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Tracer 2 Meter is here!!

Konrad your statement implies these are not well built, I would say that is not accurate. TJI has a good reputation for making very well performing solid models. This one is no doubt the same. The Magnus, Mini Q, Tempest and Alpha 3 are all great examples of their models. They are well respected for their performance and decent build quality.

While they are not super high dollar models, I think they offer a perfect mix of quality and price. Very hard to argue with.
 
I’m not implying anything!!! I’m saying that as a general rule one gets what one pays for. For example the bottom of the market product from say RCRCM were an utter waste of money. In my experience the next level in quality might have been Aeroic/Zohe. These showed improvement in all matrixes. Demonstrating improved value even at double the price over the RCRCM product (Strega). And then again the improvement from the Aeroic (Redshift) to the TUD (Freestyler) shows that the quality and performance improvements far exceeded the second doubling in price. (See my writing on Aloft’s forum for all three of these aforementioned products).

Quality pays it does not cost is key to value. This is true with a set of boots or a molded slope ship.
 
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Wayne said:
Konrad I sell a number of planes that seem to overlap one another. While the question is valid, I have no answers for you at this time. One is made in China and costs less and is a more modern design. The other is built in Europe and while a rather old design has a great reputation and strong following. I think there is room for both on our shelves. I personally have not flown either, so impossible for me to comment much further.)
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The design is a collaboration between Jerry's design guy and a gentlemen from Taiwan, I'm guessing the spec came from Rich at T-9.

Looks nice and simple and will do the job.

Doc.
 
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Hill Hobbit said:
No need to wonder, Wayne’s already explained why it exists in post#1. TJIRC can churn them out in quantity, as well as now improved quality, and he can offer them at a price that’s not bad at all compared to the very few 2m moulded sport slope models out there that he’s willing to stock. The CCM Toy is way more money (but the sheer quality is awesome), which does put it out of reach for many, whilst others simply don’t want to spend that much on a 2m ship.
Again, it is a sport/everyday type of model, not an F3f ‘racer’, and wasn’t spec’d to be in the first place. For instance the wing joiner is just like that in Tji’s Alpha 2m, which of course is basically a (shhh ) Typhoon clone.
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Actually I want to make the new Typhoon Toccata at a really nice price, but STILL get the nice fit and finish quality.

Making some good strides towards that with different/new manufacturing methods and materials.

This one looks pretty workmanlike - it will be interesting to see how it works out.

I'm glad Wayne dropped the name "Screamer" though - that is very 'Taiwan":ROFLMAO:

Cheers,

Doc.
 
Looking at the gliders in my repair triage, I'm seeing a pattern, broken wing joiners. This is actually a good thing as I'm thinking the broken joiner saved the wing box. Now I have to say the 10 x 14 joiner is looking to my eye to be a bit small. Heck my 1.5m TJIRC Magnus has this large/small a wing joiner.

Having some gliders still waiting for a replacement wing joiner (different OEM), I'd like to ask does Aloft have or can they add a few replacement wing joiners to their inventory.

alofthobbies.com

Tracer 2 Meter Slope Glider

What do you get if you take a 3 meter racing ship and shrink it down to 2 meters.... Let me introduce the Tracer. The Tracer is designed for speed and maneuverability. Its aerodynamic performance and lively dynamics offer a thrilling flying experience. The Tracer is designed with a lightweight...
alofthobbies.com alofthobbies.com
 
We can get replacement parts for most any model we sell, just ask. The exception being the molded foam models.

We have had no reports of breaking the Magnus joiner. The Tracer joiner is a lot longer than the Magnus unit. I have seen a number of other 2 meter models running the same sized joiner with no failures of the joiner. Think all is good.
 
Well, I like and often can load these carbon moldies to the max. With the resulting loads from catching an ice plant, cow pie or rock make it easy to snap the rather small cross section joiner (not a length question).

How long (time) would it take to special order a wing joiner from TJIRC in China? I'm more concerned with down time than in flight failures. Like I said, I like the joiner failing rather than the wing box.
 
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Wayne said:
We can get replacement parts for most any model we sell, just ask. The exception being the molded foam models.

We have had no reports of breaking the Magnus joiner. The Tracer joiner is a lot longer than the Magnus unit. I have seen a number of other 2 meter models running the same sized joiner with no failures of the joiner. Think all is good.
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It seems to be sized pretty much like the Typoon 2M Joiner. Although I have to say that one was modified by the manufacturer to be smaller than my original 20 x 14mm designed size. Structurally I did only hear of 2 failures - both doing light DS, and maybe from bad manufacture - and those were years ago, so I suppose they have improved a bit.

Since the Typhoon has been sold and flown more (by far) than any other moulded 2M design in history then its probably a reasonably safe investment.

Doc.
 
The only things unbroken (not completely destroyed) when my first Typhoon tried to knock a tree down were the tailplane halves and the wing joiner. The 2nd and still current Typhoon has been flown hard in up to 55mph winds with 5 of the brass ballast pieces on board and the wing joiner(s) are still going strong. The Tracer joiner is the same as in the Typhoon and the TJI Alpha 2m, and has proven to be quite adequate over the years for general flying. Again, the Tracer is not an F3f or DS model, and it isn’t possible to ballast it up to the moon, so the stock (admittedly not very big) joiner is proving to be ok, and I would know by now if there had been any problems with the models flown in the UK.
Wayne and Rich at T9 would not be offering the models for sale if the joiner was inadequate for the job, end of.
 
Hum? 55MPH seems like a moderate day here at the SLoT.

Didn’t say the joiner was inadequate. Again “I” like the idea of it being a mechanical fuse (designed failure point).

Now with the Alpha 2 , the sales write up has some concerns about the size of its joiner. This is why Aloft stated they only carry the glass lay ups.

Now I do fail the wing joiners (general statement). And since these are common regardless of aircraft color or lay up. To my business mind and experience the joiner would make a good parts inventory item.

Now unlike many I actually repair heavily damaged ships rather than replace them. I’ve only thrown out one moldie, an Alpha 2.8. Like others, the only salvageable parts were the V-tail and wing joiner. This joiner is now my spare for my Strega’s & Redshirt’s.

Again I’m just trying to enhance the customer experience by suggesting that spares of the wing joiner would be nice sales and customer support feature, less down time during the flying season. I’d think the landing zones at the sites here in the Bay Area would support this kind of parts support.

P.S.
I think Wayne's assessment of the Alpha 2 is correct. The spar is too light for an all carbon ship. Or more to the point how we might want to fly an all carbon ship.
 
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Konrad - The joiners could be had in 2 weeks time or less if someone wanted to pay for the faster shipping. Most manufacturers prioritize replacement parts in their work flows.

Like the others said, I seriously doubt the joiner is going to be an issue on this model. TJI builds with better materials and better methods than RCRCM ever used on the Typhoon and yet not sure anyone broke a Typhoon joiner. The only failures on the Typhoon I ever saw was the joiner box failing, not the joiner itself. And those planes were pushed well beyond the intended use with DS laps.
 
Wayne said:
Konrad - The joiners could be had in 2 weeks time or less if someone wanted to pay for the faster shipping. Most manufacturers prioritize replacement parts in their work flows.
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Thank you.

Doesn't sound too bad, especially if I order the replacement early in the repair process.
 
TJI is really good about supply parts. We have order individual wing panels, canopies, etc. Think many people have lost Mini Q verticals. LOL (most people do not glue them on.)
 
Wayne said:
Konrad - The joiners could be had in 2 weeks time or less if someone wanted to pay for the faster shipping. Most manufacturers prioritize replacement parts in their work flows.

Like the others said, I seriously doubt the joiner is going to be an issue on this model. TJI builds with better materials and better methods than RCRCM ever used on the Typhoon and yet not sure anyone broke a Typhoon joiner. The only failures on the Typhoon I ever saw was the joiner box failing, not the joiner itself. And those planes were pushed well beyond the intended use with DS laps.
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With the Typhoon I was informed of two actual joiner breakages. Both were doing "Light DS" - no speeds given.

Doc
 
Good ones!

Like KST x10 mini.

For the fuselage the smallest gear train you are comfortable with. For me the KST HS08
 
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