Just goes to show that first impressions can be deceptive.

Keith's initial reaction to this cult model was "What's all the fuss about?"

He couldn't quite understand the cult status the model had gained. His initial experience with the Pico Stick outdoors on calm days only earned it a disappointing fun rating of 5 out of 10.  First impressions indoors were no better. 

However when you get to the end of his first report you will see his second report and how things have improved dramatically for the better.

FIRST REPORT Feb 2001

Performance

The Pico Stick has quite a spirited take off and soon climbs to about 20 feet but then the performance decays after 30 seconds and for the next 3 minutes it just slowly sinks towards the ground as it runs out of breath.  It's also rather fragile as something usually breaks, bends or falls off with each landing (but then all Keith's landings are entertaining!)

More worryingly it seems to dislike turning, particularly to the left, and flies like it has a universal joint halfway down the fuselage.  Hardly confidence building for the "new pilot" market it's apparently aimed at?

Battery

The supplied battery pack is a J Perkins 2/3AAA size labelled 250ma/hr which on a Mainlink Wide Range Analyser after 10 slow cycles can record no better than 160 ma/hr.  Perhaps this is the reason for poor performance.  The pack is not marked to say whether it's Nicad or NiMh which is a bit naughty as EU law insists all secondary batteries are correctly labelled so they may be disposed of safely.

Motor

The original motor burnt out on only its second run but, in fairness, it was replaced free of charge by the vendor.  However it does seem there is a common motor problem - CLICK HERE - to visit the Ezonemag forum pages on PicoStick motors.  

In Conclusion

Perhaps too much was expected of it with all the hype.  Maybe it should only be flown indoors?  Can't complain at the £19 price though and it does build quickly.  

Websites

Click on the pic to visit the GWS site and see if you can find anything relevant to the Pico Stick - we couldn't!  They don't half make a lot of servos though.

A superb independent  website can be found at 

 www.nyblimp.com/litestick.htm

This seems to be the definitive site for the Pico Stick and Keith will try a few of the suggested modifications and improvements to see if his becomes more fun to fly. 

Future

Keep calling back to this page to see the Pico Stick progress.

SECOND REPORT - 21st March 2001

Well, what can I say - the model is transformed - I just love it!!

Some "forced dihedral" dramatically improves the rudder's authority in the turn.  This mod was carried out simply with a length of thread and two paper clips across the wingspan to pull the wingtips upwards and give generous dihedral.  Furthermore, the new "deluxe motor" (now supplied as standard with all Pico Stick kits) gives the model a really committed climb out and you actually have to use the throttle with this motor otherwise within seconds you actually hit the ceiling!

Perhaps the new standard 10" prop, in lieu of the originally supplied 9" version, also has something to do with this marked increase in performance. I guess it must.

An extra J.Perkins (250ma/hr?) 7 cell 2/3AAA battery pack was purchased and again gives 5 minute flight times, though it still only displays a capacity of 160ma/hr on the Mainlink analyser just like the first similarly labelled pack.   It would be nice if J.Perkins would reply to my email requests for confirmation of the actual capacity but so far they haven't done so.

So to conclude this second report, what started out as a bit of a damp squib has, with perseverance, been transformed into

" an excellent model which is great fun to fly indoors and I thoroughly recommend it as good value for money. "

Perhaps the best way I can demonstrate my new satisfaction is to tell you that I've bought my second Pico Stick  just to have one ready for when my indoor flying exuberance eventually causes the demise of the first.  And I have never bought two identical models before so that must say it all.

 I love it !!

Watch this space for further mods.

KE 21/03/01