[BRUTUS]

I've been waiting months for Matlocks' Katana to be produced in a kit form.

I've been talking to OMP intermittantly on RCU and when I run into them at shows, since Toledo. I've had money in my Paypal account since Christmas just waiting for this plane.

I've had my color scheme all dreamed up (aggrivated poserkote) for a good month now.

Now it sounds like They have a few ARF's they are releasing first. Now, IF I am able to secure one of a limited number, (as of yet I am still undecided) I'll have to change my avatar too!

I really just wanted a box of sticks anyway. Hell, if I could get ahold of some wing ribs, fuse doublers and some plans I would be happy.

I'm just venting....

You guys at OMP are lucky you produce nice planes, I would've bought something else by now!!!

And who has a beta kit still rotting in the box somewhere...Alfster!?!

 

[Jim D]

The ARF Katana may very well be a fine plane, but it is NOT the same plane as the Phillips/McKee design they are kitting. Take a close look at the pics and you can see the differences.

Alf has soooooo many half-finished/barely-started/not-even-touched birds in his inventory I think we should change his nick to 'half baked'. :shock:

 

[Alfster]

....or I could change it to.... "Bite me JD" ? :lol: :lol:

Guilty as charged !! If I finished all the planes I have here, I would have to have a bigger hangar. Maybe someday.......

 

[Guest]

We are not hiding the fact that these are Matt's designs, they are not. This is a different ARF. This is also a beta ARF. These ARF's were brought to us by a distributor in China, whom will be producing all the official OMP aircraft in the near future. These are very nice ARF's however that can 3D all day. We would not have released them if they did not fly well. These are beta ARF's and have been priced accordingly. The covering on these ARF's are not a name brand. However it hold together and is a very nice job.

The next batch of ARF's will be covered in Ultracote.

 

[TailTwister]

I'm going to give it a go. I ordered this morning, after trying several times to remember my password for PayPal. :roll:

If the covering is too bad, I'll strip it and do some poserkote of my own. Why use my own imagination, when the rest of you Bros are so creative, anyway? :wink:

The worst "Crap-O-Kote" I ever saw was on the TT Fun Tiger Extra. Now that covering was pure junk! Heck, it can't all be Ultracote, I guess.

So, Dion, have you ever seen the TT "Crap-O-Kote" I'm describing? I hope the Katana ARF isn't that bad...

 

[BRUTUS]

I decided to try one after all myself. Looking foreward to the five hour build. We've got a show on the 10th I want to have it ready for.

I sure hope it's not crap-o-kote, it looks like the arf is missing the wing fairings.

 

[Guest]

I don't know what kind of covering this is. I just call it ChinaKote. However the covering job is awesome. I've got 30 flights on it and it still on there!

The next batch will have Ultracote on them, however they will ship at $150. We figured it was a fair price reduction since it's not a name brand covering. But like I said, it may not be name brand, but it sure looks good.

Also I'm ashamed to say this ... but this was my first ARF. It really did take me 5 hours to build. I could easily do one in 3 hours now.

 

[BRUTUS]

Are you saying the next batch will be $150 plus shipping?

 

[Guest]

Yes, the next batch will be $150 and covered with Ultracote. By like I said before, we would not have bought them if they were crap.

 

[joebob]

I ordered my Katana kit today and am now on a quest to find an engine for it. Due to budget constraints, I'm stuck with 2 strokes. I'm trying to decide between the OS 46AX, TT 46, Mag 52 or GMS 47. Omnimodels has a $10 discount on orders over $100 now and free shipping. That would bring the cost of the OS down to $100. OF the above engines, which woud you guys recommend for the Katana?

 

[John Wells]

What does your katana arf weigh and is yours the average weight expected?

 

[Todd L.]

I'm trying to decide between the OS 46AX, TT 46, Mag 52 or GMS 47

Pro Bro 211 is back!!!

I can't deside what to put on my Katana either. How about a 4 stroker, like a Siato .72? And what size prop for a 2 stroker, like a .46FX?

 

[Guest]

Mines a hair under 4.5 lbs with Saito 72. Standard everything else. All hardware that was included is used.

You can put 46 or S 72 on it.

 

[joebob]

I wish I could go with a 4 stroke, but the money isn't there to get one. I still have to get servos and covering and glue and....

Anyway, I think I'm going to go with the OS. With the Omnimodels deal, it seems like a good value. While the Magnum seems to be a little stronger, a lot of people have had midrange problems, and you DON'T want that when you're trying to hover.

 

[matlok]

IMHO - If the plane is around 4.5 lbs or less the OS .46 will work fine (that's what's on mine). I really like the OS .50 - it's very powerfull and runs smooth, but it's kinda pricey - but the Omni discount would help there too!

Oh btw, you'll also want a Tower Hobbies .46 size muffler (~$12) - it gives you a pretty good increase in power over the stock muffler.

 

[joebob]

I've already got a Tower muffler (or at least the Hobbico equivalent) that I'll be using on whatever engine I get. There is an Irvine .53 on Ebay now that I really wanted, but it's gotten up too high.

Does anybody know of a better place to buy the OS? Everybody has to advertise them at a certain price, but surely there's someone out there that sells them at a discount?

 

[matlok]

You might try Pyramid Hobbies in Cullman, AL. http://www.pyramidhobbies.com/ That's where I got my .50; I think it was like $145 or $150 shipped.

 

[ChuckAuger]

Hobby Barn has the Irvine 53 for $126+ shipping...

http://www.hobbybarn.com/engines.htm

 

[joebob]

Man, that's tempting. I paid about $100 for my first Irvine. Sure wish I hadn't sold it now. Thanks for the info.

 

[Guest]

I finished up my arf and flew it Friday night.

Nice flying plane, vague instructions. But thats OK. Some clarification may be needed on the wing fairing placement. I put mine right on the thrust line, and it flies very well.

I'm not impressed with my power to weight ratio, but that could be my Webra .50, as much as the weight of the plane. I have to take it to work to use a more accurate scale Monday.

Covering was OK, not fantastic. Had a few wrinkles, and I couldn't shrink them up with a heat gun.