teesco
02-27-2010, 09:37 PM
Many of you will remember last summer when I flew again for the first time after 20 years out of the hobby. My re-intro to RC was a little 3 channel plane I bought from Steve (BrokenRotor) called the Schoolboy. The Schoolboy came out in the '90's as an ARF kit. It came with an AP 09 Hornet engine and a 3 channel FM radio.
You can watch a video of it from last year here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpO--_EBAYo (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpO--_EBAYo)
After I bought it from Steve, I flew it a few times with the 09 engine but I had a bit of trouble with the engine. A few of you recommended that I put an OS 15 LA on it, rather than replace the Hornet engine. I took your advice and, as the title says THE SCHOOLBOY HAS GRADUATED!
I flew it for the first time today with the new engine installed and boy does that baby scream. I am still flyiing it with the yellow foam wing and 3 channels but I did install a Spectrum radio (I also put some homemade skiis on it but they need improvement. It landed ok but was hard to take off). Much to my delight (and Steve's), with that engine, it will climb for as long as I can keep it pointed up or until I can't see it any more. The interesting thing is that it was still in the break-in phase, so I was running it really rich and it still had that kind of power. I have the recommended 8x4 prop and an A3 glow plug. I also installed a new 4oz fuel tank. I got 6-7 minutes running it rich. When it is leaned out it will likely go 8-10 min.
It looks slightly different now. Last fall at the 3DRC field, I dead sticked it right into the first pole in our snow fence. I couldn't hit the fence, it had to be nearly dead center on the pole. If you look you can still see the scar on the pole. That broke the firewall and bottom so I had to rebuild a little. The fuselage is now white with a red stripe instead of the bottom half being all red.
I just want to say thanks to all those that recommended the OS 15 LA. I always had good luck with my OS 25 back in the day but the advice confirmed the decision to spend the extra money for the OS and I could not be happier with that engine.
A couple of more flights running rich and it will be broken in and ready to scream at full power :D. I hope the wings and monocote stay on it :eek:!
You can watch a video of it from last year here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpO--_EBAYo (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpO--_EBAYo)
After I bought it from Steve, I flew it a few times with the 09 engine but I had a bit of trouble with the engine. A few of you recommended that I put an OS 15 LA on it, rather than replace the Hornet engine. I took your advice and, as the title says THE SCHOOLBOY HAS GRADUATED!
I flew it for the first time today with the new engine installed and boy does that baby scream. I am still flyiing it with the yellow foam wing and 3 channels but I did install a Spectrum radio (I also put some homemade skiis on it but they need improvement. It landed ok but was hard to take off). Much to my delight (and Steve's), with that engine, it will climb for as long as I can keep it pointed up or until I can't see it any more. The interesting thing is that it was still in the break-in phase, so I was running it really rich and it still had that kind of power. I have the recommended 8x4 prop and an A3 glow plug. I also installed a new 4oz fuel tank. I got 6-7 minutes running it rich. When it is leaned out it will likely go 8-10 min.
It looks slightly different now. Last fall at the 3DRC field, I dead sticked it right into the first pole in our snow fence. I couldn't hit the fence, it had to be nearly dead center on the pole. If you look you can still see the scar on the pole. That broke the firewall and bottom so I had to rebuild a little. The fuselage is now white with a red stripe instead of the bottom half being all red.
I just want to say thanks to all those that recommended the OS 15 LA. I always had good luck with my OS 25 back in the day but the advice confirmed the decision to spend the extra money for the OS and I could not be happier with that engine.
A couple of more flights running rich and it will be broken in and ready to scream at full power :D. I hope the wings and monocote stay on it :eek:!