Thor.2 --- Slopesoarer with F3f/b genes

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This comment about launching hit home with me. I have a couple of F5K models that are precarious to launch if there's wind or I'm wearing gloves.

To be honest, my statement needs to be put into perspective a bit: the fuselage is still compact and certainly not as easy to grip as an Alpina or something like that. In my personal opinion, it feels as good in the hands as a Freestyler 5/6; better than Vrace, Vantage or Pitbull2 and significantly better than Pitbull3 and Valkyrie...

 

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Yesterday, the first two models arrived and I took a look at them right away. I got a fiberglass version in blue and a carbon fiber version in yellow.
What you can see here are the first two models of the THOR.2 and my first models from Chinese production ever. Since I developed the THOR.2 and will distribute it her in Europe through AEROSTYLE, I may be a little biased. Nevertheless, I will try to write as objectively as possible...​

TJIRC implemented all my specifications for the construction as requested, or they did it that way anyway. The following were particularly important to me:
- roving-wrapped joiner pockets
- struts on the connector leading up to the root rib
- plywood or carbon rib at the root
TJIRC always does all three of these things.

- carbon fibers in the fuselage up to and over the canopy transition into the fuselage boat
- carbon fibers in the plug-in canopy; a few cm at the opening. The canopy absorbs some forces during landing approaches and, provided it does not burst open, it can prevent further damage to the fuselage.​

The paintwork is neatly done.

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carbon version (empty weight 1,972 g):

glas version (empty weight 1,838 g):

However, there are two points that I like less and where we still need to improve.
On the one hand, the cuts for the rudder/sealing lips are quite wide and the cuts for the flaps and ailerons are not very neat. Both are purely cosmetic, but there is certainly room for improvement and I´m sure, TJIRC will improve.
The second point is the V-tail "Joiner". TJIRC uses a 5mm carbon rod here. I assumed that this rod goes into the opposite fuselage wall and is inserted into the tail units in a staggered manner (like Shinto or Vantage). However, this is not the case. The carbon rod sits in a “sleeve” that is about 10mm deep. Apparently this works for other models of TJIRC. Personally, I don't like it and I will look into it further...

Also bitter are two slight transport damages at the wingtips despite really good packaging on the part of the manufacturer. But FedEx obviously didn't handle the package gently.
On the whole, I am very positively surprised and satisfied. The build quality does not reach the standard of the (Eastern)European builders, but it definitely has potential. In any case, both variants feel very good in the workshop.

We'll see when I find the time to finish a model...​

 

[Wayne]

Like the paint design, looks good. I very much like that the servo covers do not have paint crossing them.

I suspect the hinge gaps are related to it being done by hand without final tooling for the prototypes.

We have sold 2 of their models with V-tails. The similarly sized Alpha and the 2 meter Tracer with v-tails and have not heard any complaints. The TJI models have a very good reputation for being very durable.

 

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The paint is cool and very well done!
I wanted to have a lightblue, but I really love this blue. It looks great!
Next I will order red and green…

I‘m sure, TJI can make the gaps better. I saw pictures from the Tempest and the Alpha and there it looked quite OK!

Good to hear, that you haven‘t any complains regarding the v-tail. This variant is something new for me, as I only use rectangular/square one-piece joiners in my own models.
As I said: all in all I‘m really happy with the work from Jerry and his team!