ZOHD Talon Rebel GT FPV RC plane review

[@AnandNL]

The JST plug is Battery voltage not BEC.

[@bigpops74]

I was going to say the same thing. I didn't know for certain, but it made more sense.

[@zohdofficial6484]

you are right.

[@Tsnafu]

This is the first review of this plane that I've seen flown without an FC, and therefore the only one that has noticed the CG problem. Well spotted Bruce.

[@sterby1]

I have a feeling we will have an increasing number of RC pilots who will not have the experience of flying unaided, without an FC. As simple as a bad CG will pose a huge problem.

[@Tsnafu]

@@sterby1 You're quite right. I always fly LOS before I fit an FC, which is why I've never needed to try autotrim. A flight controller can compensate for a multitude of sins but it'll never be able to fully compensate for a poorly set up plane.

[@leephcom]

@@Tsnafu retrofitting an FC can be problematic. I build my craft with FC in-situ and hooked up, and initial flights are flown in full manual, which is as close to a 'bareback' setup as is necessary to mechanically trim out. Then let the FC rip in a stabilised mode and you have a perfect flying craft with the FC not working its butt off the whole time and causing parasitic drag.

[@BreatheRC]

Hello Mr Tom :)

[@xjet]

Yes Tsnafu, I always test-fly an FPV model without any form of artificial stability so that I can be sure it's actually trimmed and stable. Relying on electronic flight stabilization in lieu of proper trimming and design is a fatal error -- just as Boeing recently :-(

[@diatomsaus]

That intro audio level... spilled my water.

[@KenKneknaneek]

Nice review once again. I have the ZOHD XL newer version and they have made some nice changes to it. Some fellows suggested a few modifications to it which I did to strengthen the nose back about 8 inches with a couple carbon rods and the motor mount with extra wood and glue. I also added magnets to hold the back hatch on so I didn't have to fart around with the two screws every time i wanted to take off the back hatch cover. Have set it up with gps and return to home in case i fly too far out and lose contact and hope to test it all out soon. The snow has finally left now all we need is for the weather to get above 10C and for it to stop raining. Happy Flying

[@vonSchwartzwolfe]

Lower tail to help protect the prop I would think.

[@0calvin]

The unfortunate love-child between a falcon and a pug dog.

[@blackterminal]

Biodegradable wiring has worked out really well for Mercedes

[@joshgault61]

‘We’ve got 2 wings, one for each side, other wise it would fly very very strangely’ 🤣🤣 had me that. Love the content

[@maceliusfpv370]

Had me at "I know, because I've got stickers" XD

[@Chriva]

Congrats on 200K subs :)

[@philf2854]

Thank you Bruce for an excellent review. I thought this would be a good FPV platform as soon as I saw it. It's been well thought out and I really think it's value for money.

[@Rcschim]

Nice plane! I love the servo connectors solution in the wings and tail!

[@MHz-jl6wt]

200k subscribers... Congratulations to you and your channel.

[@felixrodriguez6256]

Very nice Bruce, and Tim did very well with the camera.

[@davieb1969]

Two mins into the maiden my motor died. Magnets came off like yours. Put on a Sunnysky 1250 too.

[@jimjoy9824]

The motor just bio-degraded first. The elevator servo will probably bio-degrade next. ;))

[@noodlesd9126]

Jim Joy coming soon edible model. New organic glue on motors needs work.

[@jimjoy9824]

@@noodlesd9126 lol :)

[@rcbinchicken]

@@noodlesd9126 Peter Sripol beat them to it on that one, a few years ago. :D

[@alasdair4161]

Great review Bruce. I run a rudder mix in my Taranis to make flying even lazier.. I can still use the rudder by itself, but using a spare dial to set the mix level, I got it to ball centre turn perfectly on the aileron stick. I also moved CG back and it flies much better, and even more efficiently. Cheers.

[@Tuttomenui]

Nose up in power, nose down in glide. Must need MCAS.

[@mikemmcmeans]

move center of pressure forward

[@Tuttomenui]

@@mikemmcmeans my comment is a 737 max reference

[@wannahockaloogiewannahocka1040]

@@Tuttomenui obviously, but its not a good joke if you have to explain your joke dude...

[@wannahockaloogiewannahocka1040]

@@Tuttomenui obviously, but its not a good joke if you have to explain your joke dude...

[@Fantaman900]

@@wannahockaloogiewannahocka1040 I got the joke. Maybe not everyone knows about the design fail that is called mcas

[@gke3800]

Had an AXI 2820/10 that dropped magnets - also no glue. Solution was high temp epoxy and glass balloon mix followed by a spin in the drill press. All good 15 years on.

[@johnbeck114]

But the real question is, how do you convert an ordinary high-current PWM DC controller to an RC model brushed-motor controller with a receiver plug on it so you can hook up 8 DC cobalt-magnet Astro Flight motors that you have in your box of obsolete equipment to one monstrous ESC and fly like a madman? PS They could also be CEM cobalts, MPI cobalts, or Watt Age cobalts.

[@IanF-FPV]

Hey Bruce. Hope all is well. Need a bit of help with this old model. Can you tell me what your recommended CG is as measured from the leading edge of the wing?

[@AdamGdoesFPV]

Hi Bruce, Any news on how it flies without the rear fins? Mine have survived many landings until a real hot one at the weekend which finally broke it. I could put the spare on but if you say it flies well without then I'll just leave them off. Cheers

[@veizour]

Glad to see you flying again.

[@Fooozie]

low C ratings on a 5.2Ah pack is still very usable. I use that same MultiStar 5200mAh pack with a 12C rating on a quad and it works just fine.. For the flying I do I rarely draw 50amps for long

[@Migueldeservantes]

Keeping in mind that I can get a minitalon for way less! I honestly wouldn't even consider to put my money on it! Great Job, Your videos are always greatly appreciated.

[@StonyRC]

I would REALLY like to see how YOU do an FPV installation.

[@bigfella6629]

Might have to add one of these to the cart I think...hope I don't get a dodgy one. A larger one say around 1.6 to 2m wingspan would make a great long range fpv model.

[@traxxi2003]

Hello Bruce! You mentioned that you recommended moving the CG marks 1cm towards the back of the plane and that change made it fly better. What did you noticed when flying with CG set at factory marks that you thought that could be better?

[@АлександрПушкин-ц1х]

What is the flight time?

[@kkrampus]

you might need to adjust the tail linkages, you had to adjust them by about half a cm on the nano talon. It looks like a beautiful plane but AU$300 seems a bit excessive. I wonder how ZOHD is going to try to improve the Orbit though, its their last airframe still on v1

[@logieberra]

What are the servos/maker and are they poo?

[@robward7662]

Bruce do you need to teach yourself to pinch hold the sticks to help with the shake, might extend the time you can fly.

[@dozer5069]

Did you fly it without the lower "V" tail ?

[@timkorn2102]

How much throttle on your launches? I'd love for my throws to go as smoothly as yours.

[@keaaul808]

I really enjoy your video adventures!! I always dreamed about RC carrier landings with operational tail hook and arresting cables! Please test this novel RC concept, similar to existing AMA prop control line carrier event contests. However, also include jets with either ducted fans or turbines. Scale would be awesome, but FPV Carrier Scale event would be even “awesomer,” bringing our hobby to a whole new level!

[@GeorgeGuerov]

And one is asked to pay $200 plus duty for that? As I said from the very introduction of this model, never at such price! Too expensive for what it is. Thanks Bruce.

[@blackterminal]

What a rip off

[@flagship1701e]

The 2nd motor seemed as loud as the 1st.and a lot louder than other planes that size. Is that just me or is it the prop or tail shape?

[@1tuuber]

The sub-dorsals protect the propeller when landing?

[@a_brit_in_tx9603]

Another great video with solid info. You have 200K subscribers for good reason....but please, please collate your content into playlists a bit more...would make it so much easier to find stuff....you put out so much good content!!

[@jessemonkeyjones4959]

I had the same issue with my Talon GT. motor is making screeching noises and then it just lost power and crashed totally destroyed the plane. It was a super bummer cuz I only had three flights on a thing. But oh well what can I do. I'm sure zohd not going to do anything about it

[@Dyl_spl]

so this does not have slop in the sevos like that nano talon??

[@Dyl_spl]

if not im buying bye bye pocket book

[@ghafoorhussain6677]

Mr B, What are you doing with your face so close to the transmitter before chucking the plane?

[@xjet]

Opening the throttle. I'm mode 1 (throttle on the left stick) so with the plane in my right hand I can't operate the throttle with my thumb .

[@ReeferNoob23]

Beautiful weather there mate!!

[@FarmerFpv]

Great review and excellent acoustic music at the end there. Much better than some of the death metal that's been out lately. Lol

[@davidwatkin2993]

Do you know that this video started with a Drone X advert. Ironic as I was routed to your channel because of your review of the Drone x and the interspersed Mavic graphics.

[@johngraboski]

Hello Mr. WondAIRful, Thanks for the review. On an aside, after flying drones in acro for a few years now I get the feeling that flying a plane would be pretty boring. I might be wrong and this lil guy looks tempting. Only thing I think I could fly would be a glider. But that's just mho

[@airick7493]

My motor also had the magnets loose, thankfully the plane glides really good. I made a video about it.

[@m.s.aviation7065]

LOL your shirt man "Don't leave me hangin"!!!!

[@bruneau44]

What is your runcam 3s setting?

[@marko5766]

$220 for a weaker foam, no hinges, crap motor, the Volantex Ranger line offers more features for half the cost. I think you were a little too gentle this time with the free plane.

[@TheRattleSnake3145]

Tim did a good job!

[@trevellycuthbert7876]

Just love your choice of background music for these vids Bruce.

[@flightlieutenant6902]

Excellent review mate . Great video 👍 Cheers from Australia !

[@Asenjin]

Great review and video Bruce. Thank you!

[@rjung_ch]

You're doing fine Tim

[@duffs1080]

Great review Bruce, thanks.

[@nzpork1]

Beautiful north island scenery.

[@WinstonSmith1984]

Nice plane and review, as well as the background music. What is that for track?

[@echobeefpv8530]

A great review Bruce, and a wicked nice day !! I have little interest in long range, as for the most part it is illegal in Canada ( must have line of sight ).

[@DimebagGaurav]

why shud i buy

[@SpeccyMan]

What is the all up weight including battery? Or to put it another way, is it under 250g?

[@TheVexCortex]

They don't have the weight on the sales page, but they have the weight of the 'nano' version, the 'nano' version is 700g, this version would have to be more.

[@AndersJackson]

Thanks for a great review. Would like to see what they say about the motor. And yes, I would have liked to see you "building" this one. :-)

[@Lagggerengineering]

Ey, where the T16 teardown at? :D

[@Lagggerengineering]

I am actually curious to see why they didn't opt for an internal transmitter and rather went for the external module...

[@EnglishTurbines]

The only similarity of this motor and a genuine Sunnysky motor, is that its black. Try putting a 5200mah 4S in it with all the FPV toys loaded and launching in a no wind situation Bruce. Tip, throw it REALLY hard. The prop didn't sound very efficient either, open the throttle and it just made a lot of noise rather than thrust...?

[@xjet]

There was virtually no wind when I flew the model and I did have a 5200mAH 4S pack in it for those flights -- it seemed just fine.

[@EnglishTurbines]

Oh, okay, but I know the launch has ended badly for the Pirate, and he's no beginner either. It has no FPV gear in it Bruce, it all adds up.

[@bryanjansen1456]

Hey man, have you ever tried a little alcohol to control the tremor? Works wonders with an Essential tremor....

[@-meganeura]

Dude, alchohol is bad, a better "fix" would be micro dosing cannabis CBD/medicinal cannabis! XJET cookies!, eat one before flight!

[@JD_1]

Totally Toy Grade! Several reported the tail fins ripped off on smooth low cut grass landings. So keep some glue and tape handy.

[@pokiou]

what does hanging the tail mean???

[@FPVSteve]

when turning, the tail seems to "hang down" instead of it being coordinated and following the nose.

[@xjet]

@@FPVSteve Steve nailed it. Yes, it produces a turn that is not "coordinated" because the tail tends to fall and the plane appears to almost knife-edge through the air and indeed, onboard instruments would indicate a side-slip in such situations. In such cases you need to add rudder (in the direction of turn) to push the tail back up so that the fuselage returns to the horizontal position and the turn becomes "coordinated" with no sideslip. Another FPV model that did this very badly was the old HobbyKing EPP FPV model. You could reduce the tendency by adding more vertical stabilizer area (and quite a few people did).

[@pokiou]

@@FPVSteve is that due to balance or control.

[@sladelefty]

I have over thirty models and find that all that have V tails handle badly with pitch control problems especially the close coupled ones.

[@M-H433]

Ha ha ha,be careful saying 30 models x 20.00 per model rego.......

[@sladelefty]

Mark Hinchcliffe Sorry but not sure what you are on about.

[@xjet]

I would agree that many V-tailers have poorer pitch stability and this is exacerbated when the tail moment is short. However, it depends on what you're going to be using them for whether this might be a problem. This craft (and the (mini)Talon are designed to be flown with flight controllers which (just like with the Boeing 737 Max 8) will mask the problem pretty effectively. That said, this model (flown without flight controller) did groove very well so I was happy with its handling.

[@sladelefty]

xjet thank you for the excellent reply. I also have a mini talon which I took out of service. I will try with a flight controller. The mini drake also has the option to come with a “conventional” empennage for better handling. I have been a fan for years. You are one of the best.

[@alecthenice8115]

Does anyone use a dji controller which has read/write privilege to fly with other "prototype" devices?

[@lasersbee]

There are only 2 things that catch my eye... 1- The price seems a bit high. 2- It would be more efficient as a long range FPV plane if it didn't have that Barn Door front end. A bit more stream lining might be better. It does fly nice though.

[@NilssonFPV]

That barn door lets the plane carry a Gopro in the nose, for some amazing video quality. Something everyone voted for when ZOHD had a poll on their facebook page on if they should have a gopro mount or not. If you want to see how good the footage of a gopro 7 in the nose is, have a look att my channel or this video, ?V=Y3ut3cZbarU @RCModelReviews I hope you dont mind that i linked it here. I can delete if you want.

[@lasersbee]

@@NilssonFPV Thanks for the info. It just seems counter intuitive to have a flat nose on an airplane.

[@NilssonFPV]

Very true, but you don't have much option if you want a gopro all the way out in the nose. Where it gets a clear view with nothing in the way. I can also confirm that it protects the gopro very well, from doing a vertical dive from 100m straight into the very dry mud (good old crunch sound) Plane needed glueing, plastic nose and gopro was completely fine :) Video file was corrupted though, as the external power wire came loose and i was flying without the internal gopro battery.

[@jameslong4252]

Great video. I want one.

[@Testpilottim]

Nice plane

[@KillerSpud]

Have Tim stand in front of you when landing so we can get a Tim Cam Slam!

[@sochineze]

unrelated question: can you fly a 500gram airplane with 500 grams of thrust? help me out im a noob hehe 💩

[@Heshhion]

Everyone does love stickers :)

[@slyplaymike1]

Nice review.

[@crezzlin]

Thanks Bruce 👌

[@properlytwisted2172]

Excellent review..:)

[@JozsaMarton]

*FOSSILISED… .LOOOOOOLLLLL*

[@gloplg]

Nice one Bruce. Keep up the good work. Training "Tokaroa Tim" as your camera man. Watch out he doesn't put a throttle switch on the camera.

[@qcsupport2594]

Tim'll do fine: that on/off switch *is* the camera's throttle!

[@SebastienChedalBornu]

It's funny how YOU say it has a nice low speed handling while others face tip stall. But I'm sure that because on the opposite to others you know how to make 3 axis turns which is much smoother than only ailerons and elevator.

[@davidwalle5025]

Good video

[@pauljs75]

Fixed ventral fins are called strakes, aren't they? (Some fighter jets have those.) But other than that, nice coverage. Shame you got a bum motor, since the design seems well thought out.

[@aliberkozderya3112]

Bio degradable foam is a funny selling point

[@echobeefpv8530]

Not to me. There is too much non biodegradable foam. I look for that, recycled cardboard, etc. The garbage flow has got to change.

[@blackterminal]

@@echobeefpv8530 so what will you do when it degrades to dust before your finished with it?

[@mrwonderful999]

Well Done

[@JanDaliba]

Even 4 years later the magnets are loose at brand new motors from sonicmodel…

[@maxun1]

Fantastic

[@AdrianoCasemiro]

Seems the motor issue is a bit of a chronic problem. Zohd will switch it's supplier. I wonder what hassle the current owners will have with their defective motors...

[@petwog]

Excellent review as always! Amazing you would get the shit motor isn’t it!

[@Freebird_67]

I’m sorry but I just don’t like this foam they use. It’s nicely designed but imo waaaayyy overpriced! Also the FACT they copied off the mini talon which I have annoys the hell out of me. I paid $80 for my MT and absolutely love it.

[@smoothvirus]

I love my MT too, but the Mini Talon is copied off of the Lockheed Martin Desert Hawk.

[@xjet]

@@smoothvirus I think the phrase is "was inspired by" :-)

[@scottfirman]

One word for the black Bruce... PAINT. Its cheap, its easy, anyone can do it. I think it would be a nice FPV platform. Horizon was selling Apprentices with loose magnets. The company that made those motors need to get their shit together. What junk! I would contact them for a replacement for that money. Shame on them. Bad QC.

[@АнатолийСтрелков-б5д]

Короче Склифосовский! В былые времена наша промышленность тоже кое что делала вроде этого. Но не в таком качестве конечно. А сейчас, днем с огнем...

[@daviddavids2884]

some thoughts. it should be understood that That prop makes TOO much noise, from the moment it starts turning. a different prop is needed. (mode1 radio.) googletranslate

[@Philberton]

Kinda bothers me that it's like a brick at the front, though I realise this problem may be more aesthetic than aerodynamic.

[@bradkay2710]

Thanks middle earth

[@chrisharrisseacaptainchris]

I like the looks of this except the v tail.

[@chrisharrisseacaptainchris]

Thank you Mr.Bruce!great review!!!

[@mehulanand8623]

I am gonna scratch build it in coro maybe

[@Paulman50]

Why don't they use closed cell fome. It's a little heavier but twice the strength and you can glue it with anything. You can even pour paint thinners over it with no problems.

[@Freebird_67]

Least you got some decent magnets

[@repalmore]

Pretty standard Chinese manufacturer.

[@blackterminal]

Biodegradable. So it will turn to dust in the air and your parts will make an expensive crater. Cool