RC Reviews: HobbyKing Night Walrus Plane

[@dannyphillips995]

Superb : straight forward review for a beginner like myself !

[@I_am_archie]

Thanks. I just unboxed mine moments ago!

[@PNH750]

I have had my Walrus for 4 years and it has been flown in all weathers. The flaps make take off and short field landings easy. My only gripe is the tiny battery space available. Squeezing the battery between the 2 servos can cause the leads & control rods to tangle and is poor designing. I find a slightly forward C of G gives best aerobatics and often add a nose weight to obtain this.

[@Painless360]

I am a fan of this model. Very good manners, easy to launch and fly and super relaxing. I wish HobbyKing were still making new planes like this..

[@pilotmiami1]

Bravo.thenks

[@FarmerFpv]

thanks I was hoping you review this. I hope you do the HK tundra sports aswell ☺

[@emilgabl9069]

great review! Has there been another plane that has come along that you think might be better, since that was 4 years ago?

[@Styrola]

I don't think it's a problem flying FPV with the propeller in front of me. OK the video footage doesn't look that good but I think flying is the fun part.

[@Painless360]

Agreed! If you use a CCD camera you'd also avoid all of the weird effects from the prop in your field of view too..

[@MrOvertSandStorm]

Yes, also if you mount the fpv camera on the wing to the side slightly you get a bit less prop..

[@Painless360]

We've made a few 'FPV' backpacks (see the things on Thingiverse) for exactly that. Happy flying!

[@1976axerhand]

vn. I just got the one w/o the lights. I did not use the wing bolts because the morons did not line up the mounts properly so I used packing tape on the top and bottom I hope it will hold....

[@Painless360]

A friend of mine ordered the one without lights after seeing how nice this one was and I agree the fit and finish on that model wasn't as nice as the version with LEDs..

[@th3batfink]

Do you have any recomendations for a beginner / first FPV plane? I fly copters at the moment and fancy a plane but always been exclusively FPV so far..

[@Painless360]

We tend to end up using things like the Bixler planes from HobbyKing. Very forgiving, lovely to fly and with enough power and control to make it easier. You need a plane with the prop at the back and one that is very stable and easy to fly.. Best of luck!

[@41Extremo]

I bought a bixler 2 after flying quadcopters for about a year, it is strange at first because of how different it is, but once you get used to flying it, it is really good as an FPV platform (It only took me about a week or two to start FPV)

[@th3batfink]

Thanks for the tips. I know its really bad but having started immediately in FPV I can't fly line of sight. I must learn. anyhow bixler3 is here this weekend :)

[@Painless360]

Happy flying!

[@StereodreieckRC]

Bix3 (way better than Bixler 2)

[@justforkicks6755]

I just ordered this!! What type of battery connector does it use?

[@Painless360]

XT60

[@justforkicks6755]

@@Painless360 thank you.

[@blackbirdboy1]

I made my own Night Walrus 2 years ago. When this came out I considered buying it, but the price is considerably higher than the day walrus & its not one I fly very often. (FPV stuff now) So I left it. Having seen your build log, I'm glad I did. HK COULD have made a really nice neat job of all those wires & embedded them into the foam. Instead, it's not much better than my own made creation. Plus there still using that cheap rubbish prop & spinner. I have an Alloy spinner & Carbon blades. I would pay more for those, but it's the mess of wires that really puts me off. They fly great though. Mine is old and more than a little rough round the edges now, so maybe HK will address the few remaining flaws by the time mine is ready to be retired & I may yet purchase one??? Great review, by the way.

[@avelkm]

Where did you got spinner and prop? Just got mine Night Walrus today:)

[@blackbirdboy1]

Yaroslaw Kaminsky E-Bay purchase. If I remember rightly, the motor had a 3mm output shaft, so I looked for a spinner that would fit the motor. Not sure if hey have upgraded the motor on the Night Walrus? As for the Carbon Blades, again, E-Bay. Something like 9.5x7 from memory. slightly longer and with more pitch than stock. The ESC was fine with the extra load. But I would check to see if HK have upgraded the NW with a bigger motor & prop combo first. Hope this helps. If your stuck, get back to me and I'll check the specs on mine and give you full specifics.

[@Painless360]

Ours same in the kit - let HK know if yours didn't..

[@marcuswhitehead4286]

Can you give the details of the carbon prop you recommend and what benefits it gives please ?

[@bleeksbentbits3150]

Seeking advice please Painless.... Everytime I fly a Bixler I crash it, flew the Walrus for 1st time today & it was almost like jumping in a daily driver car you haven't driven for 10years (comfortable & familiar), but here's the thing- Im a noob! REALLY wish I could get along with the Bix & don't know why I can't, but now thinking the Walrus might be the way to go for me... Any idea's as to why I have such trouble with the Bix? Not really a fan of having a prop in front when I know "Unscheduled Landings" can & will be happening??? Thank you again in advance...

[@Painless360]

I find the Bixler one of the easiest planes to fly. Quite a few of my friends have used one to learn to fly, and still fly them for a relaxing time too. You didn’t explain what problems you’re having, so tricky to offer advice. Tricky planes normally mean that the central of gravity or the total weight is wrong. Hope that helps..

[@bleeksbentbits3150]

A friend that owns the Bixler hands me the controller with goggles on & I feel like plane has control, not me & starts to fly away or roll on it's side & nose in... I've seen, heard & read many good things about learning on Bix' & after today's experience with Walrus & no troubles Im wondering where Im going wrong- I know they're inanimate, but it's almost like the Bix' doesn't like me... With Walrus going for $101.something AUD it's cheaper than a Bix', but that nose on Walrus worries me- if only I could find a way to get on with the Bix'.... (All this because I want to spend some stick-time on a 'proper' plane before I maiden a pair of scratch builts) Thanks again for your time & prompt reply Painless! :)

[@Painless360]

If it's FPV you are looking at then I'd strongly suggest you look at adding a flight controller to the model. It'll help with stability and give you a much more useful failsafe too. I'll be starting my next iNav series next week so stay tuned!

[@ralph9987]

do the numbers on the leads correspond with chanel numbers on Rx??

[@Painless360]

+Ralph Kluge only if the channel order in the radio corresponds. ;)

[@ralph9987]

Painless360 i just hooked it all up and it does. whoohoo. put it all together and gave it a maiden. the first time i have ever flown a fixed wing. neesless to say it creashed 10 secs after takeoff. damaged wing. very fruatrated now. might have to play with a simulater first.

[@Painless360]

Sad to hear about that. Yep, sim time is a lifesaver! :D

[@DriftTrainis2awesome]

Just got one for $75 with a free graphene 2200mah 3s at my local rc event

[@sw74gls]

what are the flight times on a 3s 2200mah please?

[@Painless360]

I have the timer set for 13 mins but it really depends on how you're soaring and managing the throttle..