TOP CREATIONS R/C’S Bandit is a
fully aerobatic airplane which features a
symmetrical airfoil, a 0-0 wing-horizontal
tail alignment, and aileron, elevator,
rudder, and motor control. This
configuration is well proven, and the
builder should get good aerobatic
performance. The Bandit is designed
around the popular geared Speed 370-size
motor system, producing good performance
for that motor size and power.
I won’t go through the step-by-step
process of building the airplane; it’s as dull
to write as it is to read! Instead I will point
out some things you will find useful in
deciding whether to buy the model and
helping to build it if you do.
Kit Survey: The fit and finish of the lasercut
parts are excellent. I enjoy the way
modern designers can take advantage of the
ability to laser-cut all kinds of wooden
components. The designers at Top
Creations R/C have done so, and
assembling the model is a great deal of fun.
Put the parts together as instructed,
wick in some thin cyanoacrylate glue, and a
beautiful, strong joint results. The balsa is
thick enough that the joints are extremely
strong and the airplane can be built with a
minimal amount of hangar rash.
The kit has a complete hardware
package that includes screws, nuts, bolts,
pull-pull cables, nice servo-output-arm-topull-
pull-cable connectors, a motor, a
propeller, a formed-aluminum landing gear,
high-quality wheels, and a great aluminum
P r o d u c t R e v i e w David Adams
E-mail: [email protected]
Top Creations R/C Bandit
Pros:
• Kit is impressively engineered;
everything fits perfectly.
• All hardware necessary to make
the model is included.
• Aluminum drill guide is
included for hinges—a nice
touch.
• Excellent high- and low-speed
flying qualities.
• Aluminum landing gear and
nice wheels.
• Airplane value for the price is
excellent; wheels, motor, and
propeller were included.
The Bandit has a conventional aerobatic configuration with large control surfaces. It is
capable of advanced flight maneuvers. Also shown are the optional canopies that the
author made from scrap in the kit.
The Bandit does a slow, high-angle-of-attack pass
along the runway. Control response is predictable, and
using exponential inputs helps keep the maneuvers
smooth.
Cons:
• Landing gear knocked off in
gentle grass landing—builder’s
error.
• Fuselage could be slightly larger
in the radio-battery area.
• No plans.
• Photo sheet is separate.
• Descriptive text for each photo
should be adjacent to it.
• Manual is not laid out very well.
• At the flying weight, the power
available can’t take full
advantage of the Bandit’s
capabilities.
fixture to align the drill bit to drill the holes
in the control surfaces for the Robart hinges.
However, considering the extensive
design capabilities inherent in laser-cutting, it
would be nice to see some more stylish
curves on the Bandit. Box-shaped wings and
a rectangular horizontal tail with a box
fuselage left me wanting more. Others may
prefer the styling. Remember, though, that its
looks in no way detract from the Bandit’s
capabilities in flight.
Concerns and Modifications: This is not a
beginner’s model; you should be quite
comfortable controlling a fully aerobatic and
responsive airplane with ailerons before
68 MODEL AVIATION
taking on this project. For trainers, look at
Top Creations R/C’s fine Little Looper or
Little Looper Plus. The Bandit’s large control
surfaces with corresponding large controlsurface
throws can make it a handful of fright
for the unprepared flier.
Since the Bandit is a full-performance,
fast-maneuvering miniature airplane, it will
be at home at the typical club flying site. I do
not recommend it for flying in a small park.
The fit of the laser-cut parts is exceptional.
However, the builder should be able to
assemble a balsa model solely from
instructions because there are no plans
showing part locations. This wasn’t a
handicap to me, but other builders might find
the instructions difficult to use.
The directions are complete and each step
is clearly written, but there are no separating
With battery power running low, the Bandit turns onto final
approach for landing. You will be pleased with its low-speed
handling qualities.
This missed approach resulted in landing-gear removal! Note the elevator deflection as
the Bandit approaches a full stall condition. It is predictable, but the pilot isn’t!
In the process of doing a long,
continuous string of rolls, the Bandit’s
fuselage angle is near zero. It performs
the proverbial “rolls on a string” with
ease.
Headed toward the end of a slow roll, the model tracks well. Be
sure to keep the wing top and bottom paint schemes different to
aid in visual discrimination during rapid maneuvers.
spaces between the steps, and it is easy to get
lost as you glance back and forth between the
instructions and your work area. Use a ruler or
something similar to help you guide your way
down the pages. The photos are on separate
sheets from the instructions, which is also
awkward. I hope these areas will be improved
in subsequent kits.
The rudder and elevator tail linkages
employ a pull-pull cable arrangement. This
system works well, but be careful and don’t
load up the servo outputs with too much
tension on the cables. Properly rigged, the
controls are slop-free and work well.
I found myself wishing that the fuselage
were slightly bigger in the batterycompartment
area, to facilitate using the many
flat-pack form-factor battery packs I have
from the GWS series of warbirds.
My duty as a reviewer is to build the
airplane exactly as you would and adhere to
the plans and instructions as closely as
possible. However, I did make two small
cosmetic changes to the Bandit, which I felt
the average builder might do. They will not
alter the model’s aerodynamic flying
performance.
1) I added a bit of scrap material to the
horizontal stabilizer’s LE. This allowed me to
put a bit of sweep in the LE to match the
vertical fin.
2) I put the cooling air scoop on the
bottom of the engine cowl.
The top hatch, which is the access to the
battery compartment, has the canopy attached
to it. The kit canopy works fine, but as I sat
looking at it I realized that by using kit scraps
to make several hatches, each with its own
individual-looking canopy, I had the ability to
vary the airplane’s looks.
As you can see in the photo, the first is the
original Bandit canopy, the second has a more
forward lateral area Pattern look, and the third
is a plastic canopy with trim stripes. It is fun to
experiment, and I encourage you to do so.
Radio Equipment: No radio equipment was
provided, so I employed one of my two
Futaba 8U Super Series transmitters. I have
used them for a couple years, and it is nice not
to have to concentrate on switch locations, etc.
I used the new ElectriFly flight pack,
which incorporates a 30-amp ESC and
receiver in the same package. It is convenient,
but take care to avoid adjacent channel
interference since the receiver is a singleconversion
type.
The servos are Hitec HS-55s. I have used
these in a large number of airplanes, and I
recommend them; they have performed
flawlessly. However, any lightweight servo
would be acceptable.
I used the following batteries in flight tests:
• Eight-cell 350 mAh Ni-Cd in a flat
arrangement.
• Eight-cell 700 mAh NiMH made into a
rectangle arrangement.
• Eight-cell 500 mAh Ni-Cd in a flat
arrangement.
My Bandit’s empty weight without battery
was 13 ounces—roughly the same as Top
Creations R/C’s recommended weight with
battery (12-14 ounces). I gained several fat
ounces somewhere! These can be partially
accounted for by my use of regular MonoKote
covering, an overrated ESC (a 10-amp unit is
all that is needed), and an overactive glue
bottle. A few tenths of an ounce here and there
add up. For optimal flying fun, keep the
weight down where possible.
Before flight tests I felt that my Bandit
was too heavy with my choice of battery
combination to deliver truly awesome flight
performance. A nice Li-Poly pack would
deliver much better performance because of a
lighter weight.
Flying: After a winter of waiting for the
gales to subside, we finally had a cool
morning with no wind. The 700 mAh NiMH
battery was installed fresh from the charger,
and the original canopy was latched into
place.
While holding the Bandit nose-up, I
applied full power to the motor. The airplane
felt light in my hand but incapable of true
vertical flight. I made a last check of the
control direction and taxied the model to the
takeoff point. Ground handling was fine.
The takeoff roll was nice and straight, and
a bit of back stick resulted in a smooth liftoff
after roughly 15 feet. The Bandit was stable
and well behaved when I flew it around. I
checked Loops, Rolls, and all of the normal
maneuvers, and they were fine. This was to
be expected based on the CG location and
general aircraft configuration.
The Bandit’s slow-speed flight was nice
and predictable. Landings were three-point,
full stall on the runway.
However, the only time I missed the
runway, the model landed in the roughly 5-
inch-tall grass just short of it. Although the
landing was level and slow, the landing gear
came off. After a discussion with the
airplane’s designer, I realized that I had left
off the necessary reinforcement in this area. It
pays to read the instructions carefully!
The airplane flew well, but with the
power available and at the airplane’s weight,
it won’t be able to perform up to the abilities
implied by the large control surfaces. If you
upgrade the motor to your favorite brushless
and use Li-Poly batteries, the promised
performance possibilities can be realized and
the airplane can be used to explore the full
range of 3-D flight maneuvers.
The Bandit is nice, and it flies very well. It
will be a great deal of fun but not spectacular
with the provided motor. How the model
performs for you will be limited only by how
much power you make available and how
low you can keep its finished weight.
Using the lightest equipment available
with a lightweight covering and light
batteries would certainly go a long way
toward making the Bandit capable of keeping
your adrenalin at a high level. MA
(Editor’s note: Top Creations R/C is now
offering a brushless plug-in power system for
the Bandit that will yield virtually unlimited
vertical performance. For details about this
upgrade or to order one, please contact Top
Creations R/C at 253 Vineyard Ave., Morgan
NJ 08879; Tel.: [732] 727-1748.)
Manufacturer:
Top Creations R/C
Tel./fax: (732) 727-1748
www.topcreationsrc.com/
Street price: $75
Specifications:
Model type: Aerobatic fun-fly
Wingspan: 32 inches
Wing area: 256 square inches
Length: 30 inches
Recommended weight: 12-14 ounces with
battery
Review model’s weight (ready to fly): 13.6
ounces without battery
Power: Geared Speed 370 motor
Recommended radio: Four-channel—aileron,
elevator, rudder, motor
Radio used in review: Futaba 8U transmitter,
ElectriFly flight pack (all-in-one receiver and
30-amp ESC), four Hitec HS-55 servos
Materials used in kit: Laser-cut balsa
Materials needed to finish model: Thin and
thick cyanoacrylate glue, covering of your
choice, hobby tools
Needed to fly model: Transmitter, receiver,
servos, ESC, motor battery
Products used in review:
Futaba 8U Super Series transmitter,
ElectriFly flight pack:
Great Planes Model Distributors
Box 9021
Champaign IL 61826
(217) 398-8970
www.futaba-rc.com
www.electrifly.com
Hitec HS-55 servos:
Hitec RCD USA, Inc.
12115 Paine St.
Poway CA 92064
(858) 748-6948
Fax: (858) 748-1767
www.hitecrcd.com
Edition: Model Aviation - 2005/04
Page Numbers: 67,68,70
Edition: Model Aviation - 2005/04
Page Numbers: 67,68,70
TOP CREATIONS R/C’S Bandit is a
fully aerobatic airplane which features a
symmetrical airfoil, a 0-0 wing-horizontal
tail alignment, and aileron, elevator,
rudder, and motor control. This
configuration is well proven, and the
builder should get good aerobatic
performance. The Bandit is designed
around the popular geared Speed 370-size
motor system, producing good performance
for that motor size and power.
I won’t go through the step-by-step
process of building the airplane; it’s as dull
to write as it is to read! Instead I will point
out some things you will find useful in
deciding whether to buy the model and
helping to build it if you do.
Kit Survey: The fit and finish of the lasercut
parts are excellent. I enjoy the way
modern designers can take advantage of the
ability to laser-cut all kinds of wooden
components. The designers at Top
Creations R/C have done so, and
assembling the model is a great deal of fun.
Put the parts together as instructed,
wick in some thin cyanoacrylate glue, and a
beautiful, strong joint results. The balsa is
thick enough that the joints are extremely
strong and the airplane can be built with a
minimal amount of hangar rash.
The kit has a complete hardware
package that includes screws, nuts, bolts,
pull-pull cables, nice servo-output-arm-topull-
pull-cable connectors, a motor, a
propeller, a formed-aluminum landing gear,
high-quality wheels, and a great aluminum
P r o d u c t R e v i e w David Adams
E-mail: [email protected]
Top Creations R/C Bandit
Pros:
• Kit is impressively engineered;
everything fits perfectly.
• All hardware necessary to make
the model is included.
• Aluminum drill guide is
included for hinges—a nice
touch.
• Excellent high- and low-speed
flying qualities.
• Aluminum landing gear and
nice wheels.
• Airplane value for the price is
excellent; wheels, motor, and
propeller were included.
The Bandit has a conventional aerobatic configuration with large control surfaces. It is
capable of advanced flight maneuvers. Also shown are the optional canopies that the
author made from scrap in the kit.
The Bandit does a slow, high-angle-of-attack pass
along the runway. Control response is predictable, and
using exponential inputs helps keep the maneuvers
smooth.
Cons:
• Landing gear knocked off in
gentle grass landing—builder’s
error.
• Fuselage could be slightly larger
in the radio-battery area.
• No plans.
• Photo sheet is separate.
• Descriptive text for each photo
should be adjacent to it.
• Manual is not laid out very well.
• At the flying weight, the power
available can’t take full
advantage of the Bandit’s
capabilities.
fixture to align the drill bit to drill the holes
in the control surfaces for the Robart hinges.
However, considering the extensive
design capabilities inherent in laser-cutting, it
would be nice to see some more stylish
curves on the Bandit. Box-shaped wings and
a rectangular horizontal tail with a box
fuselage left me wanting more. Others may
prefer the styling. Remember, though, that its
looks in no way detract from the Bandit’s
capabilities in flight.
Concerns and Modifications: This is not a
beginner’s model; you should be quite
comfortable controlling a fully aerobatic and
responsive airplane with ailerons before
68 MODEL AVIATION
taking on this project. For trainers, look at
Top Creations R/C’s fine Little Looper or
Little Looper Plus. The Bandit’s large control
surfaces with corresponding large controlsurface
throws can make it a handful of fright
for the unprepared flier.
Since the Bandit is a full-performance,
fast-maneuvering miniature airplane, it will
be at home at the typical club flying site. I do
not recommend it for flying in a small park.
The fit of the laser-cut parts is exceptional.
However, the builder should be able to
assemble a balsa model solely from
instructions because there are no plans
showing part locations. This wasn’t a
handicap to me, but other builders might find
the instructions difficult to use.
The directions are complete and each step
is clearly written, but there are no separating
With battery power running low, the Bandit turns onto final
approach for landing. You will be pleased with its low-speed
handling qualities.
This missed approach resulted in landing-gear removal! Note the elevator deflection as
the Bandit approaches a full stall condition. It is predictable, but the pilot isn’t!
In the process of doing a long,
continuous string of rolls, the Bandit’s
fuselage angle is near zero. It performs
the proverbial “rolls on a string” with
ease.
Headed toward the end of a slow roll, the model tracks well. Be
sure to keep the wing top and bottom paint schemes different to
aid in visual discrimination during rapid maneuvers.
spaces between the steps, and it is easy to get
lost as you glance back and forth between the
instructions and your work area. Use a ruler or
something similar to help you guide your way
down the pages. The photos are on separate
sheets from the instructions, which is also
awkward. I hope these areas will be improved
in subsequent kits.
The rudder and elevator tail linkages
employ a pull-pull cable arrangement. This
system works well, but be careful and don’t
load up the servo outputs with too much
tension on the cables. Properly rigged, the
controls are slop-free and work well.
I found myself wishing that the fuselage
were slightly bigger in the batterycompartment
area, to facilitate using the many
flat-pack form-factor battery packs I have
from the GWS series of warbirds.
My duty as a reviewer is to build the
airplane exactly as you would and adhere to
the plans and instructions as closely as
possible. However, I did make two small
cosmetic changes to the Bandit, which I felt
the average builder might do. They will not
alter the model’s aerodynamic flying
performance.
1) I added a bit of scrap material to the
horizontal stabilizer’s LE. This allowed me to
put a bit of sweep in the LE to match the
vertical fin.
2) I put the cooling air scoop on the
bottom of the engine cowl.
The top hatch, which is the access to the
battery compartment, has the canopy attached
to it. The kit canopy works fine, but as I sat
looking at it I realized that by using kit scraps
to make several hatches, each with its own
individual-looking canopy, I had the ability to
vary the airplane’s looks.
As you can see in the photo, the first is the
original Bandit canopy, the second has a more
forward lateral area Pattern look, and the third
is a plastic canopy with trim stripes. It is fun to
experiment, and I encourage you to do so.
Radio Equipment: No radio equipment was
provided, so I employed one of my two
Futaba 8U Super Series transmitters. I have
used them for a couple years, and it is nice not
to have to concentrate on switch locations, etc.
I used the new ElectriFly flight pack,
which incorporates a 30-amp ESC and
receiver in the same package. It is convenient,
but take care to avoid adjacent channel
interference since the receiver is a singleconversion
type.
The servos are Hitec HS-55s. I have used
these in a large number of airplanes, and I
recommend them; they have performed
flawlessly. However, any lightweight servo
would be acceptable.
I used the following batteries in flight tests:
• Eight-cell 350 mAh Ni-Cd in a flat
arrangement.
• Eight-cell 700 mAh NiMH made into a
rectangle arrangement.
• Eight-cell 500 mAh Ni-Cd in a flat
arrangement.
My Bandit’s empty weight without battery
was 13 ounces—roughly the same as Top
Creations R/C’s recommended weight with
battery (12-14 ounces). I gained several fat
ounces somewhere! These can be partially
accounted for by my use of regular MonoKote
covering, an overrated ESC (a 10-amp unit is
all that is needed), and an overactive glue
bottle. A few tenths of an ounce here and there
add up. For optimal flying fun, keep the
weight down where possible.
Before flight tests I felt that my Bandit
was too heavy with my choice of battery
combination to deliver truly awesome flight
performance. A nice Li-Poly pack would
deliver much better performance because of a
lighter weight.
Flying: After a winter of waiting for the
gales to subside, we finally had a cool
morning with no wind. The 700 mAh NiMH
battery was installed fresh from the charger,
and the original canopy was latched into
place.
While holding the Bandit nose-up, I
applied full power to the motor. The airplane
felt light in my hand but incapable of true
vertical flight. I made a last check of the
control direction and taxied the model to the
takeoff point. Ground handling was fine.
The takeoff roll was nice and straight, and
a bit of back stick resulted in a smooth liftoff
after roughly 15 feet. The Bandit was stable
and well behaved when I flew it around. I
checked Loops, Rolls, and all of the normal
maneuvers, and they were fine. This was to
be expected based on the CG location and
general aircraft configuration.
The Bandit’s slow-speed flight was nice
and predictable. Landings were three-point,
full stall on the runway.
However, the only time I missed the
runway, the model landed in the roughly 5-
inch-tall grass just short of it. Although the
landing was level and slow, the landing gear
came off. After a discussion with the
airplane’s designer, I realized that I had left
off the necessary reinforcement in this area. It
pays to read the instructions carefully!
The airplane flew well, but with the
power available and at the airplane’s weight,
it won’t be able to perform up to the abilities
implied by the large control surfaces. If you
upgrade the motor to your favorite brushless
and use Li-Poly batteries, the promised
performance possibilities can be realized and
the airplane can be used to explore the full
range of 3-D flight maneuvers.
The Bandit is nice, and it flies very well. It
will be a great deal of fun but not spectacular
with the provided motor. How the model
performs for you will be limited only by how
much power you make available and how
low you can keep its finished weight.
Using the lightest equipment available
with a lightweight covering and light
batteries would certainly go a long way
toward making the Bandit capable of keeping
your adrenalin at a high level. MA
(Editor’s note: Top Creations R/C is now
offering a brushless plug-in power system for
the Bandit that will yield virtually unlimited
vertical performance. For details about this
upgrade or to order one, please contact Top
Creations R/C at 253 Vineyard Ave., Morgan
NJ 08879; Tel.: [732] 727-1748.)
Manufacturer:
Top Creations R/C
Tel./fax: (732) 727-1748
www.topcreationsrc.com/
Street price: $75
Specifications:
Model type: Aerobatic fun-fly
Wingspan: 32 inches
Wing area: 256 square inches
Length: 30 inches
Recommended weight: 12-14 ounces with
battery
Review model’s weight (ready to fly): 13.6
ounces without battery
Power: Geared Speed 370 motor
Recommended radio: Four-channel—aileron,
elevator, rudder, motor
Radio used in review: Futaba 8U transmitter,
ElectriFly flight pack (all-in-one receiver and
30-amp ESC), four Hitec HS-55 servos
Materials used in kit: Laser-cut balsa
Materials needed to finish model: Thin and
thick cyanoacrylate glue, covering of your
choice, hobby tools
Needed to fly model: Transmitter, receiver,
servos, ESC, motor battery
Products used in review:
Futaba 8U Super Series transmitter,
ElectriFly flight pack:
Great Planes Model Distributors
Box 9021
Champaign IL 61826
(217) 398-8970
www.futaba-rc.com
www.electrifly.com
Hitec HS-55 servos:
Hitec RCD USA, Inc.
12115 Paine St.
Poway CA 92064
(858) 748-6948
Fax: (858) 748-1767
www.hitecrcd.com
Edition: Model Aviation - 2005/04
Page Numbers: 67,68,70
TOP CREATIONS R/C’S Bandit is a
fully aerobatic airplane which features a
symmetrical airfoil, a 0-0 wing-horizontal
tail alignment, and aileron, elevator,
rudder, and motor control. This
configuration is well proven, and the
builder should get good aerobatic
performance. The Bandit is designed
around the popular geared Speed 370-size
motor system, producing good performance
for that motor size and power.
I won’t go through the step-by-step
process of building the airplane; it’s as dull
to write as it is to read! Instead I will point
out some things you will find useful in
deciding whether to buy the model and
helping to build it if you do.
Kit Survey: The fit and finish of the lasercut
parts are excellent. I enjoy the way
modern designers can take advantage of the
ability to laser-cut all kinds of wooden
components. The designers at Top
Creations R/C have done so, and
assembling the model is a great deal of fun.
Put the parts together as instructed,
wick in some thin cyanoacrylate glue, and a
beautiful, strong joint results. The balsa is
thick enough that the joints are extremely
strong and the airplane can be built with a
minimal amount of hangar rash.
The kit has a complete hardware
package that includes screws, nuts, bolts,
pull-pull cables, nice servo-output-arm-topull-
pull-cable connectors, a motor, a
propeller, a formed-aluminum landing gear,
high-quality wheels, and a great aluminum
P r o d u c t R e v i e w David Adams
E-mail: [email protected]
Top Creations R/C Bandit
Pros:
• Kit is impressively engineered;
everything fits perfectly.
• All hardware necessary to make
the model is included.
• Aluminum drill guide is
included for hinges—a nice
touch.
• Excellent high- and low-speed
flying qualities.
• Aluminum landing gear and
nice wheels.
• Airplane value for the price is
excellent; wheels, motor, and
propeller were included.
The Bandit has a conventional aerobatic configuration with large control surfaces. It is
capable of advanced flight maneuvers. Also shown are the optional canopies that the
author made from scrap in the kit.
The Bandit does a slow, high-angle-of-attack pass
along the runway. Control response is predictable, and
using exponential inputs helps keep the maneuvers
smooth.
Cons:
• Landing gear knocked off in
gentle grass landing—builder’s
error.
• Fuselage could be slightly larger
in the radio-battery area.
• No plans.
• Photo sheet is separate.
• Descriptive text for each photo
should be adjacent to it.
• Manual is not laid out very well.
• At the flying weight, the power
available can’t take full
advantage of the Bandit’s
capabilities.
fixture to align the drill bit to drill the holes
in the control surfaces for the Robart hinges.
However, considering the extensive
design capabilities inherent in laser-cutting, it
would be nice to see some more stylish
curves on the Bandit. Box-shaped wings and
a rectangular horizontal tail with a box
fuselage left me wanting more. Others may
prefer the styling. Remember, though, that its
looks in no way detract from the Bandit’s
capabilities in flight.
Concerns and Modifications: This is not a
beginner’s model; you should be quite
comfortable controlling a fully aerobatic and
responsive airplane with ailerons before
68 MODEL AVIATION
taking on this project. For trainers, look at
Top Creations R/C’s fine Little Looper or
Little Looper Plus. The Bandit’s large control
surfaces with corresponding large controlsurface
throws can make it a handful of fright
for the unprepared flier.
Since the Bandit is a full-performance,
fast-maneuvering miniature airplane, it will
be at home at the typical club flying site. I do
not recommend it for flying in a small park.
The fit of the laser-cut parts is exceptional.
However, the builder should be able to
assemble a balsa model solely from
instructions because there are no plans
showing part locations. This wasn’t a
handicap to me, but other builders might find
the instructions difficult to use.
The directions are complete and each step
is clearly written, but there are no separating
With battery power running low, the Bandit turns onto final
approach for landing. You will be pleased with its low-speed
handling qualities.
This missed approach resulted in landing-gear removal! Note the elevator deflection as
the Bandit approaches a full stall condition. It is predictable, but the pilot isn’t!
In the process of doing a long,
continuous string of rolls, the Bandit’s
fuselage angle is near zero. It performs
the proverbial “rolls on a string” with
ease.
Headed toward the end of a slow roll, the model tracks well. Be
sure to keep the wing top and bottom paint schemes different to
aid in visual discrimination during rapid maneuvers.
spaces between the steps, and it is easy to get
lost as you glance back and forth between the
instructions and your work area. Use a ruler or
something similar to help you guide your way
down the pages. The photos are on separate
sheets from the instructions, which is also
awkward. I hope these areas will be improved
in subsequent kits.
The rudder and elevator tail linkages
employ a pull-pull cable arrangement. This
system works well, but be careful and don’t
load up the servo outputs with too much
tension on the cables. Properly rigged, the
controls are slop-free and work well.
I found myself wishing that the fuselage
were slightly bigger in the batterycompartment
area, to facilitate using the many
flat-pack form-factor battery packs I have
from the GWS series of warbirds.
My duty as a reviewer is to build the
airplane exactly as you would and adhere to
the plans and instructions as closely as
possible. However, I did make two small
cosmetic changes to the Bandit, which I felt
the average builder might do. They will not
alter the model’s aerodynamic flying
performance.
1) I added a bit of scrap material to the
horizontal stabilizer’s LE. This allowed me to
put a bit of sweep in the LE to match the
vertical fin.
2) I put the cooling air scoop on the
bottom of the engine cowl.
The top hatch, which is the access to the
battery compartment, has the canopy attached
to it. The kit canopy works fine, but as I sat
looking at it I realized that by using kit scraps
to make several hatches, each with its own
individual-looking canopy, I had the ability to
vary the airplane’s looks.
As you can see in the photo, the first is the
original Bandit canopy, the second has a more
forward lateral area Pattern look, and the third
is a plastic canopy with trim stripes. It is fun to
experiment, and I encourage you to do so.
Radio Equipment: No radio equipment was
provided, so I employed one of my two
Futaba 8U Super Series transmitters. I have
used them for a couple years, and it is nice not
to have to concentrate on switch locations, etc.
I used the new ElectriFly flight pack,
which incorporates a 30-amp ESC and
receiver in the same package. It is convenient,
but take care to avoid adjacent channel
interference since the receiver is a singleconversion
type.
The servos are Hitec HS-55s. I have used
these in a large number of airplanes, and I
recommend them; they have performed
flawlessly. However, any lightweight servo
would be acceptable.
I used the following batteries in flight tests:
• Eight-cell 350 mAh Ni-Cd in a flat
arrangement.
• Eight-cell 700 mAh NiMH made into a
rectangle arrangement.
• Eight-cell 500 mAh Ni-Cd in a flat
arrangement.
My Bandit’s empty weight without battery
was 13 ounces—roughly the same as Top
Creations R/C’s recommended weight with
battery (12-14 ounces). I gained several fat
ounces somewhere! These can be partially
accounted for by my use of regular MonoKote
covering, an overrated ESC (a 10-amp unit is
all that is needed), and an overactive glue
bottle. A few tenths of an ounce here and there
add up. For optimal flying fun, keep the
weight down where possible.
Before flight tests I felt that my Bandit
was too heavy with my choice of battery
combination to deliver truly awesome flight
performance. A nice Li-Poly pack would
deliver much better performance because of a
lighter weight.
Flying: After a winter of waiting for the
gales to subside, we finally had a cool
morning with no wind. The 700 mAh NiMH
battery was installed fresh from the charger,
and the original canopy was latched into
place.
While holding the Bandit nose-up, I
applied full power to the motor. The airplane
felt light in my hand but incapable of true
vertical flight. I made a last check of the
control direction and taxied the model to the
takeoff point. Ground handling was fine.
The takeoff roll was nice and straight, and
a bit of back stick resulted in a smooth liftoff
after roughly 15 feet. The Bandit was stable
and well behaved when I flew it around. I
checked Loops, Rolls, and all of the normal
maneuvers, and they were fine. This was to
be expected based on the CG location and
general aircraft configuration.
The Bandit’s slow-speed flight was nice
and predictable. Landings were three-point,
full stall on the runway.
However, the only time I missed the
runway, the model landed in the roughly 5-
inch-tall grass just short of it. Although the
landing was level and slow, the landing gear
came off. After a discussion with the
airplane’s designer, I realized that I had left
off the necessary reinforcement in this area. It
pays to read the instructions carefully!
The airplane flew well, but with the
power available and at the airplane’s weight,
it won’t be able to perform up to the abilities
implied by the large control surfaces. If you
upgrade the motor to your favorite brushless
and use Li-Poly batteries, the promised
performance possibilities can be realized and
the airplane can be used to explore the full
range of 3-D flight maneuvers.
The Bandit is nice, and it flies very well. It
will be a great deal of fun but not spectacular
with the provided motor. How the model
performs for you will be limited only by how
much power you make available and how
low you can keep its finished weight.
Using the lightest equipment available
with a lightweight covering and light
batteries would certainly go a long way
toward making the Bandit capable of keeping
your adrenalin at a high level. MA
(Editor’s note: Top Creations R/C is now
offering a brushless plug-in power system for
the Bandit that will yield virtually unlimited
vertical performance. For details about this
upgrade or to order one, please contact Top
Creations R/C at 253 Vineyard Ave., Morgan
NJ 08879; Tel.: [732] 727-1748.)
Manufacturer:
Top Creations R/C
Tel./fax: (732) 727-1748
www.topcreationsrc.com/
Street price: $75
Specifications:
Model type: Aerobatic fun-fly
Wingspan: 32 inches
Wing area: 256 square inches
Length: 30 inches
Recommended weight: 12-14 ounces with
battery
Review model’s weight (ready to fly): 13.6
ounces without battery
Power: Geared Speed 370 motor
Recommended radio: Four-channel—aileron,
elevator, rudder, motor
Radio used in review: Futaba 8U transmitter,
ElectriFly flight pack (all-in-one receiver and
30-amp ESC), four Hitec HS-55 servos
Materials used in kit: Laser-cut balsa
Materials needed to finish model: Thin and
thick cyanoacrylate glue, covering of your
choice, hobby tools
Needed to fly model: Transmitter, receiver,
servos, ESC, motor battery
Products used in review:
Futaba 8U Super Series transmitter,
ElectriFly flight pack:
Great Planes Model Distributors
Box 9021
Champaign IL 61826
(217) 398-8970
www.futaba-rc.com
www.electrifly.com
Hitec HS-55 servos:
Hitec RCD USA, Inc.
12115 Paine St.
Poway CA 92064
(858) 748-6948
Fax: (858) 748-1767
www.hitecrcd.com