Review: Durafly Tundra from HobbyKing. part 2

[@garylowe8601]

I am glad I watched this review before taking to the sky with mine. I think I would have a pile if bits had I not. Excellent review as always with lots of helpful tips. Good work Bruce.

[@Chilternflyer]

Great review Bruce. You should do more of them ;-) I've got two Tundras and I'd say you've nailed it as far as a review goes. It's a bit annnoying that a lot of other channels over the years have made this plane out to be a saint and have never mentioned the reality of using the flaps on this particular aircraft.

[@jonoedwards4195]

I just come in on finals steep an no juice with all My Planes. Gonna take Mine out today, it loves the beach. Great insight, Your a wealth of info. Beauty Matey!

[@MarkCroucherRC4fun]

I learned to fly on my Tundra, taught myself to use my left thumb on the simulator. I was told it was an easy model to fly a difficult one to fly well, think that's just about what you said. Cheers for the review best one I've seen on the Tundra

[@Jack2Japan]

Nice review of flying characteristics. I like the way you focus on the unusual parts, such as flap behavior, rather than wasting time describing basic stuff that everyone knows.

[@PredatorRacingTas]

G'day Bruce, great video as always. Just recently purchased a Tundra and came unstuck very quickly on my second full flaps takeoff. After watching your video I moved the flaps to the RHS slider (Taranis Mode 2) and now it is a completely different plane to fly. Half Flaps, no elevator gives a perfect < 1 metre take off then simply push the slider to level out. So simple but I never would have thought of it as always used both sliders for Pan/Tilt on the FPV cameras where as tilt is not really required and better served manipulating the flaps, especially on the Tundra. The Tundra is certainly a different plane to fly but also definitely worth the money & effort. BTW I run a 3S 3000mAh 30-40C and get around 25 to 30 minutes flight time. My Tundra is easy to spot on KZbin as it is Red (not Green) and called the "Bush Pig". Probably the first of many to re colours as the green looks rather drab (and every one knows the Red one is Always Faster !!). Mike

[@rogerpyzik5429]

Thank you, informative as always. Thanks for the heads up on the flaps, others have mentioned it, but you gave much better detail.

[@FlyingMerf]

I fly it with 3500 mah batteries. It still flies very well with the weight, even STOL maneuvers. I use 30% elevator mix with the flaps, which eliminates the ballooning.

[@adriankelly1744]

Ok I am sold I am getting one but love to see it with floats on in water ....Again thanks for a great video I lean so much from your presentation Thanks again

[@haveric24]

very nice display love mine... glad ur having fun.... I slowed my flaps to 1.5 sec speed plenty of time and on 3 position switch

[@bwolfe2514]

Great video Bruce,,,,,,,, thanks for the effort! looks like an entertaining aircraft.

[@RCTanksTrucks247]

Awesomeness, thanks Bruce

[@hansleatherby1032]

great video Bruce It all makes good sense

[@NZToddy]

Another windy day in paradise I see. Have you bound it to the JR? The one in mode 2? Yea yea yea, keep dreaming I know lol. Looking forward to seeing it in action first hand.

[@Spoif]

+xjet That looks like a nice model to fly. I like the big wheels; I bet they are great for landing on grass.

[@steveblackbird]

Ultra late here...After owning one of these for 3 years... I'll add that I've pushed this thing into some real stupid positions. I Love this thing.. my fave model. just does everything... well. It's the model you bring to the field. At all times. Simply does everything... and it behaves like a trainer...... nailed it..... I'd buy 10 if I could.....

[@1Eye99]

Re the sliders on transmitters. I remember some years back heli flyers like Curtis Youngblood modifying their radios and fitting pots on the sticks. I wonder why manufacturers haven't adopted this idea and come up with a better way of doing the same thing?

[@blackforestfpv3046]

Nice review. Some aerial footage would be a great thing. get one of your friends fly a copter and let him shoot some aerials while you're flying. would be fantastic :) have a nice time and take care

[@blackmennewstyle]

Is that a part 2 :p I really should mark this day on my calendar lol This plane is too beautiful

[@stevenkurth3729]

It is as simple as adding a mix on the flap to elevator plus you should have the prop moving during landing for control reasons.

[@gkseifert]

It does seem to fly a lot like my Funcub. The Funcub also needs a good bit of down elevator to hold the nose down when the flaps are down and the power on, but I have not tried that loop just using flaps. Next time out! I have seen a video that showed a very nicely controlled edge pass done with a Tundra. I have not been able to control edge flight that well with the Funcub. That may be the pilot, but it does look like it has a good bit more area on the side of the fuselage. Funcub flaps look bigger/longer. I like the included floats! Looks like a lot of plane for a reasonable price.

[@plowboyh6054]

I do like the slider for the flaps thanks!

[@BenGovett]

Can you mix in some reflex on the ailerons to see if that stops it dropping a wing? Maybe a tutorial on glider setups including crow would be good for your xjet channel. Cheers.

[@lacone3615]

Thanks for a great review. Very informative. I am just wondering if the tail braces are absolutely necessary if I decide to glue in the tail section. I bent the tabs on the braces and they just snapped off. Not the best quality. Can I fly without them?

[@hughhemington9559]

The only direct comparison I can find to the E-Flite Timber is a landing and take-off video. HobbyKing seems to have this plane in at least two sizes -- 1300 & 1500, but there may be three by now. I think the Timber is only available in one wingspan. I'm not sure how they compare apart from visually.

[@russellsmith3855]

I love my Tundra I out flew the receiver the other day and crash in a valley from 400ft straight down. Seem the nose over with no power. Only damage was the prop and a crack in the engine cowling. Easy fix with CA. I used a 3s with 20c and it was a dog in the air BUT.. When I used a 1300 with 60 to 90 c WOW AMAZING climb out. I was wondering if you look at the ESC it says 4s. Have you tried a 4s in your plane?

[@mrvoyagerm]

So you mean - flap characteristics are just like a full size aircraft!

[@zubuxstein]

Put the rudder aileron mix on a switch to turn on and off The tail drag when banking is much worse w floats

[@BNConnection]

Question: would you expect the larger Hobbyking BushMaster to react the same as the Tundra when using flaps? I don't understand how with flaps you can do a loop, maybe time for some whiteboard review.

[@graeson8769]

Wow thanks for the informative review. I was so going to buy the tundra but now its a toss up between eflite apprentice or the fms

[@kvishal33]

Hi Bruce, I expected this to be part 1 of FMS SuperEZ :) Please upload it soon, I have a kit waiting on you to see the sky... Thanks, Vishal

[@recommit]

Looks very similar in characteristic to my Multiplex fun cub, which becomes very sluggish in roll control with flap on. I actually don't like using the flaps much. Bruce is right with using lighter batteries allows much better performance, but I have even using a 3300 battery, still flies nicely & with much extended flight times.

[@HuguesD]

As a relative noob plane model pilot, what's the focus on the flaps about ? Why use flaps anyway during flight ?(except than brake the plane when landing ?)

[@xjet]

+Hugues D Flaps are primarily used to shorten the take-off and landing runs but it can be cool to use flaps in a breeze to reduce the groundspeed of the model to virtually zero (or lower) and just have fun hanging in the air :-)

[@plop8394]

Just order one Can t wait

[@azgarogly]

I'm wondering, if flaperon mix would make the plane even slower? I've modified my Easy Sky Wilga for flaperons and the difference was quite noticeable. They do it in full scale bush planes.

[@Missed_Apex_GT]

Needs a simple flap/elevator mix.my carbon z cub uses nearly 12-13 degrees down elevator on full flaps to maintain level flight

[@robsycko]

try to glue a wooden tooth pick on the leading edge of the horizontal stab sticking out just past the gap on the counter balance this will guide the grass past the gap.

[@Pikehunter62]

I'm going to have to try this one soon...

[@vinuk1726]

completely random but couldn't you use an antenna tracker with a camera on it rather than hatcam or wifecam? Or would it be to jerky?

[@barrygiblett5823]

Neil-cam you might have to put him on the payroll nice job, and yes rudders are not footrests you Cessna pilots.... good model Bruce...

[@Missed_Apex_GT]

Combine that with a 2 second delay and it flys hands off.cant help but think it would improve that stall too

[@torritoist]

Hi Bruce, Thanks for the excellent video! How would you compare the Tundra with the Multiplex EZ Cub? It seems they have a lot of similarities. Ron in Connecticut

[@torritoist]

+Ronald Torrito Sorry for the error, Bruce. I meant comparing the Fun Cub to the Tundra. Not the EZ Cub!

[@carusZapp]

Could you make a video about "how a plain stalls and how to recovery the plain" ???

[@valiant360420]

Love your stuff as usual Bruce. I don't know if that black shirt just has a slimming effect, but you're looking a little thin. Hope you're doing ok. Off topic question. Do you ever lose your RC link while flying proximity on your mini quads. I just ordered a Frsky transmitter to replace my Spektrum because I'm tired of loosing my RC link while flying fpv proximity down low, and I'm curious about what to expect, as far as signal drop out. I'm talking about flying within a few hundred feet, but in wooded areas, etc. I have had soo many crashes with my good old DX-7, I had to change something. Hope I made the right choice. Would love a response. Thanks for all you do for us!!!

[@xjet]

+valiant360420 I've never lost the radio link with my FrSky gear using the Taranis and a D4RII receiver. The video link disappears long before I even get a low RSSI alert on my RC gear.

[@neclovek]

+xjet Its a shame that mobius doesnt do 1080p 60FPS. Otherwise its an awesome lightweight camera with great video quality.

[@leighharvey9150]

Not about the Tundra. Although it is. Looking at batteries for the Tundra. What is the advantages of graphene batteries over the older style Turnigy batteries? they actually weigh more for the same 2200 output?

[@FPVREVIEWS]

The issue with the flaps, and stall is probably due to the airfoil. Too thin of an entry, and not enough reflex. pretty serious design issue, but that 's what you might expect from hobby king.

[@falconmick]

I am just getting into FPV Quads atm, I saw this and it also caught my interest. What would you recomend as a first time aircraft? As in what trainer from which store? Thanks.

[@ThomasGreenhill]

I would highly recommend a hobbyking bixler. They're cheap and fly very well

[@azgarogly]

+Thomas Greenhill Bixler is great. The only drawback I see is Bixler 1 was a wing spar breaking too often. Don't know if they fixed that in later versions. But I flew Bixler alot, crashed it alot, it repairs very well and flies well after being glued back from ruin :)

[@kingflynxi9420]

An axn

[@azgarogly]

Flynn Asher They are much alike, AXN, FMS Easy Trainer, Bix. Lightweight (though not the lightest) pushers with polyhidral wing. Should have ailerons (the older models lack them) and I say the bigger the better.

[@BNConnection]

+falconmick The Hobbyking "Clouds Fly" is an AXN.

[@1breematt]

xjet. Did you use the recommended control settings ?Or did you use max rates ?Thankyou for the vid

[@middleagedbaldguy6774]

How much battery do you think this thing will haul? Mine is on the way and was planning on using it as a slow just tooling around fpv plane. Was hoping for 15 min plus flight times just cruising. Pipe dream?

[@user-cm6tj2he4b]

Frsky x12 in the background. Nice teaser!...lol

[@kickgoldenrod4410]

Are the flaps the only reason to buy the tundra, because it seems like there are plenty more fun and versatile models out there?

[@mickvk]

+Kick Goldenrod Floats are good on the tundra and it has an adequate power system. The Apprentice in comparison is a wheezer.

[@bloodreighn]

Whats the tundra worth landed in NZ ? Im interested in this as a beginner plane ( im sort of experienced in trainer counter rotating prop heli's and quad copters ) or would you recommend something else?

[@antonl1894]

What's your experience with Hobbyking? I have seen many negative reviews about them and i would like to have your opinion.

[@Dinoxt12]

Just used the flaps for take off and landing...make life for much easier...you are just turning a lot of new people away to the hobby or this plane.

[@derrfly88]

What camera did you use as a hat cam? Derrick USA

[@xjet]

+derrfly88 That was just a good old Mobius.

[@malelonewolf80]

Have you tried a bigger capacity lipo in this plane? Perhaps a 3300 mAh or similar?

[@xxxenricop]

cold beer for me too please!

[@DaiNguyen-wj6kg]

Ok...Ilove Durafly Tundra

[@serdna001]

Stop teasing us with the Horus in the back :)

[@ThomasGreenhill]

Jeti radio in the background? Review soon?

[@user-cm6tj2he4b]

it's the Frsky x12...

[@ThomasGreenhill]

+Jorrit Lute Wolters whaaaaaat

[@user-cm6tj2he4b]

+Thomas Greenhill Horus... He's testing it. nice teaser, isn't it.

[@ThomasGreenhill]

+Jorrit Lute Wolters Yeah. I didn't expect it to look like that though. Pretty legit.

[@AlexCIshac]

g'day Bruce!

[@TIGA]

The HK Durafly Tundra looks OK...ish although it's too skittery for my taste - like many foamies. How about doing a review of the E-Flite Super Cub 25e using both of their recommended motors i.e. the Power 25 and/or the Power 32 with a range of different prop sizes and batteries? For shortest landing the full sized Bush Cubs are apparently landed with throttle to suit wind and airspeed requirements, full flaps and a solid blip on the throttle with full up elevator just before touch down. From what I've read, up to a point MORE (not less) weight gives a better (shallower) and more stable glide slope albeit at an increased AoA. It's all a question of degree and balance. But hey, I ain't a qualified pilot, just read a lot by different pilots of full-sized Bush Cubs, Huskies etc. I've been undecided about what motor to purchase and fit into the Super Cub 25e (ordered but not yet delivered). Desktop analysis of the E-Flite Power 25 - 840kv motor (using well known software) results in some 'strange' results even with a 4S high capacity battery. I'm looking for MAX flight time, slow speed BUT with best control-ability on the upper edge of STOL. The Power 32 - 770kv motor gives better THEORETICAL results but trhen theory often looses out to practice. The E-Flite Super Cub 25e LOOKS much better to me in both aesthetics and flying characteristics BUT is it worth the additional cost? Ignoring money (which I can't) my dream machine is a large scale RC Pilatus PC-6 Turbo Porter with a reversing prop. The only people who seem to make proper RC models of them are the German manufacturers. Others miss out the flaps which, for me, seems to defeat the whole point of that aircraft. Using my trusty crayon and pen-knife I might design and scratch whittle one....some day ;-)

[@DaiNguyen-wj6kg]

Ok...Want to buy

[@cmulder002]

"cough" where is part ONE of thr fms trainer? ;)

[@slothFPV]

would i be able to use a 1300 mah in mine?

[@bentaylor8817]

Yeah for about 3 minutes, i use 2200 mah 3 cell with 40 c, perfect

[@calypsoairfpv8655]

multiplex Funcub though pricier seems like a way better plane of the same cloth

[@MeshJedi]

+Calypso Air and why is that ? it's a LOT pricier. and does pretty much the same thing, but not quite as versatile oob

[@RobB_VK6ES]

Prefer the classic Cub look over this TBH. It's like the designers have basically squared off a basic Cub design just to be different. Maybe try a little reflex on the ailerons to compliment the washout Bruce. It shouldn't have to be a butt clenching event with full flaps.

[@BenGovett]

+Rob B Would be interested to see what the effect of reflex would be, particularly on this plane exhibiting the problem it's supposed to fix.

[@kitchendevil123]

dont think this plane needs flaps at all,its to light for that???.anyways thanks for review.

[@julianwaters3946]

I spy a Horus!

[@cmulder002]

Oh and can you redo the stall test with the ailerons mixed UP a few degrees with the flaps down.

[@bandetx]

so mix ur elevator to flaps and mix ur throttle to elevator when flaps are down. duuh

[@Quick-Flash]

Just mix some elevator with your throttle and set it to start when you turn flaps on.

[@dentification9268]

I keep hearing STOl as stall and stall as STOL.

[@JohnVHRC]

Really basic flaps 101. Mix elevator with flaps. Do not need sliders or have to struggle like you did.

[@xjet]

+JohnVH541 As I explained in the video -- a basic mix won't work because of the huge effect that throttle has. Flaps down with no power -- pitch down. Flaps down with power -- pitch up. So what elevator do we mix in again???? :-)

[@JohnVHRC]

+xjet that does bring up another point. Mine with full throttle, flaps or not, climbs, so I have additionally mixed elevator to the throttle, as well as the flaps, so it always flying well. Not sure if yours is the same way.

[@xjet]

+JohnVH541 The problem with mixes is that they can't account for all the parameters -- such as airspeed, power, flap, etc. and for me, it's a whole lot more fun "flying" the model than letting the radio do 80% of the work. Lots of people like to mix rudder with aileron -- but how many full-sized planes have a mix like that on them???? The biggest part of the hobby for me is *flying* and so I'm not surrendering any of that to a radio unless I have to ;-)

[@JohnVHRC]

+xjet on full scale we use trim, add flaps and retrim the plane, kind of like a mix on the models. I guess it's my full scale experience that makes me want to keep the plane trimmed. To each their own. ;)

[@MeshJedi]

+JohnVH541 pretty much all tundra style stol type planes also need throttle elevator mix. Like Beaver and Cub's. Well I fly my beaver without mix, but it would have made it a lot easier to fly straight if I had a proper throttle and flap mix on the elevator. And why even have a computer radio if you're not going to mix.

[@adventuremore8964]

dose it come with a controller and battry

[@stanleyburgess4127]

hi_you25 no

[@stephaniekent8483]

horizon super cub ...I Have 3 of them.... they do everything!

[@pokiou]

Multiplex FUN CUB!!! best trainer plane. Durafly is just a copy.

[@belperflyer7419]

+pokiou I have both and it's not. Just a couple of things - 1: You can use a Y lead on Tundra flaps. The Fun Cub you have to use a channel/flap or have a servo reverser. 2: The Tundra undercarriage is much, much better. In fact fitting a Tundra undercarriage to a Fun Cub might be a good idea. There are other differences some better, some worse but they are very different aeroplanes. In the same way a Mustang is different from (say) a Spitfire whilst being a similar type.

[@aldoyosbel1728397263]

What do you do all those airplane after review. There going to be the time that you won't be able to have space for all of them. Why don't you give away to you fallowers. Like any lottery number. For sample. The winner will be the comment 100 or 150. And the winner only have to pay for shipping. Who like this idea guys

[@dukem4938]

it would fly better if it was a nitro plane...about 3 lbs better

[@mazpr2025]

Airplane seems underpowered. Some views shows the plane tail heavy and too much fighting w the wind.

[@DaiNguyen-wj6kg]

Help me

[@LA6UOA]

Please don't advocate using thoumbs when flying. It's only taking you this far, and you will never get better than 70% of your potencial. Thoumbs are not fast and sencitive enough.

[@LTCTTM]

Dynam primo is a much better aircraft at a much better price. Dynam is so underrated and in all honesty hobbyking is very overrated.

[@MrClaudeFrog]

1st?

[@mickvk]

+David Milkovich No you are not 1st, there have been many morons before you.

[@JustaPoke]

+mickvk Wasn't me

[@fierceflyer5]

Another typical HK crap. Why waste your hobby $$ on HK? When you add in the cost of the shipping you can get a quality product for not much more. Uggg.

[@xjet]

+Fierceflyer55 Can you provide an example of a comparible "quality product for not much more"?

[@fierceflyer5]

+xjet in the USA the tundra costs $189.44 plus $80.23 shipping. I can get an extreme flight 54" Little Foot which is a quality all wood and carbon plane for $179.99 plus $22.78 shipping. You can source your electronics wherever you like for another $60-$100. I would end up with a better quality plane that flys better than the HK foam and last for years. Your situation may be different not living in the USA, but there has to be other sources besides HK you can find a better quality kit where the company actually designs a plane to fly like it should with or without flaps added. I'm sure you could have designed that tundra better Bruce. It just takes testing and giving a crap about what a company sends to customers & we all know HK doesn't care. They just want your $$$ & once they have them forget about any support.

[@JustaPoke]

+Fierceflyer55 We pay less than $6,- shipping in the EU, you probable don't understand how to use the website to get a good shipping quote. And good luck getting a extreme flight 54" Little Foot in the air for less than $300,- (and in 30 minutes) You must be ordering the electronics from HK? How about floats? Also the CS from HK has improved a lot, if you contact Rob from CSNY you will get very good support!

[@belperflyer7419]

+Fierceflyer55 My Tundra cost £140 delivered from the UK warehouse whatever that is in your local currency. I think the postage was about £10 of that, perhaps a bit less. That's pretty good value here and it only took a couple of days to arrive.

[@richarddarlington1139]

Not a very good airplane, it seems. Too many bad habits.

[@middleagedbaldguy6774]

How much battery do you think this thing will haul? Mine is on the way and was planning on using it as a slow just tooling around fpv plane. Was hoping for 15 min plus flight times just cruising. Pipe dream?