Phoenix Model Products - Banshe

Having come back to modelling after a break of 20 years, I've flown power for 2 years, then I decided to get the old Impala out of the loft & try slope soaring again, I had forgotten how peaceful & relaxing it was. I went to the Woodvale show with the intention of buying one of Phoenix model products Epp slope soarers, which one, I was unsure, After visiting the stand about 5 times & talking with the owner (Stan Yeo) I decided on the Banshe, this was for the following reasons,
1, it was one of the best looking
2, It used standard radio (battery, receiver, rudder & elevator servos)
3, I had 2 SD200 mini servo's for the ailerons (Stan says use metal geared but I took the risk)
4, I had a computer radio so I could make use of flapperons, flaps, and coupled flap/elevator

Building was quite straightforward, follow the instructions to the letter, the only tips I can give are as follows
1, make sure the tailplane seat is perfect to the wing seat, once sprayed with impact adhesive there is no going back
2, when opening up the slots in the wing for the spruce spars, tape the spar in place with the back edge in line with the slot, cut along the front edge with a very sharp knife (don't cut too deep), remove the spar. Roughly remove the excess foam, stick 3" of 180 grade wet & dry to the face of one of the spars, trim the wet & dry to the exact width of the spar. Use this to smooth out the bottom of the slot until the spar is flush with the surface of the foam.
3, you need a good flat surface to join & tape the wings (kitchen worktop)
4, when cutting the slot for the elevator & rudder hinge, put some tape on the blade so you don't cut to deep.

Having fitted the radio, it was time to read the manual to get everything working correctly as follows,
Coupled flaps & ailerons, - when you move the aileron stick, the ailerons move normally, when you move the flap switch, the ailerons move down as flaps,
Coupled flaps & elevator, flaps still work as above, when you move the elevator stick the flaps (ailerons) move in the opposite direction.

Having done all the checks I was ready for a first flight, the way EPP models are put together I was not expecting it to fly without massive trim inputs but to my amazement it flew straight out with just a click of trim here & there, not being the most experience on the slope my first outing was without coupled flap & elevator, to me it responded brilliantly, it would only just manage sustained inverted flight, the day ended having had two crashes, both of a result of trying to do things I would not normally, the second crash broke all the wing bands, no damage at all to the structure.
The second time out I switched in the coupled flap/elevator, this totally changed the flight characteristics inverted flight was now easy, turns were tighter, everything Stan said was true,
It was the case that when it was too windy for power we would go sloping, now it's when it's too calm for sloping we'll fly power.
At the slope that day there was a chap teaching his 13-year-old son to fly, dad had a PMP synergy & son had a PMP Funstart, we watched the fun start crash again & again but each time the lad picked it up & chucked it off again. So anyone interested in starting gliding cant really go wrong with a Funstart.

Article by Stewart Walker
16th September 2001

Comment by Chris on 00000000000000. Rating none

Amazed you went back 5 times !!! The average telephone call lasts about 1.5 hours !!!What a top geezer he is though !!

Comment by Nigel Cooper on 00000000000000. Rating 5

Yeah, I've seen my Synergy go in vertically from about 50 feet, at speed. The only thing that breaks are the servo mounts! I've lost count of the number of cartwheels... but I am getting better, honest!

Comment by Steve on 00000000000000. Rating 5

Not the easiest plans to follow if (like me) you are a novice builder. Much is taken for granted, but Stan is always there to help out and guide you. The elevator deck was tricky to build level (small), I used a small amount of filler after building the fuse to get it exactly right before bonding on the tailplane.

Comment by Steve on 00000000000000. Rating none

I built the Ban-SHE and had to wait two weeks for some decent wind..typical! After finally snapping I took her up to the local slope in a 5-8mph westerly as I could wait no longer. Not enough to fly in but with a little down flaps I was getting a minute and then soaring gently along the ridge floor for ages and settling in the heather, a great to learn on my first outing. The next week brough some better 10-15mph SW, so off I went again. Still no other pilots to help. It's VERY frightening to launch all that work (and money) out into a 30M void with a stiff wind blowing in your face - my hands were shaking I can tell you! I need not have worried. A gently shove and back on the sticks, the BanSHE just floated straight out and level. A quick right bank and we picked up speed across the slope for a figure of eight. Round again and and a predictable landing in the heather at my feet. Not what I expected at all - looking at the model on the table it was hard to imagine how a faomie can fly like that. The stiffer the wind, the better it flys. And tough? Its almost indestructable. I reckon you'll lose it before you break it. Well done Stan on a great design, I'm going to build one for a mate soon so he can learn sloping too....

Comment by Steve on 00000000000000. Rating none

Having just returned from Crook Peak in Somerset on a good lift day, I can only re-iterate just how good this model is. My first REAL slope flight and I was looping, rolling and flying inverted within 20 minutes! A testimony to how easy and manouverable this plane is even in novices hands. The flap/elevator coupling is highly recommended and I wont fly without it. It can then turn on a sixpence. The Ban-SHE was flying even as the lift dropped and another pilots older Synergy and Eppi-soar would not stay up. Hard to believe this is a foamie. I cant wait to build another, and perhaps the critically acclaimed Kerfuffle power plane from Phoenix. Top work Stan, and thanks!

Comment by al hepburn on 00000000000000. Rating none

i found stan very helpful as well.

Comment by jon hepburn on 00000000000000. Rating 5

I have made a phoenix powered plane (the peppi) and although the instructions were not the best I have come across I was very pleased with the after sales service. Cheers Stan you are a true champ.

Comment by Uncle Slippery Wolf on 00000000000000. Rating 5

I am frightened by the amount of abuse this model takes and keeps on bouncing back for more. I have 'cut the carnage' with glee with my all crash taking 'banshe'.

Comment by David Antell on 00000000000000. Rating none

The Ban-SHE was my second EPP model. The experience gained building the first was very useful particularly knowing that with patience the EPP can be sanded to a good shape without sacrificing durability. Application of the cross-weave tape and final covering is easier having done it before. Taking time and care produced a very clean model which has astounded me with its performance in a wide range of flying conditions. You cannot believe its an EPP and now I cannot imagine not having a Ban-SHE amongst my collection. Stan is always extemely helpful too.

Comment by Neil Hamer on 20050813150019. Rating 4

I learnt to fly on a Phoenix Model Products Fun Start and it was great. Am now building a Banshee to go with my Chris Foss glider

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