Strega experiences after a year?

[bob branch]

I debated posting this in the ARF forum, but thought too many people with experience might not see it to respond. Its been about a year now since the Strega ARF/ARC came out. What have been the experiences of those who have owned and flown it? What worked that you did? What did not? What would you change on what you did? Did it perform up to your expectations and how has it stood up? Inquiring minds want to know.

bob branch

[Wynn Robins]

I am a relatively new Strega owner - so this is all I can tell you - they are HEAVY

I am mid way through re-doing one - I have cut nearly 5oz off the wing so far and should be able to get a good 3-4 off the fuse once done.  Target weight is under 70oz - which with all the mods should be prety easy.

I changed the shape of the wing, stab and fuse, as I think the Strega is pretty ugly......the only reason I bought one was that I had my first child, and building time was at a premium.....however - the amoun of modifications i have made to this - I should have just built a kit.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[peabody]

Brian's is the lightest that I have seen....70 ounces...an ARC covered in colored tissue....it seems to fly real, real well.
We watched the prototype fly reasonably well with an ST 60...it had almost 1000 flights, by many folks,....Windy's production Strega has around that many flights on it as well..
most are kinda porky, but seem to be pretty good flyers....

Follow the directions ine instructions, use proper glue, and watch Windy's video. Then power with a strong engine, and you'll have a good flying, fun aeroplane.

[Wynn Robins]

must say the quality control is still lacking - had one wing that was bowed REAL bad - got sent a replacement free of charge (Brodaks are good like that) but it is worse than the first  one - plus the LE sheeting has been sanded so thin the ribs create bumps along the whole outboard wing..

like this

[bob branch]

I didn't want to start with my experiences but now that the thread is going I'll share mine. I had 2 strega this year. Both were powered by Saito .72 four strokes. The first, an arc I chopped the nose off 3/4 inch with a corresponding 3/4 inch rearward movement of the motor. The plane only lasted about 5 flights before the flap horn boxes cracked and the plane was lost in an outside loop. The plane was so noseheavy even with wood prop and plastic spinner it would not have flown an entire pattern. With full up it would only barely do a loop to 60 degree height and clear the ground. I know of at least one other Strega that was lost to the same issue. This is an area that should be carefully checked and glass wrapped if any question exists. I glass wrapped the flap horn box on my second strega.

The second plane I cut the nose off 1 1/2 inches and moved the motor aft the same. This plane was still nose heavy but it would fly the pattern in the specified size. The wing was found on first trim flights to be twisted however. I should have found it sooner but assembled it without checking the wing with an incidence meter. A few others have found this as well. Not by any stretch alot but something that bears checking when you open the box. Creating an outboard trim tab was not enough to get it level so as a last measure I did an inboard one as well. I did get fairly reasonable trim to fly a pattern but it was in gusty winds at the contest and the wing stalled on the second outside square corner and consumed the 4 feet between the bottom and the ground. I gave it away rather than attempt repair. Both planes had Windy's recommended mods in leading edge, hollowing blocks, and Rabe Rudders. I did not attempt to lighten the tail for obvious reasons with the heavy motor up front.

All hope is not lost however, as a third is on its way, an ARF to hold me over while I finish two scratch built planes that are not going to make it by spring. Power will be with a 2 stroke motor to get around the balance issues. Maybe three will be the charm. So I'm looking to see what else everyone who actually flies the plane has found that works or needs checking and what is working well power wise. 

Bob Branch

[Wynn Robins]

Ted Fancher and Brett Buck did a short writeup "over there on SSW" about the ARF Stega, interesting points made..

[Warren Leadbeatter]

Hi

When I first saw the Strega ARF about 10 months ago I just had to have one, however, the price I was quoted by our local Brodak dealer at the time was around $540 Australian dollars.  I thought this could not be right so I tried SS Hobbies who were a lot cheaper but could not ship me one due to airmail size limitations imposed by Australia Post.  So I went straight to Mr Brodak and asked how can I get one?  I told him I wanted a good one. I don't know how he did it, but he got one to me for around $230 australian dollars.  It arrived in the mail so I am not sure how he got around the Airmail size limit.  So my first challenge was over.

While waiting for it to arrive I read all about the Strega and asked lots of questions here and on SSW. I learned that the LE needed rounding off abit more and that the flaps were possibly flimsy and the engine mounting could be suspect.

When the kit arrived much to my excitement the wing was not warped, the flaps were very rigid, the covering was tight and it was all in tip top shape.  I decided to put in a new Saito 62 which I had just purchased for the Strega.  I put it together over 5 weeknights, including making my own 5oz clunk tank, rounding off the LE and adding my own numbers and decals.  The balance was just ever so slightly forward of where it should be so I added a little bit of lead to the tail wheel. Less than a 1/4 oz.

First flights on 70ft lines were very impressive but the thing was a bit fast and felt like it would pull my arm off with a 13x6 wood prop so I backed the throttle off from 3/4 to about 2/3. Much better but i had a sore shoulder for days.  Around this time I posted a little video snippet on Youtube and got hammered by lots of SSW wankers because they didnt think my figure 8 was very good.  Anyway this video has now been watched about 4000 times on the tube so you be the judge.  Sure I am not an expert flyer but I can usually pull a score in the low 800s.

I continued to fly and trim the model and I got it to the point where I was happy to try it out in competition. A couple of weeks ago I went to the Hunter Valley Championships here in New South Wales and suddenly discovered I was using less and less fuel to fly for 7mins.  I was taking out about 1.5 oz out of the 5oz tank and still over running. So I went to 2oz and found this was too much because it cut out in the 3rd leaf of the clover, flew straight at me and into the deck at 90 deg.

The wings broke off and the engine bolts were bent as the motor was forced back about 1/8". So I took it home and in the next 5 week nights put it back together and it's now looking like brand new again and flying just as good. While reinstalling the wing I checked everything internally and found it all to be good.  I'm looking forward to flying it again this weekend.   

I find that the Saito 62 has ample power and the overall dry weight of the plane is 74oz.
The engine is running at around 8400 rpm with a 13x6 TF power point prop.  The balance point is spot on as per the plans and it turns very well.  If I forget to remove the C cell Glow starter which I have done once or twice the extra nose weight makes it noticably harder to turn but it can still do loops wingovers and inverted flight but tight turns are impossible.  So I would suggest if you haven't got your CG right then get it right and this plane will be a lot happier.

That's my story and here's a pic




 

[Marek Kozera]

I got my Strega ARC to test the bigger engines: RoJet 65 and PA65 both on pipe. For that purpose the ARC Strega is great. Mine has wing and stab. covered with Ultracote, flaps were week so I have two layers of tissue and many coats of dope, fuselage is finished with tissue and dope. Total weight dry is 72.5 oz. I am using RoJet 65 on pipe APC 13x4 Regular prop and my release rpm around 9,500. It can do the pattern but the corners are soft - I think it is on heavy side. Right now I am building STREGA from kit and this one is for PA65 on pipe. This is the first time I am working with laser cut kit – what a pleasure. I made a few changes: narrower fuselage and fuselage-mounted landing gear (our flying field is covered with uneven patches of grass).
The bottom line for me: the Strega kit is better value; it is less expensive to buy, has good wood, is laser cut and I can make all changes I want.
Marek

[Gordon Tarbell]

Hi Warren did you shorten the nose at all or just mount that Saito in the unaltered mounts?I realize there is a bit of a diff. between the heft of a Saito 72 and the 62 but still curious about all I have heard about having to shorten the nose of planes for 4strokers. Also what fuel did (do) you use in the Saito 62.

[Warren Leadbeatter]

Hi Gordon

No I didnt change the nose at all.  I just bolted the Saito 62 straight in.  But before doing it I did a quick/rough check by taping the motor in place and checking the balance.  It seemed pretty close so I went ahead. I use a wooden prop and a plastic spinner to keep the weight down as well.

The fuel I use in all my Saitos is standard hobby shop 4 stroke fuel.  10% nitro, 20% synthetic oil.

Cheers