The New GWS SLOW STICK

Originally Posted by vax6335

If you don't like the two piece shtick so much, why not just glue/fuse/solder/weld the thing so it never comes apart and everyone can be happy again? I don't like a two piece thingy either, but why not just make it a permanent one piece?

It won't have the integrity of a solid one piece boom. The break is forth of the tail wheel bracket, so hard tail first landings will make it "snap". It is something those who hit brickwalls and light poles with their Slow Sticks won't have to worry about.

One alternative would be to get a "spare" boom from one of the places that sells parts for the GWS Slow Stick and keep the new one for "modified" versions of the model.

Originally Posted by bsoder

Qban, aside from the 2-piece fuse, is there anything else you don't like about the new stick?

Nope.

I am giving my opinion based on the photos and comments posted by the thread originator here. I trust the only screw up is just the split boom. Bad enough that it is ahead of the tail wheel bracket, where the boom is at its weakest point. That plastic joiner won't survive more than a few hard landings. :o

[bsoder]

Turn the fuse around, use a 4" piece of hardwood to join the sections with epoxy, done. A little more work, tho.

I wish it was one piece as well. I haven't gotten one of the new kits yet, so I'll reserve judgement on the rest of it.

Unfortunately flipping the boom around will bring the "break" near where the main landing gear bracket goes. It would be too close to the motor and its torque as well. :o

One hard "nose first" landing will snap it rather quickly, even if one used a carbon fiber rod to reinforce the boom's joint. :o

I just got me an older version Slow Stick from a fellow flyer for $25. Complete including its EPS-300 power plant.

[bsoder]

I use a piece of hardwood to mount my motors in all my planes - shaved down to 9mm x 9mm to fit inside a piece of slowstick fuselage. I've hit nose first into a few things - lightpole, wall, ground and never broken the stick. I've bent my slowstick fuse a number of times but never broken the stick. I think you'd end up with a bend at each end of the stick before you broke it.

Originally Posted by bsoder

I use a piece of hardwood to mount my motors in all my planes - shaved down to 9mm x 9mm to fit inside a piece of slowstick fuselage. I've hit nose first into a few things - lightpole, wall, ground and never broken the stick. I've bent my slowstick fuse a number of times but never broken the stick. I think you'd end up with a bend at each end of the stick before you broke it.

On a solid one you'll end up with a "shock forced downthrust" bend. On an already pre-cut aluminum tube you'll break the wood and the joiner. :o

At any rate I just got me one of the older ones, and will expand my search for some more of them.

[darkside212]

why don't you just by an oak rectangular dowel for $1.39 at the hardware store? it will last longer than the aluminum stick-----won't bend and can handle a nose dive

[Doc Pete]

Originally Posted by tallflyer

I still think for $47.00 or combo is a great offer.

Yes I agree. For the record, the bp12 they offer is the one that likes an 8/4 or 8/4.3. I assume yours in the bp12s that likes the bigger prop.

Originally Posted by darkside212

why don't you just by an oak rectangular dowel for $1.39 at the hardware store? it will last longer than the aluminum stick-----won't bend and can handle a nose dive

HMMM!

Thats an interesting thought.

[VOLUNTEER]

I got a replacement fuselage today along with a repalcement rudder and stab. The fuse is in one piece and the tail feathers are the old, thin type.

Originally Posted by Doc Pete

Ouch!. One of my friends in NJ has that combo for $31 and $4 shipping. I just got the motor/connectors and the ESC is on the way.

I can get a combo including the Tower Pro 2410-12 motor (or the 2408-21) and 15A ESC for $37 plus $5 shipping from Wisconsin at: www.rcepower.com

[darkside212]

and I usually throw in freebies....thanks Q

[firemanbill]

Originally Posted by darkside212

and I usually throw in freebies....thanks Q

Yes he does!

[Solid Hit]

Truthfully, and to parphrase Shakespeare, all the hoopla about the split fuse is much a do about nothing.

I cut my first SS where GWS told me to and it survived a whole lot. What finally did it in was my horse stepping on it when it landed it in his paddock after I knocked it down from a tree.

If it is that critical, a 2" piece of square stock inserted as a splice will make it sturdier.

My $.02

[ForestCam]

I noticed that HL is starting to carry 8mm square carbon fiber tube, too bad they don't offer it in a 2mm larger size.
Maybe the 8mm tube with some 1mm thick flats to put in the supports!

If I ever need to replace my SS I figured on ordering an extra tube and having them toss it in the box to save on shipping just in case (shipping on the tube is as much as the tube itself. What do you bet the replacement tubes aren't cut!

Yes, it is extremely important for the boom to be rigid. :o

I have no clue if the people linked below are related to GWS, their name certainly leads me to believe so. They sell a replacement boom for the model. An additional $3.50 would get the problem solved.

http://www.gwsexpert.com/product_inf...roducts_id=563

[ForestCam]

Originally Posted by qban_flyer

Yes, it is extremely important for the boom to be rigid. :o

I have no clue if the people linked below are related to GWS, their name certainly leads me to believe so. They sell a replacement boom for the model. An additional $3.50 would get the problem solved.

http://www.gwsexpert.com/product_inf...roducts_id=563

They always ship kits inside another box (my SS and Formosa both came in the same sized box) so getting an extra boom no matter which kit shouldn't be a problem.

And they're always quick to answer questions during business hours.

[crxmanpat]

One of the LHS' here had 8 spare one-piece fuses on hand. I bought two of them, and a buddy bought 5. I told the manager about the new SS kits. He said he would try to order more spare fuses (they were $4 apiece). I will find out if he is able to order more replacements, or if they will now only be available in the 2 piece version.

[ForestCam]

I would think that spares would still be one peice simply because they probably already have a million of them in a warehouse in China and the fact that no matter how you slice up a 10mm x 37" square tube it'll take up the same amount of space.

BTW I just checked, they have the "New Improved Packaging" for theire SS's at GWSExpert.

There is a LHS I haven't contacted yet. I shall do so tomorrow morning. If they have spare booms I'll drive up to them and get me a couple. Just in case!

OH! NO!!! :o

There goes the neighborhood for sure! Where the parts are shown the pre-cut boom is visible below the wing.

I like the thicker tail feathers, though. So while they improved one thing they've managed to screw up another. And they even brag about it! What gives Mr. Lin?

Originally Posted by ForestCam

I would think that spares would still be one peice simply because they probably already have a million of them in a warehouse in China and the fact that no matter how you slice up a 10mm x 37" square tube it'll take up the same amount of space.

BTW I just checked, they have the "New Improved Packaging" for theire SS's at GWSExpert.

[ForestCam]

Well I just checked and for me the breakdown is this

SS Sloper,
$12.80 USPS Priority
$11.88 UPS Ground

SS Sloper + 1 boom
$12.92 USPS PRiority
$12.25 UPS Ground

SS Sloper + 2 booms

$14.80 USPS Priority
$12.72 UPS Ground

SS Sloper + 3 booms

$16.60 USPS Priority
$13.45 UPS Ground

That second and third boom must be really heavy.

[crxmanpat]

Q ban,

I checked a few sources, and lots are still available. The link above (GWS Expert) has 7 on hand, ALLeRC (www.allerc.com) has 25 (and are the cheapest at $3.38). I'd say order as many as you can afford, and then corner the market on spares. :p

Originally Posted by crxmanpat

Q ban,

I checked a few sources, and lots are still available. The link above (GWS Expert) has 7 on hand, ALLeRC (www.allerc.com) has 25 (and are the cheapest at $3.38). I'd say order as many as you can afford, and then corner the market on spares. :p

I'll do that!

I'll have to rename myself the "Slow Stick Boom Hoarder", though.

[bsoder]

I picked up a few spares today, mostly cleaned out the LHS.