TOM SULLIVAN
Park View: Phase 3 Fidget 3D
This full-body foamie is
capable of sport flying
or 3-D freestyle
FIRST IMPRESSIONS: I’ve been
looking for an aerobatic park/backyard
flyer for quite awhile. I’ve tried a number
of the 3-D profile foamies, with varying
degrees of success. I was really looking for
a design with a rigid fuselage that would
give more precise knife edges, snaps, etc.
As luck would have it, I was contacted
to review a new airplane from Global
Hobby Distributors: the Fidget. It is an
ARF, and it comes with a molded-foam
fuselage.
All formers are preinstalled and the
fuselage halves are joined. The vertical fin
is integral to the fuselage, so it cuts down
on the work while making the fuselage
strong and lightweight.
The wings, stabilizer, control surfaces,
wheel pants, and gear-strut covers are cut
from preprinted, 1/8-inch-thick foam sheet.
Several lengths of carbon-fiber strip and
carbon-fiber rod are included, as are
various bits of hardware that make up the
pushrods, control horns, etc.
Rounding out the package is a decal
sheet and a well-written 24-page manual
that contains a wealth of photographs
showing all construction steps.
Without further ado, let’s get to work.
Construction: I won’t go into a detailed,
step-by step-description of the Fidget’s
construction; that’s why the manual is
included. However, I will touch on a few
things that caught my attention.
One of the first decisions you’ll have
to make is what motor/ESC you’d like to
use. I chose the KMS 31/21 brushless
outrunner paired with a KMS 18-amp
speed controller (both of which Global
carries). This is one of the recommended
power systems, and it can comfortably
swing a 10 x 4.7 Slo-Flyer propeller
when paired with a two-cell Li-Poly
battery.
The supplied cowl is a one-piece,
vacuum-formed design and does require
a bit of trimming. After everything is
right, it is held in place with clear tape.
You stiffen all flying surfaces by
cutting the carbon-fiber strips to the
correct length and then attaching each
strip to a surface edge with epoxy. The
wings, horizontal stabilizer, and wing
struts are also strengthened using this
method.
Once all the epoxy has dried, join the
elevator halves using the laser-cut
plywood joiners. “Hinge” the control
surfaces using clear tape.
The wings, wing struts, stabilizer, and
elevator are attached to the fuselage to
make the basic airframe. There are no
real surprises here; take your time and
make sure everything is as square as
possible.
I did have to sand the bottom fuselage
wing saddle to ensure a flat, square bond
between the fuselage and the lower wing.
I also had to slightly dress up the top of
the center cabane to square it.
After everything has cured, cut four
carbon-fiber rods to length and glue
them in place as the interwing “wire
bracing.” This exponentially stiffens the
wings and ends up making the wings and
fuselage into a nice, solid structure.
Installing the servos and control
hardware was easy and slop free. The
rudder and elevator servos are mounted
toward the rear of the fuselage. The
aileron servo is mounted in the center
cabane. All servos are positioned close
to the controls, so the pushrods can be
shorter, making everything lightweight
and free of slop.
I found only two problems with the
Fidget’s construction, the first of which
involved a premolded canopy that was
held in place with a magnet. The canopy
flared out so much that it wasn’t close to
matching the fuselage profile.
I thought of various ways to solve the
May 2008 73
Above: The full body of the all-foam Fidget is a refreshing change
from the all-flat foamies offered.
Top left: The Fidget holds knife-edge flight with minimal crosscontrolling.
Left: Inverted flight requires slight down-elevator input and
approximately half throttle.
05sig3.QXD 3/25/08 11:58 AM Page 73
74 MODEL AVIATION
The canopy profile did not match the
fuselage shape. A piece of tape solved the
problem quickly and without adding weight.
The Fidget’s fuselage is molded and
includes these “gills” on the side to aid in
power-system cooling.
The Fidget 3D ARF comes 80% complete out of the box. The molded-foam fuselage is
lightweight and extremely rigid.
The bottom hatch is where the ESC and
battery are mounted. The cover is hinged
with clear tape, and everything is held in
place with Velcro.
The aileron servo mounts in the
center cabane strut and is held in
place with hot glue. Access to the receiver is gained once the magnet-secured canopy hatch is removed.
A KMS 2826/12 motor,
KMS 18-amp speed control,
and 2S1P Li-Poly battery
powers the review Fidget.
We also tested a 3S1P
battery, with outstanding
results.
05sig3.QXD 3/25/08 11:40 AM Page 74
May 2008 75
Pluses and Minuses
+•
Molded-foam fuselage is rigid and doesn’t
twist under load like a profile foamie’s.
• Carbon-fiber stiffening strips work well
in keeping the wings, stabilizer, and
rudder flat.
• Accepts a wide range of motor/battery
combinations.
• Although this is a one-piece airplane,
there are two hatches for access to the
battery and flight pack.
• Great flight performance, even with a
two-cell Li-Poly pack for power. -• Molded-foam canopy didn’t mate properly
to fuselage. (See text for simple fix.)
• Foam to dress the main gear wire is too
short and leaves a noticeable gap.
Specifications
Model type: ARF/Almost Ready to Build
Wingspan: 31.5 inches
Wing area: 400 square inches
Length: 40 inches
Recommended weight: 11.5-14.5
ounces
Test-model’s weight (ready to fly):
11.5 ounces (with battery)
Recommended motor: Xtra 2826/12,
KMS 31/21, or similar
Motor used: KMS 31/21
Recommended radio: Three servos, ESC
Equipment used: JR RS6UL receiver,
three Cirrus CS302BB servos, KMS 18-
amp ESC, Impulse 2S1P 1320 mAh pack
Construction materials: Molded-foam
fuselage; sheet-foam wings, stabilizer,
rudder; plywood fuselage formers;
carbon-fiber stiffening strips, wing braces
Street price: $49.95
3S1P 1320 mAh
Li-Poly. The latter
made the Fidget
nose-heavy, so I
chose to use the
smaller pack.
It provided an
instant horsepower
boost and made the
model come to life.
Hovering, Harriers,
Waterfalls, and
more were easy to
do at less than half
throttle, with plenty
of power with
which to maneuver
and pull out.
The Fidget 3D EP
biplane is the next
generation of highperformance
electricpowered
foam aircraft. Its durable, onepiece,
three-dimensional fuselage
provides plenty of strength and torsional
stability, with virtually no weight penalty.
The wings’ and tail surfaces’ carbonfiber
reinforcement give a massive
amount of structural durability, while
keeping weight to a minimum. The
carbon fiber also helps prevent twisting
and bowing during high-G, 3-D
maneuvers.
What makes the Fidget a great model
is that it is designed especially for highperformance
brushless outrunner
motors. There won’t be a lack of
performance with this model! Toss in
your favorite brushless outrunner,
matching propeller, ESC, and Li-Poly
battery, and you’ll be hovering and
doing extreme 3-D aerobatics like
you’ve always dreamed! MA
Tom Sullivan
[email protected]
Manufacturer/Distributor:
Global Hobby Distributors
18480 Bandilier Circle
Fountain Valley CA 92807
(714) 963-0329
www.globalhobby.com
Products Used in Review:
JR RS6UL receiver:
Horizon Hobby Distributors
(800) 338-4639
www.horizonhobby.com
Cirrus servos, KMP motor, Impulse Li-
Poly battery:
Hobby People
(800) 854-8471
www.hobbypeople.net
Other Review Sources:
None
problem, including cutting the canopy in
half and trimming the halves to match
before gluing them back together, briefly
hitting it with a heat gun to soften the
foam enough to coax it back into shape,
etc. I settled on a quick and painless
solution: I wrapped a piece of clear tape
around the back of the canopy to draw in
the sides. (See the photo.)
The second problem had to do with the
landing gear—not the gear itself, but the
foam covers that dressed up the main gear.
There were two pieces (left and right)
glued to the wire gear, wheel pants, and
fuselage. However, they were a good 1/2
inch too short to match.
I left the gap between the covers and
fuselage. This was a minor annoyance and
didn’t affect the Fidget’s flying or landing
ability.
After applying the decals and installing
the radio, the test aircraft came in at 11.5
ounces and the CG was right on the
money. Although I normally use my
instincts to set a model’s control throws, I
matched all the throws (low and high rate)
to the manual’s recommendations for the
Fidget. I also threw in the recommended
50% exponential for 3-D flying. (Thirtyfive
percent is recommended for sport
flying.)
Spending a few hours a night, it took
approximately three evenings to complete
the Fidget. Keep in mind that we have to
pay close attention to all the details in a
review model, reading every word and
making sure everything matches. The
average modeler could probably knock
this airplane out in four to six hours.
Flying: Now for the fun part! With
everything charged and ready to go, I
headed out the front door for the “smoke
test,” so to speak. (I have a large yard and
plenty of room between the neighbors, so
test-flying these models makes a trip to
the field just a few steps out the front
door.)
The first takeoff was from my
driveway, and it was effortless. The Fidget
took off in approximately 5 feet and
climbed with authority. After a few trim
passes I found that it was comfortable
cruising at just more than half throttle.
The Fidget is extremely aerobatic and a
whole lot of fun. It knife edges with the
best of them and will do anything you ask
of it. Hovering and high-alpha maneuvers
took three-quarters throttle and left little
power in reserve, but they were well
behaved.
I rarely ROG (rise off ground) with the
Fidget these days. Instead I hold it at
arm’s length, apply power, and let it go.
This type of launch is nice with a welltrimmed
airplane; it flies right out of your
hand.
After a few weeks of my flying the
Fidget, a package arrived with two
upgraded power packs to try: an Impulse
3S1P 900 mAh Li-Poly and the larger
Contrasting graphics make the Fidget easier to see. The
model is a fine sport flier, but it is really a blast with 3-D
control rates.
Static photos by the author Flight photos by Michael Ramsey
05sig3.QXD 3/25/08 11:59 AM Page 75
Edition: Model Aviation - 2008/05
Page Numbers: 73,74,75
Edition: Model Aviation - 2008/05
Page Numbers: 73,74,75
TOM SULLIVAN
Park View: Phase 3 Fidget 3D
This full-body foamie is
capable of sport flying
or 3-D freestyle
FIRST IMPRESSIONS: I’ve been
looking for an aerobatic park/backyard
flyer for quite awhile. I’ve tried a number
of the 3-D profile foamies, with varying
degrees of success. I was really looking for
a design with a rigid fuselage that would
give more precise knife edges, snaps, etc.
As luck would have it, I was contacted
to review a new airplane from Global
Hobby Distributors: the Fidget. It is an
ARF, and it comes with a molded-foam
fuselage.
All formers are preinstalled and the
fuselage halves are joined. The vertical fin
is integral to the fuselage, so it cuts down
on the work while making the fuselage
strong and lightweight.
The wings, stabilizer, control surfaces,
wheel pants, and gear-strut covers are cut
from preprinted, 1/8-inch-thick foam sheet.
Several lengths of carbon-fiber strip and
carbon-fiber rod are included, as are
various bits of hardware that make up the
pushrods, control horns, etc.
Rounding out the package is a decal
sheet and a well-written 24-page manual
that contains a wealth of photographs
showing all construction steps.
Without further ado, let’s get to work.
Construction: I won’t go into a detailed,
step-by step-description of the Fidget’s
construction; that’s why the manual is
included. However, I will touch on a few
things that caught my attention.
One of the first decisions you’ll have
to make is what motor/ESC you’d like to
use. I chose the KMS 31/21 brushless
outrunner paired with a KMS 18-amp
speed controller (both of which Global
carries). This is one of the recommended
power systems, and it can comfortably
swing a 10 x 4.7 Slo-Flyer propeller
when paired with a two-cell Li-Poly
battery.
The supplied cowl is a one-piece,
vacuum-formed design and does require
a bit of trimming. After everything is
right, it is held in place with clear tape.
You stiffen all flying surfaces by
cutting the carbon-fiber strips to the
correct length and then attaching each
strip to a surface edge with epoxy. The
wings, horizontal stabilizer, and wing
struts are also strengthened using this
method.
Once all the epoxy has dried, join the
elevator halves using the laser-cut
plywood joiners. “Hinge” the control
surfaces using clear tape.
The wings, wing struts, stabilizer, and
elevator are attached to the fuselage to
make the basic airframe. There are no
real surprises here; take your time and
make sure everything is as square as
possible.
I did have to sand the bottom fuselage
wing saddle to ensure a flat, square bond
between the fuselage and the lower wing.
I also had to slightly dress up the top of
the center cabane to square it.
After everything has cured, cut four
carbon-fiber rods to length and glue
them in place as the interwing “wire
bracing.” This exponentially stiffens the
wings and ends up making the wings and
fuselage into a nice, solid structure.
Installing the servos and control
hardware was easy and slop free. The
rudder and elevator servos are mounted
toward the rear of the fuselage. The
aileron servo is mounted in the center
cabane. All servos are positioned close
to the controls, so the pushrods can be
shorter, making everything lightweight
and free of slop.
I found only two problems with the
Fidget’s construction, the first of which
involved a premolded canopy that was
held in place with a magnet. The canopy
flared out so much that it wasn’t close to
matching the fuselage profile.
I thought of various ways to solve the
May 2008 73
Above: The full body of the all-foam Fidget is a refreshing change
from the all-flat foamies offered.
Top left: The Fidget holds knife-edge flight with minimal crosscontrolling.
Left: Inverted flight requires slight down-elevator input and
approximately half throttle.
05sig3.QXD 3/25/08 11:58 AM Page 73
74 MODEL AVIATION
The canopy profile did not match the
fuselage shape. A piece of tape solved the
problem quickly and without adding weight.
The Fidget’s fuselage is molded and
includes these “gills” on the side to aid in
power-system cooling.
The Fidget 3D ARF comes 80% complete out of the box. The molded-foam fuselage is
lightweight and extremely rigid.
The bottom hatch is where the ESC and
battery are mounted. The cover is hinged
with clear tape, and everything is held in
place with Velcro.
The aileron servo mounts in the
center cabane strut and is held in
place with hot glue. Access to the receiver is gained once the magnet-secured canopy hatch is removed.
A KMS 2826/12 motor,
KMS 18-amp speed control,
and 2S1P Li-Poly battery
powers the review Fidget.
We also tested a 3S1P
battery, with outstanding
results.
05sig3.QXD 3/25/08 11:40 AM Page 74
May 2008 75
Pluses and Minuses
+•
Molded-foam fuselage is rigid and doesn’t
twist under load like a profile foamie’s.
• Carbon-fiber stiffening strips work well
in keeping the wings, stabilizer, and
rudder flat.
• Accepts a wide range of motor/battery
combinations.
• Although this is a one-piece airplane,
there are two hatches for access to the
battery and flight pack.
• Great flight performance, even with a
two-cell Li-Poly pack for power. -• Molded-foam canopy didn’t mate properly
to fuselage. (See text for simple fix.)
• Foam to dress the main gear wire is too
short and leaves a noticeable gap.
Specifications
Model type: ARF/Almost Ready to Build
Wingspan: 31.5 inches
Wing area: 400 square inches
Length: 40 inches
Recommended weight: 11.5-14.5
ounces
Test-model’s weight (ready to fly):
11.5 ounces (with battery)
Recommended motor: Xtra 2826/12,
KMS 31/21, or similar
Motor used: KMS 31/21
Recommended radio: Three servos, ESC
Equipment used: JR RS6UL receiver,
three Cirrus CS302BB servos, KMS 18-
amp ESC, Impulse 2S1P 1320 mAh pack
Construction materials: Molded-foam
fuselage; sheet-foam wings, stabilizer,
rudder; plywood fuselage formers;
carbon-fiber stiffening strips, wing braces
Street price: $49.95
3S1P 1320 mAh
Li-Poly. The latter
made the Fidget
nose-heavy, so I
chose to use the
smaller pack.
It provided an
instant horsepower
boost and made the
model come to life.
Hovering, Harriers,
Waterfalls, and
more were easy to
do at less than half
throttle, with plenty
of power with
which to maneuver
and pull out.
The Fidget 3D EP
biplane is the next
generation of highperformance
electricpowered
foam aircraft. Its durable, onepiece,
three-dimensional fuselage
provides plenty of strength and torsional
stability, with virtually no weight penalty.
The wings’ and tail surfaces’ carbonfiber
reinforcement give a massive
amount of structural durability, while
keeping weight to a minimum. The
carbon fiber also helps prevent twisting
and bowing during high-G, 3-D
maneuvers.
What makes the Fidget a great model
is that it is designed especially for highperformance
brushless outrunner
motors. There won’t be a lack of
performance with this model! Toss in
your favorite brushless outrunner,
matching propeller, ESC, and Li-Poly
battery, and you’ll be hovering and
doing extreme 3-D aerobatics like
you’ve always dreamed! MA
Tom Sullivan
[email protected]
Manufacturer/Distributor:
Global Hobby Distributors
18480 Bandilier Circle
Fountain Valley CA 92807
(714) 963-0329
www.globalhobby.com
Products Used in Review:
JR RS6UL receiver:
Horizon Hobby Distributors
(800) 338-4639
www.horizonhobby.com
Cirrus servos, KMP motor, Impulse Li-
Poly battery:
Hobby People
(800) 854-8471
www.hobbypeople.net
Other Review Sources:
None
problem, including cutting the canopy in
half and trimming the halves to match
before gluing them back together, briefly
hitting it with a heat gun to soften the
foam enough to coax it back into shape,
etc. I settled on a quick and painless
solution: I wrapped a piece of clear tape
around the back of the canopy to draw in
the sides. (See the photo.)
The second problem had to do with the
landing gear—not the gear itself, but the
foam covers that dressed up the main gear.
There were two pieces (left and right)
glued to the wire gear, wheel pants, and
fuselage. However, they were a good 1/2
inch too short to match.
I left the gap between the covers and
fuselage. This was a minor annoyance and
didn’t affect the Fidget’s flying or landing
ability.
After applying the decals and installing
the radio, the test aircraft came in at 11.5
ounces and the CG was right on the
money. Although I normally use my
instincts to set a model’s control throws, I
matched all the throws (low and high rate)
to the manual’s recommendations for the
Fidget. I also threw in the recommended
50% exponential for 3-D flying. (Thirtyfive
percent is recommended for sport
flying.)
Spending a few hours a night, it took
approximately three evenings to complete
the Fidget. Keep in mind that we have to
pay close attention to all the details in a
review model, reading every word and
making sure everything matches. The
average modeler could probably knock
this airplane out in four to six hours.
Flying: Now for the fun part! With
everything charged and ready to go, I
headed out the front door for the “smoke
test,” so to speak. (I have a large yard and
plenty of room between the neighbors, so
test-flying these models makes a trip to
the field just a few steps out the front
door.)
The first takeoff was from my
driveway, and it was effortless. The Fidget
took off in approximately 5 feet and
climbed with authority. After a few trim
passes I found that it was comfortable
cruising at just more than half throttle.
The Fidget is extremely aerobatic and a
whole lot of fun. It knife edges with the
best of them and will do anything you ask
of it. Hovering and high-alpha maneuvers
took three-quarters throttle and left little
power in reserve, but they were well
behaved.
I rarely ROG (rise off ground) with the
Fidget these days. Instead I hold it at
arm’s length, apply power, and let it go.
This type of launch is nice with a welltrimmed
airplane; it flies right out of your
hand.
After a few weeks of my flying the
Fidget, a package arrived with two
upgraded power packs to try: an Impulse
3S1P 900 mAh Li-Poly and the larger
Contrasting graphics make the Fidget easier to see. The
model is a fine sport flier, but it is really a blast with 3-D
control rates.
Static photos by the author Flight photos by Michael Ramsey
05sig3.QXD 3/25/08 11:59 AM Page 75
Edition: Model Aviation - 2008/05
Page Numbers: 73,74,75
TOM SULLIVAN
Park View: Phase 3 Fidget 3D
This full-body foamie is
capable of sport flying
or 3-D freestyle
FIRST IMPRESSIONS: I’ve been
looking for an aerobatic park/backyard
flyer for quite awhile. I’ve tried a number
of the 3-D profile foamies, with varying
degrees of success. I was really looking for
a design with a rigid fuselage that would
give more precise knife edges, snaps, etc.
As luck would have it, I was contacted
to review a new airplane from Global
Hobby Distributors: the Fidget. It is an
ARF, and it comes with a molded-foam
fuselage.
All formers are preinstalled and the
fuselage halves are joined. The vertical fin
is integral to the fuselage, so it cuts down
on the work while making the fuselage
strong and lightweight.
The wings, stabilizer, control surfaces,
wheel pants, and gear-strut covers are cut
from preprinted, 1/8-inch-thick foam sheet.
Several lengths of carbon-fiber strip and
carbon-fiber rod are included, as are
various bits of hardware that make up the
pushrods, control horns, etc.
Rounding out the package is a decal
sheet and a well-written 24-page manual
that contains a wealth of photographs
showing all construction steps.
Without further ado, let’s get to work.
Construction: I won’t go into a detailed,
step-by step-description of the Fidget’s
construction; that’s why the manual is
included. However, I will touch on a few
things that caught my attention.
One of the first decisions you’ll have
to make is what motor/ESC you’d like to
use. I chose the KMS 31/21 brushless
outrunner paired with a KMS 18-amp
speed controller (both of which Global
carries). This is one of the recommended
power systems, and it can comfortably
swing a 10 x 4.7 Slo-Flyer propeller
when paired with a two-cell Li-Poly
battery.
The supplied cowl is a one-piece,
vacuum-formed design and does require
a bit of trimming. After everything is
right, it is held in place with clear tape.
You stiffen all flying surfaces by
cutting the carbon-fiber strips to the
correct length and then attaching each
strip to a surface edge with epoxy. The
wings, horizontal stabilizer, and wing
struts are also strengthened using this
method.
Once all the epoxy has dried, join the
elevator halves using the laser-cut
plywood joiners. “Hinge” the control
surfaces using clear tape.
The wings, wing struts, stabilizer, and
elevator are attached to the fuselage to
make the basic airframe. There are no
real surprises here; take your time and
make sure everything is as square as
possible.
I did have to sand the bottom fuselage
wing saddle to ensure a flat, square bond
between the fuselage and the lower wing.
I also had to slightly dress up the top of
the center cabane to square it.
After everything has cured, cut four
carbon-fiber rods to length and glue
them in place as the interwing “wire
bracing.” This exponentially stiffens the
wings and ends up making the wings and
fuselage into a nice, solid structure.
Installing the servos and control
hardware was easy and slop free. The
rudder and elevator servos are mounted
toward the rear of the fuselage. The
aileron servo is mounted in the center
cabane. All servos are positioned close
to the controls, so the pushrods can be
shorter, making everything lightweight
and free of slop.
I found only two problems with the
Fidget’s construction, the first of which
involved a premolded canopy that was
held in place with a magnet. The canopy
flared out so much that it wasn’t close to
matching the fuselage profile.
I thought of various ways to solve the
May 2008 73
Above: The full body of the all-foam Fidget is a refreshing change
from the all-flat foamies offered.
Top left: The Fidget holds knife-edge flight with minimal crosscontrolling.
Left: Inverted flight requires slight down-elevator input and
approximately half throttle.
05sig3.QXD 3/25/08 11:58 AM Page 73
74 MODEL AVIATION
The canopy profile did not match the
fuselage shape. A piece of tape solved the
problem quickly and without adding weight.
The Fidget’s fuselage is molded and
includes these “gills” on the side to aid in
power-system cooling.
The Fidget 3D ARF comes 80% complete out of the box. The molded-foam fuselage is
lightweight and extremely rigid.
The bottom hatch is where the ESC and
battery are mounted. The cover is hinged
with clear tape, and everything is held in
place with Velcro.
The aileron servo mounts in the
center cabane strut and is held in
place with hot glue. Access to the receiver is gained once the magnet-secured canopy hatch is removed.
A KMS 2826/12 motor,
KMS 18-amp speed control,
and 2S1P Li-Poly battery
powers the review Fidget.
We also tested a 3S1P
battery, with outstanding
results.
05sig3.QXD 3/25/08 11:40 AM Page 74
May 2008 75
Pluses and Minuses
+•
Molded-foam fuselage is rigid and doesn’t
twist under load like a profile foamie’s.
• Carbon-fiber stiffening strips work well
in keeping the wings, stabilizer, and
rudder flat.
• Accepts a wide range of motor/battery
combinations.
• Although this is a one-piece airplane,
there are two hatches for access to the
battery and flight pack.
• Great flight performance, even with a
two-cell Li-Poly pack for power. -• Molded-foam canopy didn’t mate properly
to fuselage. (See text for simple fix.)
• Foam to dress the main gear wire is too
short and leaves a noticeable gap.
Specifications
Model type: ARF/Almost Ready to Build
Wingspan: 31.5 inches
Wing area: 400 square inches
Length: 40 inches
Recommended weight: 11.5-14.5
ounces
Test-model’s weight (ready to fly):
11.5 ounces (with battery)
Recommended motor: Xtra 2826/12,
KMS 31/21, or similar
Motor used: KMS 31/21
Recommended radio: Three servos, ESC
Equipment used: JR RS6UL receiver,
three Cirrus CS302BB servos, KMS 18-
amp ESC, Impulse 2S1P 1320 mAh pack
Construction materials: Molded-foam
fuselage; sheet-foam wings, stabilizer,
rudder; plywood fuselage formers;
carbon-fiber stiffening strips, wing braces
Street price: $49.95
3S1P 1320 mAh
Li-Poly. The latter
made the Fidget
nose-heavy, so I
chose to use the
smaller pack.
It provided an
instant horsepower
boost and made the
model come to life.
Hovering, Harriers,
Waterfalls, and
more were easy to
do at less than half
throttle, with plenty
of power with
which to maneuver
and pull out.
The Fidget 3D EP
biplane is the next
generation of highperformance
electricpowered
foam aircraft. Its durable, onepiece,
three-dimensional fuselage
provides plenty of strength and torsional
stability, with virtually no weight penalty.
The wings’ and tail surfaces’ carbonfiber
reinforcement give a massive
amount of structural durability, while
keeping weight to a minimum. The
carbon fiber also helps prevent twisting
and bowing during high-G, 3-D
maneuvers.
What makes the Fidget a great model
is that it is designed especially for highperformance
brushless outrunner
motors. There won’t be a lack of
performance with this model! Toss in
your favorite brushless outrunner,
matching propeller, ESC, and Li-Poly
battery, and you’ll be hovering and
doing extreme 3-D aerobatics like
you’ve always dreamed! MA
Tom Sullivan
[email protected]
Manufacturer/Distributor:
Global Hobby Distributors
18480 Bandilier Circle
Fountain Valley CA 92807
(714) 963-0329
www.globalhobby.com
Products Used in Review:
JR RS6UL receiver:
Horizon Hobby Distributors
(800) 338-4639
www.horizonhobby.com
Cirrus servos, KMP motor, Impulse Li-
Poly battery:
Hobby People
(800) 854-8471
www.hobbypeople.net
Other Review Sources:
None
problem, including cutting the canopy in
half and trimming the halves to match
before gluing them back together, briefly
hitting it with a heat gun to soften the
foam enough to coax it back into shape,
etc. I settled on a quick and painless
solution: I wrapped a piece of clear tape
around the back of the canopy to draw in
the sides. (See the photo.)
The second problem had to do with the
landing gear—not the gear itself, but the
foam covers that dressed up the main gear.
There were two pieces (left and right)
glued to the wire gear, wheel pants, and
fuselage. However, they were a good 1/2
inch too short to match.
I left the gap between the covers and
fuselage. This was a minor annoyance and
didn’t affect the Fidget’s flying or landing
ability.
After applying the decals and installing
the radio, the test aircraft came in at 11.5
ounces and the CG was right on the
money. Although I normally use my
instincts to set a model’s control throws, I
matched all the throws (low and high rate)
to the manual’s recommendations for the
Fidget. I also threw in the recommended
50% exponential for 3-D flying. (Thirtyfive
percent is recommended for sport
flying.)
Spending a few hours a night, it took
approximately three evenings to complete
the Fidget. Keep in mind that we have to
pay close attention to all the details in a
review model, reading every word and
making sure everything matches. The
average modeler could probably knock
this airplane out in four to six hours.
Flying: Now for the fun part! With
everything charged and ready to go, I
headed out the front door for the “smoke
test,” so to speak. (I have a large yard and
plenty of room between the neighbors, so
test-flying these models makes a trip to
the field just a few steps out the front
door.)
The first takeoff was from my
driveway, and it was effortless. The Fidget
took off in approximately 5 feet and
climbed with authority. After a few trim
passes I found that it was comfortable
cruising at just more than half throttle.
The Fidget is extremely aerobatic and a
whole lot of fun. It knife edges with the
best of them and will do anything you ask
of it. Hovering and high-alpha maneuvers
took three-quarters throttle and left little
power in reserve, but they were well
behaved.
I rarely ROG (rise off ground) with the
Fidget these days. Instead I hold it at
arm’s length, apply power, and let it go.
This type of launch is nice with a welltrimmed
airplane; it flies right out of your
hand.
After a few weeks of my flying the
Fidget, a package arrived with two
upgraded power packs to try: an Impulse
3S1P 900 mAh Li-Poly and the larger
Contrasting graphics make the Fidget easier to see. The
model is a fine sport flier, but it is really a blast with 3-D
control rates.
Static photos by the author Flight photos by Michael Ramsey
05sig3.QXD 3/25/08 11:59 AM Page 75