Everything that you need to know about building the Twister is in the instructions. If you are a newbie type flyer/builder, the LAST thing you want to do is get into aspects of the jobs of which you may not understand. The Twister is a VERY capable airplane right out of the box for the type of modeler that you are. It has just enough of what you need to learn how to build, finish and fly. Why go through all the extra expense and work of doing the Fancher modifications, if you have never flown a stock Twister and have any idea of what the modifications are supposed to improve!! No disrespect to Ted Fancher, and I can recommend his modifications if you are going to be flying at a level where you can utilize the improvements. The Fancher mods add weight, time in construction and extra expense. A stock Twister WILL come out lighter. It WILL be a little more crash resistant because a lighter model has less weight in momentum. It WILL be easier to repair in the event of a crash that does damage it. The best thing you can do to a Twister is build it straight and square, and pay attention to the small details. Pay attention to the controls and their installation along with flap and elevator hinge line up. Don't go over board on the finish if you are pretty sure you will be dinging it or worst case rekitting it!. Add things like adjustable lead outs, and a tip weight box. Make your fuel tank adjustable and serviceable.. Where the landing gear plug into the fuselage use the length of tubing with the kit and slide it into the next size up tubing and maybe add a second set of gear straps. I have seen a local flyer do just exactly all of that and use a box stock Twister to go from beginner to Expert, and put a whooping on some Experts with piped airplanes with it. Not a series of Twisters, but one, single airplane! He went through 3 or 4 OS .40 FPs along the way, just flat wore them out. That is what gets you somewhere in the hobby of C/L stunt, practice. You can build a nice, stock Twister and be flying it, while some one else is still building the Fancer version. When you get real confident and comfortable flying the whole patter and taking the airplane home in one piece on a consistent basis, then build yourself a Fancherised Twister, because by then you will understand why Ted did what he did, and you will be able to see and feel the difference. You will also be flying the airplane hard enough to where you will need the modifications. I have been building a box stock SIG Twister with just these simple upgrades I have mentioned, will power it with a nice Fox .35, and plan to fly it in Profile next year just to prove a point. The plane has been built from a random kit, using all the parts in the box and almost all of the hardware. Stay tuned for further developments.
Type at you later,
Dan McEntee