LX 1.2M F4F Wildcat Review

[F106DeltaDart]

Looking forward to the build! You planning on any mods or building it stock? I had 2 flights on mine this weekend with the reglued magnets and they are holding up so far. Did a lot of full throttle passes to try to push the magnets to their max temp, so I am hoping that the CA has cured that issue.

[Prowler901]

I'm going to try to add flaps. Still thinking about how. I want to keep the wings foldable. I might shorten the ailerons. I'm going to slow down the retracts with some diodes. Nav lights, maybe. Minor cockpit details. Might open the canopy. Sound system, maybe. I don't know where I'd put the transducer.

I have lots of ideas. I'll just have to see how many are practical. :)

I'm glad to hear that the magnets are holding. How much aileron authority does it have?

[F106DeltaDart]

It has a decent amount of aileron authority but nothing extreme. And you can certainly dial in more control throw for shorter ailerons. But, I would not reduce the ailerons all the way to scale size, maybe some sort of compromise size. In order to fight the dihedral on this model, it takes a fair amount of aileron to bank or roll it.

[F106DeltaDart]

I look forward to seeing your mods though, they sound like great ideas. Keep us posted, especially on the flaps and gear slowdown.

[Bodie]

For those who got the kit, what is required to complete?
I know it would need rx/tx, motor, esc, battery and servos but anything else? Are the retracts complete with motor?
Thanks

[Prowler901]

Hi Bodie. The retracts come complete and ready to install with the kit. All you need are the items you listed. The kit comes completely unassembled, which I like.

[Charley38]

Read your review. Good read! Would you believe I've been flying this model for over a year and never realized the sliding lock pins in the wing roots could be used to lock the wings in the folded position? I've been tying them folded with soft braided rope!

CR

[F106DeltaDart]

Read your review. Good read! Would you believe I've been flying this model for over a year and never realized the sliding lock pins in the wing roots could be used to lock the wings in the folded position? I've been tying them folded with soft braided rope!

CR

It took me a while to figure that out as well. After a while and staring at the pictures of it wings folded, I figured there must have been a way to lock them, and found the second hole.

[cmmcginn]

Thanks for a really helpful review. I've had my eye on this plane for a long time and wondered why no one slowed the retracts down with a computer radio. The snappy retracts are a detraction, particularly knowing that pilots had to manually rotate a handle over thirty times to bring them up and put them down. Still interested in the plane, but the gear speed is a shame, and they are otherwise so accurately reproduced.

[DonRhone]

Excellent write up. Often wondered why this version of the F4F was not more popular. Glad to hear that the retracts are sturdy. So many of the new retracts are noted as flawed and weak structually.

[spec450]

Here is my Atlantic LX Wildcat.

[Tony617]

I did not know about Motion Hobby until last year but I ordered one from another hobby shop and I opted for the the classic version of the LX F4F Wildcat. Care must be used for landing in crosswinds due to the narrow landing gear. I only fly mine with no wind. I know the wings can fold and I took picture of folded wings but just retract the landing gear and put in my car without folding the wings.

[rifleman_btx]

I stayed away from this bird because I had bad experiences with banana. I might have to take a second look at them now that their service has picked up. Last plane I got from them was when they carried fms. I bought the pt17.

[RRHandy]

I too love this bird and have stayed away from buying it from BH or GH, they are the same family and BH"s C.S. has gotten better but still very lacking, March will be one year for my run-in with them, don't take the photos of their product to be what you get. Rant over. R.

[rifleman_btx]

Agreed, so call it another vote for hoping one day motion will carry lx. And maybe get them to up their quality control as well (lx that is).

[spec450]

I have 6 flights now on my Wildcat. So far so good.

[Tony617]

I have only had two issues with my Wildcat. I broke the right aileron control on the servo since the right aileron was not level with the left one. I had to order another one from BH. This was my fault. I did have to put a new Deans connector on the ESC as well but that was really no issue for me since I have bunch spare Deans connectors to use. I typically use adapter cables for my ESC so I use XT60 LiPO to a Deans connector. Also have EC3 to XT60 cables for my E-flight RCs.

Tony

[fieldofdreamsflyer]

You can buy the Wilcat here

https://www.hsdgo.com/hsdjets-1200mm-d-f4f-a-blue-pnp

There also going to have a booth at the AMA West show

[spec450]

So I hit a pebble today on take off and broke the prop on take off. I go to BH.com and the prop is not even listed in the spare parts section. Any ideas on who else sells parts for this plane? Or any aftermarket props?

[Parky]

Its been a few years, but when I broke a prop, I just used a Master Airscrew 3 blade prop. I had to make a spacer for it to get it to clear the cowl. Flew just fine.

Sorry, but its been quite a while, and I sold the plane years ago. I do not remember the pitch and diameter.. I just matched to the stock prop. And I forget how big the spacer was. I THINK I just cut down the hub from the 3 blade prop that it came with.