About
fms f3a explorer 24
After long waiting for the right product for me to truly enjoy, test and review finally our sponsor sending me something that is worth reviewing, its an FMS F3A EXPLORER. Yes i love plane...multirotor?...meh not today maybe after my mood back on its feet. So this is a great piece of product to have for all R/C aircraft model especially stick banger aerobatic pilot that like more into precision like a swan flight. Coincidentally its a few weeks before my birthday so i think this is a perfect gift for me for this month. First of all like to say thanks to GEARBEST.COM for sending me the right moody model that i love to review. I have long been a fan of FMS and collected a bundant of scale warbirds models and jets from this brand not only because they are almost accurately detailed but also made out of tough and thick EPO foam compare to other 'scale like' models in the market. Unfortunately some model are expensive for special edition production model such their recent P-40 Warhawk 1.4m and their extinct P-51D Big Beautiful Doll (which i have it)...but not on this F3A, its a bag for buck.
fms f3a explorer 27
No doubt FMS is a 5 star in my wish list with all their good looking models...their constant rival was from the brand DYNAM which is catching up to FMS reputation So lets talk about my new FMS F3A EXPLORERplane: its 1020mm wingspan, stock 40A ESC with T-plug connector, 4x 9g quality servo, smooth EPO foam, detailed cockpits with pilots and runs on 2200mah 3s 35C lipo with CG stands on 100-110mm from the front leading edge of the wings. The battery perfectly fits nicely in its battery bay with slight room for battery cables to slip in nicely also enough to crammed in the battery voltage alarm without affecting the CG. Previously i own an older version of FMS models but when i received the 2015~2016 models it seems FMS have improve several things that makes assembly and tuning much easier which you can build without too much sticky glue on your finger or extra mod to cut-out from the airframe itself. Probably a good call to new generation R/C flying consumer who prefer PNP that spending all day gluing planes back in the balsa and Monokote film days. With this plane all you need is a screw driver and 20~30 minutes worth of assembly and you can almost assemble it without referring from the manual book...seriously. The only thing you need to glue with the supplied glue is gluing 2x small piece of vortex generator fins in just few seconds and that's it.
fms f3a explorer 12
fms f3a explorer 26
Specification (as describe by vendor/manufacturer)
Brand: FMS
Model: F3A EXPLORER
Wingspan: 1020mm (40.2in)
Flying weight: Approx. 1000gram
Motor size: 3536/KV1150
ESC: 40A with BEC
Servo: 9g servo x 4
Radio required: 4 channel
Center Gravity (CG): 100-110 mm (From Leading Edge) **(old CG setup was 95mm)
Prop size: 11 x 5.5 2 blade propeller
Recommended battery: 11.1V 2200mAh 3s 35C lipo
Approximate flight duration: 5 minutes
Minimum pilot age recommendation: +14
Flight experience level: Expert
Assembly required: Yes
Build material: EPO foam
Package option: PNP (Plug and Fly)
Requires: PNP requires Radio System, Battery and Charger
Recommended control surface setup on Turnigy 9X/FlySky 9x radio (based on my setup (very docile)/not in the book)
*I don't use dual rate because that's my style, you may want to refer back to manual.
*Make sure all the control surface are nicely straight (0 trim).
*FYI i hook the one end of the push rods to the middle hole of the servo horn (total there was 3 holes on the servo horn i choose the mid ones)
Aileron: 65 (EPA) + 55 (EXPO)
Elevator: 80 (EPA) + 55 (EXPO) ..during flight mine's require 3x click up trim during maiden, your's may varied.
Rudder: 100 (EPA) + 45 (EXPO)
fms f3a explorer 23fms f3a explorer 13
Package included:
1 x set of F3A Explorer foamy kit with landing gear with ESC, brushless and servos pre-installed.
1 x a set of plastic bag with minor parts such as screws, plastic horns/hinges, pushrods.
1x set of propeller
1x propeller spinners in 3x parts assembly
1x a pair of vortex generator fins
1x Manual book
1x a white box of sticky glue
Pros:
Very easy to assemble and install the parts together. Almost you don't need to refer to manual.
Very beefy and also strong push rods. Uses ball linkages instead of hook like push rods. An improvement to older FMS models which uses thin hooky pushrods.
CG spot on with recommended 2200mah 3s 35C lipo, flew extremely well and straight with 3x clicks of elevator up trim.
The aerobatics are straight and solid, check check my videos attached.
Can handle stall very well, very docile and enough torque to pull vertical.
Cons:
Non.... serious i don't see any problem or and defect both on the plane nor during the flight. Its a well made and great to fly plane. .....well it depends on your flying skill set, i don't have problem on my part.
