A local R/C guy who also does C/L, claims to have built his Score in one day. At first it had "issues", but after adding some tip weight, moving the leadouts aft and getting some time on the engine, it was looking pretty good. Power is an LA .46 that went from box to model to air, with no bench running, because he said "that's the way we do it in R/C"! He glued all the flying surfaces together, used the tab hinges and replaced only the pushrods. The engine has an "up-front" NVA and AP tongue muffler, which I sold him.
Needing space for more R/C planes and looking hard at an ARF Strega, he sold the Score to a father & son team getting back into C/L after a 30 year hiatus. In 10 days the son went from a little rusty (understandable, after such a long layoff) to a very consistent 450+ point pattern and will probably be "Scoring" 500+ soon, if the plane lasts. After 2 or 3 days of 6 to 8 flights per day, the engine was coming on really strong, with a nice break. Best prop seems to be a TF 12X6 or Zinger 12X5. Fuel is Champion 10%, with a Sig GP003 plug. Lines are .018" X 62' E/E.
The odd shape stock tank works surprisingly well. It could be just a smidgen higher, as the engine sounds a bit rich inverted. That could be adjusted by pads under the motor mounts, but it's not enough to matter. Run time is the pattern plus 8 to 10 laps and it leans out a few laps after the clover. The torsion block (if there is one) on the IB gear mount broke after about 50 flights, but the main mount is still solid. There was also a problem with fuel seeping under the covering on the belly pan. These issues will eventually need fixing, and may have already been fixed.
I got to fly this Score twice, doing some "bush league" stunts on the 1st flight to get the hang of it, then a full pattern on the 2nd. In my opinion, and somewhat to my surprise, this is one heck of a nice flying airplane. After checking out an unassembled kit, I was thinking a .50 or .60 would be needed. While there might be some advantages to more power, the LA .46 flies it well and it's definitely not "hurting" for power. Line tension is robust and consistent throughout the flight, without being excessive. I don't know what this one weights, but it doesn't "feel" very heavy for a plane this size.
I was concerned that controls would be stiff or bind with the tab hinges. Not so! Barreled and pinned nylon hinges (when done right) would surely feel looser on the ground, but the tabs, at least on this model, are fine in the air. There is almost no gap at the hinge line. Don't know how long they will last, but probably longer than the stock bellcrank & leadouts.
I have one of these kits. After looking it over I was thinking I'd have to make so many changes it would become an ARF Manhattan Project and I'd be better off selling it and getting an ARF Strega. I'll still get a Strega, but will keep the Score. I'll make quite a few changes, mostly to yield a stronger and longer lasting plane. If mine flies as well as the "done in a day" model, it will be worth the effort.
Kudos to Top Flite for this one and for their other C/L ARFs as well! ... for what it's worth ... Ed Prohaska
Topic: Score (Read 1358 times)