Pilatus B4 from Topp-RippinName: Pilatus B4 Sold by: Topp-Rippin Manufacturer: Topp-Rippin Category: Sailplane Material: Fuselage Compound / Wings Styro Abachi Wingspan: 1.5m Length:650mm Weight: 700gr. Price: 159€ Link to the Shop: Pilatus B4 1.5m The B4 is a small sailplane which can also be used for some aerobatics, but her main purpose is in slope soaring. The size isn't that perfect, on the one side to small to be taken serious, on the other side to big to carry it always with you.
Shipping:I bought this B4 back in 1997 and just finished 2012, back in the day she was packed in a palstic bag. I don't know how she will be shipped today.
|
|
My setup:
Servos: Power HD DS65HB (2x aileron, 1x elevator, 1x rudder, 1x towing coupling)
BEC: Turnigy 3A UBEC with low voltage alarm
Akku: Zippy 1000mAh 2S 20C
Empfänger: OrangeRx R610
BEC: Turnigy 3A UBEC with low voltage alarm
Akku: Zippy 1000mAh 2S 20C
Empfänger: OrangeRx R610
Build up:
At first I want to remember that my model is from 1997, so I don't know if or what the manufacturer improved over the time.
The B4 will be shipped as classic ARF kit, this means that you get a compound fuselage, a raw canopy, the elevator and rudder in wood and the finished wings without coating. So you can count easily with 20h to get it in the air.
The building was sometimes really not funny, but one by one:
Canopy:
It only had close the right shape and it was 2mm to short. The frame is missing and must be done on your own. This is not a big problem, but an unhappy and very time consuming work.
Fuselage:
The fuselage looks very good and also the quality is ok, you don't need to do there too many work. But the wing connections were awfull. The marked spots on the fuselage didn't fit anyway and you need hours to adjust everything perfect. And then you realize that the profile from the wings is not matching with the profile on the fuselage...
Rudder:
The shape fit quite good, but it was way too thick. not a big deal, but again time consuming and just not necessary.
Elevator:
This fit perfect, you only have to rounden the edges before coating.
Also the CG according to the instructions fit perfect.
The B4 will be shipped as classic ARF kit, this means that you get a compound fuselage, a raw canopy, the elevator and rudder in wood and the finished wings without coating. So you can count easily with 20h to get it in the air.
The building was sometimes really not funny, but one by one:
Canopy:
It only had close the right shape and it was 2mm to short. The frame is missing and must be done on your own. This is not a big problem, but an unhappy and very time consuming work.
Fuselage:
The fuselage looks very good and also the quality is ok, you don't need to do there too many work. But the wing connections were awfull. The marked spots on the fuselage didn't fit anyway and you need hours to adjust everything perfect. And then you realize that the profile from the wings is not matching with the profile on the fuselage...
Rudder:
The shape fit quite good, but it was way too thick. not a big deal, but again time consuming and just not necessary.
Elevator:
This fit perfect, you only have to rounden the edges before coating.
Also the CG according to the instructions fit perfect.
Flight characteristics:
When the building was finnished, she just laid two weeks somewhere around. I was so fed up from building that I would not have known what i would have done if the maiden would not be perfect...
But then there was the first towing and I was so surprised. Stressless she flys behind the towing plane, only some small corrections need to be done. After coupling she fle very stable and only minimal trimming was necessary. Wow, this little things doesn't sail that bad... A good glide angle and she shows thermal activities very good. In full size, the B4 is also capable for aerobatics and so I did the first loops, rolls and turns. Beside upside down she likes everything very good and I have been surprised. This small B4 is flying fantastic according to her size.
Also the landing wasn't a big surpise. With the ailerons used as spoilers no additional spoilers are necessary. Until today I haven't seen a sailplane of that size, that flys as good, I'm pretty sure that she will also bring much fun on a slope...
But then there was the first towing and I was so surprised. Stressless she flys behind the towing plane, only some small corrections need to be done. After coupling she fle very stable and only minimal trimming was necessary. Wow, this little things doesn't sail that bad... A good glide angle and she shows thermal activities very good. In full size, the B4 is also capable for aerobatics and so I did the first loops, rolls and turns. Beside upside down she likes everything very good and I have been surprised. This small B4 is flying fantastic according to her size.
Also the landing wasn't a big surpise. With the ailerons used as spoilers no additional spoilers are necessary. Until today I haven't seen a sailplane of that size, that flys as good, I'm pretty sure that she will also bring much fun on a slope...
Conclusion:
Target group: Intermediate
Finnishing: Very bad
Flight characteristics: very good
Price / performance ratio: for building very bad, for flight characteristics it's ok.
This small B4 brings a lot of fun and when you got over the bad things while building youw ill have long time fun with her. If you can use the size and you are a good builder, you should maybe take an eye on her.
Finnishing: Very bad
Flight characteristics: very good
Price / performance ratio: for building very bad, for flight characteristics it's ok.
This small B4 brings a lot of fun and when you got over the bad things while building youw ill have long time fun with her. If you can use the size and you are a good builder, you should maybe take an eye on her.