Nitro Yay or Nay?

[r/c basher]

Well today I got home from work and a brown box was waiting for me from Horizonhobby, sadly it was the spare parts that I ordered for the Alpha, just no plane. That was pretty fast shipping though, 2 business days. I just hope they do the samething with the Alpha.

[r/c basher]

After some suspenseful waiting, I got the Alpha 40 today! I have it all unpacked and all I got to say is this thing is HUGE! Everything came undamaged as far as I can tell. The ultracote is thinner than I expected, its close to paper thin. I'm afraid if I set it on something it'll break.

I need to smooth out a couple of wrinkles in the ultracote. I also might need to put some epoxy on the firewall, I heard the coating on it is too thin.

Tonight its raining and tomorrow its suppose to rain too. Hopefully Sunday I'll maiden this beauty. I'll try and get some pictures tonight.

[Doozer]

Very nice!
Do they come RTF/BNF or do you have to add servos and such?

pics and/or video please I want to hear the engine.

[r/c basher]

They offer a RTF package with everything, including a DX5e, or an ARF with just the airframe with no electronics. The RTF is $340 and the ARF $140. I found it cheaper for me to go with the RTF even though I dont need the DX5e. I wish they offered a BNF but oh well.

I didn't take any pictures before building most of it, I got to excited lol. I'll take some pictures in a little bit. Did I mention this thing is HUGE.


Well I guess there wont be any pictures, just realized my bro took the camera. I could snap a couple with my lappy's webcam though.

[r/c basher]

Heres a few pics of my progress, sorry for the blurriness and the odd angles but its the best I can do until I can get my bro's camera back thats his, that I use when he isn't looking. ;D Using a lap tops webcam to take pics is harder than putting together the plane.

Alpha 40 compared to my retired Belt Cp-

Another shot-

The fuse-

Another angle-

The engine-

[19000rpm]

That's looking good!

[r/c basher]

Thanks 19k. I took it outside tonight and ran the engine for the first time.

I had a helluva time trying to start it, partly me being a newb and being a new engine. And the manual incorrectly (I think) states that you need to prime the engine turning the prop clockwise, which in other words means the fuel would go away from the carb which doesn't make any sense. With my cars you turn it counter-clockwise making the fuel enter the carb.

After some tinkering with it. I sprayed a shot of WD40 in the cylinder and she fired right up. I ran her for a few minutes, the manual says that the engine doesn't need to be broke in, but I wanted to see how reliable it would be.

After I got it started she ran like a champ no matter what the throttle was set at. It never had the tendency to quit at all. This thing sounds like one pissed off bumble bee lol. At full throttle its SCREAMing. I can't imagine what its going to be like in the air.

No flying yet, the wind needs to die down first, hopefully tomorrow I'll maiden it.

[Doozer]

;D Very cool to see you so stoked. Can't wait to hear about the maiden.

[19000rpm]

Good luck with the maiden!

[r/c basher]

Thanks guys, no maiden today though. Its been raining and too windy. Tomorrow looks good though.

[r/c basher]

Tonight I maidened her, all I have to say is AMAZING! Lets just say she's still in one piece and I have my first dead stick landing under my belt. ;D

Tonight I took the Alpha out, I fueled her up, she started after a couple of minutes. I took off and after a minute of flying the engine died. Luckily the Alpha is great at gliding and I was able to land on the landing strip with no damage. I fired her back up and took off again and flew for a few minutes until dark. My knees were shaking the whole time lol.

The idle of the engine is high enough were I can fly around with no throttle, which makes landing a challenge. It glides forever.

So far I love this thing, theres nothing like hearing the sound of the 2 stroke. I haven't had this much fun in the hobby in a long time. ;D

I'm looking forward to many more flights with the Alpha.

[19000rpm]

That's terrific!

[r/c basher]

I flew the Alpha 40 last night and then again tonight, so far I love this plane!! I had another dead stick landing last night, I think the engine was running slightly lean. After richening the high speed needle it ran tonight without any problems. I've tried my first loops and rolls with this plane, flies really nice.

I can see why its a trainer, this thing is more stable than my super cub was when I first got it. It definitely isn't a speed plane, flies slower than my super cub. Eventually I'll put a 2 blade prop on it, I hear that it really wakes it up. It makes a great lazy Sunday flier though, and the sound of the 2 stroke I don't think will ever get old. ;D

Tonight I had an oh sh!t moment though, not while flying but driving. I fly in a field less than a 1/4 mile down the road and when I was driving home I was slowing down to turn in the driveway a car almost hit me as it passed, doing about 70 or 80 I realized it was a state boy after it passed. No lights or sirens going at all.