A superbly agile model
The flight characteristics of this plane were very entertaining - to pilot and on-looker alike. It would do anything the pilot was capable of (it could definitely do more than I'm capable of). I built the tank- and battery-bay slightly larger than original and, with the over-size fuel tank I managed to shoe-horn in, it would fly for almost half-an-hour. By linking the flaperons to the elevator, loops and bunts could be made ridiculously small
Summer 2003 picture
I originally fitted the MDS .38 it was designed for, but this became unreliable after around 50 to 60 flights. After around 100 flights it was removed and suspecting worn con rod bushes, it was returned to Ripmax to take advantage of the three-year warranty - but Ripmax declined to play ball, saying that the warranty didn't cover "Wear and tear" and that I should buy a new engine!
So . . . . What's an MDS 3-year-warranty worth? Nothing at all - in my opinion
An old Super Tigre .40 was fitted in place of the MDS .38 . . . . now the model had vertical performance - and how!
Prop-hanging suddenly became so much easier (and only on half-throttle too!)
Parts to repair the MDS .38 cost me less than £10, and the engine ran as well as it ever did after I re-assembled it - no thanks whatsoever to Ripmax!
Sold to make room for next project 24.09.03