Mini Jet by Graupner

Review time again:

Having only just finished part two of my Easy Jet article Graham announced he has just the toy for appraisal for the mag.

I’ve got to do it!! It comes in a very classy box! There that got that out of the way. The best bit about this box is that the finished model fits back inside when completed so you end up with a great way to transport your latest toy to the field.

 Well lets get going as this is going to be very quick!

Kit contents:

Besides the main wing unit and its top canopy come hatch. You have a pair of well-moulded panels. The first has the job of protecting and strengthening the front end and the second is a well-designed motor cover. All that is left is a set of well-illustrated instructions a small hardware pack and a decal sheet.

Building:

Boy did that happen on the hurry up! I had to stay home and look after my poorly little girl (soar throat and swollen glands) so as soon as the coffee had been finished from breakfast out to the workshop for a start on the Mini Jet. I came in for a sandwich at 1 o’clock and the model was ready to fly albeit subject to the lousy weather! and knocking time off for drinks etc to the poorly one this in my book was a quick build. The only part of the model I’m not keen on was the bent wire latch. Which for me spoilt a very well sorted ARTF. The rest is so easy one small mix of epoxy will see the motor fixed, the underbelly in place and the liteply tabs for the rear motor cover. You also have to add the two paxolin control horns but I did these as a separate operation just to ensure they went exactly where I wanted them and were both the same height and angle to keep the throws as near balanced as possible. You can see from the photo that there is little to do the motor had the speed controller pre attached (soldered direct to the motor terminals) so all I had to do was plug the lead in channel three (My throttle channel) and push the two lead through from the underside for the two elevon servos. I must admit these were a tight squeeze as I was using the tiny SD150 from Ripmax and maybe the leads are a fraction shorter than the JR servos mentioned but they did fit with a mm or two to spare! The Mini Jet will also take a big receiver as I shoe horned a big 8 channel unit in. The plus side to the large receiver is the foam gripped the case just nicely for flying. The Velcro supplied really is powerful and I reckon it will not be long before I will have to restick the Velcro in the plane, as the grip is strong. At least I will not have the worry of the pack flying out in rolling manoeuvres or flicks!

Power supply:

The test model came equipped with a new purposefully reversed timed Graupner 480Lplus. This little motor with its built in speed controller will on 15amps punch out a healthy 16,200 rpm from the supplied 5.5x4.3 Graupner speed prop. I am going to test mine on a set of the new 1200cp nicads these are 2\3 sub c size and have very good charge and discharge rates. The lower weight of these cells makes me believe the climb rate will be superior and the handling to match. I am also hoping to have a set of ten cells to try also, which will put the power up in the region of 17K to 18K.The drop in pack capacity will (should) be made back by the lower wing loading. Giving me more chance to use part throttle.

Tips:

If possible try and work on a soft surface as the foam does bruise reasonably easily. Also use a brand new scalpel blade to remove any mould flash or you may risk tearing the surface. Leaving the decal sheet somewhere warm (airing cupboard) will also help make them more pliable and easier to apply especially the cockpit pieces.

Ready to go lets hope Sunday is good!

A rarity but it was. So with the plane ready and freshly charged I enlisted the help of Mike le-mmon as test lobber. A hairy launch still saw no problems and the 30degree upward lob was met with an almost instant grab of sky and the Mini Jet was on her way. A couple of clicks of down and two of left aileron had the little delta tracking around the back of its first circuit with a quick roll just to see. I was already impressed with its rate and how true she was. By the time I turned to come back into the gentle breeze of the day the Mini Jet was really starting to groove. I banked the model over approx 270 degrees and pulled her through the patch about 20 feet in front of me. I had a little smile to myself at the sheer speed and the soft yet definite howl of the tiny prop letting loose its power. I then started the climb out but I soon realised that to steep a climb just slows the model to much so I soon learnt to pull the model in the climb more gently this keeps the Mini Jet on full song. Inverted is good and you CAN circuit this delta upside down. Do be sure that the throws on your elevon mixing are equal or you may get twisting (mine did) a few more rolls and a loop and a couple of slow fly bys and it was time to land. Phew what a glide. Bet your first flight lands long!

Back to the pits I double checked the elevons and all though they pulled up the same a little extra was noted at full down stick on the right elevon. This would account for the slight twist when inverted. I am used to this problem as it was common on the Tiger sharks we used to fly at Sandown. A little adjustment mechanically and a few % adjustment in my elevon program had it all sorted. Should have done it before hand really! Second flight I had talked Mike into flying so as I could take the photos. Umm same bad launch from me this time!! (more in a mo) A few circuit were flown and some pictures were taken when the motor started to go off!! Mike landed (LONG) same as me. We returned to the Pitts A bit puzzled at the short duration of the second flight? Yep you guessed it I had not charged from the first flight! The amazing thing is how long you get in the air on these little cp1200’s.

OK. Having charge properly this time with a healthy 1,400 going into the pack@ 4 amps the now warmed up cells were ready to give there all. It is surprising how cells get better through use. The first of the day never being as good as the third or fourth. I decided that this time I would launch and fly myself and hand the tranny to Mike to finish off the roll of film. I opted to just give the model a steady firm forward push rather than a Batley lob!! This was to prove the best method. Mini Jet gathers airspeed quickly and a slight dip from my hand had the model grooving almost straight away. So now we know that hand launches solo are possible but don’t try to over throw all you will do is pitch the model upwards. Not that it seemed much of a problem but level is better. A good 6 mins is possible even using most of the available power and you can also stooge around quite slowly the glide is fantastic. Just avoid pulling too steeper turns as this just scrubs speed keep everything smooth and gentle and the Mini Jet will sing. Low fast passes are easy and little time is needed to get low and fast this seems to be the models forte.

Conclusions:

The Mini jet is very good and out flies its leccy opposition . The fact it flies upside down well is a major factor. She also seems to have more of a positive punch behind it. The low cost of the model and motor and its very fast build time add up to a very good package. If you are thinking of dipping your toes into electric this model will make an excellent first choice for you Nitro burners. I would like to see or better still fly with three or four together in formation as this would be a real buzz. Try here if you want one. www.motorsandrotors.co.uk

Photo of young Phil Le Mmon. Mike’s young son already a competent pilot.