The wee Devil RC model from Retro
RC is fashioned after the FF models
of yesteryear. Even if your tastes do
not lean toward the nostalgic, it’s hard
not to admire the artistic lines of the
wee Devil and its forefathers. Although
it’s true that form follows function, this
model proves that a few well-placed
curves can sure make that form pretty.
Perhaps the most interesting aspect
of the wee Devil is the recurring duality
of “old” and “new.” This airplane pays
homage to our modeling past while
incorporating modern conveniences.
You get FF looks with RC control
(although a true FF version of the wee
Devil is available), traditional materials
with modern laser-cutting, and oldschool
wooden wheels sitting astride a
contemporary brushless motor, just to
name a few.
I found the model’s abundant
dichotomy to be a refreshing departure
from my usual projects. Seriously, when
was the last time you made the effort to
weave true threaded hinges on an RC
model?
Assembly
The kit is contained in a plastic bag
that includes several sheets of laser-cut
wood, a complete hardware package, and
color assembly manual. The balsa and
plywood was of excellent quality and all
of the parts were still attached to their
parent sheets. I found the manual to be
clear and comprehensive, although the
assembly photos are so small that they are
sometimes irrelevant. The build sequence
is intuitive enough that I doubt most of us
would need the photos anyway.
One noteworthy aspect of the wee Devil
is that each wood part is laser-cut. Even
the wing spars, which appear to be strip
stock, are laser-cut parts. This simplifi es and
expedites assembly, while helping to ensure
a straight and solid airframe. The wee Devil
would be a good choice for someone who
has never built a balsa kit before.
Unlike many models I’ve built, the wee
Devil is not assembled on top of plans.
In fact, the included plans are used for
reference only, and are not actual size.
For a building board, I borrowed my
wife’s 18 x 24-inch cutting mat from her
scrapbooking supplies, which proved to
be an ideal size. A layer of wax paper
prevented any glue from dripping onto
the mat (which its owner would not
appreciate). Medium and thin Zap CAs
were used for all assembly steps.
I began construction with the fuselage.
It was immediately apparent that the
design and laser-cutting were well
executed. The tabs fi t fi rmly into their
intended mating slots without any
modifi cation. I merely cut the needed
part from its sheet, pressed it into place,
and bonded it with CA.
This level of precision fi t was
consistent throughout the entire build.
I only had to sand one part for a proper
fi t. Given the model’s small size and
resulting tight tolerances, this degree of
precision is even more impressive.
I manage to commit at least one dumb
mistake with every airplane I build, and
the wee Devil was no exception. I made
my requisite error on the fi rst assembly
step!
Somehow, I swapped fuselage sides,
which put the equipment bays on the
starboard side instead of port. I caught
my fl ub soon enough to recover without
consequence. The people at Retro RC
recognize that occasionally errors may
occur, so the manual outlines the simple
process for obtaining replacement parts.
I spent two evenings framing and
sanding the balsa airframe. A third was
dedicated to covering. I don’t recall what
brand of covering I used. I pulled two
colors I liked from my stash of partial
rolls and got started. This small airplane
does not require much material.
I spent the fi nal evening installing
the radio gear and power system.
Miniscule E-fl ite DS35 3.5-gram digital
servos are connected to a Spektrum
AR6310 receiver. I placed spacers under
the elevator servo’s mounting tabs to
prevent its servo arm from hitting the
rudder servo.
The kit includes a pull-pull control
system, which is easy to confi gure. The
control geometry is imperfect, resulting
in slack line at times, but it works well
enough that I was not compelled to
improve upon it.
The motor I chose for the wee Devil is
an E-fl ite Park 250 outrunner. By slightly
elongating the mounting holes in the
motor’s included mount, I utilized two
of the precut holes in the fi rewall.
The motor is controlled by an E-fl ite
5-amp Pro ESC and is powered by an
E-fl ite 2S-430 mAh LiPo. I widened the
battery slot in the airframe slightly to fi t
the battery. With a GWS 6 x 3 propeller,
this system pulls 4.9 amps and produces
37 watts, which is enough to pull the
wee Devil vertically.
After I had everything installed, I
realized that the airplane required more
than an ounce of lead in the nose for
balance (more than 20% of the model’s
weight at that point).
[Note: The wee Devil was designed to
y like an old-time FF model, climb nearly
vertically then glide, so its CG was designed
to be roughly 80% of chord. With the CG
at 80% the airplane is sensitive to elevator
control, and unsuitable for less-experienced
modelers. The instructions recommend
adding weight to move the CG forward to
60% and add additional downthrust if the
builder wants to y it like a park yer.]
Stick-on weights would have
worked, but I made a lead plate that I
sandwiched between the fi rewall and
motor mount. When I painted the plate,
it resulted in a clean and somewhat
stealthy installation.
Even with the substantial nose weight,
my 6.4-ounce ready-to-fl y wee Devil
is fi rmly within the advertised weight
range (5 to 7 ounces). Counting the
lifting tail, this equates to a wing loading
of 5.8 ounces per square foot and a cube
loading of 5.5. Both values are consistent
with the lazy park fl ying for which the
wee Devil is intended.
Flying
My fi rst outing with the wee Devil
took place at a local soccer fi eld. I
thought the grass was too tall for a
rolling takeoff, so my buddy, Fitz Walker,
hand launched it for me. At half throttle,
the airplane began a gentle climbout and
fl ew straight ahead.
I spent the next several minutes feeling
out the wee Devil’s handling. With all of
that dihedral, the rudder is effective—
not touchy, just effective. The elevator is
well balanced, although I found myself
looking for more authority to pitch
downward. Overall, the airplane was well
behaved and easy to fl y. I landed after 8
minutes with plenty of power remaining;
long fl ights will be the norm.
Since that fi rst fl ight, I’ve put in
several more that have revealed the
airplane’s full personality. At full-power,
the wee Devil happily climbs as steeply
as you want. Pull back the power and it
will quickly settle into a fl at, stable glide.
With the stock thrust angle, there is a
fair amount of throttle-pitch coupling,
but I don’t fi nd it bothersome.
I do most of my fl ying at half-throttle
or less, puttering around at low altitude.
For fun, I’ll throw in an occasional zoom
climb and then see how far I can stretch
the glide. If I need more excitement, a
fl ick of the right stick in either direction
results in a surprisingly quick rudder
roll. Most of my attempts at a loop have
resulted in what resembles a sloppy
Immelmann turn. For the general mix
of flying I do, I’ve settled on plus or
minus 5/8 inch of rudder throw and plus
or minus 1/4 inch of elevator throw. I
programmed in 35% exponential on
both channels. With the CG set at the
rear wing plug (60% MAC), this setup
provides well-balanced control authority.
I’ve flown the wee Devil in winds
up to 5 mph, and it does just fine. The
wings may get knocked around a little
with a crosswind, but I have yet to
see any effects that the airplane didn’t
recover from on its own. I think the fun
factor would quickly degrade in winds
greater than 5 mph. The wee Devil may
also be a candidate for indoor flight in
a reasonably large venue, such as a full
basketball court.
As on the maiden flight, this airplane
is easily hand launched, but rolling
takeoffs from grass or pavement are
equally simple. All you need is a few
feet of relatively smooth ground to
accelerate. The story is the same for
landings. Just don’t be surprised if the
wee Devil noses over in tall grass.
Conclusion
I’ve enjoyed the wee Devil. The kit
provided a quick, stress-free build. I
ended up with a shapely and unique
park flyer that stands apart from the
cookie-cutter ARFs. Best of all, the wee
Devil is fun and relaxing to fly.
Edition: Model Aviation - 2012/10
Page Numbers: 63,64,65,66
Edition: Model Aviation - 2012/10
Page Numbers: 63,64,65,66
The wee Devil RC model from Retro
RC is fashioned after the FF models
of yesteryear. Even if your tastes do
not lean toward the nostalgic, it’s hard
not to admire the artistic lines of the
wee Devil and its forefathers. Although
it’s true that form follows function, this
model proves that a few well-placed
curves can sure make that form pretty.
Perhaps the most interesting aspect
of the wee Devil is the recurring duality
of “old” and “new.” This airplane pays
homage to our modeling past while
incorporating modern conveniences.
You get FF looks with RC control
(although a true FF version of the wee
Devil is available), traditional materials
with modern laser-cutting, and oldschool
wooden wheels sitting astride a
contemporary brushless motor, just to
name a few.
I found the model’s abundant
dichotomy to be a refreshing departure
from my usual projects. Seriously, when
was the last time you made the effort to
weave true threaded hinges on an RC
model?
Assembly
The kit is contained in a plastic bag
that includes several sheets of laser-cut
wood, a complete hardware package, and
color assembly manual. The balsa and
plywood was of excellent quality and all
of the parts were still attached to their
parent sheets. I found the manual to be
clear and comprehensive, although the
assembly photos are so small that they are
sometimes irrelevant. The build sequence
is intuitive enough that I doubt most of us
would need the photos anyway.
One noteworthy aspect of the wee Devil
is that each wood part is laser-cut. Even
the wing spars, which appear to be strip
stock, are laser-cut parts. This simplifi es and
expedites assembly, while helping to ensure
a straight and solid airframe. The wee Devil
would be a good choice for someone who
has never built a balsa kit before.
Unlike many models I’ve built, the wee
Devil is not assembled on top of plans.
In fact, the included plans are used for
reference only, and are not actual size.
For a building board, I borrowed my
wife’s 18 x 24-inch cutting mat from her
scrapbooking supplies, which proved to
be an ideal size. A layer of wax paper
prevented any glue from dripping onto
the mat (which its owner would not
appreciate). Medium and thin Zap CAs
were used for all assembly steps.
I began construction with the fuselage.
It was immediately apparent that the
design and laser-cutting were well
executed. The tabs fi t fi rmly into their
intended mating slots without any
modifi cation. I merely cut the needed
part from its sheet, pressed it into place,
and bonded it with CA.
This level of precision fi t was
consistent throughout the entire build.
I only had to sand one part for a proper
fi t. Given the model’s small size and
resulting tight tolerances, this degree of
precision is even more impressive.
I manage to commit at least one dumb
mistake with every airplane I build, and
the wee Devil was no exception. I made
my requisite error on the fi rst assembly
step!
Somehow, I swapped fuselage sides,
which put the equipment bays on the
starboard side instead of port. I caught
my fl ub soon enough to recover without
consequence. The people at Retro RC
recognize that occasionally errors may
occur, so the manual outlines the simple
process for obtaining replacement parts.
I spent two evenings framing and
sanding the balsa airframe. A third was
dedicated to covering. I don’t recall what
brand of covering I used. I pulled two
colors I liked from my stash of partial
rolls and got started. This small airplane
does not require much material.
I spent the fi nal evening installing
the radio gear and power system.
Miniscule E-fl ite DS35 3.5-gram digital
servos are connected to a Spektrum
AR6310 receiver. I placed spacers under
the elevator servo’s mounting tabs to
prevent its servo arm from hitting the
rudder servo.
The kit includes a pull-pull control
system, which is easy to confi gure. The
control geometry is imperfect, resulting
in slack line at times, but it works well
enough that I was not compelled to
improve upon it.
The motor I chose for the wee Devil is
an E-fl ite Park 250 outrunner. By slightly
elongating the mounting holes in the
motor’s included mount, I utilized two
of the precut holes in the fi rewall.
The motor is controlled by an E-fl ite
5-amp Pro ESC and is powered by an
E-fl ite 2S-430 mAh LiPo. I widened the
battery slot in the airframe slightly to fi t
the battery. With a GWS 6 x 3 propeller,
this system pulls 4.9 amps and produces
37 watts, which is enough to pull the
wee Devil vertically.
After I had everything installed, I
realized that the airplane required more
than an ounce of lead in the nose for
balance (more than 20% of the model’s
weight at that point).
[Note: The wee Devil was designed to
y like an old-time FF model, climb nearly
vertically then glide, so its CG was designed
to be roughly 80% of chord. With the CG
at 80% the airplane is sensitive to elevator
control, and unsuitable for less-experienced
modelers. The instructions recommend
adding weight to move the CG forward to
60% and add additional downthrust if the
builder wants to y it like a park yer.]
Stick-on weights would have
worked, but I made a lead plate that I
sandwiched between the fi rewall and
motor mount. When I painted the plate,
it resulted in a clean and somewhat
stealthy installation.
Even with the substantial nose weight,
my 6.4-ounce ready-to-fl y wee Devil
is fi rmly within the advertised weight
range (5 to 7 ounces). Counting the
lifting tail, this equates to a wing loading
of 5.8 ounces per square foot and a cube
loading of 5.5. Both values are consistent
with the lazy park fl ying for which the
wee Devil is intended.
Flying
My fi rst outing with the wee Devil
took place at a local soccer fi eld. I
thought the grass was too tall for a
rolling takeoff, so my buddy, Fitz Walker,
hand launched it for me. At half throttle,
the airplane began a gentle climbout and
fl ew straight ahead.
I spent the next several minutes feeling
out the wee Devil’s handling. With all of
that dihedral, the rudder is effective—
not touchy, just effective. The elevator is
well balanced, although I found myself
looking for more authority to pitch
downward. Overall, the airplane was well
behaved and easy to fl y. I landed after 8
minutes with plenty of power remaining;
long fl ights will be the norm.
Since that fi rst fl ight, I’ve put in
several more that have revealed the
airplane’s full personality. At full-power,
the wee Devil happily climbs as steeply
as you want. Pull back the power and it
will quickly settle into a fl at, stable glide.
With the stock thrust angle, there is a
fair amount of throttle-pitch coupling,
but I don’t fi nd it bothersome.
I do most of my fl ying at half-throttle
or less, puttering around at low altitude.
For fun, I’ll throw in an occasional zoom
climb and then see how far I can stretch
the glide. If I need more excitement, a
fl ick of the right stick in either direction
results in a surprisingly quick rudder
roll. Most of my attempts at a loop have
resulted in what resembles a sloppy
Immelmann turn. For the general mix
of flying I do, I’ve settled on plus or
minus 5/8 inch of rudder throw and plus
or minus 1/4 inch of elevator throw. I
programmed in 35% exponential on
both channels. With the CG set at the
rear wing plug (60% MAC), this setup
provides well-balanced control authority.
I’ve flown the wee Devil in winds
up to 5 mph, and it does just fine. The
wings may get knocked around a little
with a crosswind, but I have yet to
see any effects that the airplane didn’t
recover from on its own. I think the fun
factor would quickly degrade in winds
greater than 5 mph. The wee Devil may
also be a candidate for indoor flight in
a reasonably large venue, such as a full
basketball court.
As on the maiden flight, this airplane
is easily hand launched, but rolling
takeoffs from grass or pavement are
equally simple. All you need is a few
feet of relatively smooth ground to
accelerate. The story is the same for
landings. Just don’t be surprised if the
wee Devil noses over in tall grass.
Conclusion
I’ve enjoyed the wee Devil. The kit
provided a quick, stress-free build. I
ended up with a shapely and unique
park flyer that stands apart from the
cookie-cutter ARFs. Best of all, the wee
Devil is fun and relaxing to fly.
Edition: Model Aviation - 2012/10
Page Numbers: 63,64,65,66
The wee Devil RC model from Retro
RC is fashioned after the FF models
of yesteryear. Even if your tastes do
not lean toward the nostalgic, it’s hard
not to admire the artistic lines of the
wee Devil and its forefathers. Although
it’s true that form follows function, this
model proves that a few well-placed
curves can sure make that form pretty.
Perhaps the most interesting aspect
of the wee Devil is the recurring duality
of “old” and “new.” This airplane pays
homage to our modeling past while
incorporating modern conveniences.
You get FF looks with RC control
(although a true FF version of the wee
Devil is available), traditional materials
with modern laser-cutting, and oldschool
wooden wheels sitting astride a
contemporary brushless motor, just to
name a few.
I found the model’s abundant
dichotomy to be a refreshing departure
from my usual projects. Seriously, when
was the last time you made the effort to
weave true threaded hinges on an RC
model?
Assembly
The kit is contained in a plastic bag
that includes several sheets of laser-cut
wood, a complete hardware package, and
color assembly manual. The balsa and
plywood was of excellent quality and all
of the parts were still attached to their
parent sheets. I found the manual to be
clear and comprehensive, although the
assembly photos are so small that they are
sometimes irrelevant. The build sequence
is intuitive enough that I doubt most of us
would need the photos anyway.
One noteworthy aspect of the wee Devil
is that each wood part is laser-cut. Even
the wing spars, which appear to be strip
stock, are laser-cut parts. This simplifi es and
expedites assembly, while helping to ensure
a straight and solid airframe. The wee Devil
would be a good choice for someone who
has never built a balsa kit before.
Unlike many models I’ve built, the wee
Devil is not assembled on top of plans.
In fact, the included plans are used for
reference only, and are not actual size.
For a building board, I borrowed my
wife’s 18 x 24-inch cutting mat from her
scrapbooking supplies, which proved to
be an ideal size. A layer of wax paper
prevented any glue from dripping onto
the mat (which its owner would not
appreciate). Medium and thin Zap CAs
were used for all assembly steps.
I began construction with the fuselage.
It was immediately apparent that the
design and laser-cutting were well
executed. The tabs fi t fi rmly into their
intended mating slots without any
modifi cation. I merely cut the needed
part from its sheet, pressed it into place,
and bonded it with CA.
This level of precision fi t was
consistent throughout the entire build.
I only had to sand one part for a proper
fi t. Given the model’s small size and
resulting tight tolerances, this degree of
precision is even more impressive.
I manage to commit at least one dumb
mistake with every airplane I build, and
the wee Devil was no exception. I made
my requisite error on the fi rst assembly
step!
Somehow, I swapped fuselage sides,
which put the equipment bays on the
starboard side instead of port. I caught
my fl ub soon enough to recover without
consequence. The people at Retro RC
recognize that occasionally errors may
occur, so the manual outlines the simple
process for obtaining replacement parts.
I spent two evenings framing and
sanding the balsa airframe. A third was
dedicated to covering. I don’t recall what
brand of covering I used. I pulled two
colors I liked from my stash of partial
rolls and got started. This small airplane
does not require much material.
I spent the fi nal evening installing
the radio gear and power system.
Miniscule E-fl ite DS35 3.5-gram digital
servos are connected to a Spektrum
AR6310 receiver. I placed spacers under
the elevator servo’s mounting tabs to
prevent its servo arm from hitting the
rudder servo.
The kit includes a pull-pull control
system, which is easy to confi gure. The
control geometry is imperfect, resulting
in slack line at times, but it works well
enough that I was not compelled to
improve upon it.
The motor I chose for the wee Devil is
an E-fl ite Park 250 outrunner. By slightly
elongating the mounting holes in the
motor’s included mount, I utilized two
of the precut holes in the fi rewall.
The motor is controlled by an E-fl ite
5-amp Pro ESC and is powered by an
E-fl ite 2S-430 mAh LiPo. I widened the
battery slot in the airframe slightly to fi t
the battery. With a GWS 6 x 3 propeller,
this system pulls 4.9 amps and produces
37 watts, which is enough to pull the
wee Devil vertically.
After I had everything installed, I
realized that the airplane required more
than an ounce of lead in the nose for
balance (more than 20% of the model’s
weight at that point).
[Note: The wee Devil was designed to
y like an old-time FF model, climb nearly
vertically then glide, so its CG was designed
to be roughly 80% of chord. With the CG
at 80% the airplane is sensitive to elevator
control, and unsuitable for less-experienced
modelers. The instructions recommend
adding weight to move the CG forward to
60% and add additional downthrust if the
builder wants to y it like a park yer.]
Stick-on weights would have
worked, but I made a lead plate that I
sandwiched between the fi rewall and
motor mount. When I painted the plate,
it resulted in a clean and somewhat
stealthy installation.
Even with the substantial nose weight,
my 6.4-ounce ready-to-fl y wee Devil
is fi rmly within the advertised weight
range (5 to 7 ounces). Counting the
lifting tail, this equates to a wing loading
of 5.8 ounces per square foot and a cube
loading of 5.5. Both values are consistent
with the lazy park fl ying for which the
wee Devil is intended.
Flying
My fi rst outing with the wee Devil
took place at a local soccer fi eld. I
thought the grass was too tall for a
rolling takeoff, so my buddy, Fitz Walker,
hand launched it for me. At half throttle,
the airplane began a gentle climbout and
fl ew straight ahead.
I spent the next several minutes feeling
out the wee Devil’s handling. With all of
that dihedral, the rudder is effective—
not touchy, just effective. The elevator is
well balanced, although I found myself
looking for more authority to pitch
downward. Overall, the airplane was well
behaved and easy to fl y. I landed after 8
minutes with plenty of power remaining;
long fl ights will be the norm.
Since that fi rst fl ight, I’ve put in
several more that have revealed the
airplane’s full personality. At full-power,
the wee Devil happily climbs as steeply
as you want. Pull back the power and it
will quickly settle into a fl at, stable glide.
With the stock thrust angle, there is a
fair amount of throttle-pitch coupling,
but I don’t fi nd it bothersome.
I do most of my fl ying at half-throttle
or less, puttering around at low altitude.
For fun, I’ll throw in an occasional zoom
climb and then see how far I can stretch
the glide. If I need more excitement, a
fl ick of the right stick in either direction
results in a surprisingly quick rudder
roll. Most of my attempts at a loop have
resulted in what resembles a sloppy
Immelmann turn. For the general mix
of flying I do, I’ve settled on plus or
minus 5/8 inch of rudder throw and plus
or minus 1/4 inch of elevator throw. I
programmed in 35% exponential on
both channels. With the CG set at the
rear wing plug (60% MAC), this setup
provides well-balanced control authority.
I’ve flown the wee Devil in winds
up to 5 mph, and it does just fine. The
wings may get knocked around a little
with a crosswind, but I have yet to
see any effects that the airplane didn’t
recover from on its own. I think the fun
factor would quickly degrade in winds
greater than 5 mph. The wee Devil may
also be a candidate for indoor flight in
a reasonably large venue, such as a full
basketball court.
As on the maiden flight, this airplane
is easily hand launched, but rolling
takeoffs from grass or pavement are
equally simple. All you need is a few
feet of relatively smooth ground to
accelerate. The story is the same for
landings. Just don’t be surprised if the
wee Devil noses over in tall grass.
Conclusion
I’ve enjoyed the wee Devil. The kit
provided a quick, stress-free build. I
ended up with a shapely and unique
park flyer that stands apart from the
cookie-cutter ARFs. Best of all, the wee
Devil is fun and relaxing to fly.
Edition: Model Aviation - 2012/10
Page Numbers: 63,64,65,66
The wee Devil RC model from Retro
RC is fashioned after the FF models
of yesteryear. Even if your tastes do
not lean toward the nostalgic, it’s hard
not to admire the artistic lines of the
wee Devil and its forefathers. Although
it’s true that form follows function, this
model proves that a few well-placed
curves can sure make that form pretty.
Perhaps the most interesting aspect
of the wee Devil is the recurring duality
of “old” and “new.” This airplane pays
homage to our modeling past while
incorporating modern conveniences.
You get FF looks with RC control
(although a true FF version of the wee
Devil is available), traditional materials
with modern laser-cutting, and oldschool
wooden wheels sitting astride a
contemporary brushless motor, just to
name a few.
I found the model’s abundant
dichotomy to be a refreshing departure
from my usual projects. Seriously, when
was the last time you made the effort to
weave true threaded hinges on an RC
model?
Assembly
The kit is contained in a plastic bag
that includes several sheets of laser-cut
wood, a complete hardware package, and
color assembly manual. The balsa and
plywood was of excellent quality and all
of the parts were still attached to their
parent sheets. I found the manual to be
clear and comprehensive, although the
assembly photos are so small that they are
sometimes irrelevant. The build sequence
is intuitive enough that I doubt most of us
would need the photos anyway.
One noteworthy aspect of the wee Devil
is that each wood part is laser-cut. Even
the wing spars, which appear to be strip
stock, are laser-cut parts. This simplifi es and
expedites assembly, while helping to ensure
a straight and solid airframe. The wee Devil
would be a good choice for someone who
has never built a balsa kit before.
Unlike many models I’ve built, the wee
Devil is not assembled on top of plans.
In fact, the included plans are used for
reference only, and are not actual size.
For a building board, I borrowed my
wife’s 18 x 24-inch cutting mat from her
scrapbooking supplies, which proved to
be an ideal size. A layer of wax paper
prevented any glue from dripping onto
the mat (which its owner would not
appreciate). Medium and thin Zap CAs
were used for all assembly steps.
I began construction with the fuselage.
It was immediately apparent that the
design and laser-cutting were well
executed. The tabs fi t fi rmly into their
intended mating slots without any
modifi cation. I merely cut the needed
part from its sheet, pressed it into place,
and bonded it with CA.
This level of precision fi t was
consistent throughout the entire build.
I only had to sand one part for a proper
fi t. Given the model’s small size and
resulting tight tolerances, this degree of
precision is even more impressive.
I manage to commit at least one dumb
mistake with every airplane I build, and
the wee Devil was no exception. I made
my requisite error on the fi rst assembly
step!
Somehow, I swapped fuselage sides,
which put the equipment bays on the
starboard side instead of port. I caught
my fl ub soon enough to recover without
consequence. The people at Retro RC
recognize that occasionally errors may
occur, so the manual outlines the simple
process for obtaining replacement parts.
I spent two evenings framing and
sanding the balsa airframe. A third was
dedicated to covering. I don’t recall what
brand of covering I used. I pulled two
colors I liked from my stash of partial
rolls and got started. This small airplane
does not require much material.
I spent the fi nal evening installing
the radio gear and power system.
Miniscule E-fl ite DS35 3.5-gram digital
servos are connected to a Spektrum
AR6310 receiver. I placed spacers under
the elevator servo’s mounting tabs to
prevent its servo arm from hitting the
rudder servo.
The kit includes a pull-pull control
system, which is easy to confi gure. The
control geometry is imperfect, resulting
in slack line at times, but it works well
enough that I was not compelled to
improve upon it.
The motor I chose for the wee Devil is
an E-fl ite Park 250 outrunner. By slightly
elongating the mounting holes in the
motor’s included mount, I utilized two
of the precut holes in the fi rewall.
The motor is controlled by an E-fl ite
5-amp Pro ESC and is powered by an
E-fl ite 2S-430 mAh LiPo. I widened the
battery slot in the airframe slightly to fi t
the battery. With a GWS 6 x 3 propeller,
this system pulls 4.9 amps and produces
37 watts, which is enough to pull the
wee Devil vertically.
After I had everything installed, I
realized that the airplane required more
than an ounce of lead in the nose for
balance (more than 20% of the model’s
weight at that point).
[Note: The wee Devil was designed to
y like an old-time FF model, climb nearly
vertically then glide, so its CG was designed
to be roughly 80% of chord. With the CG
at 80% the airplane is sensitive to elevator
control, and unsuitable for less-experienced
modelers. The instructions recommend
adding weight to move the CG forward to
60% and add additional downthrust if the
builder wants to y it like a park yer.]
Stick-on weights would have
worked, but I made a lead plate that I
sandwiched between the fi rewall and
motor mount. When I painted the plate,
it resulted in a clean and somewhat
stealthy installation.
Even with the substantial nose weight,
my 6.4-ounce ready-to-fl y wee Devil
is fi rmly within the advertised weight
range (5 to 7 ounces). Counting the
lifting tail, this equates to a wing loading
of 5.8 ounces per square foot and a cube
loading of 5.5. Both values are consistent
with the lazy park fl ying for which the
wee Devil is intended.
Flying
My fi rst outing with the wee Devil
took place at a local soccer fi eld. I
thought the grass was too tall for a
rolling takeoff, so my buddy, Fitz Walker,
hand launched it for me. At half throttle,
the airplane began a gentle climbout and
fl ew straight ahead.
I spent the next several minutes feeling
out the wee Devil’s handling. With all of
that dihedral, the rudder is effective—
not touchy, just effective. The elevator is
well balanced, although I found myself
looking for more authority to pitch
downward. Overall, the airplane was well
behaved and easy to fl y. I landed after 8
minutes with plenty of power remaining;
long fl ights will be the norm.
Since that fi rst fl ight, I’ve put in
several more that have revealed the
airplane’s full personality. At full-power,
the wee Devil happily climbs as steeply
as you want. Pull back the power and it
will quickly settle into a fl at, stable glide.
With the stock thrust angle, there is a
fair amount of throttle-pitch coupling,
but I don’t fi nd it bothersome.
I do most of my fl ying at half-throttle
or less, puttering around at low altitude.
For fun, I’ll throw in an occasional zoom
climb and then see how far I can stretch
the glide. If I need more excitement, a
fl ick of the right stick in either direction
results in a surprisingly quick rudder
roll. Most of my attempts at a loop have
resulted in what resembles a sloppy
Immelmann turn. For the general mix
of flying I do, I’ve settled on plus or
minus 5/8 inch of rudder throw and plus
or minus 1/4 inch of elevator throw. I
programmed in 35% exponential on
both channels. With the CG set at the
rear wing plug (60% MAC), this setup
provides well-balanced control authority.
I’ve flown the wee Devil in winds
up to 5 mph, and it does just fine. The
wings may get knocked around a little
with a crosswind, but I have yet to
see any effects that the airplane didn’t
recover from on its own. I think the fun
factor would quickly degrade in winds
greater than 5 mph. The wee Devil may
also be a candidate for indoor flight in
a reasonably large venue, such as a full
basketball court.
As on the maiden flight, this airplane
is easily hand launched, but rolling
takeoffs from grass or pavement are
equally simple. All you need is a few
feet of relatively smooth ground to
accelerate. The story is the same for
landings. Just don’t be surprised if the
wee Devil noses over in tall grass.
Conclusion
I’ve enjoyed the wee Devil. The kit
provided a quick, stress-free build. I
ended up with a shapely and unique
park flyer that stands apart from the
cookie-cutter ARFs. Best of all, the wee
Devil is fun and relaxing to fly.
