Thunder Tiger Rare Bear - any opinions?

[mclarkson]

This bird was featured in my latest email from Tower Hobbies. It seems like a pretty good deal. 34" wingspan. 370 size brushless motor & gearbox. Needs servos, ESC and Rx (which I've got lying around)

With my 'coupon' it's only $50. Anyone have any experience with this plane?


http://www.towerhobbies.com/products...tra4322_e.html

[kenchiroalpha]

Hi Mark
No experiance with the Rare Bear but i do have a TT Sea Fury and find the build quality to be very good and she handles great in flight
For $ 50 dollars the Bear seems like a great deal, i would get her
Heres some more info on her
http://www.tiger.com.tw/product/4322-K21.html
Take care dear friend
Yours Hank

[Saddlebum]

Do you like to fly FAST? If so, this is your airplane.

Because this is a model of a clipped wing racer, she flys just like that. Fast and crisp.

...The Bum

[mclarkson]

I don't mind flying fast. Do you have this plane, bum?

[Saddlebum]

Originally Posted by mclarkson

I don't mind flying fast. Do you have this plane, bum?

I don't own it but there is one in the Club and it flys fast, turns fast and lands fast. It makes a P-51 look like a trainer.

Intermediate to advanced. They're not kidding on that evaluation.

I LOVE this airplane but with about 200 hours on a low wing aerobatic trainer (T-34) I know I am NOT ready for a Rare Bear.

...The Bum

[kenchiroalpha]

Hi Mark
Do enjoy

Rare Bear RC Thunder tiger PAVC

Take care dear friend
Yours Hank

[mclarkson]

Sounds pretty cool. I have slow planes and faster planes ... my Stryker is probably the fastest. I just got a TH P-51 which flies like a dream. I've got a Radian and a Vapor for slow, relaxing flying.

I wouldn't mind having one little speed demon in the stable.

//edit: Ordered.

[kenchiroalpha]

Originally Posted by mclarkson

Sounds pretty cool. I have slow planes and faster planes ... my Stryker is probably the fastest. I just got a TH P-51 which flies like a dream. I've got a Radian and a Vapor for slow, relaxing flying.

I wouldn't mind having one little speed demon in the stable.

//edit: Ordered.

Hi Mark
Outstanding
Cant wait to see her
Take care dear friend
Yours Hank

[dondi]

I wish I was a little more advanced, that looks really interesting to me.

Question: The Thunder Tiger site indicates a KV of 920 for that motor.
For the Rare Bear it also includes a 4:1 gearbox.

Does that imply that the KV as installed would be 920/4?

That seems slow to my beginners mind.

[Saddlebum]

Originally Posted by mclarkson

Sounds pretty cool. I have slow planes and faster planes ... my Stryker is probably the fastest. I just got a TH P-51 which flies like a dream. I've got a Radian and a Vapor for slow, relaxing flying.

I wouldn't mind having one little speed demon in the stable.

//edit: Ordered.

It sounds like the Rare Bear is for you, MC.

Be sure to post us a review, OK?

...The Bum

[mclarkson]

Well I got the model in yesterday and it looks okay, except ...

The vertical stabilizer is super-ridonco-thin and bendy. I know gluing it up will help somewhat but ... it's just so soft and flexible, I can't believe it will hold up under flight. Can this possibly be right?

[Saddlebum]

Originally Posted by mclarkson

Well I got the model in yesterday and it looks okay, except ...

The vertical stabilizer is super-ridonco-thin and bendy. I know gluing it up will help somewhat but ... it's just so soft and flexible, I can't believe it will hold up under flight. Can this possibly be right?

Doesn't look right to me, MC.

If the rest of the model is the proper stiffness, then perhaps the die is too thin for the verticle stabilizer and could be stiffened with a couple of bamboo skewers or carbon fiber.,

If the rest of the model is "suspect" as being too flexiable, then perhaps they got the proportions wrong when mixing the liquid foam and the whoe thing is suspect.

...The Bum

[CHELLIE]

Originally Posted by mclarkson

Well I got the model in yesterday and it looks okay, except ...

The vertical stabilizer is super-ridonco-thin and bendy. I know gluing it up will help somewhat but ... it's just so soft and flexible, I can't believe it will hold up under flight. Can this possibly be right?

get some CF rod and epoxy and stiffen it all up where needed, cut slots, or drill holes and epoxy it in the foam, if cf is a little expensive, use round wood dowles, you can even get some square basswood and epoxy it on the hinge area of the rudder and elevator, that will help to stiffen up the foam, just my 2 cents worth, Take care, Chellie

[rcers]

Thin, light bendy is good. Remember you can build them to fly or build them to crash. I don't think you will have any issues.


Watch how much the 787 wing bends!

Mike

[CHELLIE]

the flexing of the tail feathers may affect the way the plane flies at higher speeds due to flexing, at slower speeds it may not be a problem, I had that problem with a foam plane made from that soft EPP Foam, just my 2 cents worth, Take care, Chellie

[kenchiroalpha]

Hi Mark
I think you will be fine without reinforcing the rudder
She only has elevator aileron control, no real rudder
Take care dear friend
Your Hank

[mclarkson]

I think I was failing to communicate just how terribly flimsy the stab was. I wouldn't even stand up straight, but curled over like the feather on a duck's butt. It was twisted on every possible axis.

I sandwiched in some 1/32" birch plywood between the halves. It still has a little flex but at least now it stands up straight and aligns more-or-less with the fuse. When I hold it up to the light, you can see it in there.

[xmech2k]

Sorry to hear about it. How dissappointing. Amazing how much garbage we have to put up with... Well, I guess if they were all perfect, it would cost a lot more. I guess we do OK.

Hope after you get done fixing it, it's a fun one! Plz keep us informed.

[mclarkson]

A little extra stiffness won't hurt at any rate, huh?

I've already fitted my test pilot:

[Saddlebum]

Hi MC;

Here's a clue as to what you will have when you fix the flexing problem.

RareBear Mini Unlimited Pocket Rocket Flight Review in HD!

...The Bum

[kenchiroalpha]

Originally Posted by Saddlebum

Hi MC;

Here's a clue as to what you will have when you fix the flexing problem.

RareBear Mini Unlimited Pocket Rocket Flight Review in HD!

...The Bum

Hi
Thats not the same one as the TP version
That being said,Wow i like this Blitzrcworks version even more then the TP version
Smaller wing span, shorter length and lighter weight with the same size motor should afford even better performance then the TP version
http://www.bananahobby.com/2134.html
Thanks for the headsup
Takew care dear friend
Yours Hank

[kenchiroalpha]

Originally Posted by mclarkson

A little extra stiffness won't hurt at any rate, huh?

I've already fitted my test pilot:

Hi Mark
Cool looking pilot
Take care dear friend
Yours Hank

[mclarkson]

I got it all test fitted together last night and noticed that there is absolutely no access to the battery compartment. You apparently have to unbolt the wing to change batts.

Can't say I like that much...

[Saddlebum]

Originally Posted by kenchiroalpha

Hi
Thats not the same one as the TP version
That being said,Wow i like this Blitzrcworks version even more then the TP version
Smaller wing span, shorter length and lighter weight with the same size motor should afford even better performance then the TP version
http://www.bananahobby.com/2134.html
Thanks for the headsup
Takew care dear friend
Yours Hank

Yes, it's not the same model (not much doubt of that), but it is the same airplane and my point being, the Rare Bear is a model of a Reno Racer and ANY model of the Bear will fly like the Bear (fast and crisp).

...The Bum

[Saddlebum]

Originally Posted by mclarkson

I got it all test fitted together last night and noticed that there is absolutely no access to the battery compartment. You apparently have to unbolt the wing to change batts.

Can't say I like that much...

DAMN, MC! This isn't looking good for Tower Hobbies!

In the end, I hope it is all worthwhile for you.

...The Bum