Has anyone flown the Reactor bipe from GreatPlanes?

[Angler-Hi]

I saw an ad for the Reactor bipe from GreatPlanes. It looks like a decent plane. I looked it up on-line and am REALLy considering this plane. This would also be my first bipe. If anyone has flown this plane and has a flight report, that would be great. Thanks.

Mike

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXTEU9&P=0

[bodypilot]

Originally Posted by mikewratterman

I saw an ad for the Reactor bipe from GreatPlanes. It looks like a decent plane. I looked it up on-line and am REALLy considering this plane. This would also be my first bipe. If anyone has flown this plane and has a flight report, that would be great. Thanks.

Mike

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXTEU9&P=0

I am almost finished building it - very nice plane

Hope it flies as good as it looks!!!

[Angler-Hi]

Originally Posted by bodypilot

I am almost finished building it - very nice plane

Hope it flies as good as it looks!!!

SWEET! I'd love to hear your flight report when you maiden her. Thanks for responding. I guess no one else has flown this plane.

Mike

[bodypilot]

Originally Posted by mikewratterman

SWEET! I'd love to hear your flight report when you maiden her. Thanks for responding. I guess no one else has flown this plane.

Mike

Got the electrics in this evening but am plauged by massive flutter on both ailerons. It is just about ok with only the main ailerons but when I hook up the secondary pair the servos go nuts. Not being that much of a builder I read that it might be due to loose rods, the inter aileron rods are loose but seem to be by design.

Any ideas as I am a little lost!

[Angler-Hi]

Originally Posted by bodypilot

Got the electrics in this evening but am plauged by massive flutter on both ailerons. It is just about ok with only the main ailerons but when I hook up the secondary pair the servos go nuts. Not being that much of a builder I read that it might be due to loose rods, the inter aileron rods are loose but seem to be by design.

Any ideas as I am a little lost!

How many channels does your Rx allow for and how many servos are you running? It sounds like either your running too many servos per the Rx/power, or possibly a loose connection with one of your servos. If you're running the servos with servo extentions, make sure they're secure. Also, is it giving you the same trouble when trying to do a range check? Make sure that the antenna is down, and range check up to 30 paces/feet. If it still gives you trouble after that then I'm at a loss. Good luck friend. I hope you get it worked out.

Mike

[bodypilot]

I have come up with a solution but am not sure if I am covering up a more fundamental problem. I applied some masking tape to the aileron hinges on one side only and the flutter stopped.

Hope this is a 'valid' fix, it seems to have done the job.

Motor installed, wheels, cowl, CofG and tweaking left to do. Hope to have it up at the weekend - looking good so far!

[Angler-Hi]

Nice! Post some pics if you can. I'd love to see how she's coming along for you.

Mike

[bodypilot]

Well the only thing I suck at more than building models is taking pictures of them.

I think there is almost nothing wrong with the kit. I am *really* bad with building and this came out ok. I fly from a grass strip so the small wheels are likely to be an issue. The wheels are close together along with the top wing will make it interesting on rough ground but I guess that comes with it being a Bipe. The rough edge on the front of the cowl was my fine work. The motor I used meant the prop was 5mm to far back for it all to fit. Rather than working out an elegant solution I hacked the cowl - sorry to you purists but I am a butcher of models.

I have tweaking and more aileron messing to go before I try blasting into the sky.

[Angler-Hi]

I don't care what you say, those are good looking pics to me friend! She looks sweet as hell man. I'm definitely gonna have to get one now.

Mike

[Biplane Murphy]

Originally Posted by bodypilot

Well the only thing I suck at more than building models is taking pictures of them.

I think there is almost nothing wrong with the kit. I am *really* bad with building and this came out ok. I fly from a grass strip so the small wheels are likely to be an issue. The wheels are close together along with the top wing will make it interesting on rough ground but I guess that comes with it being a Bipe. The rough edge on the front of the cowl was my fine work. The motor I used meant the prop was 5mm to far back for it all to fit. Rather than working out an elegant solution I hacked the cowl - sorry to you purists but I am a butcher of models.

I have tweaking and more aileron messing to go before I try blasting into the sky.

Hi Bodypilot......put some 2 1/2"-3 " Dave Brown Liteflite wheels on it.
That will help with the ROG in the rough grass fields.....
My old club had a dirt/grass runway riddled with gopher holes and rocks, and the bigger wheels were the best solution.

[bodypilot]

What a sweet plane. Such a difference from the POS that I built before it

(FYI it was a foam Bipe http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=444987)

The reactor is a class act in comparison. Tight flyer and penetrates like a knife, I was amazed how much energy it carries and how little airspeed is needed to keep things working.

I am not a highly experianced aerobatic pilot so sorry for the lack of figure by figure breakdown. I think that the best summary I can offer is that the Ultimate Bipe was destroyed not by crashing but under my foot as it was complete s**t. The Reactor is the best plane I have flown by a long way.

Initial setup was as per the book with throws set to low rates. The aileron and elevators were too slow and needed more to make it fun. CofG was bang on first time - the model balance in the kit is great.

I found that it carries so much energy that you really need to slow it up and not let the nose drop as you come round the pattern, get it wrong and she will shoot past with a nice woosh - go around time!

The 2.5" wheels were great on grass. I could not use the stock ones or the wheel pants - way too fussy.

This model is worth every penny.

[dwalke34]

Good report. I am still building mine. I am slow when I build. Maybe its becasue I have other planes I fly.

You had it set for low rates? Did you try Hi rates?

I am guessing you went with the recommened setup, if so how do you like the 1200kv motor?

I guess I will take pictures and post as I build. My kit has no covering flaws and I was lucky to not have to break out the iron.



My Setup: Rim Fire 35-36-1200, 11x7 Prop, Hitec HS-55, 35Amp ESC, 2200 25C Lipo.

[BUCKSHOT]

My friend bought one crashed on maiden slight underside nose damage,he bought a new one & gave me the 1st one,i have a dualsky 3536 ca8...think it will fly it ok ?...i don't hover
also it needs a tail wheel ....any ideas

[Angler-Hi]

Originally Posted by BUCKSHOT

My friend bought one crashed on maiden slight underside nose damage,he bought a new one & gave me the 1st one,i have a dualsky 3536 ca8...think it will fly it ok ?...i don't hover
also it needs a tail wheel ....any ideas

How bad was the damage? If the motor mount and firewall are fine, it shouldn't be too hard to fix. That motor should fly her just fine friend. Good luck man.

Mike

[BUCKSHOT]

Motor box & mount good,broke landing gear mt to firewall,
it is rebuildable

[Angler-Hi]

Originally Posted by BUCKSHOT

Motor box & mount good,broke landing gear mt to firewall,
it is rebuildable

Don't feel too bad friend, I broke tha landing gear off my Ultimate Bipe twice! It just doesn't have the support it should...but I fixed her up good with gorilla Glue this time!! She has yet to falter. The first time was because I ran out of runway on take off and hit a hard pile of dirt.

[BUCKSHOT]

He took a hit on maiden on the reactorbipe after 8 minutes ...
barley missing a guy walking his dog.I got that one ,he bought a new one ,
my plane count is so high at the moment
new in the box(waiting on me)
gp p 40
gws me109
gws 190
black knight home run
imagine 50
showtime
and the bipe

slow huh

[Angler-Hi]

Wow BUCKSHOT! That's quite a few on the bench. I know what you're talking about though. I have an F-18, F-16, CobWeb II, GWS ME-109 to finish up.

[AirmanAirhead]

I've been looking at a Bipe too. I have a Power 10 set up out of an old T-28, anyone have any idea if the Reactor could handle that? The power 10 weighs about one ounce more I think, and is 1100 KV instead of 1200. Any thoughts out there?

Jeff