The ¹⁄₃₂-inch ply motor mount is an integral part of the landing gear assembly (above left) and is cut with right thrust. Be sure to check for proper orientation beforegluing in position! The ParkZone Champmotor gearbox assembly is held in place with two small screws. This allows the builder to remove the motor for
of the fuselage with hook and loop material, behind the landing gear. With a 150 mAh battery, the balance was spot on. The specs on the intro sheet list the weight of the Flash at 30 grams, or 1 ounce. Finished, the review plane came in at 35 grams without battery, and 40 grams ready to fly. This equates to 1.4 ounces, and while a tad over specs, hopefully the extra weight would not hurt the flying performance.
Flying
The evening that I finished the Flash found perfect weather outside. The sun was setting, the skies clear, and there was only a puff of light breeze. So, with the radio all set up and the battery charged, it was time to fly this little beauty!
Stepping out the door into the front yard was like passing through a time warp and I found myself a kid again, tagging along with my Dad to the flying field! Only this time, in- stead of winding the propeller and counting turns and knots, I was installing a 150 mAh battery and making sure my radio was on. Setting the Flash down on the driveway/run- way, I checked one last time that the controls were correct, and then nudged the throttle stick forward. The Flash lifted off in about 2 feet at half throttle and with a little down trim I had her cruising slowly around my front yard
replacement or maintenance if desired. The Champmotor has plenty of power for this application. Retro RC’s nifty receiver mounting system makes for quick and easy radio installation! The simple ply brackets (above right) securely hold the AR6400 in place. Brackets are included for both the short and long receiver units.
and street. The controls were effective, and only when the wind picked up above a soft breeze did I have any issues. After all, with a flying weight of just over 30 grams, or just over 1 ounce, one might expect that flying in any breeze could be a challenge! The Flash has the comfortable flight speed of a brisk walk, and after cruising around the yard for a while it was time to see about the landings.
Slow speed flight is predictable, and the
Flash is controllable right down to a very slow speed. Landings were uneventful, as all one needs to do is line up on the runway, and slowly reduce power. The Flash drifts gently to the runway and comes to a stop in just a few feet! I spent the rest of the battery pack flying slow circuits around the street, and doing touch and goes on the driveway. With the battery drained, it was time to come back from my childhood, and call it a day.
While the Flash is great for those calm evenings in the yard, it is really perfect for indoor flying venues and can be easily flown in the smallest of areas. A visit to the local indoor flying site proved again that the Flash has good, solid flight characteristics. Without the hindrance of any breezes, the Flash is easy to fly and would make a great first time indoor flyer. Even though my fin- ished model came in a bit heavy at 40 grams,
the Champ motor and gearbox provided plenty of power, and seldom did I find myself flying with more than half throttle. Depending on the condition of your batter- ies, one can expect slow cruising flights in excess of 10 minutes. The Retro RC Radio Flash is a fun, relax- ing, and easy to fly step back in time! This kit should appeal to those who are looking for a simple and quick building project for the in- door flying season and love the simple retro designs of the past. The lack of written step- by-step instructions might cause some frus- trations to those who have little building ex- perience or have never built small “stick and tissue” designs. For this reason I would have a hard time recommending the Flash for a complete novice, unless they have some guidance from a modeling mentor. However, it would make a great choice for someone who has built at least one balsa model kit and is looking for something a lit- tle different than the stock RTF micro planes out there. Having all the controls and compo- nents out in the open and easy to work on makes it a great first time micro building project. With nice features like laser-cut parts, pre-printed Esaki tissue, and a slick mounting system for the receiver board, the Radio Flash gives very good value for the modeler. This little Flash has found a good home in my indoor flying arsenal!
PHOTOS: JIM BLACK
The Flashis great for that lazy calm summer evening outside (at left), and even better for the gym (above). In just a few relaxing hours of building, one can have an easy to fly nostalgic model for those winter flying sessions.
FLYING MODELS 29
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