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Mini-Funtana Review By Specs: Manufacture:
E-Flite Distributed
by Horizon Hobby Distributors Wingspan:
37” Overall
Length: 36” Wing
Area: 329”sq Flying
Weight: 22-25oz Motor
Size: Radio:
4 Channel – Used: JR 8103 Servos:
4 Sub Micro (Hitec HS55 or JR 281) Used –Hitec HS55s Trim:
Yellow with Transparent Red Prop:
Eflite 12x6 (Included with the Hardware:
All included Speed
Control: E-flite 20amp Brushless or Castle Creations 25 Batteries:
11.1 1800mah to 2100mah Lithium Polymer with a 10C+ discharge
capacity. Batteries
Used: Thunder Power Generation II 11.1v 2100mah, and a KOKAM 11.1v
2000mah HD Assembly:
In the small, but efficiently packed box, are the fully assembled
fuselage, hatch, wing panels, horizontal and vertical stab, cowl,
gearbox, carbon fiber landing gear and all of the hardware.
Construction begins with the wings, of which there is not much to
do. The wings are plug-in
style and do not require any work to mate them to the fuselage other
than the attachment of the ailerons with 3 mini-CA hinges.
All hinge slots are pre-cut and the ailerons go on extremely
easily. Following the
Aileron hinging, two servos are installed and the included hardware.
The wings are then attached to the fuselage with the carbon fiber
wing-tube and two 4-40 cap screws. There
are two positions for the wing!!! One forward for extreme 3D and one
that is further back for precision and sport flying.
As per the recommendations, I installed the wing in the
rear-position to start, and then aligned the tail group before gluing
them on, and hinging their surfaces and installing the servos in the
tail along with the included hardware.
Installation of the motor includes gluing a hardwood stick to the
front two bulkheads of the fuse, attaching the included gear box which
is designed for a stick mount. Prior
to mounting the gearbox to the mount, I mated the E-Flite Park 400,
4100KV motor to the gear box and insured proper mesh and backlash of the
pinion and spur gears. This
is simply done by slipping a piece of thin paper between the pinion and
spur gears, and tightening the motor to the gear box.
If you do this correctly, you should be able to remove the paper
by turning the gears by hand. The gears will leave an imprint on the
paper, but will not cut it or bind up. I followed up this installation
with a small dab of lithium grease to lubricate the gears (I check this
frequently and apply as necessary)
Taking the proper time doing this will not only ensure that your
gear train will have the longest life possible, but it results in a very
quiet drive train and eliminates the often loud and annoying whine of
gearbox drive trains. Following
the motor installation, the cowling is attached with four wood screws,
the landing gear is attached with 2 4-40 bolts and the wheels and wheel
pants are installed with the included hardware.
At this point, you install your ESC, receiver and hook up all
wires. Check to make sure
you motor spins the correct direction with the gear box, if it does not,
reverse any two wires from the speed control to the motor and the motor
will change direction. Install
the prop and included spinner, battery, and check the balance and your
ready to go flying!!! I had
the Mini-Funtana flight ready in under 3.5 hours including all of the
soldering for the various ESC, motor, and battery connectors which is
excellent for an impatient person such as myself! Flying: Overall,
my initial impression is WOW!!! This thing is great.
No real bad characteristics and flys like a much larger airplane.
I am extremely pleased with the flight quality and capability of
this airplane. I would
definitely not hesitate to purchase another if I destroy this one!
A quick rundown on the flight characteristics: Takeoff:
Take offs are un-eventful and as easy as they come.
With all the power from the Park 400 motor, the Mini Funtana is
airborne in just a few feet. Vertical
climb-outs or pop-ups into a hover are always fun as well as a lift off
to positive snap to knife-edge climb out are also no sweat with this
bird. General
Flying: This airplane tracks
very well (much like a pattern plane) with crisp, axial rolls, excellent
snaps, loops, hammerheads, and the entire assortment of precision
aerobatic maneuvers. If you
a guy that likes to fly laps with the occasional loop or role, this
airplane will definitely meet your needs. Landings:
Uneventful. Like a larger
airplane, keep a little speed up until final flair and the airplane will
settle right in with no bad tendencies. 3D
Flight: This airplane was
designed for 3D and 3D it does! Hovering, Walls, Blenders, Positive and
inverted harriers, torque rolls, waterfalls, positive and inverted
harriers, high alpha, you name it, it does it all! If you are looking
for big 3D performance in a small package, this is definitely your bird!
I was so comfortable with this airplane on the maiden flight that I had
no reservations bringing it down low and slow. Hits: Super-high
quality and excellent construction Extremely
Light Minimal
Assembly time Hardware
is excellent Flying
quality is outstanding! Misses: None
at all with the aircraft The
E-Flite Park 400 4200KV motor does get pretty warm and running for long
periods and high power levels is not recommended by the manufacture.
This is understandable upon realization of the power level and the
performance of this setup. As
a safeguard, I have since purchased a 20mm heat-sink from HiMaxx for
around $2.50 that is ultra lightweight and seems to have made a dramatic
difference in engine temperatures, well worth the $2.50!!!
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