PECK-POLYMERS ezR.O.G.
New Products That Are Worth a Closer Look
RACHELLE HAUGHN REVIEWED this Peck-Polymers/Wind-it-up Enterprises ezR.O.G. Free Flight (FF) model. Here’s what she had to say:
If you have never built a FF model or are looking for a great project to reintroduce yourself or others to building, consider the Peck-Polymers ezR.O.G. It is specifically designed for beginner builders and pilots.
As soon as the ezR.O.G. kit arrived in the mail, this beginner builder opened the box, carefully removed all of the components, and laid them out. I liked how the landing gear wheels, wheel retainers, and rubber hook doubler were all together in a small bag so that I couldn’t lose them.
The kit came with a few options for tissue covering. Chuck Imbergamo of Wind-it-up Enterprises LLC and the owner of Peck-Polymers, was kind enough to send me a second kit and additional tissue paper, just in case I would need them. If you are a beginner builder, I suggest purchasing a second kit just to be safe.
As I looked over the kit components, what stood out to me was the quality of the laser-cut parts. It was clear that Wind-it-up put much effort into designing the components and carefully labeling them for beginners. Removing the parts from the balsa sheets was also simple and required no tools.
Everything needed to build and cover the aircraft is included. The only tools required are sandpaper or a file, a glue stick, and some medium CA adhesive—things that most modelers would likely already have on hand. Despite this being a rubber-powered FF model, no winder or stooge is required.
Most of the components are easy to build and the directions are easy to follow. Many of the parts come with removable alignment tabs to ensure that the balsa pieces correctly line up.
The parts of the build that I found most challenging were the wing, tail, and rudder. When building these pieces, take your time and ensure that all of the components are parallel with each other on a flat building surface. I didn’t do this the first time around and inadvertently created wing warping.
The ezR.O.G. can be flown indoors or outdoors in light wind. I chose to fly mine indoors without winding the propeller the full 100 turns that were suggested in the instructions. With merely 50 turns, the aircraft had plenty of power. If you want to set the airplane loose to see what it can really do, make sure the indoor space in which you want to fly is free of obstacles that could damage the model and that it has adequate ceiling clearance.
To fly, merely hold the airplane slightly forward of the center of the fuselage with one hand then use your other hand to rotate the propeller counterclockwise when viewed from the pilot’s perspective. The manual suggests hand launching the aircraft, but because it has landing gear, it can also be launched from a surface. It is a Rise-Off-Ground airplane after all!
At a Glance
Specifications
Type: Rubber-powered FF ROG
Skill level: Beginner builder/flier
Wingspan: 10.5 inches
Length: 10 inches
Minimum flying area: Indoor space with a high ceiling
Ready to fly weight: Approximately 1.5 ounces
Price: $14
SOURCES:
Wind-it-up Enterprises
www.wind-it-up.com
