"Prima" – a model airplane for beginners

What really surprised me about this model kit was how complete it was. You don't need a separate RC conversion kit. The tank, the wheels, and a large tube of glue are all included.

In short, this is a modified Falcon—the easy-to-fly, tried-and-true motorized model that most “motor enthusiasts” will surely remember. The entire model is designed using conventional balsa construction and is especially recommended for beginners. The model can be built with or without ailerons. The thick, almost elliptical wing profile offers high resistance to buckling. The wing is attached to the fuselage with two plastic screws.

The pre-cut fuselage side panels are reinforced with plywood up to the center (sandwich construction). The fuselage cross-section offers enough space to install any control system with four servos. Unfortunately, the nose wheel is not designed to be steerable, but it can be modified with minimal extra work. For example, a control stick and Bowden cable combined with a side-control rudder mechanism. I would recommend this small modification. At first glance, the hinges look a bit cheap, but they are fully adequate, as demonstrated by a continuous bending test.

Given the wide variety of options for covering material and colors, the model’s designer gives the modeler free rein to incorporate their own ideas.

I covered the entire model with Monokote frame-mounted film. The build time for the finished model was 32 hours.

Engines: The model can be equipped with a 3–6 cc engine, although the latter is, of course, recommended only for advanced builders.

Since I am a beginner in this category myself, I installed a 4-ccm OS-25-RC engine.

Special attention must be paid to the following points during construction:

1. The main landing gear mount must be built with great precision; drill the 4-mm-diameter holes using a drill press if possible. Glue a 4×4×12-mm pine strip into each of the vertical wooden grooves (not specified in the plans).

2. After gluing the three front frames, reinforce them with 5-minute epoxy. If necessary, coat the entire engine compartment (due to fuel).

3. Fit the plastic wing mounting brackets together with the wing to ensure a proper fit.

4. Mount the wing elevator symmetrically. Motor pull axis at 0 degrees. When the ailerons are installed, the wing has only a 3½° V-shape, compared to 6° in the standard version.

For further details, please refer to the detailed assembly instructions in German.

As an added surprise, the first people to submit photos of the completed “Prima” were rewarded with a prize from Neidhart. The third person to submit a photo, for example, received an OS25RC motor. I highly recommend this promotion, which was very well received.

Complete model kit with wheels, fuel tank, motor mount, control horns, nylon wing mounts, hinges, etc.

Model builders describe the flight characteristics as follows:

“The model flies very stably. Ground and hand launches are, so to speak, no problem at all. I was also very impressed by its slow-flying capabilities. It takes a lot to make the model stall. With the 5-cc OS engine, the model flies very spiritedly and pulls through loops well. Inverted flight is no problem at high speeds and is very easy to control. All in all, I find the model very well-suited for advanced beginners.”

Wingspan 139 cm, for OS 20 to OS 40 RC engines. With or without warping. Complete kit for only Fr. 89.— (recommended retail price).

Import and Distribution

RICO NEIDHART, P.O. Box, 1233 BERNEX-GE

Sold exclusively through specialty retailers