This competition aerobatic model is manufactured by a company probably not too many club fliers will have heard of, “Newman Precision Aeros”. The kit is of exceptionally high quality. All components are CNC routed to incredible accuracy with virtually no trimming or alterations required during the build process. The instruction manual supplied with the kit is an example to other manufacturers on how it should be done. Whilst this kit is aimed at aerobatic pilots with some experience, the combination of the first class component fit and the superb instruction manual means that you would have to try very hard to not make a reasonable job of the assembly. Quality comes at a price, £295.00 for the kit cannot be classed as cheap by anybody's standards. With all of the above said, the kit is still of relatively conventional build and is not the sort of model that you are going to complete in “a week of evenings” like the now commonplace ARTF’s.

During the build, you are immediately struck by the size of the model, it is BIG!!. The span is 1905mm and the finished fuz from spinner to rudder is 1995mm. You need a very long building board to even contemplate building a model this size.

Once built, the instructions are quite clear that the model has to be finished with 0.6oz glass cloth and epoxy resin to increase the strength of the basic structure. I have to admit to being a little daunted by the thought of this process. I had visions of glass cloth and resin being stuck to everything in the workshop except the fuz. However, after consultation with “Cherbourg Express” I purchased the necessary materials and the reality of the situation was completely different, the process being relatively stress free and more importantly clean. A lot of work is required at this stage to prepare the model for the paintwork, continually rubbing down until almost all of the weight you have just added has been removed. I am not the most patient builder in the world, but a surface that was ready to accept paint eventually appeared from the mountains of wet/dry paper lying on the workshop floor. With a little more patience and a lot more elbow grease I am sure that an almost glass like surface could be achieved.

Big models need big servos or at least powerful ones. Powerful servos = big money. There was no way out of this situation and the bank balance took another hit as 2off Futaba 9102’s and 2off 9204’s were dropped into place. These coreless servos are very powerful and also very, very quick. The model was finished with a combination of 2 pack automotive paints for the fuz and profilm / protrim for the wings. Finally a set of 3000series Rom Air retracts were dropped into place and the Yamada YS120SC bolted in, mounted on a Dave Brown Beam mount.
The model has yet to turn a prop in anger. I now need a nice calm sunny day and acres of tarmac. With the prospect of the use of Walney airfield soon to be a reality all I need is the sunshine, if anyone knows where I can order some, please pop your replies on a postcard.

Many thanks to Ian Pilton for the review

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