a thin plastic with carbon fiber reinforcement, it's strong but very lite. It seems well thought out. It's an awesome plane. construction of the wing seems foam and balsa sheeting. The decals are applied at the factory. I think it will be a quick build. The instructions are in color. They include the instructions for the retracts and struts.

[BaldEagel]

mmmdowning

This kit I think in Uk is the Ripmax one, the only thing that put me off was the one piece 2M wing, are you going to keep it three piece or epoxy the tips on?

If I see another one in MLHS I may well buy it and convert to removable tips, it is such a beutiful looking aircraft I may not be able to contain myself.

Mike

[mmmdowning]

I have a trailer so the one piece wing isn't a big deal. You could seperate but I think it might be safer to have one piece. It is an awesome plane.

Goodluck
Marty

[panzerd18]

Its been out in Australia for awhile. The company that makes them is called "Awesome". They also make a club flyer series which are small electric aircraft and I have an Awesome Stuka Ju87

[BaldEagel]

Anyone got one of these 2M Comet DH88's I'd love an informed opinion on build and flying?

Mike

[Ron]

Have not flown this particular model, but have flown one same size.
It is a witch for tipstall if it gets slow..DON"T be slow in the turns, and DON'T try to extend the glide on landings it WILL drop a wing real fast,especially if it's heavy. and you're gonna need lotsa altitude to get it back...BUT...it's a really cool model, and I love it. It's much like the DH Rapide...you got to fly it every inch of the way.