Multiplex Astra/Avanti

[Gary B]

Along with the Arriba came an untouched kit of a Multiplex Astra.

It's a two or three channel model, not unlike a Middle Phase but with a fibreglass fuselage.

Airbrakes are optional, the very nice foam veneer wings have been pre-cut for them.  There is no provision for ailerons.

The tailplane is built up from strip wood, a towhook is provided but the wing joiner is a single  wire, winch launching is mentioned in the instructions!!

The Avanti is an ELG version, I assume it would come with a fuselage modified for a motor but would otherwise be identical.

There is a red spot on the box artwork under the name to indicate what version is in the box (Chris Foss does the same with the Middle Phase/Phase 6 'trainer/advanced or pro' etc).

I'd not heard of either of these designs before, I don't really need a two-channel model but it would be nice for an ISA Nostalgia Day and I enjoy building high quality kits.

 Cheers

     Gary

[Gary B]

Hi Pete,

 People tip me off, knowing my love of old dusty gliders. Some people contact me after reading my RC Group build threads.  I cleared a modeller's shed near Peterborough a few years ago, he had died 10 or 15 years earlier but the time had come for his wife to move to a care home so a relative was looking after things, sad but as he said 'take the lot because it's going in the skip'. A lot of it was scrap but there was a new Hi-Phase fuselage and a set of foam wings (veneer lifted) amongst other useful things. There was a near new Metro in the garage with flat tyres. There was a framed BARCS certificate in the house to be thrown out, I should have rescued it but I didn't.

When I go Mrs B says she is going to pile all my 'stuff' up in the garden and set fire to it!

I fly 100S at the Nationals most years and I learnt RC on the slope with a two-channel Middle Phase, 27 MHz Sanwa STAC 4 radio, both still in my loft.

The plan for this glider is on Hip Pocket Aeronautics but you have to register to download.

No idea when I will get round to building this one, might be allowed to build the tailplane in the house.

    Cheers

        Gary

[Gary B]

Meanwhile....four and a bit years later!

 Just received an Avanti kit (it was calling to me!!), my master plan now is to build one pair of wings, one pair of tailplanes and two fuselages, possibly using just one canopy.

That would leave one pair of foam wing cores, tailplane parts and a canopy spare in case of accidents.

What completely surprised me was the lightened wings, didn't expect that at all. Multiplex suggest doing the same to their Dart.

The fuselage is only different at the nose. Some photos including my current build of a Chris Foss Phase One:

1. Nose differences, the Avanti has shorter elevator/rudder bonded-in pushrod tubes as the servos are moved to the centre section.

2. Lightened wing panels, quite a surprise!

3. The cut outs will make fitting the airbrakes much easier, these are from Topmodel.cz and the closest match I could find to the MPX items.

4. Kit boxes.

5 and 6: The only parts of the plan that are different to the Astra. With a brushless, direct drive motor and Lipo battery achieving the CG might need some planning. I notice a separate receiver battery and an external power switch, I don't understand the need to cut an extra hole in the fuselage when there is an easily removable canopy just in front of it! Could have been for prop arming safety perhaps.

7. Chris Foss Phase One build in progress, needs a spot of carving and sanding. There is another finished wing panel.