Slope soarer options

[I Lean]

I'm in the market for a new-to-me slope ship. With availability of many of these less-than-stellar, I want to see if there are other planes I might consider.

Short story: I had a TJIRC Magnus, which I really enjoyed until a friend crashed it for me. He paid for it, so I've been planning on buying another of the same--but I want to keep an open mind since now's the time my options are open. I'd be interested in other people's opinions on that plane versus any others. Bonus points if you've flown several options, since test-driving various models isn't usually an option.

I'm looking more for the sport/speed type of bird...and I like the 60" size for portability, but I could be swayed to go with something a bit larger (2M) as long as it still has a two-piece wing. One other one that has caught my eye is @Doc James Hammond Sessanta. I could deal with the one-piece wing. (of course that's not available either) I read on here some mention that @Konrad provided some critique of the Magnus specifically, but I'm unsure if that was just the finish issues mentioned in his build thread, or something more substantial?

 

[I Lean]

I don't have many pics of my Magnus (RIP), but here it is after the maiden flight. A radio glitch took it down in disappointing fashion.

I got it fixed and it flew beautifully, and even better with added ballast. No good pics, but I vacuum-formed a new canopy, repaired the fuse with carbon cloth internally, and repaired the aileron by injecting resin into it and clamping it into the correct shape. ?

 

[Konrad]

I see that there has been a call to bring out the Kraken (me)!

To minimize any rumors and misconception my complaints with the Magnus were focused mainly on cosmetic issues of finish (weave was a bit dry on one wing panel, This also results in lateral weight balance and strength concerns). I had some complaint about the trailing edge size and finish, I had some heart burn about the surface wiper quality. These have been addressed in the latter examples I've seen and may have been just learning issue with a new set of molds.

Two system issues I didn't like were the partial fuselage servo tray and flexible stabilizer. I didn't like the partial fuselage servo tray is definitely a personal preference issue. I think I recall hearing that a carbon stabilizer is available for the DS crowd, really not needed of desired for front side work (it would need more nose weight.

And then the purely personal preference issue in that the glider doesn't come with a rudder.

TJIRC keeps getting better and better with each production run.

BTW; That looks like a nice clean break of the tail boom. RIP? heck that's just a flesh wound! Should be easy to fix and looks to be a great opertunity to make the fuselage a bit more durable. (I think you did repair it. So your friend did a better job of crashing it than what you show)? In the 60" class glider and at this price point there is nothing that comes close to offering what the Magnus offers us. To get more you really have to pay a lot more. The Magnus is the best value in the fast 60" slope sport ship!

Did you find the source of the radio glitch?

The further away the wing tips are the better the ship will fly.

All the best,
Konrad

TJIRC Carbon Magnus Build (Konrad)

I have a soft spot for the 60" class of slope ship. So much so that I bought a carbon Magnus. The value is great that I even got the Yellow one for fear that the market will wake up and realize that they are worth 1.5 time what we currently have to pay for them. (I don't like yellow as I loose...

forum.alofthobbies.com

 

[I Lean]

I see that there has been a call to bring out the Kraken (me)!

To minimize any rumors and misconception my complaints with the Magnus were focused mainly on cosmetic issues of finish (weave was a bit dry on one wing panel, This also results in lateral weight balance and strength concerns). I had some complaint about the trailing edge size and finish, I had some heart burn about the surface wiper quality. These have been addressed in the latter examples I've seen and may have been just learning issue with a new set of molds.

Two system issues I didn't like were the partial fuselage servo tray and flexible stabilizer. The I didn't like the partial fuselage servo tray is definitely a personal preference issue. I think I recall hearing that a carbon stabilizer is available for the DS crowd, really not needed of desired for front side work (it would need more nose weight.

And then the purely personal preference issue in that the glider doesn't come with a rudder.

TJIRC keeps getting better and better with each production run.

BTW; That looks like a nice clean break of the tail boom. RIP? heck that's just a flesh wound! Should be easy to fix and looks to be a great opertunity to make the fuselage a bit more durable. (I think you did repair it. So your friend did a better job of crashing it than what you show)? In the 60" class glider and at this price point there is nothing that comes close to offering what the Magnus offers us. To get more you really have to pay a lot more. The Magnus is the best value in the fast 60" slope sport ship!

Did you find the source of the radio glitch?

The further away the wing tips are the better the ship will fly.

All the best,
Konrad

You are correct, I repaired it and flew it several more days before my friend did a more complete job crashing it. The fuse broke at the repair, but also a couple spots in the canopy area, as well as fracturing under the stabilizer. The stab bent in half, the elevator horn tried to break through the top surface, both wing tips are smashed pretty good.....probably some more. Luckily all the servos seem to be OK, so I'll use them in the new plane.

The radio glitch has been identified and corrected. I had a Spektrum AR636 receiver initially, which crashed me. I have since learned that receiver has hard-coded "failsafe" settings that cannot be programmed out. In the end, it lost signal momentarily and took my elevator to full-down. I could replicate it on the bench by turning off my transmitter. (which is now part of testing every plane I set up) New AR620 fixed that issue, as well as allowing me to preset what failsafe I want.

I appreciate your input, looks like I'll wait for more Magnus to be available.

 

[Wayne]

Konrad, how do you like the flight performance of the Magnus?

Honestly for the money you will not find a better plane than the Magnus. I'm told we will be getting a big bunch of them in our next shipment, but no idea yet when that will arrive.

From the same manufacturer you might be interested in the Mini Q, again a really hard plane not to like. Costs very little and flies really well. We will be getting a bunch of them in that shipment also.

When you open up the budget, there are certainly other fine planes in these categories. Many people really like the 60" Sunbird, it is similar to the Magnus, but I'd pick the Magnus everytime. The manufacturer of the Sunbird makes some poor decisions on their build methods, but the Sunbird is small enough to mask many of those concerns.

We do have a Tempest glass in stock, but it is a much larger plane then you are asking about. They are pretty rare, but there is a thread here on the planes if you want to check it out.

The 60" class seems to be less and less popular with manufacturers. When I find someone making this class of plane I usually try to get in some samples to see if they are any good. I am currently waiting to hear back from one.. Most manufacturers are more focused on thermal gliders these days as they are more profitable. We are lucky to have some good hardcore slope glider manufacturers feeding us planes. (We occasionally convert a DLG shop to our evil ways too..)

 

[Konrad]

Since you ask, in a word fantastic!!!
As a front side sloper there is nothing not to like!
Despite the earlier fuselage photos, the Magnus fuselage is 10 times more rugged than that gawd awful Sunbird. (Ok the Sunbird flies fine, it is just that the fuselage is far too weak the way RCRCM lays up the fuse. [It is made to fail])!

I think that 'I Lean" is willing to wait for a replacement, speaks volumes!

 

[Wayne]

Magnus = Must Have
(for any slope pilot)

 

[Wayne]

I'm attempting to order an interesting 60" plane, 1 piece wing and pretty darn light, claims 8 ounces AUW. They are sort of discontinued, but we shall see. Think they would be cool for light slope conditions.