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Building Tips and technical articles. => ARF'S => Topic started by: John r Kamps on February 21, 2011, 11:41:43 AM

Title: tutor II arf
Post by: John r Kamps on February 21, 2011, 11:41:43 AM

Was at one of the local hobby shop's,getting some things for a ringmaster i'm building and the owner said he had
a c/l plane in back. Well he showed it to me and it was a Topflite TutorII arf and i could have it for $40.00!!!!
Well being the cheapskate that i am(love a bargain)i bought it. I have seen some of the horror stories about
arf's. So guy's what need's to be done to make it live for awhile. First thing the pushrod's are junk i will replace
those. What about the bellcrank and leadouts can i use those or do i have too replace those also. My motor
choices are an LA46 TowerHobbies 40 or an OS fp35 Trying to keep it low budget(there's that cheap thing again).
Any info would be a great help.             Thanks John.

Title: Re: tutor II arf
Post by: Paul Wood on February 21, 2011, 06:23:10 PM

John,

I'm flying the Tutor with an O.S. 45 FSR using a Zinger Pro 12x4 prop.  I didn't change anything in the control system and after about 30 flights, everything is still okay.  I had to add 3/4 oz. to the tail and am not using a spinner.  I found a 1 degree twist in both the left wing tip and the left stab tip.  Corrected it with the heat gun and it flies very true.  I did not have to change the wing tip weight.  The only negative I've found is the covering around the nose will start to peel at the seams pretty quick.  I need to trim and replace some of the nose covering before the wood is exposed.  Mine flies very well.  Lot's of fun.

Paul

Title: Re: tutor II arf
Post by: Paul Taylor on February 21, 2011, 07:33:05 PM

You should be fine with the stock bell crank for a short while, but if you plan on flying this for some time then I would strongly suggest that you change out the control system. New bell crank, and CF pushrod.
Use the LA .46, 11x4 prop on 63ft lines and let it go at 9800rpm.
It is a good flying profile plane, and you got a great deal.

Title: Re: tutor II arf
Post by: BrianW517 on February 22, 2011, 12:19:44 AM

:o  :!  I lost my Tutor II because of cable leadout failure at the bell crank after approx 55+ flights! If I had another one; I'd change out the whole control line system and up grade it!  I miss flying the Tutor II , it was easy to fly and a forgiving plane, and a heavy ARF.  n~  HB~> H^^

Title: Re: tutor II arf
Post by: Paul Wood on February 22, 2011, 07:20:16 AM

John,

I forgot to mention in my previous post that the wing to fuselage fit was very sloppy. I had to do some serious balsa shimming to get a snug fit.  I don't think a simple glue joint would have worked.

Paul

Title: Re: tutor II arf
Post by: Mark Scarborough on February 22, 2011, 10:48:01 AM

I would definetly go with the LA 46, 12.25 x 3.75 prop, I have flown a Tutor II on an FP 40, and on the LA 46, I definetly thing the LA is the way to go

Title: Re: tutor II arf
Post by: Paul Taylor on February 22, 2011, 01:30:38 PM

Hey Mark,
What flavor was the prop?  I might have to give it  a try.
I have liked the 11x4 APC and TT.

Title: Re: tutor II arf
Post by: Bill Little on February 22, 2011, 01:42:35 PM

Quote from: Paul Taylor on February 22, 2011, 01:30:38 PM

Hey Mark,
What flavor was the prop?  I might have to give it  a try.
I have liked the 11x4 APC and TT.

Hi Paul,

The 12.25 X 3.75 props in question are APC.

Big Bear