FLITE STREAK ARF QUESTION 2

[Guy B Jr]

What is the best solution or modification to the motor mounts on the Flite Streak ARF to keep them from compressing? Would just aluminum plates on both sides of the mounts be sufficient or does the fix need to be more drastic?

[Dennis Moritz]

Do that or cut a new fues. If you are using a 25 or less, that should be sufficient for a while. The front end of the ARF Streak is built up much of it hollow. Structural strength is marginal. Problem is that the front ends tend to loosen and fly off. I have seen more than a few do that. The virtue of the construction is light weight. I flew one for a season and a half with an LA25. Excellent stunt trainer. Great model for learning the pattern. One day, after perhaps 100 flights, the nose came off, breaking at the back end of the doublers. I have seen this event repeated in every one of theses models flown by members of our club. I purchased one of these ARFs some years back and cut a new fues using conventional profile construction. Lengthening the front and rear moments some, increasing the span of the stab/elevator. Flew that model for a number of seasons with an FP40 in the nose. No problem. Never came apart. Except when I monkeyed with my handle and did a low (ground level) pull out that didn't clear the bottom half of the CL ball.

[Andrew Hathaway]

A new fuselage.  I actually didn't have a problem with the mounts compressing, the entire nose fell off mine.  If I were to do another, I'd cut a new fuselage from a nice sheet of 1/2" balsa.  I'd extend the doublers back to at least the high point of the wing, and use real maple motor mounts.  As long as I was cutting, I'd go ahead and extend the nose long enough to fit the tank and a real landing gear behind the engine, and extend the tail to keep the CG about right.  The finished replacement fuselage would look a lot like the one in a Skyray 35 kit.

[55chevr]

The fuselage is fine as is if you use electric power. 

[Steve Scott]

Nose fell off our FS ARF as well - after my son smacked it into the ground. 

[john e. holliday]

Yeah, I don't think too many planes will stand up to smacking the ground too much.   My Granddaughter soloed on the ARF Streak and won her first trophies with it. 

[Joseph Lijoi]

Drill out the motor mount holes and plug them with 1/4" hardwood dowels.  Redrill the holes through the dowels.

In addition to the above, you can make 3/23 or 1/8 ply "triplers" and glue them to the existing doublers (after stripping the monocote in the area).  Do not cut the inboard tripler for the motor as this ties the engine bearers together.

This helps with motor runs and is very durable.  Good Luck.

 

[Akihiro Danjo]

How about using an 'engine bed' like this:
http://www1.ocn.ne.jp/~tangiku/02ennzinnbettdohp.html

Aki

[55chevr]

Someone on the forum suggested drilling a hole into the doubler and injecting "Great Stuff" insulating foam.  if used sparingly that would stiffen it up.

[Tim Wescott]

Here's my response to the motor mounts in an ARF Flight Streak.  I make it sound like the revisions were because of the general condition of the thing, but it was really the motor mounts that pushed me over the edge:

http://stunthanger.com/smf/index.php?topic=22001.0

[Rick Wetzel]

Guy:

I wrote a product review of the ARF Flite Streak for Model Aviation back in August 2005.  If you'd like a copy let me know and I'll send you one.

The only modification I made to the fuse was that I used 4-40 blind nuts and screws in place of the locknuts that Top Flite supplied with the plane. I also put a coat of thinned epoxy over the exposed wood in the pocket under where the motor sits. I also used 2 1 degree thrust wedges. I have 200+ flights on my FS and never had any problems. I am running an LA .25 with a 9 x 6 nylon prop. For me, that's plenty of power, and I would not recommend anything larger than a mild .35 unless you want to fly sub 4 second laps!

Make sure your prop is balanced. If you have any vibration issues I could see where you might run into some structural problems with the fuse as it is very light.

Good luck with your Flite Streak!

Rick

[Dennis Moritz]

If you ever look at the internal structure of the Flite Streak ARF nose, the faulty engineering is apparent. The nose area itself, which absorbs engine stresses, is built up, not a solid piece. I believe that even the engine mounts are not solidly surrounded by balsa. Two of the Flite Streaks that I saw fail, one my own, another a club member's, were powered by LA25s. Smooth running engines. Mine never had vibrations issues. After a 100 or so flights the noses came off both planes. Another ARF Streak, powered by an LA40, had the nose fail spectacularly, after considerably less flying. Since there is so little internal structure where stresses are highest, I advise cutting a new fues, if you expect to fly the plane long term. Also, wings and tail surfaces are good enough to survive much higher power. These planes are a gas when flown fast. Many were flown in combat at one time. Thrilling to see a Streak powered by a Fox Combat special running all out. Great fun. Also, there are no covering issues with theses ARFs. It stays stuck.

[dave siegler]

I have had 2 of them.  Just replace the fuselage.  The amount to time spend messing with the one supplied is not worth it, you can make a new one in the same time spend dealing with plates dowels and all that.

the nose on mine fell off after a simple bonk on the nose when landing from 3 feet...... The wing is well made and light.  I call it the top flight wing kit.   

[john e. holliday]

Remember guys, these ARF's were built to get people in the air faster.   They were not meant to last a life time.   

[Louis Rankin]

Build it just like it comes except for some blind nuts.  Fly until it falls apart, then move on to the ARF Nobler.  Wish they still made the Tutor II.

[Andrew Hathaway]

What good is getting in the air faster if the nose fails the second it encounters the slightest hint of abuse?  Then you've got a busted junk fuselage epoxied to a decent wing and tail surfaces.  It doesn't take any time at all to whip out a decent profile fuselage, and at least it'll give the ARF a fighting chance. 

[55chevr]

The ARF Flite Streak will fly forever in stock configuration using electric power.