FMS PA18 Cub

[Builda]

So FMS have just put the nail in the coffin for the Hobbyking “Grand tundra” with the release of the PA18 cub. Whilst it doesn’t have pinned control surfaces, it has everything else and apparently flies fantastic, not to mention it’s $120USD cheaper!! - it’s actually prompted HK to have a “flash sale” on the GT but I don’t think it will make much differrence. Whilst (at the time of writing) it’s not available in the US at the moment, it can be ordered direct from FMS with free shipping-I have 3 buddies in the US who have bought them, all of which love it. FMS are also saying it’s their best selling plane currently and it’s not even out in the US yet! Anyway, I’m looking to Maiden mine in the morning-will be interesting to see how it goes.

[JamesonC]

Let me start by saying I am a big FMS fan. I have a bunch of their stuff and think they are really headed in the right direction. But, I don't really think this plane "put the nail in the coffin" for the Grand Tundra. And, I doubt Hk's sale has anything to do with it. The biggest difference is the GT is 4s/6s capable out of the box. On 6s, the GT goes from a lazy cub flier to an aerobatic machine. The planes, while both are stol capable, really are for two different customers. This is a scale model vs a purpose built stol/sport plane.

With that said, the FMS Cub is a fantastic deal and I think it is great, but I already have the CZ 150 and the GT so I have no real use or space for one. But I may still snag one down the road.

[Bajora]

A couple videos of this one, if you haven’t seen them already? :Cool:

[Builda]

Let me start by saying I am a big FMS fan. I have a bunch of their stuff and think they are really headed in the right direction. But, I don't really think this plane "put the nail in the coffin" for the Grand Tundra. And, I doubt Hk's sale has anything to do with it. The biggest difference is the GT is 4s/6s capable out of the box. On 6s, the GT goes from a lazy cub flier to an aerobatic machine. The planes, while both are stol capable, really are for two different customers. This is a scale model vs a purpose built stol/sport plane.

With that said, the FMS Cub is a fantastic deal and I think it is great, but I already have the CZ 150 and the GT so I have no real use or space for one. But I may still snag one down the road.

The GT on 6S out of the box has ALWAYS been a fire hazard! I got someone to do watt and amp readings on his one on both 4S and 6s and on 4s the power system is fine, but on 6s the thing was pulling 1800w and 79A through a 65a ESC and a motor rated for 1350W and 65A!!! Now I don’t know about you but where I come from you go pulling 15a more through an ESC than it’s made for they have a bad habit of either catching fire just like the bushmule ones do on 4S (also grossly overstretched), or the ESC goes into thermal shutdown. Hobbyking “acknowledged this issue” after I made a lot of noise about it and people got concerned,by issuing a replacement 80a ESC for the plane-that’s fine, but what about the motor? It’s still 500W overstretched and now able to pull more amps too! End of the day the FMS cub and the 2m FMS beaver (which has an outstanding 6s setup in it) are both in the GT’s class, are both WAY better quality, and most importantly they are both cheaper! The only reason the GT has sold is because “it’s a big tundra”. I know a number of guys with both the GT and the PA18 and the resounding thing I hear is that the PA18 is WAY better than the GT. It’s also over 100usd cheaper too, and the floats only cost $20usd extra unlike the GT. End of the day it’s personal preference but I guarantee that the GT sales will have taken a big hit thanks to the FMS cub.

And i I haven’t even touched on how the PA18 runs with the beaver 6s power system in yet!

hobbyking touted the same deal with the bushmule (run 3s or 4s). On 3s it’s a gutless dog (unless you add MAS props which REALLY transform it), but on 4s it’s pulling 1007w and 70a through a pair of 20a esc’s And motors rated at 411w and 36a each-hence all the issues with them on 4S catching fire or having a motor go down for no reason. I was hoping they learned from the bushmule but they clearly didnt, but I will say I think the penny has finally dropped with the C130 as it’s a 4S only plane. I guess time will tell on that one.

[JamesonC]

The GT on 6S out of the box has ALWAYS been a fire hazard! I got someone to do watt and amp readings on his one on both 4S and 6s and on 4s the power system is fine, but on 6s the thing was pulling 1800w and 79A through a 65a ESC and a motor rated for 1350W and 65A!!! Now I don’t know about you but where I come from you go pulling 15a more through an ESC than it’s made for they have a bad habit of either catching fire just like the bushmule ones do on 4S (also grossly overstretched), or the ESC goes into thermal shutdown. Hobbyking “acknowledged this issue” after I made a lot of noise about it and people got concerned,by issuing a replacement 80a ESC for the plane-that’s fine, but what about the motor? It’s still 500W overstretched and now able to pull more amps too! End of the day the FMS cub and the 2m FMS beaver (which has an outstanding 6s setup in it) are both in the GT’s class, are both WAY better quality, and most importantly they are both cheaper! The only reason the GT has sold is because “it’s a big tundra”. I know a number of guys with both the GT and the PA18 and the resounding thing I hear is that the PA18 is WAY better than the GT. It’s also over 100usd cheaper too, and the floats only cost $20usd extra unlike the GT. End of the day it’s personal preference but I guarantee that the GT sales will have taken a big hit thanks to the FMS cub.

And i I haven’t even touched on how the PA18 runs with the beaver 6s power system in yet!

hobbyking touted the same deal with the bushmule (run 3s or 4s). On 3s it’s a gutless dog (unless you add MAS props which REALLY transform it), but on 4s it’s pulling 1007w and 70a through a pair of 20a esc’s And motors rated at 411w and 36a each-hence all the issues with them on 4S catching fire or having a motor go down for no reason. I was hoping they learned from the bushmule but they clearly didnt, but I will say I think the penny has finally dropped with the C130 as it’s a 4S only plane. I guess time will tell on that one.

I agree the 2m Beaver is a GREAT plane. However... I don't think you understand what I was saying. I personally don't believe the GT and the new FMS Cub are marketed to the same people. Even though they are the same size and both stol type planes.. one is a scale model and one is more of a sport model. But, options and variety and competition is good in this hobby! I love the looks of the new FMS Cub but like I said before, with it being only a 4s plane and since I already have the GT and the CZ 150, I just can't justify it! Would be a blast though on the Beaver power system!

PS - If HK is sending out free 80a ESCs like they did for me and new ones are coming with the 80a install, using it as an insult to the plane really doesn't make sense. They made a mistake... then corrected it. Same thing happened with the fuse coming apart on the FW Bae Hawk and MRC did the same thing, they corrected it for their customers. I think both companies handled both those situations pretty well. MRC still came out on top though, since they automatically sent parts out to every customer instead of having to request it!