87in Vantex 50cc Sbach 342 ARF (Balsa)

Product Rating:

Product Review (submitted on June 23, 2017):

Box arrived in such bad shape I couldn't believe the model inside was undamaged, but it survived intact. There was a white gritty powder all over the contents inside and out that was difficult to get cleaned out. The horizontal crossbar for engine alignment is 1/2" too low to ever work with the cowl. Hardware is good enough quality but needs some attention as a missing screw here an there can be annoying. With all the bad news out, the plane went together quite well and the instructions were written in good English. Using a 50cc gas engine I felt the motor box was needing some beefing up so added a 1/4" ply doubler to the bottom forward of the firewall. Raising the engine vertically by the aforementioned 1/2" got it to center perfectly in the cowl and the lower bolts were up enough to get a washer in comfortably without cutting into the floor. When together this plane is really handsome and colors really stand out. Structure is notably heavier and stronger than most I've worked on lately which I appreciate I'd recommend this model to the more experienced builder and hope the severely damaged box is an isolated case.