Skylark F3A RC Plane Maiden Flight

This is the rcvideoreviews.com maiden flight of the Skylark-S F3A RC Plane. There are kit and PnP options for this model.
UPDATE: After watching the maiden and taking a day to think about it, I think the winning combo is to order the kit version, get some MG90 9g servos, a ZTW or Hobbyeagle 40a ESC, and a Leopard 2835 1350kv with a 9x6, 9x7 or 10x5 prop. I'm ordering that motor for the plane now. If you can tolerate some minor imperfections in the paint and tweak the wings/gear as I showed in the build video, you get a competent plane for about $85-$90 factoring in additional shipping charges for motor/esc/servos.
I used a 3s 2200 40c LiPo with CG at 95mm. On the maiden I used a 10x6 APC Electric Prop. On the second and third flights I used the 9x6SF provided with the plane. In flight there was no material difference between the two.
Everything else is box stock including the 2835 1100kv supplied brushless motor with the 40a Hobbywing ESC.
Pros:
- EPO quality is just as good as more mainstream brands.
- Very easy assembly.
- Attractive graphics design (although paint application process needs some work)
- Very light and agile in-flight
- Smart/simple landing gear design with screw-on wheel pants.
- Known good Hobbywing Spacewalker 40a ESC in PnP version.
- Bead of hot glue in EPO joints. Nice attention to detail.
- Functional ventilation system with holes in cowl and aft (top and bottom) for egress.
- Wing spar provides good rigidity to wing.
- Horizontal stab has spar--nice and rigid.
Cons:
- Motor in PnP version is a little weaker than I'd like it to be for pattern flying. 220w with supplied 9x6sf prop and the motor was hot after a 20s run.
- Paint stripes in front of windscreen and below canopy are wavy and show overspray. They just need to do a better job masking there.
- Spinner out of round like all other plastic spinners.
- PnP Brushless motor shaft too long. Spinner backplate full 1.25" in front of cowl. Shaft either needs to be re-positioned in can or cut.
- Tail wheel strut uses very brittle metal. Mine snapped while making a minor tweak to align centerline of tail wheel with centerline of rudder. Had to replace with tail wheel from stock.
I purchased this PNP model from Value Hobby in my ongoing search to find a replacement for the now discontinued Millennium Master.
Value Hobby Listing: www.valuehobby....
Banggood Listing: usa.banggood.c...