Four Star 60 Review
By Jerry Wallis

I started out to build my Mid Star 40 before I started the 60 but sometimes things change. I opened the box just to look around and found most of the parts laser cut and started to put the wing together just to see how it would fit. Before I knew it I had the whole wing just about done without ever putting any glue on it. I was impressed with how easy it went together. I glued the wing together with CA and started on the other side. The laser cutting was great except for using a rag with some alcohol to clean the burnt edges. So much for doing the Mid star first.

The wing goes together faster than the Four Star 40 and builds flat and true without much effort. The servos are placed on their side. There was not much shaping to do since most parts were preformed and they fit so well. There was a lot sheeting in the center, which I had to cut out and paste together.

The fuselage went together like the wing. Alignment was right on. The only problem I had was how to make the tail braces. They are formed to hold the Horizontal and vertical stabilizers on but they were hard to form and get shaped just right. I covered them before gluing into position. The manual tells how to do it but it didn’t work out very well for me.

I wanted to put a hatch in the top to get to the fuel tank but changed my mind. I now wish I had put one for easier access to it. I painted the engine compartment red along with the cockpit to fuel proof them. I used a head from a rug rat named Chucky for the pilot. Any one know how to make a canopy go on easy?

The tail surfaces are a neat criss cross of balsa with sheeting. It goes together quickly and looks strong and light. I thought about using two servos for the elevator as I was not sure one would be enough for this size of plane. After flying I could not see any problems and one seem to be enough. I do like the safety of two and there is enough room for two servos.

I let the plane sit around quite a while before covering as I hate covering. I used Ultracoat, then I used the soapy water trick to put on the stickers. The trim looks great but I cannot see it in the air. White on Yellow! Well at least it looks good in my shop.

For the tail wheel assembly I went with a Sullivan style as it goes on very easy and is spring loaded and easy to adjust. I used a little bigger wheel than was suggested.

I used an ASP 80 four stroke for power and boy did it have a lot of power. I never had a want for more power and the engine was very easy to start and it ran forever with one exception. I used JR 517servos and a 600 receiver with a JR 8103 for a transmitter. What a great combo!

Well now for the test flight. I had JR (the person not the radio) look it over and he made some adjustments. I was afraid of the engine as it is very powerful and when I broke it in I got it too lean and it spit the propeller and nut off and it flew about 50 feet. "Very scary." When I bought the engine it came with a bag of chicken feed so I could eat lunch instead of fly. Well JR is not afraid of anything and he adjusted it for me. What a guy! We could not get the engine to quit even after adjusting the linkage but JR wanted to fly anyway. He took the plane to the runway and sat it down and the engine quit. Go figure!!!!

Well he took off and made some minor adjustments and handed me the JR. (This time it is the radio not the person). The plane was easier to fly than the Four Star 40. It went where I pointed it, and when I used the rudder it did not nosedive like the 40 does. I could do flat turns with the rudder only.

The engine would send the plane straight up without a fuss. When on final it does not float as much as the 40. It seems to come in slower and handles the wind very well. I expected it to bounce all over the place but it just took it in stride. It is comfortable and makes me look better than I am. "That was for you Clee".

After flying I was hungry but now there was nothing to eat. Next time I need to take a lunch and dazzle myself.

Jerry Wallis