series 900 vs 500

[stx44]

So the 900 series appears to be "sheet sided" and the 500 have a central keel and built up from there. (I'm sure theres a technical term for the two construction styles but I dont know it)

My question is- is there a flight performance difference in two? IE are the 500s likely to perform better or worse than the 900s, or is it just a different method of building?

I assume the 500s give a more scale appearance...

Simon

[WIDDOG]

Great Topic very interesting. the Guillow's catalog describes the 500 Series as "Our most popular kit series." The catalog says the 900 series are "Sleek rubber powered models for indoor or outdoor flying." Also says "Built light, they are great flyers with ample wing areas."

IMHO (In My Humble Opinion) the 500 series kits are designed to be "Multi Purpose." They are designed to be flown with a Cox motor or rubber power. I feel they are designed more for Cox Motor and can be modified for rubber power. According to the catalog the 900 series kits are specific for rubber power. Also IMHO the Cox motor now a days is not as popular as it once was. I like the idea of a kit being designed for rubber power more then multi purpose. For a long time I thought that if Guillow's was going to add new models it should add them to the 500 Series Line. Now I would like to see them add to the 900 Series Line.

[stx44]

Yeah, Guillows description implies the 900s should fly better on rubber, but so far Ive only built a bird dog (I got given 3 Bird Dog kits and a building board when a local club shut up shop) and a skyraider. Currently working on a Javelin, and considering what next- hence wondering whether to go another 9 series or a 5.

I have no interest on anything other than rubber powered (maybe I'm re living my youth?) at this time.

[WIDDOG]

Don't get me wrong here I love the 500 Series kits but they are Triple Multi Propose kits. They are designed for ease of building, looking great and lastly flying. These kits can be modified. i.e. cutting parts out of Contest Balsa. and lightening techniques. I still have my Cox Pee Wee 0.010 for FF 500 Series kits. To me there is no reason why a rubber powered model needs to be built so strongly as a 500 Series kit. I was really hooked on the kit 507 Rufe which I built as a Zero. I built one entirely out of Contest Balsa wood. It helped but I noticed that I could build a rubber power designed kit with half the effort and get twice the performance out of it. I really like this Forum and Guillow's heck I grew up with Guillow's models. To me I just don't see the need for Multi Propose kits anymore. I think that Guillow's should "Beef Up" there line up of rubber power models. I noticed that the 900 Series does not even have one enemy model. I decided to work with the 900 Series kits. Get to know them real well. Maybe try to design a Zero built with the 900 Series style. I sort of am trying to turn peoples attention to the 900 Series kits with the hope that Guillow's may add more planes to its 900 Series Line Up.

[WIDDOG]

I really like this thread. This is video of kit 507 Zero flying.I will build kit 509 TFB Avenger which is suppose to be a pretty good flyer and video with my Hat Cam. IMHO so far I have to say that I like the 900 Series kits better. However I admit that kit 507 is designed to be built and flown as a Rufe. Also I admit that maybe with that float and skies it would require less nose clay. It might not fly longer but I admit it would look cool as anything flying at all.


http://youtu.be/8cnViumq-CQ

[Mitch]

Hey Guys,

I think they have enough 500 series (well maybe they can always add a few more) but the 900 series list is a bit short. Here are a few suggestions from me for the 900 series:

1. German, Storch
2. Russian, Yak or MiG 3
3. Italian, Macchi 202
4. French, Dewoitine 520

I think those are all different and interesting airplanes and are fairly flat sided for the type of construction in the 900 series.

But the real question is how much interest is out there, and how much does it cost to develop a NEW kit. But there are still more Guillow kits I have NOT built so I am not complaining... Just my 2 cents worth.

Hey Dog, I like your videos. You should join the FAC and hook up with a flying squadron or start your own!

Mitch... Keep them Flying!

[WIDDOG]

Hi Mitch as always great post, very interesting and I agree totally with you.

One thought I have is that as a die hard customer/fan I have to admit that Guillow's has a very good selection of kits. I think I was kind of wrong to judge the whole 500 Series kits off the Rufe that I modified into a Zero.

Anyway I have a great interest in the 900 Series kits so I'm going with that for now. I think the Catalog says it best. "Easy To Build Fine Rubber Power Jobs."
I think the hobby is going back to rubber powered.

I understand and have to admit that it was RC that brought me back to the hobby. For me I found that for airplanes I liked rubber power and for RC I liked helicopters.

I have been "Starting" my own "Flying Group". I had ordered a box of the booklets "How To Build and Fly A Balsa Model Airplane. I am going to throw some of them in my flight box. I will pass them out to people that watch me fly. To be honest until recently, kit 904, I didn't have much to show. Be warned kit 904 draws a lot of positive attention.

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[Goldy]

IMO the 900 series, though not being as pretty as the 500 do seem to be better flyers...at least on the rubber motors and a much better choice for the beginner in terms of building.

[WIDDOG]

True I think there should be three key areas to look at when comparing 900 and 500 Series kits. I think scale appearance, flying ability and a combination of both.

I think Sigs30 really does great work!



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[Phugoid]

IMO In reality neither the 500 or 900 series is designed for beginners for rubber power, there being only one high wing model in the lot (the Bird Dog), and that format is by far the best to cut your teeth on. I agree with Dave that the 900 kits are not that well engineered especially the joint of the wing root and fuselage.

Nice work BTW Dave....

Andrew

[John G Jedinak]

So...I am wondering about the 900 series kits. I am currently doing the Typhoon. The plan layout is diagonal and unlike the 500, 800 and 1000 series. Yes, the wood is soft and under the 1/16th. My question is: are ALL the 900 series the kits the same as the Typhoon????

[bsadonkill]

The 900 series uses 1/20 wood in order to save weight. The 900 series is not true to scale, they use enlarged tail surfaces and greater amounts of diehedral to ensure greater stability and easier trimming for flight. I have built the Mustang and Skyraider both are good flyers.

[WIDDOG]

I apologize and admit I made a mistake about the need for Multi Purpose Kits. What I honestly meant to say was that they no longer make Cox motors and I don't see a need to make models that can accommodate Cox motors. I love display models and would never intentionally disrespect them. I honestly never thought that it was even possible to get a 900 series kit to look as good as David Duckett's Typhoon.

I built a Peanut Sterling Corsair that was designed for rubber power and not Multi Purpose ( Cox Motor) . It does fly better than a Multi Purpose kit.
http://youtu.be/C8WTRcAp5V8 Well it would but since it's not a Guillow's I kind of dropped that project.

[John G Jedinak]

Thank you all for the info on the 900 series.

[WIDDOG]

Thank you all for the info on the 900 series.

I really like this Thread. I decided to build/fly kit 509 TFB Avenger. I had, in the recent past, worked a lot with kit 507 built as a Zero. I decided to try a kit with a better flying reputation than the kit 507 and compare that to the great flying 900 series kits. To be fair I decided to build my Avenger entirely out of CBW (Contest Balsa Wood). I would like to mention that most of the 900 Series kits are "Temporarily out of stock", on the Guillow's website.