You can see in the Aeroworks parts slideshow (click here to watch the parts slideshow) that the shipping box now includes a plywood layer. When you unbox the thing you also see alot of custom and well thought out packaging. These things are packed really well.
As with all the Aeroworks QBs… the plane seems RTF out of the box:
The fuse doesn’t feel exceptionally light, but the wings sure do! The leading edge and wing thickness makes me think it will really float/drag/fly stable. Also, huge ailerons, tons of throw and pre-glued in hinges. The hinges swing freely, as well:
The elevators also have pre-installed hinges (glued in), as you know… and with plenty of throw like all the Aeroworks QB™ planes:
Man, I’m just jones’n to throw this thing together right now!
Here’s some shots of the canopy and side of the cowl… look at all that pre-done work… I’m spoiled on these now, if I got an ARF without the canopy pre-done I think it would just sit in the corner and never get assembled. The fit and finish on these modern day ARFs is rival’n the best builders. And, the Aeroworks ARF QBs have the best fit and finish I’ve seen:
I was asked about the landing gear plate and I’d have to say it looks pretty stout. It’s a continuous piece of 1/4″ hardwood side to side… with two perpendicular pieces of 1/4″ hardwood glued to it. Those side pieces pick up alot of surface area and really shear the whole thing solid. The landing gear bolts go through the overlapping area which is 1/2″ thick, and again has its load spread out pretty far and wide.
A shot from the top and also a shot showing the pre-installed and glued in blind nuts for the landing gear (again going through a double layer of 1/4″ hardwood that has alot of coverage or shear strength):
Still don’t have all the parts… holidays and all. Hope to have everything by week’s end and start the assembly next week.
Meanwhile, as with the last QB™ I had, everything is real clean, real high quality. Also, one of these days I gotta ask Rocco if I learned this wheel pant mount from him, or him from me. Whichever, I’ve always thought it was the only way to go! And, here it is, already done:
Still waiting on parts, so thought I’d snap some more pics. Here’s a couple of wing shots:
Here’s a pic of the the landing gear hatch, and another of the wheel pants:
Here’s the plane, showing the cutouts for the rudder servos, receiver, batteries, tanks, et al… pre done:
Here’s a shot of the landing gear:
And also a shot of the rudder:
Here’s a shot of the lightweight foam tires, and also a shot of the tail section:
Battery/receiver/tanks foam; velcro straps, cable ties, et al (standard included items):
The cowl:
Here’s the included throw meter, nice touch:
Going with a BME-115:
Here are the new style Fromeco 5200 ”Grunt” packs (with Relion 4800 labels):
Here’s a new dual switch from Fromeco. 16 gage soft wire in and out, Dean’s Ultra’s in and out, dual charge/test jacks. Tried to let you see the circuit board… I think both switches are failsafe and also I think there is circuitry to keep both batteries draining instead of only one, even if the regs are not matched… I think. lol Let me get back to you on that:
Here’s my AW QB™ coming in for a landing tonight. It’s one of the new stick planes from Aeroworks. It’s four pieces, that’s the kinda quick building I can handle. lol
The engine is really dwarfed by the cowl:
Charles Bradley says it will spin this prop, too. Ha, lol, hard to believe… but I guess this cute ‘lil motor is actually a beast in disguise:
