Monday, May 26, 2008

China Model Productions CMP Ventus 2600mm sailplane


You bet. Quality is beyond, way beyond, expectations. This is a $600 European glass slipper sailplane selling for only $139.

I have her mostly done. I used digital minis all around, but then when I got to the last few, I realized it was dumb to throw an expensive digital servo at the rudder, spoiler, retract, and tow release controls, so I stopped final assembly until I can get some cheaper servos ordered.
The retract mechanism and gear doors are spectacular.
Glasswork and paint are spectacular, with factory applied and clearcoated decals.
Excellent instructions, and a ton of neat hardware and thoughtful touches.
CMP has outdone themselves on this one, this is kind of like "the Chinese have really ARRIVED", you know?

Nitroplanes FlyModel F-86D Sabre


Nice model, and a big one.
I am using a Monster Power 160 motor, two Exceed 4000mah 5s lipo packs, and a Castle Creations 85hv ESC.  
Have not gotten her in the air yet, I will update when I do.
It would also be a fine model for a 12 pound turbine engine.
Even though I put the lipo packs slightly aft of the CG, but I still needed about 8 ounces of weight in the tail to balance, due to the large motor and the long, long nose.

Good quality kit.  Mine is fixed gear, but the plane is retract ready.

Nitroplanes ArtTech F4U Corsair


Absolutely stunning model.  Every single thing is included in the box except 8aa batteries.  Even a simulator disk and a special cable to connect the transmitter to your computer.  It takes only ten minutes with the included screwdriver to assemble, no glue is needed.
Construction quality and engineering are TOP NOTCH.  Good stuff.  Everything is well built, and everything fit perfectly, and all the electronics worked perfectly.

Appearance is GREAT.  It's very scale, and the scale three bladed prop is a knockout.

In the air, it has plenty of power, it will loop easily from level flight.  Roll rate is good, but not staggering, seems very scale. Rudder authority is excellent.  Speed is good, but not outrageous.  Handling is benign, it's a very easy plane to fly, with no real vices, very easy to land.  A great first warbird.
Expert pilots can add a bigger motor and battery and get more performance, but I suspect most people will be satisfied with what comes in the box.  Certainly, it's in no way underpowered in the stock form.  Flight times are long, too.
This is a GREAT model.  I don't know why Nitroplanes does not put it on the front page...

Nitroplanes ArtTech Su-27 twin EDF jet



Incredibly complete package.  Includes a simulator disk, a cable to connect the included TX to your computer, five minute epoxy, a screwdriver...EVERYTHING.  Only 8AA batteries are needed to complete it.
Construction takes about thirty minutes, and the instructions are excellent and complete.  Quality of construction is very good, no problems at all.
The decorations and paint job are exceptional, the plane is VERY colorful and attractive.
In the air...takeoffs require about 75 feet.  I don't think it will get off grass, I would not even try it.  It needs a smooth surface like pavement.  I don't think hand launching it over grass without the landing gear would be a problem, but the bottom intakes are a little fragile, I worry about damaging them on landing.  The plane was designed to fly from a runway, so that's where mine is staying.
Power is decent.  In spite of some dumb posts on some interenet sites, it's not a dog at all, it flies just fine on the provided power system.  Top speed is maybe 55mph, pretty typical for a ready to fly foamie jet.  No speed demon, but just fine.  It will loop easily from level flight.  The roll rate is tremendous, you might want to tone it down.  Landings are very, very easy.  All around, it's a very easy plane to fly, a good first jet.
The electronics included have all been fine, including the stock battery, the charger included is great, the receiver is a dual conversion FM type, the transmitter is decent quality.
Good value for the money, a very nice flyer, looks great in the air.  I am very pleased.  
I also saw that some people said that the videos posted online of this plane must have been doctored, that that could not have been a stock power system in the video, etc...
Baloney.  Mine flies just like that.  It flies very well.  Don't beleive all the "experts" who post on the internet and say you have to modify this or that...the plane is very well thought out and flies just fine right out of the box.
You can upgrade it with more power if you like, no problem, but let nobody say the designers did not do their homework, or that the plane cannot fly, as somebody put a lot of time into this model, and it flies very well, and it looks really great in the air, and it's very easy to fly.