The E-Flite Timber is a STOL (Short Take Off and Landing) aircraft. It comes supplied with both tundra wheels and also floats. So far I have only flown mine off the wheels, I don't have a lake close by. Although I do have every intention of flying it off water as well at some point.
The model arrives in a typical styrofoam box with a cardboard outer case. All the parts are nicely packed and secured in place with tape to prevent damage during transit. My model is the BNF version. The model has a few nice touches and a couple of things I don't like. The model will require a 5 channel radio to operate it. With mine being the BNF version I used a Spectrum DX8 TX and set it up as per the instructions. I made comments about the provided set up in my last article about the little Hobbyzone Champ S+. Although to be fair it does give you a starting point to carry out the first few flights.
The motor, ESC and RX together with the rudder and elevator servos are all ready fitted into the fuselage. The RX is even connected to the rudder and elevator servos and the throttle is connected as well. The fly leads for the ailerons, flaps, and lights are also plugged into the RX ready for connection to the wing. Even the prop and spinner are fitted.
Reading through the instruction manual, the landing gear is the first item to fit to the fuselage. The landing gear has a spring arrangement to cushion the landings on rough ground. It's very simple and seems to work very well. Next the horizontal stabilizer is fitted into a tube that sides through the fuselage below the vertical stabilizer. The horizontal tail is secured to the fuselage with two screws, one each side. The elevator pushrod has to be connected to the elevator horn, which forms part of the elevator joiner for the two parts as they are pushed into place when the horizontal tail is fitted. All very simple and easy to do. At this point I fitted the battery and checked the controls and operation of the motor. The battery is secured by means of two strips of velcro tape. Make sure the battery is secure before flying the model, and if you are not happy with the velcro tape alone use some additional method of holding the battery secure. The battery hatch is on the underside of the model just in front of the landing gear, and held in place by a spring loaded latch.
The wings have the servos already fitted for both the ailerons and the flaps, one servo for each surface. Red and green navigation lights are also fitted in the wing tips. The servos are fitted flush with the wing surface and the control horns for both the flaps and the ailerons are concealed inside the wing. This makes for a great looking aileron or flap, because just like many of the full size everything is in the wing and out of sight. However on a model this can be a disadvantage. You can't get to the control horn, you can't adjust the control throw or even the centering of the control surface. This means you are stuck with what ever the servo travel is, and the only means of reducing the control movement is in the TX programming end point adjustment. While this may be OK, it's not ideal. Personally I like to make mechanical adjustments until I achieve the control surface movement I want utilizing the full servo travel of 100%.
The only glueing required it to glue the leading edge slats into the holes provided in the leading edge of the wing. However I have left mine off, I'm still debating as to fit them or not. Once they are glued in place you they cannot be removed easily.
The wings are joined together on a carbon fiber spar. They do not require glueing together, but simply bolted to the fuselage with the two nylon bolts provided. It's worth mentioning the lights that come fitted to the model. It has wing tip navigation lights, a red beacon on top of the fuselage and one underneath. Also two bright clear LEDs in the cowl. These lights are activated as soon as the flight battery has been connected. There isn't an option to turn them on and off.
It actually takes less time to assemble this model than it has taken me to write this review, so it does go together quickly. The instruction manual is very clear and well laid out in an easy to read fashion.
I have not fitted the floats as yet, but everything is included to do so. Fitting them should be a simple and straightforward task.
I will include photos and a flight review in due course.
Martin
The model arrives in a typical styrofoam box with a cardboard outer case. All the parts are nicely packed and secured in place with tape to prevent damage during transit. My model is the BNF version. The model has a few nice touches and a couple of things I don't like. The model will require a 5 channel radio to operate it. With mine being the BNF version I used a Spectrum DX8 TX and set it up as per the instructions. I made comments about the provided set up in my last article about the little Hobbyzone Champ S+. Although to be fair it does give you a starting point to carry out the first few flights.
The motor, ESC and RX together with the rudder and elevator servos are all ready fitted into the fuselage. The RX is even connected to the rudder and elevator servos and the throttle is connected as well. The fly leads for the ailerons, flaps, and lights are also plugged into the RX ready for connection to the wing. Even the prop and spinner are fitted.
Reading through the instruction manual, the landing gear is the first item to fit to the fuselage. The landing gear has a spring arrangement to cushion the landings on rough ground. It's very simple and seems to work very well. Next the horizontal stabilizer is fitted into a tube that sides through the fuselage below the vertical stabilizer. The horizontal tail is secured to the fuselage with two screws, one each side. The elevator pushrod has to be connected to the elevator horn, which forms part of the elevator joiner for the two parts as they are pushed into place when the horizontal tail is fitted. All very simple and easy to do. At this point I fitted the battery and checked the controls and operation of the motor. The battery is secured by means of two strips of velcro tape. Make sure the battery is secure before flying the model, and if you are not happy with the velcro tape alone use some additional method of holding the battery secure. The battery hatch is on the underside of the model just in front of the landing gear, and held in place by a spring loaded latch.
The wings have the servos already fitted for both the ailerons and the flaps, one servo for each surface. Red and green navigation lights are also fitted in the wing tips. The servos are fitted flush with the wing surface and the control horns for both the flaps and the ailerons are concealed inside the wing. This makes for a great looking aileron or flap, because just like many of the full size everything is in the wing and out of sight. However on a model this can be a disadvantage. You can't get to the control horn, you can't adjust the control throw or even the centering of the control surface. This means you are stuck with what ever the servo travel is, and the only means of reducing the control movement is in the TX programming end point adjustment. While this may be OK, it's not ideal. Personally I like to make mechanical adjustments until I achieve the control surface movement I want utilizing the full servo travel of 100%.
The only glueing required it to glue the leading edge slats into the holes provided in the leading edge of the wing. However I have left mine off, I'm still debating as to fit them or not. Once they are glued in place you they cannot be removed easily.
The wings are joined together on a carbon fiber spar. They do not require glueing together, but simply bolted to the fuselage with the two nylon bolts provided. It's worth mentioning the lights that come fitted to the model. It has wing tip navigation lights, a red beacon on top of the fuselage and one underneath. Also two bright clear LEDs in the cowl. These lights are activated as soon as the flight battery has been connected. There isn't an option to turn them on and off.
It actually takes less time to assemble this model than it has taken me to write this review, so it does go together quickly. The instruction manual is very clear and well laid out in an easy to read fashion.
I have not fitted the floats as yet, but everything is included to do so. Fitting them should be a simple and straightforward task.
I will include photos and a flight review in due course.
Martin
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