Just bought a Dynam Cessna EP 400...

[Generic42]

Finally got around to installing the new wheels. The main wheels are 51mm and the front is 61mm (decided to go for a bigger wheel for the front for better grass roll performance). Used 2mm carbon rod for the frame, which I just bent using a vice. I took it out today for a test flight, and I'm shocked at how well they work. It no longer instantly bails when it lands in grass! You can actually land, taxi and take off again even in grass that hasn't been cut in a while - it's like the grass isn't even there now. This makes the plane a whole lot more usable and I'd definitely recommend anyone with this plane to invest in some larger wheels. The best part is that the new wheels actually weigh less than the old wheels & plastic spats! I'm totally stoked at how well they work, although I did notice that it has a tendency to roll to the left now, which I figure is probably a result of the wheels' larger drag profile interacting with the prop's slipstream. This wasn't a big issue though as I just trimmed it out.

[flydiver]

Small world. I ended up with a free Focus EP400 that came with another plane deal.
It's the low wing sibling of the Cessna. Same build, similar size, just a tad larger and heavier.

It's been subject to a couple rough landings but is not trashed.
Front LG (tricycle) is already broken (big surprise)
Wing LG is also broken. Pretty weak system. Need to figure out a way to stabilize it.
Crummy little wheels. Will put on larger.

Hopefully it'll be a decent flier once upgraded.

How are you guys doing with yours?

[Generic42]

Broke my front LG the other day on a rough landing too. Fixed it by drilling a hole into the broken off piece, glueing a carbon rod in there, putting the piece back into it's original position with the rod shoved about 3" into the fuselage. Added a brace on the top of it as well. I'm thinking about remaking the nose wheel wire to give it more bend to stop things like this too...any ideas?

[flydiver]

I think I like the spring in there to take up shock. Does your model have that? Mine does on the front. The mount is for s##t but the spring wire is alright I think.
The mount on the Focus for the wings is lousy-bound to fail and already cracked and wiggly. The Cessna rear LG is actually better.

[Generic42]

Yeah the original had that, but the LG that I made for the larger wheels doesn't (see the pics I posted above.) Flew it again today, ended up snapping the front LG again which is totally ridiculous. I can't take whole responsibility for it this time though - a magpie that was chasing my plane decided to run into it when it was a couple feet off the ground and there wasn't enough room to recover. Will have to think about new ways to make the mount.

[flydiver]

Reliability update.
Buddy with the Cessna took off with it yesterday. He's propped it down to a 7x3.5 GWS HD (he can't handle the speed too well).
Fine take off, gave some up elevator > wing broke in half. Very little stress on that maneuver. He was lucky it didn't happen in a loop at 100 feet.
Clean break, only a couple feet up so the only other damage (apparent) was a broke elevator.
This wing has leading edge taping and top taping (mostly visual, probably no support from above). No other reinforcing.
It has had some dings so it's likely there was occult damage. No crash has ever been bad enough to cause visible cracks in the wing though it's taken quite a tool on the fuse. Man that thing breaks easily.

Front LG continues to be miserable.

You might consider a carbon rod or strip on edge for ~ half to 2/3 of the wing.

[flydiver]

I finally got the Focus 400EP up today. Conditions were fine. Based on experience with the Cessna I limited and put expo on ALL control throws.
It was still a twitchy little SOB. I would NOT want to fly this with the stock TX that some packages have it come with.

I reinforced the he!! out of it before flying. First landing dinked the tail and broke the horizontal stab. This was NOT a big deal crash, more like a poor landing. Found the same fragility with the Cessna carries over to this one. It may make it to satisfactory with more tuning but this one is never going to be a great flier I suspect.

[flydiver]

Continuing to fly the Focus (also called Aerobat elsewhere). Once tuned it's a good flier. I've broken the horizontal stab 3x and have yet to even remotely crash it. Reinforced landing gear is bending anyway.
Summary-decent flier with all new electrics. Still fragile. Needs a lot of work. Not suitable for new fliers in general.