Extra 330L ARTF

This 29.75” span extreme aerobatic sport-scale electric foamie from Promodels is tested by RC Model World Editor, Tony Van Geffen.

Introduction

There is a plethora of foam RTF and ARTFs around at the moment and to be really honest I don’t find them an attraction. As a confirmed ‘model builder’ I can put up with ARTFs and have completed several with great satisfaction of the end result, but foamies – I can take them or leave them. Having said this I received the Protech Extra 330L ARTF that actually looks different than many others in this class, and once again comes complete with everything needed to get into the air with 80% of the assembly completed.

My initial thoughts were of the inexperienced novice who would be taken in by this super-looking model and who would rush home and get it ready for flying in no time at all. In fact the longest part of the assembly is attaching the vinyl stickers! The rest is really quite simple. However, there are some questions that need to be asked: Is this really a model that fits into the ‘novice’ section – NO! So why is it complete with all R/C gear? Is this a model that an experienced modeller would, by choice, buy complete with radio – not really! Is this a model that is quick to finish and easy to fly – well lets find out!...

Assembly

The colourful box art leaves no doubt as to its contents as everything is clearly indicated. All airframe components are moulded in white Styrofoam. A clear canopy is included as is a head and shoulders plastic pilot figure. The white foam parts are well supported and accessories are packed well to avoid damage in transit. Included as part of the outfit are two props, a basic 35 MHz 4-channel Avenger 4 transmitter (available in mode 1 or mode 2), a 5-channel receiver, and a 1250 mAh 3s LiPo with a 12 V LiPo Matic 3 charger with 240 V mains adaptor. A very large sheet of vinyl decals plus a bag of accessories and glue are included to complete the assembly (stated to be less than 1 hour to be flight ready!). Clear and precise 32 pages of A4 building instructions in English, Dutch, French and German are also included that should first be read carefully to understand the assembly procedure, and here lies a small discrepancy; the instructions with the review model indicated that this was an Extra 300L while the box art and decals had it as a 330L!

Eight LR-8 (AA) size batteries need to be purchased separately for the transmitter.

The one-piece moulded foam wing has a pre installed tubular carbon spar running almost full length. The mouded-in ailerons just need releasing at the edges with a sharp modelling knife, while the aileron pushrod cables are pre installed into neat moulded grooves in the wing. The two B-160 aileron micro servos are also pre installed into secure cutouts in the wing with extension leads included. All that is needed it to is attach the control horns that have two pins that are simply pushed through the foam with a matching plastic plate for retaining on the opposite side, and pre bent pushrods with small clevises.

TOP TIP: I chose to add a drop of foam-friendly cyano to hold the horn and retaining plate on!

The fuselage comes with two B-160 servos installed to the rear of the fuselage for rudder and elevator, and a thin moulded plastic cowling attached. Behind this is an Apollo MC28-3012 brushless motor powered by a 25 Amp ESC and receiver pre installed, so it is just a matter of fitting the tailplane and fin assembly, elevator and rudder pushrods, and finally adding the cockpit decal and then the ‘unpainted’ plastic pilot, and finally securing the cockpit with the double-sided tape attached to the canopy. The single unit wire undercarriage is held in place on a plastic mount that is glued into a recess in the fuselage. The wheels are attached and a re streamlined with plastic moulded spats. The whole procedure only takes a short while and there is nothing difficult about the assembly.

The wings are held in place with two central pins that fit neatly into the fuselage mount, while the TE of the wing is screwed down and secured with a single long bolt, retained with an ‘E’ circlip, into a simple moulded wing fixing plate mounted in the fuselage. The final assembly took around three hours, but I was taking photos and making notes as well!

Attaching the decals is a work of art, and it took me two evenings to complete. With this done all that was needed was to balance and attach the prop, and this is held in place on the prop driver with a rubber ‘O’ ring.

The LiPo flight battery is held in place with Velcro and is moveable to adjust the C of G if needed.

The transmitter is very basic, but feels good in the hand and the sticks are smooth. There are no rate switches – just channel reverse switches on the front along with the standard trim adjusters. The battery level is indicated by four-stage coloured LEDs.

With control throws set according to the handbook, and with the model balancing at the 60 mm point back from the LE, the 1250 mAh LiPo battery was charged on its own charger, and the Extra 300/330L was now ready to fly given some decent weather!

Flying

To fly a model of this type requires a lot of patience. Due to its size and weight you can write off any attempts in the ‘normal’ English weather, and just wait for a calm day or windless evening in the summer – which I did. And it was well worth it too!

With the sun shining and very little wind I called up my flying colleague Brian Cooper to meet at a moment’s notice at the flying field and the Extra 330L was swiftly prepared for flight. With all checks completed it was ready to go – with this author operating the camera!

The motor burst into life on opening the throttle and the power was assumed to be more than adequate. Take off from short grass was attempted and the little powerhouse soon had the model in the air within only a few feet. It climbed away almost vertically and with seemingly endless power. Once Brian had settled it down into a circuit and carried out any trimming (although only two clicks of aileron trim and one of up elevator were required) the Extra was presented with a few basic manoeuvres before full sticks were applied!

The large loops are better than expected, and maintained gracefully, while the axial rolls were fast and furious – as expected. A barrel roll was simple and stalls turns were done on minimum power with the model stalling left and right to order. A flat stall seemed to be very tame, and as only the nose dropped it was easily picked up with power applied.

Spins were easy to recover in less that half a turn, and inverted flight was so rewarding.

A 10-minute flight was completed with a couple of circuits and a power off landing with just some assistance from the motor to stretch it out.

Later flights proved even better with both my sons giving the model some ‘extra’ exuberant manoeuvres to handle – and it coped well with all the flicks and tumbles applied. Light crosswind landings need to be controlled with some rudder and throttle balancing to prevent any offline landings, or at worst a tip stall on approach.

Having achieved about ten flights by Brian, myself, and my two sons, there was no noticeable difference in battery duration or power available, and it has to be said that this little Extra 330L has attributes that I feel are not available with others models of this size, type and class.

Summary

If this is a model package aimed at beginners then forget it; it’s a great model for intermediate flyers and experts and can handle everything we gave it in the way of aerobatics. As yet the tough styrene foam has not been tested for crash-ability, but the undercarriage has pulled out on one landing (and was easily glued back in) and the tailwheel has now gone missing!

For quickness from box to flying it’s great, and can be readied in a very short time. The flying performance is much better than expected, but I still am not hooked on foamies (yet!) even though it really is great fun. Value for money as a complete package it’s great, but if sold without Tx and Rx I think it would be more tempting for those with radios already. Would I buy one? Initially I would hesitate, but knowing what I do now… you bet I would!

Contacts
Logic R/C Ltd
www.LogicRC.com 
Tel: 01992 558226
Promodels
www.promodels.be

Specifications
INFORMATION
Name: Extra 300L ARTF
Manufacturer: Promodels
Distributor: Logic R/C Ltd (see Contacts)
Price UK: £149.99
Model Type: Sport Scale/Aerobatic
Motor: Apollo MC28-3012
Construction: All moulded foam with ABS cowl

R/C FUNCTIONS
1: Ailerons (2 x B-160)
2: Elevator (B-160)
3: Throttle (ESC)
4: Rudder (B-160)

SPEC.
Wingspan: 755 mm/29.75”
Wing area: 14.6 dm²?
Length: 940 mm/37”
Weight: 510 g/18.25 oz

TEST

Dislikes
No instructions for applying decals

Likes
Everything in one box
Quick to assemble (apart from decals!)
All parts fit well
Flying qualities are excellent