Decathlon EP 48,9 inch ARF

• Overall
• Quality
• Value

Customer Rated

May 05, 2015

I received the model in good shape however some parts were missing. Small things which luckily as an experienced builder I had on hand.
The parts fit well and seem well built but the cowling needed to be relieved a little to fit correctly. The servo installation for the rudder and elevator was confusing. push rod sheaths were snaked from the cabin interior to the rear of the fuse but no push rods were supplied with the kit.
the instructions called for the servo's to be installed on the outer rear of the fuselage.
I split the difference and installed the rudder inside the cabin and supplied my own pushrod and the elevator servo in the rear external area. Which by the way after cutting the covering did not actually fit the servo securely. I added some supports to this area.
Good quality, well priced but if you have not built a few ARF's look out for some missing pieces and some problem solving required.

• Overall
• Quality
• Value

Customer Rated

Feb 02, 2015

This is a really nice plane and worth the money. The structure is very strong balsa and plywood. The flying is good. The plane is track well (a bit faster than I expect), very nice respond and easy to take off and landing.
In term of assembly, It require some of the experience to figure it out and put it together as the manual is useless and some of the parts are not fit well. So you have to make some of the modification such as tail wheel or motor mount.
Warning, don't use the supplied front wheels. It is too weak and completely broke during my first hard landing.

• Overall
• Quality
• Value

Customer Rated

Nov 23, 2014

Acceptable quality for this price, needs some small modifications, but in total I can recommend it. Flying characteristic is fine, typical for a Decathlon. My setup is for cruising only, DT700 Belltype motor (was not a good choice because will need lots of adaptions at engine mount), 20A ESC, 3S4000, 11x4,5 Slowfly. Flying time is really long. 4 Servos 13gr metal gear.
Wing is only removable if you open 12 screws!!! ->forget it! Wheels should be subset if you land at grass/meadow, starting is possible but each landing will end at roof.

• Overall
• Quality
• Value

Customer Rated

Jul 01, 2014

A great model with a good compromise between quality and price.The quality it's very good,the fuselage needs only a was of white glue to add more strenght to the structure and feel some gaps where miss some glue.It will be necessary to add some hinge sheets because some aren't present inside of the box.
By the way i'm enough satisfied of that plane,next week i'll make the test flight and i'll publish the video on my youtube channel "Volo Rc Alghero".
Let's keep in touch

• Overall
• Quality
• Value

Customer Rated

May 21, 2014

ein schnes modell was aber einiger nacharbeiten bedarf die folie ist schlecht aufgebgelt(falten)der motortrger und tragende verbindungen mssen neu verklebt werden(sonst zerlegt es sich inseine einzelteile)ein 28xx motor ist zu schwach mit einem
35-36 gehts senkrecht ohne ende dann aber servos mit ber 2kg stellkraft(zb.xgd-11mb)ausserdem empfehle ich grssere Rder zu verwenden sonst wirds mit rasenlandungen nichts trotz der mngel wegen des gnstigen preises und der top flugeigenschafte 4sterne

• Overall
• Quality
• Value

Customer Rated

May 17, 2014

Shipping was quick - 4 days from Netherlands to Sweden. The model arrived without any damages although it wasn't double boxed as promised. Generally the build quality is good but the covering of the wing is disappointing. Probably it was the first day at work for the person who did that but I still hope the iron and patience will be enough to fix it. For now too many wrinkles and the covering foil not attached at the edges. Bottom of the wing is all yellow - without black and white strips as on the photos above. For half of the price what the competitors ask you get a decent model with some issues to fix. My Decathlon will wait on a shelf as I have other models to fly but once built I will write more.

• Overall
• Quality
• Value

Customer Rated

Sep 30, 2013

Continued...First flights were a bit too unstable but moving the battery ahead a bit to get the CG 5mm or 1/4" forward of the book value smoothed things out without detracting from its aerobatic capabilities. Takes off from and lands on short grass OK with the wheel pants installed. The Turnigy L3010B-1300 motor is a real gem with lots of punch. Vertical is very good but not unlimited. Aerobatics are crisp and you can do anything from knife edge to inverted spins. Excellent value all round but only 4 crowns on quality because there are a couple of structural design issues which I think should be improved.

• Overall
• Quality
• Value

Customer Rated

Sep 30, 2013

OK, technically this is a Citabria, not a Decathlon. Why? Well, both are based on the Aeronca Champ 7AC but the Citabria has a lifting airfoil; whereas, the Decathlon has a symmetrical airfoil. Anyway, putting that aside this is excellent value for the money. As usual, it arrived double boxed from HK in NSW so no damage. Airframe is very good and covering is first rate. Cowling is a very nice fiberglass piece. Motor mount seems a bit flimsy but I cut it down anyway and added a plywood "firewall". Suggest going over all the glue joints with CA or epoxy. I prefer cabin mounted servos with push rods to the tail and installing them in the deep cabin is a bit tricky. Same with the landing gear and wing strut allen bolts. Invest in a long drill bit and some long handle allen keys. Their are no hard points in the wing where the struts screw in so make the holes in the balsa then run in a bit of thin CA into them to harden the holes and, after drying, screw the struts back in. My flight set up is Turnigy L3010B-1300 Brushless Motor (420w), 10x7 APC prop, HK 50amp fixed wing ESC,. Turnigy TG9e 9g servos, and 2200 3S LiPo. All up weight is just over 1000 gm and the motor puts out 1650 gm of thrust (says HK) at 40 amps. Flight performance is brisk but not unlimited vertical. Suggest moving the CG about 5mm ahead of where the manual says. My first flights were a bit too unstable; moving t

• Overall
• Quality
• Value

Customer Rated

Jun 24, 2013

I bought This plane couple of months ago and have been Flying it for a few Times now. It came together easily, instructions werent that comprehensive (not that they usually are..), but You Will figure it out. I have a ntm 35-36 910kv Motor, turnigy plush 60 esc, turnigy 2200mAh 3s 25c lipos, at the moment a 10x5 apc e propeller, but needs a bigger one. Also 9g Micro servos for the ailerons and one notch bigger servos for the tail. Installed the tail servos Inside the cabin and made pushrods from there. Just to get them obscured. Would have been Better for the weight distribution, if they were in the tail section. Also the motormount is ridiculously flimsy for a 35size Motor and it keps Breaking before I scrapped it and made my own from 3mm thick plywood.
This is My third rc plane and after Flying This epp trainer, This feels Like a handful. It tends to stall in takeoff if You pull up toi Soon and hard. Also it is quite sensitive to the Wind. The big flat Wind cathes the Wind With the fact that This This very light plane for its size.
Overall, after a few minuses to the credits, I think it is good value to Your money. I Like the way it looks, its Beautiful and its very rewarding to fly it once You get used to it. I wouldnt give This to a beginner due to its stall tendency and the fact that if You Crash a epp trainer, Nothing happens, but With This You end up With a random pile

• Overall
• Quality
• Value

Customer Rated

Jun 12, 2013

I got the model and took a few months to get all the parts. I installed the motor, battery, and radio. I then started a static motor test with an 11/6 prop. At about half throttle, the motor mount as well as most of the support structure, disintegrated. The motor flew off and unplugged itself, I still haven't found the prop or shaft adapter. I complained to the company and have heard nothing. So if you get this model, or any model, check the construction, and reglue the motor mount assembly with some epoxy. I like the looks of the model and hope they send me another, if not I seriously doubt I'll buy anything/ng else from Hobby King.

Cliff