I was looking at the Oriental for maybe my next one actually. What do you think of it so far re. quality/finish etc?
No complaints on the quality of the covering or build.
I really only had two minor nags.
1. Bellcrank had the leadout wires running directly through the nylon bellcrank.
For me, my thought was, "If I DON'T change this, and I DON'T crash the plane, I'll be really bummed if I fly the @#$% out of the plane and that eventually creates a problem. So bummed, I would be. Truth is I will likely kill this thing before that could ever happen, especially now that I bushed the bellcrank!
2. I wasn't in love with the foam wheels supplied. But it had wheels at least. The tail wheel was so lopsided I was compelled to replace it.
Its a glow power assumed ARF. As such, its got things that if I were to build in a kit, I would change for electric for sure, and the plane would be lighter.
I didn't love the flat plate tail either.
Again, all of the above EXTREMELY MINOR! For the money, it is an incredible value, incredible.
I look forward to building my RSM Thunderbird II kit next, but I will have to decide BEFORE I start on it if it will be glow or electric. That way I can make it great if I convert it to electric.
IF you are like me, you might be better served by getting an "ARC" vice "ARF". Had I got that instead, I would have been much more likely to make some more major changes for the planned electric power system. I would have likely notched the wing LE inside the fuse and put a pass through in the fuse bulkhead forward of the wing. That way, the battery could have been moved back a bit for proper CG with a lighter tail, resulting in a much lighter RTF weight.
As it was, there was no sense in lightening the tail with the aft end of battery ahead of that bulkhead. I may have to add some tail weight as it is now.
All comments, none complaints. Its a pretty plane.
R,
Chris