Civilian Planes

[dkalwishky]

I may catch some flak for saying this, but what about starting off with a Flightline C-47/DC-3 in 1600?

You won't catch flak from me, I'd love to see a good quality one for the same reasons you mentioned.

[OV10]

I may catch some flak for saying this, but what about starting off with a Flightline C-47/DC-3 in 1600? Yes it has been done over by GWS, Dynam, and hobbyking but none where really well done full house models. The hobbyking was the closest, but had the wrong canopy shape, exploding props, motor issues, weak gear, and very boring and unrealistic paint schemes. I think a DC-3/C-47 with a scale outline, good paint scheme, and accurate retracts would sell out at a $349 price point, and make a nice testbed for trying to see hoe civilian planes sell. And, it could be released easily in multiple versions, maybe civilian, D-Day, and an AC-47.

What he said!!

[OV10]

Your Bronco is a great example of a high wing twin that would be great in 1600mm AND be able to eat up grass with less trouble than a low wing twin. But I'm still unsure of its popularity at $349
See what I did there? :)

Actually a more conducive size of 1500mm for 1/8 scale would be the ticket for transport management with a possibly smaller price ticket($325;)) which helps entice fence sitters. You might even believe that North American Rockwell would be receptive to non exorbitant royalties than say the civilian airframe manufactures especially if the cause helps them exploit the media for the latest efforts in the past couple years to use the Bronco as a Special Forces CAS platform against ISIS.
I hear ya on the popularity because there is STILL those that are stuck in the middle of the box and want yet another Spitty done. :dodgy:

[F106DeltaDart]

I may catch some flak for saying this, but what about starting off with a Flightline C-47/DC-3 in 1600? Yes it has been done over by GWS, Dynam, and hobbyking but none where really well done full house models. The hobbyking was the closest, but had the wrong canopy shape, exploding props, motor issues, weak gear, and very boring and unrealistic paint schemes. I think a DC-3/C-47 with a scale outline, good paint scheme, and accurate retracts would sell out at a $349 price point, and make a nice testbed for trying to see how civilian planes sell. And, it could be released easily in multiple versions, maybe civilian, D-Day, and an AC-47.

[dkalwishky]

So if we develop a 1600mm Beechcraft Baron or Lockheed Electra, and pay the [significant] royalties to those companies, you guys will buy 'em in the quantities of the P-38? Yes, please! :)

I would.

(These are more characters to get to the 10 character minimum on posting a reply)

[Alpha]

So if we develop a 1600mm Beechcraft Baron or Lockheed Electra, and pay the [significant] royalties to those companies, you guys will buy 'em in the quantities of the P-38? Yes, please! :) Your Bronco is a great example of a high wing twin that would be great in 1600mm AND be able to eat up grass with less trouble than a low wing twin. But I'm still unsure of its popularity at $349. Crystal ball, crystal ball.... Joking aside, developing a model that doesn't sell well is no laughing matter. I've said it before and I'll say it again, our efforts in brands like FlightLineRC to do never before or rarely modeled aircraft in foam electric is a massive effort. As everyone's deeply valued support continues, we're able to keep the doors open for more aircraft that fit that mold.

See what I did there? :)

[OV10]

Hello Alpha,
My take away of your post #23 comments................
I don't believe that the mainstream serious buyer of a twin for grass operations is really looking for anything under 1400mm, whereas they are wanting the 1500 to 1600 size. The undoubtedly popular support to the FL P-38 must tell you and the manufacturer that this size is very much a viable format that has shown that the consumer will support it, so slightly bigger does sell. Very few civilian airframes are viable candidates as you mentioned by your reference to the Dynam Sky Cruiser as an example to be able to perform satisfactorily on grass strips. The manufacturer has to be able to smartly choose an airframe to model that can do the basics of what I indicated in my comments of post #16. An overtly overlooked airframe that could handle anything we modelers could throw at it is the Bronco ;) but since this IS a thread on civilian aircraft the choices to pick from are very limited because the majority where designed with smaller wheels for concrete usage. Aircraft that where capable of(or possibly even designed for) unimproved strip operations makes things like the Electra a no brainer because of those traits and it is nostalgic looking and has history. The manufacturers have to start thinking outside the box of the half dozen modeled to exhausted lengths and I am one that is still championing the cause that Flight Line will do that for us guys in the next size up range.
Best regards,

[Alpha]

I love a good low wing twin, too!

I wouldn't say overlooking grass operators is the MFR's intentional doing so much as it is they're confined by the limitations inherent in the size range we're talking about for most foam electric aircraft. Most any warbird or scale plane (aside from a swamper wheeled Cub style plane) with 1400mm or less wingspan typically uses wheels under 3" tall, most in the ~2.5" range, if MFRs are to keep the scale close.

Low wing twins, in the context of this size range (1400mm and under) aren't the best for grass simply due to ground clearance. If grass is 1" tall, for example, and a fuselage and low wing has, say, 5" of ground clearance to the bottom of the wheels for a plane in this scale, that leaves 4" from the bottom of the grass to the leading edge of the wing. A centrally mounted motor would limit that aircraft to an 8" prop, and that would still nip the top of the grass during compression upon landing, and any other imperfect depression in the surface.

This is a big reason why MFRs have modeled mid-wing twins instead, like the P-38 and Mosquito, and why among all the foam electric foam MFRs there are so few low wing twins. I can't think of a single low wing electric twin from Horizon or FMS or Freewing, or Durafly. The Dynam Sky Cruiser has undersized props, and yet mine is still a lawnmower on very short grass! Their 1500mm BF-110 and 1500mm C-47 are better on grass due to their tail dragger configuration. But even then, it could stand to be 1700mm wingspan and have larger wheels. We all understand that a larger wingspan airplane would be able to run larger wheels, which would be better suited for taller grass. But at that point, past figures would project that a move from 1500mm to 1700mm or larger would result in plummeting sales. Bigger is better for grass, but bigger simply doesn't sell. The Carbon Z T-28 is a fantastic example. I love that plane. Flap hinges aside, it's an excellent flying aircraft. Huge, and eats up grass like any comparably sized balsa plane (and better in fact because it's usually lighter, comparatively). But I can tell you that the smaller Eflite T-28 sells circles around the big one.

As a slightly related topic, this ground clearance on grass issue is another contributing factor to why there are so few airliners in this size range. Their scale wheels are tiny! Xplaneguy has an A320 from Supreme Hobbies that flies amazingly, truly thrilling, but those tiny wheels wouldn't have a chance on anything other than pavement or the flattest golfing green of a couple millimeters, nevermind the grass of most pilots' RC fields. It's not Supreme Hobbies' fault; but it is an unavoidable limitation when building aircraft this size.

The alternative: Make 'em BIG. Which, personally I wouldn't mind.

[Hippie 64]

Charlie you are hitting the nail on the head . Forgive me for not knowing the names of the planes your speaking of . I can look at it and say that's what I want but can't name it .


Bryan

[OV10]

A nice low wing twin with GOOD landing gear that can handle grass . There are quite a few high wing singles on the market to choose from but a low wing twin with power would be great. I feel like the MFGS may have over looked that many of us only have grass for runways .


Bryan

Hey Hippie..............exactly. Now you should be expressing your desire for that Lockheed Electra I was nudging Alpha on earlier. ;) or a Ventura ;);)

[Hippie 64]

A nice low wing twin with GOOD landing gear that can handle grass . There are quite a few high wing singles on the market to choose from but a low wing twin with power would be great. I feel like the MFGS may have over looked that many of us only have grass for runways .


Bryan

[dkalwishky]

Aeronca Champ, 1600mm sized.

[Alpha]

Yes, OV10, the Lockheed Electra I just had to sneak in. Dynam's BF-110 has a reliable setup for controlling a twin tail like the Electras. Big wheels are a plus.

What else would you guys n' gals like to see? Keep it coming! ;)

[Alpha]

And of course an Aero Commander in R.A. Bob Hoover's colors.

[OV10]

The Grumman Goose and Beechcraft Baron G58 are both excellent choices I'd love to have in my hangar. Piper Seneca and King Air C90gti are similar to the Baron.


I would add the Beechcraft Starship, Bugatti 100P, and Eclipse Concept Jet. Heck, throw in a Diamond DA-42 Twin Star, just for the heck of it.

You showed us the picture but talked around it !!
That Lockheed Electra absolutely calls to me for the civi line because 1) it is a twin and 2) big tires and stout gear for grass.
If not that then the compromise as TiredIron indicated earlier......... Ventura
Either way the Fuz's on both are beefy for big Lipos.

[dkalwishky]

Five left that are flying.

[Alpha]

Beechcraft Starship. Canard Twin Pusher Civilian. Not many of those!

[Alpha]

The Grumman Goose and Beechcraft Baron G58 are both excellent choices I'd love to have in my hangar. Piper Seneca and King Air C90gti are similar to the Baron.


I would add the Beechcraft Starship, Bugatti 100P, and Eclipse Concept Jet. Heck, throw in a Diamond DA-42 Twin Star, just for the heck of it.

[Prowler901]

Yes, the Beechcraft Baron G58 would be awesome! Also, a Beech King Air 200 would be pretty sweet. And, I'd really love a nice scale looking Learjet Model 35 edf.

[dkalwishky]

TiredIron, nothing other than WWII? You gotta get an 80mm F-86. That is one plane no collection should be without. You'll thank me later ;).

Yeah, what he said!