Wings N' Flying Things: Asso Champion V71

Lione Asso Champion

As I'm now doing with the other pages new posts will be added at the top of the page.

Update 23rd October

Fitting the retracts proved - as usual - to be a bigger job than I first thought.

The fixed undercarriage was epoxied in place and mounted in hardwood blocks

I had to keep the outer section of the mounts as that is used for the retracts so I used a diamond cutting disc in my Dremel

Fixed undercarriage and it's replacement

Retracts dry fitted to check - the retract legs are to long so I have to shorten them - good old Dremel again with a cut off disc fitted

Nothing ever goes according to plan - the retract servo sits to high in the factory made mount - I had to cut away covering to access it. Then I found the servo sits to high and the pushrods foul the skin planking. I'll either have to lower the servo mounting or find some sort of under slung servo arm

If you want to read the whole story - start here!

Brief Specifications:

Wingspan - 62 inches
Fuselage Length - 47 inches
Power - Super Tigre G90
Servos -6 Hitec

This is only the second ARF I've ever owned. I bought it second hand but un-flown from a bloke I know through the LHS. It's a semi scale model of the ASSO CHAMPION, a home built light aircraft that I'm having trouble getting much information on. I'm calling this a semi scale model because the only information I have found is on tricycle under carriage versions - so far I haven't found ANY reference to a tail dragger version.

As I brought it home it had no cockpit detail, a fixed undercarriage and a Super Tigre 90 for power! I suspect it might be a little over powered as the specifications nominate .60 2 stroke power but there is no need to fly it at full throttle and I prefer to have to much power rather than not enough.

While the cockpit had no detail - it's fairly limited in what you can do anyway - the floor gets in the way. The pilot is a character - and I've named him "Wallaby Bob Mc Faster" I shall have to get him a girlfriend as it is a two seater - "Brenda Bunyip" comes to mind - a busty girl with good humour. I've made up an instrument panel so poor old Bob will have some idea of where he is going and in which direction - it's also possible "Brenda" might protest if he flies into one of the mountain bearing clouds!!!!

So he will have something else to impress "Brenda" with I'm also fitting mechanical retracts.

"Wallaby Bob Mc Faster" - Intrepid Aviator

Instrument Panel and the Retracts to fit - Panel is 1/16" ply, plastic from a shirt box and some instrument drawings downloaded from the internet

Bob even has a radio to call for help but no ear phones to hear replies - his current Employer won't supply them so Bob is thinking of changing jobs - especially if he gets a nice blue uniform and cap. He tries so hard to impress "Brenda".