Sky Surfer from RCBazzar (click for product link)


Overview

1. It is same as Easy Star with Ailerons (54''x36''), dimensions and weight, looks like made out of same diecast as easy star
2. Foam quality, density is not as good as easy star though
3. Easy Star comes with a Permax Brushed Motor, this one comes with a Good BLDC.
4. RCDhamaka Cost for Easy Star is 4514 Sky Surfer for 4200 , so price point is similar too.
5. Plus points, (a) BLDC Motor (b) Aileron (c) Good Canopy (Locks easily and has a scale pilot too)
5. Minus Points, NOT AS GOOD A FOAM QUALITY  as easy star

Build is easy, points to bear in mind are:-
(a) Be careful of attaching emphanage, wing tip to tail tip and getting tailplane parallel, there is a possibility of making a mistake here

(b) Wing servo extension will require a slot to be cut on the under wing foam joiner (See image)

(c) Push Rod sleeves will require couple of oil drops

(d) Like the easy star, the underside will require some fibre tape reinforcement

(e) CG is perfect at 60 MM, RX at CG, 3S 1300 mah up front in the front compartment, no nose/tail weight needed

Fly Log

All controls were put to neutral, after take off did not need any trim at all, she flew hands off, (though did not let Sky Surfer relax at all  ), here are some images

Full throw Elevator ±12mm Rudder ±10mm aileron ± 12mm) be advised manual does not give throwsI set triple DR/Expo, it was set on switch 'E'(Futaba). as follows

Position 1 Aile 60% Expo -45 Elev 38% expo -50 Rudder 60% No Expo
Position 2 Aile 75% Expo -60 Elev 55% Expo -60 Rudder 80% Expo -60
Position 3 Aile 100% Expo -70 elev 100% Expo -70 Rudder 100% No Expo


Flying
She flew extremely well, Took off and after a trim run straight away i pulled her up for a Hammer Stall (Minor Yaw right, Mix required for Hammer stall), Did couple of Loops, Inverted, Stall Turns, High Speed turns at max throw, Low speed turns etc she handled all of them pretty well, behaved exactly like easy star with ailerons and i wish easy star had ailerons.

Great glider to fly

Some eye candies from my pupil

Some more are here

http://photobucket.com/SkySurf

PS

Sujju Bhai Good Job and thanks for bringing this exceptional beginners model to India

Here is the new entrant to my Free RC School. he will be flying this model for most of the time

PS
With Vineet and his Easy Star

Thanks n nice review. Really helpful for me as a beginner.

I wanted to start with one of these but cant find an 20A Brushless ESC.

How different is it compared to easystar in flying characteristic? How big is the canopy compared to Easystar?

Quote from: foamybuilder on February 19, 2012, 07:10:03 PM
How different is it compared to easystar in flying characteristic?

With the intro of aileron she flies extremely well, like i said , Flying Characteristics is exactly same as easy star.

Quote from: foamybuilder on February 19, 2012, 07:10:03 PM
How big is the canopy compared to Easystar?

Canopy is exact fit, better design, magnetic lock unlike easy star which has a click lock, remove the pilot and you have a cam on

So it was maidened afterall   Gusty you know what I mean.

Looks beautiful.

PS: So this was also part of the  exercise.  

This was at the cost of lunch, MK was yelling for us  

Niks had his heart in his mouth, His best statement was "Sir, Kya Kya Karva rahe ho"

Quote from: augustinev on February 19, 2012, 07:28:28 PM
had his heart in his mouth

Ha.. Ha... Ha...!!!!    Of late this is happening to most of us in the field

Quote from: augustinev on February 19, 2012, 05:15:17 PM
it was set on switch 'E'(Futaba). as follows

Sir i happen to have the same setup but as a beginner dont know exactly what DR/EXPO setting is used for can u please elaborate on it a bit as i am using Futaba T7C and sky surfer  

See this video , if you still cant make out gimme a PM



Also read this thread and the subsequent one in conjunction with this video

http://www.rcindia.org/electric-planes/sky-surfer-from-rc-bazaar-build-and-fly-log/msg122456/#msg122456

Sujju bhai

why don't you bring the weekly discount on this product? say under 4000 rs, lot of beginners will benefit.

Gusty sir,
In fact we just did this after you spoke to my colleague Dilip. Sky surfer is on promo from tomorrow till 2nd march at Rs 3995/-

Thanks for your suggestion again and to the fantastic review on this model. I am sure this will help a lot of beginners here

Regards
Sujju

Nice review, this is going on our fields facebook page

Fantastic review. One of the fliers on our field has this bird. I flew it personally and found it to be just as gentle as the easy star. Its certainly a very good alternative to the easy star.

I dont want to be a spoiled sport or bad mouth this beauty but I did notice a problem with the bird. The wings of the aircraft dont lock well and are come off. This has happened on our field and I know another person who has complained of this. The quick fix to this is to put velco stickers on the wing joints and that will solve the problem.

Anyone else faced this problem?

Edit
Spelling and grammar

prady
you are right about it, in fact the same problem exists with easy star too, both their locks are identical, what i have done on the sky surfer is, put hot glue locks, glue locks come off only when i am travelling long distance, otherwise it stays on, velcro is not a bad idea at all.

putting four rare earth magnets on either 1/2 of the wing, flushed, should do good, let me try it out and let you know

Hi Augustinev, I have been flying the ez* for a very very long time and not once have the wings come off. the locking mechanism with ez* is better than the sky surfer i guess. Yes the magnets should work but i would think the velcro is an easy thing to do considering the availability of magnets.

can you share your hot glue lock idea that would be interesting to see.

my ezee wings nudged out in the third flight (see the video here http://www.rcindia.org/electric-planes/easy-star-fan-club-photos-videos-share-your-experience/) when i was trying to go between the trees

hot glue lock is a dash of glue at the wing root in front and at the trailing edge, touching the fuse and the wing, she doesn't budge after that

Having bad times with skysurfer...
Crashed it twice in past 2 days...
Crash 1 : Nose broken/cracked heavily, Rudder gone & trailing edge of wing gone - Repaired using hot water and epoxy with carbon rods.
Crash 2 : Nose broken/Cracked and fuselage broken close to tail end -repaired using epoxy.

Cronical problem...wings loosening mid air... Wings don't fit in completely...tried using rare earth magnets and double tape too but to no help...

Seems the lock mechanism used is not good...

Vl try Velcro next week or maybe some other method...

Fix the wing permanently

Try this mod
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showpost.php?p=14001995&postcount=306