Super Margarita EP Trainer / Sport Model Balsa 1600mm (ARF)

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Customer Rated

Feb 02, 2013

Finally got mine (after 20 years)...I was dreaming of this plane 20 years ago, at this time it was available with SIG USA in kit version. This a great value even if there are a few issues during the assembly. But no big deal. A few comments though:
- The plane is made of balsa wood and a lot of hard wood (not sure if it is balsa) It is strong but also a bit heavy (500 g more than the SIG kit version !) That is not an issue at all.
- Some hardware are missing or inapropriate (nose wheel mount).
- I am using 2 mini servos for ailerons (Turnigy S3317M)
- 2 HX5010 for rudder and elevator
- Turnigy 3548 1100 kv with 11 x 5.5 eAPC prop
- I'm using a 3S 5000 mAh battery (this achives the CG perfectly without additional weight)

Overall, this plane is blast. Probably the best trainer I'ver ever flown (it's been a while though...). Slow, predictable, yet fun on basic aerobatics. The kind of A/C you always bring with you.

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Customer Rated

Dec 14, 2012

Kit magnifique. Le fuselage est en baguettes balsa avec des renforts en mches de carbone. L'entoilage transparent est superbement ralis. Pas possible de faire mieux pour ce prix.

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Customer Rated

Dec 08, 2012

I have just test flown my new Seniorita (or Margarita as it is now called). It is a high wing, light, slow flying, old school trainer which was originally designed for 25 size glow motors but has been adapted for similar sized electric power. Mine has a 35mm 870kV outrunner matched to a 50 Ampere ESC and with a 10 x 5.5 prop it draws 29 Amperes and has more than enough power to fly the model well.

Construction is quite easy and straight forward but some of the hardware supplied (in particular the front wheel mount) does not fit the supplied and fitted T nuts and so they needed to be relocated which is not a fun job. Apart from that it went together well and the supplied excellent instructions make the building easy.

You could convert this model to glow power and if you do, a 25 size two stroke or 30 size four stroke would easily fly it. I had one flying with a 30 four stroke and also a 15 size diesel some time ago. But ... if you do convert to glow you will need to bloke the holes in the firewall and do some fuel proofing around the front.

I put a 35mm outrunner and this has more than enough power to fly it on 4 cells. I used a 5000mAh battery. I was going to use a 3000 but this was far too light and I would have had to add quite a bit of lead so I went for battery weight instead. The test flight lasted 10 minutes and I suspect I had lots of power left.

Like many AR

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Customer Rated

Nov 28, 2012

I ordered this one to play around with so that I can get some practice with larger aircraft without having to buy a balsa kit every time a I have a t The plane was packed in a cardboard box in separate cardboard boxes. The manual is a joke. Never knew the main gear was actually called the rudder ? The plane its self looks great. plenty of room to place all of your electronics. The only reason I gave this only 4 stars is for the fact that not all of the hardware was included in the packaging. and nylon nose wheel mount hardware didn't match the holes in firewall had to rebuild the firewall I was missing some washers and nuts. but an easy fix with a trip to the local hardware store. Have not gotten it in the air yet. Still waiting to put the esc together. And like the description says, it is BIG !!!

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Customer Rated

Nov 21, 2012

I wouldn't recommend this kit to a beginner. It's pretty and has a nice finish on it, but you'll need to do a lot of custom drilling and fitting to get it done. My kit didn't come with locks for the wheels or fitting for the pushrods so I had to use my own. They didn't even supply scotch for the battery. the battery compartment is way too big and it's hard to keep the battery stable over there.. not to mention that you need to turn the model upside down to change battery... which is really annoying. YOU WILL NEED A LOT OF WEIGHT in the the front to get it balanced. I used 2x zippy 4s 3000mha batteries to get it just right. In the air it's not the best trainer I've flown.. it's kind of 'fat', Like a 'brike'.

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Customer Rated

Nov 18, 2012

just received this plane very good packaging , no damage, fast delivery and good value. the only down side was missing accessory bags. after many contacts to hk gave up trying to get satisfaction warranties and missing parts results in a exercise of futility.

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Customer Rated

Nov 13, 2012

...this plane is as much fun to fly as it was to assemble. Took it out for it's first flight,needed very little down elevator trim and I was in level flight. A very stable airframe with no surprises at all. Wasn't even afraid to loop and roll,split-s,figure eight,or emmelman this beautiful aircraft with no flight time except for the take-off and after the necessary trimming.
The Turnigy G25 motor has more than enough torque to get this plane airborne,and after 10 minutes of flight and checking the voltage in the Zippy 14.8v 2700maH 25c 4s lipo,I was reading a total of 14.0 volts remaining.
This plane will fly at half throttle all day long on this set-up. I'm am totally happy with this purchase.

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Customer Rated

Nov 13, 2012

...The build-up is complete.Total assembly time was right at ten hours. The instruction booklet that comes with this ARF is extensive to say the least,great for a first time builder, a redundancy back-up for intermediate to expert builders. This plane went together without a hitch, it was time consuming, but enjoyable to say the least. Have not done a Maiden flight yet,but did manage to get it off the ground in under 30 feet in front of my house on accident while making some taxiing runs. My own personal set up for this plane is the Turnigy G25,spinning a Master Airscrew 11x10 prop,coupled to the Turnigy 45 amp ESC,the Zippy 2700maH 14.8v 4s Lipo. Servos are standard Hitec HS311 servos,I did spend the extra money on ball joint type clevises from Dubro.
I do not have any voltage readings or output numbers for you,but I ran my own static test and at full pull,the ESC never got hot,and while working the servos and motor on every axis, the battery did not expend itself below a safe operating range until after 12 minutes of continuous and constant power on conditions.
This plane will allow for personal modifications of your choosing as well,a very forgiving set-up.
I will maiden this gem within the next couple of days and give you people the my full write up,with the pros and cons of this product,but as of this writing,everything about this plane I will give high praises to...

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Customer Rated

Nov 12, 2012

...Overall condition of product strait from the box was excellent.Comes with a very extensive and user friendly instruction manual as well. I purchased the Turnigy G25 brushless outrunner and the Turnigy 45 amp ESC,a Zippy 2700maH 4s lipo and have found this to be a very sturdy and dependable set-up for this aircraft. The servos were purchased from my local hobby shop,the Hitec HS-311 standard servo. At under $10.00 a servo,they will do just fine for what this plane was intended for.
Two minor areas of concern were the control rod set-ups for both the elevator and rudder and the supplied wheels. A little inferior for my taste. So,with that in mind,I would highly recommend getting the aftermarket,Sullivan control rod set,product #511,and the Maxx Products aluminum wheel set,stock No. AW200 or AW250.
The build up so far,has been pretty strait forward with little to no surprises. Minor work to the firewall may need to be done for clearance of the control horn on the steerable wheel assembly,depending on your choice of motor mounts however.
Will keep this updated up until and after I have done my maiden flight,until then. Happy flying everyone!...

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Certified Buyer Rated

Nov 09, 2012

Gorgeous, beautiful plane! Fell in love with it, considering the online SIG. Ordered at Hobby King model and engine. Received the shipment within 3 weeks after order. The model was incomplete. No accessories. Appealed to the Hobby King. I was told about the beginning of an internal investigation, which lasts more than 10 days. It seemed to me that the customer is more important than internal investigations. I was very disappointed not customer-oriented approach to problem solving.