Top Flite "Score" now in stock

Just got off the phone with Tower Hobby. The shipment of the new ARF is in stock, and those that ordered their plane already can expect delivery within a week.
JJ

I received an email saying mine was shipped yesterday. Since I live less than 200 miles away and UPS has a main terminal here I'm hoping maybe even today. I usually receive my Tower shipments by UPS the next day after the shipping notice.

>I received an email saying mine was shipped yesterday. Since
>I live less than 200 miles away and UPS has a main terminal
>here I'm hoping maybe even today. I usually receive my Tower
>shipments by UPS the next day after the shipping notice.
What engine do you plan on putting in it? Please do a review of the plane when you recieve it-what type of wood for the engine bearers, how big a stock, (off the shelf) tank will it take, size of bellcrank, etc. It would be appreciated.

I too would appreciate a review.
Dino, the plane had R/C type mounts and has drill pattern templates for an LA 46 or ST 51.
I think weght would be the critical issue in regards to engine size.
Based on the instruction booklet available on the Top Flite website, it looks to have a 3 inch bellcrank like the nobler, a 4 inch would be a good substitute depending on how much room they give you in the wing.
I would also do something about the pushrod/clevises if they are similar to the noblers... ie: pins breaking and threads stripping.

It came today. BIG box,The flaps,stab,elev,fin rudder are solid not built up. The fin and rudder are already attached. The covering doesn't look like $kote but I didn't see any place that needed the iron. R/C motor mounts, the tank area is big, is 5" L X 2 1/2" W X 3" D. Bell crank is 3" metal, the lead outs are a problem they only extend 3/4" out the tip!!! Has the usual c/a hinges and clevisis but has an aluminum flap to elev. push rod. The tank looks ok might be 6oz not sure. Landing gear looks good. Cowling and wheel pants look good also. Other than the short lead outs and crimped connections on a quick glance it looks very nice.

Is there room for a 4 inch bellcrank? If there is you should be able to use the old leadouts to fish new leadouts from the tip to the center.

>It came today. BIG box,.........

A BIG FREAKING BOX!!! Fills 1/2 the back end of a 88 Ford Ranger with little trouble. Be fore warned if you need to pick one up to take it home.

>>It came today. BIG box,.........
>
>A BIG FREAKING BOX!!! Fills 1/2 the back end of a 88 Ford
>Ranger with little trouble. Be fore warned if you need to
>pick one up to take it home.
>

It looks like I ordered two. And got notice that two + two more will be shipped, with two different invoice totals. Well, if anybody local wants one or two, give me a jingle.

FWIW, I'd like to try these engines from inventory: T&L ST .60bb, T&L ST G.51, Double Star .60bb, Double Star .60 Lite SE, SSW Magnum/ASP .53, Magnum XLS .46, and possibly an XLS .52 (that one not in my stash). If this thing weighs 60 oz, the G.51 should work fine, but the only .46 I'd try is the Magnum. Steve

Hey Steve, are you going to bring one to Edmonton? Or should you ship one up unassembled with an engine and we can prep it for you?

>It came today. BIG box,The flaps,stab,elev,fin rudder are
>solid not built up. The fin and rudder are already attached.
>The covering doesn't look like $kote but I didn't see any
>place that needed the iron. R/C motor mounts, the tank area
>is big, is 5" L X 2 1/2" W X 3" D. Bell crank is 3" metal,
>the lead outs are a problem they only extend 3/4" out the
>tip!!! Has the usual c/a hinges and clevisis but has an
>aluminum flap to elev. push rod. The tank looks ok might be
>6oz not sure. Landing gear looks good. Cowling and wheel
>pants look good also. Other than the short lead outs and
>crimped connections on a quick glance it looks very nice.
When you sat R/C motor mounts, do you mean the removable, Dave Brown type? Thanks, John Lindberg (dino).

The mounts are 2 pieces and are removable. Are the Dave Brown type one piece?

Yes, the Brown mounts are one piece.

Did anyone else receive a Score with the 3/4" lead outs or just me?

>Did anyone else receive a Score with the 3/4" lead outs or
>just me?

Mine had the same leadouts. It looks like the bellcrank travel is intended to be limited by a plywood plate on a first rib inboard of the centerline. The bellcrank is limited by design to only move about 3/4 inches each way. So if the model is flown as designed, the leadouts would be of adequate length. I am thinking of flying the model as is for the first few flights to give it an evaluation in the stock form before hacking away at the control system very much.

At Texarkana Richard Oliver was flying an Arf that was built for RC as a control-line stunt plane. I don't remember the details off the top of my head, but I flew it and it has much potential.

>Mine had the same leadouts. It looks like the bellcrank
>travel is intended to be limited by a plywood plate on a
>first rib inboard of the centerline. The bellcrank is
>limited by design to only move about 3/4 inches each way. So
>if the model is flown as designed, the leadouts would be of
>adequate length. I am thinking of flying the model as is
>for the first few flights to give it an evaluation in the
>stock form before hacking away at the control system very
>much.

Sounds like it'll need fairly narrow handle spacing, in that case..

Hey Leester,
Altough they look solid they are not. They are all built up and sheeted. I got mine about 4 days ago. For the money, you can't beat this thing and the covering job looks far supreior to anything else "TOP FLITE" has put out for control line prior to this. Some may want to change the crank and leadouts, but it will be interesting to see if the RC radial mounts gives a good engine run with no excessive vibration. Time will tell. Won't be putting mine together right away. Got another new "United" in the mill.
Remaining yours in STUNT,
Bob "Champione" Lampione
Bob Lampione
AMA 605
New York Stunt Team
Flushing, N.Y.

Any one build their's yet? Any flight reports?

Well, just ordered one from Tower-my first and maybe only ARF. Power will be STG51.
Also partially due to the fact that my stunter planned for use in this years competition just is not going to work out so I thought the Score might be a fast and easy route to somewhere.
After doing the dirty deed, I checked the contest calender and find that it appears that all of the contests I plan to enter for the balance of the year will use traditional appearance points in the final score so looks like it will become another hangar queen.
Fortunately the much despised Sooner Special is still in good trim and quite reliable.
Jim

-By Sooner Special, are you refering to the Score ARF, or?
If so, any details?- How is the finished weight, quality
of construction(for an ARF ), flight performance,
mods required, opinion, etc...
Stan

I just picked up a score from the local LHS.
So far after a quick perusal:

Well constructed, nicely covered.

Overall weight of all stock components: 50.6 oz.
This means that the LA 46 is out of the question, an ST 51 will definitely be required.

I checked to see if a piped 40 would work. Based on how low the wing sits in the fuse and the cowl spinner location it would require a lot of work.

A 4 inch bellcrank transplant will require cutting of another bellcrank access hole ahead of the main spar, and grinding of the plywood bellcrank stop. Not sure of the leadout hole spacing in the ribs.
I'm also curious about what kind of construction is inside the wing in regards to the landing gear clips.
I may cut open a couple of bays on the bottom to explore that and the ribs holes.

The tank is a 5 ounce plastic job of triangular shape.

When I get around to the bellcrank I may post pics.

Hi All, I had a fine time flying with my Ohio friends last Wednesday in Wooster. One of the group, Pat Giles, had a Score all ready to go and powered it with an ST .51. Really a fine flying ship! Went through the entire pattern with ease! I have no idea as to what modifications Pat might have made but this package really looks nice both on the ground and in the air! There are several ready made hatches for easy access to all control linkages for ease of adjustment if needed. All in all I'd say this is a fine buy for the money. It looked to me that the engine mount is RC type.

After perusing the Score some more, here are some more notes and some info on chaning the bellcrank.

The engine is offset 1/4 inch to the inboard side to no doubt compensate for the wideness of the nose and muffler spacing.

The flaps and elevators are sheeted built up structures.

The pushrods are anemic at around 1/16th diameter for the flap pushrod and 2 short pieces of threaded 1/16th and an aluminum tube with wooden inserts for the main pushrod.

I will definitely change out the control system to heavier materials and/or carbon/glass pushrods.

Now for the bellcrank, I changed mine out to a 4 inch Brodak unit, a Sig 4 incher will not work in this application.

The stock bellcrank and the rib stop inside the wing:
[photo not recovered: score1.jpg]

I used a dremel sanding drum to open up the rib for more bellcrank travel:
[photo not recovered: score2.jpg]

I cut a hole ahead of the main spar to gain access to the front of the rib and bellcrank, careful here with the sanding drum! I wound up catching the leadout wire and almost severing it:
[photo not recovered: score3.jpg]

Using a hemostat on the stock leadout to hold it in place while I used some medium CA and some kicker to attach the new leadout and fish it through:
[photo not recovered: score4.jpg]

The Brodak 4 inch crank installed, remember to drill out the bushing hole so the stock bolt will go through, and also to remove the nut at the platform otherwise the Brodak crank won't fit height wise:
[photo not recovered: score5.jpg]

It will be awhile before I fly mine as I have to order an ST51 and Adamisin muffler for it. Good luck with yours!

>One of the group, Pat Giles, had a Score all ready to go and powered it with an ST .51.

Phil:
Just openend the box and plan to do the STG51 thing. Do you have any idea how the CG worked out with the rather heavy Supertigre?
Jim

I think it will be fine if you use a non-stock muffler.

Another interesting note: the hole for the elevator pushrod in the flap horn and the hole in the elevator horn don't match up height wise. I will either be drilling a matching hole or using a Tom Morris adjustable horn at the elevator instead.