How to improve the scale appearence of the E-Flite Cherokee 1.3m Basic
Вставка
- Опубліковано 5 лют 2025
- Learn some simple improvements to make your E-Flite Cherokee 1.3m Basic look more realistic using sandpaper, decals, weathering, gloss clear coat, FMS Skytrainer and E-Flite Cirrus plastic parts.
I am also a scale enthusiast myself and have watched your video with interest. Well done, thank you! There are indeed very nice foam scale models, such as the latest E-flite Cirrus SR22, but they deserve a nice hard gloss shell with beautiful scale details. You did a great job with this Piper. Too bad about foam is the usually present "popcorn" look, but ok, it is an affordable model.
Thanks! I have found the surface quality to vary greatly between models. My Cirrus is very smooth and with a gloss coat over it, looks incredible. Same with my Corsairs and P-51's, although I left the one Corsair out in the sun for a bit too long and the top of the wings popcorned really bad. That was my fault. The surface finish is no way as smooth as a composite, but the foam finish is far better than it was a few years ago. Painting the models can also really improve the surface quality, but care needs to be taken as getting the spray can too close to the foam can cause it to popcorn as well.
Fantastic work on that plane! Only thing I want to mention is that Cherokees have Sensenich props instead of McCauleys. Being a long time owner of a Cherokee 140 I enjoy seeing those models flying and it was really fun watching that video. Thank you for sharing it here.
Thanks Sebastian. I used McCauley props since I needed the decals for the Arrow models and that was the prop my grandfather had on his Arrows. It worked out well and I have both the older and current McCauley decals. Take a look at the link www.flickr.com/photos/brgt350/albums/72157693748455190 and there is a Cherokee 180C that I did that is a match to my grandfather's 1966 Cherokee. I haven't done a video on it yet nor flown it. Took me months of work to get it right. I had to track down the new owner as I have never seen the actual plane before, just had a painting and a model to work from. I did find pictures of my grandfather with his Cherokee at the same airport I fly my RC planes at. I was able to get a picture of the RC Cherokee in front of his original hanger.
www.flickr.com/photos/brgt350/albums/72157693748455190
im kinda the same way you are with my cherokee. i did the antennas i got from the cirrus which added alot of scale and i like what you did with the sandpaper. one thing you might consider that i did was that red paint does come off easy even after clearing. horizon hobby or any LHS carries strips of ultracote in a red that matches that color exactly and i covered the underside of that plane with long thin strips. that gives it a great coating and resists hangar rash and gives it that gloss sheen all the time. io think the 36 long and 6 or 7 inch wide sheets are 3.99 and are well worth it. beautiful plane and great flyer. thanks. ill give callie a call.
The Cirrus parts bag is great to borrow from! I have used the parts on my Cherokees and Timber. Great tip on the ultracoat. The tip on the sandpaper may have come from Matt at Horizon Hobby. I picked up on it and decided to give it a try. I love the results and it really makes the plane look better. The only downfall is that dust sticks to it. While not covered in this video, I used stir sticks from Starbucks to make the ribs that go under the cockpit. I did this on my blue/white Cherokee since I was repainting it anyway. Here are more pictures of my Cherokee projects flic.kr/s/aHsmfU8XtC
Great job, I was accidentally sent two of everything when I ordered a suitable power system and props for a model of this size from a well known supplier so I’m converting mine, (hint: it rhymes with ‘Teneca’!) I must just say your assertion that the stock model is a replica of the 180 is incorrect, of course you can choose to call it whatever you want but in actual fact it’s modeled after a full size 140 - N3713K is a Cherokee 140 belonging to John Bradley of Horizon. There are also clear differences externally and internally between the 180 and 140, so if we’re being specific and scale it’s important to get the model right. I also put 600/800 grit paper on my models - literally all my models, one of my favorite scale details is dummy cylinder heads and radiator I stick inside the intakes with baffles to direct cooling more efficiently. Another one of the few eye sores of the stock model is the interior and pilot so that’s the first thing I redid completely. I also drew up all the Piper ‘placards’ (what you call the “nomenclature decals”) from the official parts manual which I just print on water slide. What’s also missing from the model is the distinctive exhaust stub which I was going to install but with it now having more than one engine and with the exhausts hidden that won’t apply. For weathering, rather than drawing panel lines with a sharpie (which never looks right in my opinion) I just rub an oil wash (Humbrol) a few times over and it picks up the panel lines and rivets, I rub a little heavier on the typically oiled or weathered areas like just behind the cowl line, on the belly, aft of the oleos, around door panel lines and handles and around the wing walk and fuel filler areas. It really is a brilliant model from E-Flite, a favorite of mine since the early days with the P-47 Razorback and P-38 foamies, and who can forget their wonderful RV9 which I still fly and enjoyed building and modifying as much as I did the full size RV. Mine came with a stock 4cell which is great for the twin conversion. Hopefully it all works out.
That is such an under rated plane and is extremely acrobatically capable One of my all time Favorite Flyers!
Agree 100% It is very underrated. I think most people ignore it as it isn't super fast, flashy, or does crazy 3D. I find the Cherokee to be one of the very best RC planes I have ever flown, which is why I have 2 of them. It does everything I would ever want from a plane. It looks scale correct, it can fly scale or not-so-scale, it has great presence in the air and on the ground, and can operate easily off a grass runway. I just love the E-Flite Cherokee!
@@BRGT350 Ah mine on 2200mah to 3200mah is Super Fast by the way! i almost Never fly it on 3s just not enough power there.
I fly mine only on 3S, in fact I fly all of my 3S/4S planes on 3S only. I don't care for fast planes. Every time I try one of my warbirds on 4S instead of 3S, I put the 3S back in. The planes just don't look right in the air going that fast.
I have not tried the 4S with mine -
yet..
Nice finishing touches...I need to find those parts bins! I already did panel and door lines. Also, got the pilot a makeover with acrylics, made him look a bit less embalmed.
Nice videos - see you on The Squawk,
F22trainer
Thanks F22trainer. I doubt I will ever try 4S, I love how scale it flies on 3S. The 3300 3S is my favorite as the plane reacts well to the extra weight of the larger battery. Working on the pilot is next on my list. I have one from FMS that I could drop in or repaint to dude from the factory. He looks like he hasn't seen sun in decades, which might be accurate for a Michigan pilot.
What propeller use this airplane?...Thanks
E-flite 12 x 8 x 2 www.horizonhobby.com/product/prop-and-spinner-12-x-8-1.2-clipped-wing-cub/EFL5165.html
Thanks for the mods tips....looks sweet!!
Just ordered this plane, should be here in about a week.
About halfway through building a 12’x100’ runway in my backyard. Dirt now but just received a 12’x108’ roll of woven geo-textile material. Want to place that this week if weather permits. Will post a vid on that soon!
Nice job on your Cherokee, thanks again!! ( and thanks for the other vid re: which screws are which)
Just subscribed too!
The Cherokee is a fantastic plane! Thanks for the nice comments and I am very jealous of your new runway going in! Our club has talked about doing that, but we haven't move much past just talking about it.
Yes it is. Looking forward to that build soon. Your vid on that will come in handy, thanks.
RE: runway. Bought a 2018 JD2025R last fall with bucket n backhoe. Added a single bottom plow and a 48” tiller. Without that the runway build would be very difficult at best as I’m in upstate NY and it’s basically glacial leftovers here, aka: lots-a-rocks. Should be posting a Phase I vid on that today.
Thanks for the sub. Good day!
that is a serious Deere! On the Cherokee, be sure to align the horizontal stabilator before the maiden flight. Almost all of us have got it wrong for the maiden and the plane will try to go climb at a scary angle of attack until the nose gets pushed back down. There is an indent in the fuselage that is designed to align the stabilator. Since it is a full flying stabilator, you will want to dial in some expo and possibly reduce the throw to cut down the sensitivity. I have mine really toned down to fly scale. I also slowed the flap deployment and reduced the amount of flap travel. The last tip, which might not be a big deal with your new runway, is to add a servo-saver to the nose gear steering pushrod. Any shock loading from landing gets transmitted to the nylon gears in the rudder servo. I had one strip on me and I am convinced the reason was loads from the nose gear when landing on grass. Switched to metal gear servos and added a servo saver. Zero issues so far!
@@BRGT350 Any tips on how to strap batteries better on this? Took the plane to the sky today and used 3S 2200 and noticed mid flight CG all messed up. Fortunately landed safely but the battery moved almost way back out of the battery strap. Did you add a velcro or something to better secure smaller batteries like 2200 ??
Could you please supply the Horizon part numbers of the antennas, step, etc that you added? Thank you.
Sure, I used this kit here www.horizonhobby.com/product/scale-plastics-set-sr-22t/EFL5967.html
Very nice Cherokee upgrades. Is the Varathane water or oil based?
water based polyurethane. They have an oil based on as well, but I haven't used it.
Great job on the plane. Looks great! What did you use for the gloss clear coat as well as the propeller? are those decals on the propeller? Thanks!
Thanks. I use Varathane high gloss clear exterior on the plane to make it shine. The prop is painted with Rustoleum 2X paint and decals for the prop manufacturer logo. I have a few different props and alternate between grey and black with the old MacCually logo and the new one. Think I am running the newer logo right now on a black prop. All the nomenclature decals came from Callie Graphics. I put the decals on and then clear over the top to seal them.
What prop size you can suggest to replace stock?
I just used a can of Minwax polycrylic spray on my new Cherokee, and it splatted out big droplets all over. Really sux. I was wondering, when you used the Varathane brand of spray, did it just spray a nice mist or did it splatter also?
I don't use the Minwax or Varathane sprays, I brush it on instead. I have heard too many stories like yours of the spray not coming out smooth or the propellant attacking the foam. I use foam brushes and apply 1-2 coats of Varathane exterior spar urethane. The exterior is important as it has UV inhibitors that protect the foam and won't discolor over time.
@@BRGT350 Okay, thanks for the reply. I normally brush it on with foam brushes. I decided to try the spray today. Never heard about the propellant attacking the foam. Yikes!
I have had it happen a few times. Very scary watching the plane dissolve! Ruined a set of floats that way as well. Mostly an issue on UMX planes.
What glue did you use for your 600 grit sandpaper on the wing walk?
I used either Elmers or Gorilla spray adhesive for the sandpaper. I have done a few models using this method and it works pretty good. The spray adhesive is stuff found at craft stores and nothing industrial. I did use a little CA glue on the leading edge of the sandpaper after it started to lift after about a year of flying.
Above the rudder there’s a white tail light, (it’s fake) I actually wired in a LED light back there and tied it into the headlight it works great. real thin copper wire. You can’t even see it. You did a great job give me some ideas. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ +🤔
That is a really good idea! I wish I would have done that to either of mine.
I just bought this plane directly from HH equipped with AR631 and received it a week ago. Since then, I already had 3 outings(6 flights) with it because the flying conditions here was so nice. But I had to put lots of aileron trim(+70) in order for it to fly straight and level. Is this acceptable, or do I need to contact HH and tell them that I received a defective plane?
Did you check the alignment of the ailerons before flying? I have had a few planes over the years come from the factory with a control surface out of alignment. One of my preflight checks is to power up the plane and use a straight edge (usually a credit card or ruler) to check all surfaces. If any are out of line, I adjust them before flying. Usually that does the trick and worst case is a few clicks of trim on the first flight is all that is needed. Other planes come out of the box not needing any trim. With flaps, you want to check those as well. I had a P-47 that I kept fighting aileron trim and it turned out to be a flap out of adjustment. Anything more than 5-10 clicks of transmitter trim on a plane with AS3x will require mechanically trimming that surface. AS3x likes a +/- 10 click maximum of transmitter trim. Having 70 clicks of trim is a lot, enough to be concerned about. I would set the transmitter trim to 0, power up the plane, check all surfaces with a straight edge, adjust as needed, fly, trim in flight, and then adjust the surfaces again. Check the rudder as well since that can also induce a little roll. The plane must have been a handful to fly with that much trim!
@@BRGT350 Yes, before every outing. And I've already had 4 outings(8 flights) with this plane within the 9 days I've had it. Before I flew the last time, yesterday morning, I even reset all my control surfaces so they sit flush with the airplane panel and zeroed out all the radio trim. Then I even re-binded and then reenabled SAFE and AS3X forward programming with the AR631. Then, when I flew, sure enough, I got the plane high up in the air with SAFE on and noticed that the ailerons were dangerously out of trim again. I had to toggle back and forth from SAFE to AS3X to properly trim the aileron trim to get it to fly straight and level again. When I landed, I looked at my radio again and saw that my aileron trim was set back to +70. And this Cherokee is my 5th different Eflite plane purchase within the past 2 years, so I know what I'm doing. And this is the only occurrence where my aileron trim was so off and causing so much wind drag.
ok, sounds like you hit up all the easy things. I would contact tech services at Horizon to ask if they have any ideas. Surely something isn't normal here.
@@BRGT350 I already contacted HH prod support 4 days ago and I received a new AR631 preprogrammed for the Cherokee after sending them requested pics. I haven't installed it yet so it remains to be seen if this will resolve my +70 aileron trim issue. And just FYI, +70 radio trim is 35 clicks, not 70.
Ok thanks for heads up
I have a question did you spray the clearcoat?
I brush on the clear coat. I use either Varathane Spar Exterior Urethane or Minwax exterior in a can and apply using a paint brush.
@@BRGT350 thanks for the info I’m going to try it. It didn’t eat up the foam. 🤔😉
nope, no issues with the brush-on Minwax or Varathane Spar Urethane. I have used spray clear coats and been ok, but not tried the Minwax spray. I suggest wiping down the foam with a mixture of water, rubbing alcohol, and a few drops of dish soap. I would use a 90% water, 7% alcohol, 3% soap. That is enough to get the clear to stick better, otherwise it will just peel off. If you add any decals, do that before clear coating so you can seal them under the clear.
I also deal with Callie Graphics! I've finished up my FMS V2 Beaver as a favourite G/A livery, and I've done my Eflite Twin Otter in RCAF SAR colors. Both proudly display Callie's work. Could you provide the name of this kit of little miscellaneous decals for props and fuel etc??? Cheers!
Callie is great! She does all of my planes. I don't think Callie has the kit on her website, but email her and tell her you are looking for the E-flite Cherokee nomenclature/placard decal set that she made for Bryan Redeker. I used the actual decal sheet for the full-scale Cherokee as reference and she made a complete decal sheet for mine. The hard part is figuring out where they all go! I visited the airport and took pictures of Warriors and Archers on the ramp and got most of the decals. I would need a brand new factory Cherokee to get all of them right. I ended up with about a dozen decals that I didn't use. Most are now on my Timber.
How's the nose wheel holding up? That little plastic part seems kind of weak in my opinion.
No issues at all with my nose gear and I have had some not so perfect landings. I have a Dubro Servo-Saver installed on the nose gear steering push-rod and that seems to help. Any shock loading from the front gear wanting to turn are absorbed by the springs on the Servo-Saver. It also protects the servo gears from shock loads as well. The steering tiller arm and servo are both protected this way.
@@BRGT350 Interesting workaround. I'll have to keep that in mind.
I looked around on RCGroups for pictures of the servo saver installed, but I didn't see any.
There should be mentions of the servo saver on RC Groups as I have posted about it using my BRGT350 screen name. Here is a picture installed on one of mine flic.kr/p/2gGHiLY
@@BRGT350 Thanks!
I used actual grip tape for the wing walk. Looks AND feels scale.
I thought about that as I have plenty of actual grip tape, but the size of the grippy things is way too large to be realistic. The grip tape is also way too thick to look correct, it is basically 10x too big since the Cherokee is about that scale.
Mine should be here soon
You will love the plane! I have two of them and they are my favorite to fly. Pay close attention to aligning the vertical stab correctly as that is key to getting it to fly right. Most get it wrong and it either noses straight up on take-off and heads for the ground. There is a tiny indentation on the fuselage you use to align it.
NICE 😎👍!!!
Thanks!
Have you crashed/damaged your Cherokee yet?
My first Cherokee crashed when a rudder servo failed just after take-off. The plane was pretty much brand new and Horizon replaced the plane after getting the wreckage back for evaluation. I have been flying the red and white Cherokee every summer since and not had any crashes or damage. The plane looks brand new today. My blue and white one rarely flies. I have gone over 500 flights without a single incident and the last one I had was years ago when a bee flew between my eye and glasses. By the time I got the bee out of my eye, I lost control of one of my planes. I recovered, but hit the ground hard. It took a week to repair and has been fine since.
@@BRGT350 So unlike the high-wing trainers, the Cherokee will need at least 50% throttle going through the turns or else it will tip stall, correct?
It is more than just throttle, it is keeping the turn coordinated with the rudder and limiting the bank angle. I cruise around 50% throttle with mine, so I am surely less than that as I setup for landing. Keeping the turns coordinated, limiting the bank, and adjusting power all play a role. It surely doesn't fall out of the sky below 50% power. I can stall a high wing plane at 50% power if the turn isn't properly executed.
@@BRGT350 If you fly your plane, land, then check your battery and find out that you still have 60 percent remaining, then fly again with that same battery, is that considered one flight or two?
It is all up to you how you want to log it. I consider a flight to be the time between the plane being stopped on the ground. If I fly twice with the same battery and land in the middle, then it is 2 flights. Since I fly at an airport, it is common to land half way through a battery due to full scale aircraft. I count the next flight as a new flight since I landed. I don't count touch and goes as the plane was still moving.