Spot the ParkzonesIf you want to hot up your Parkzone Trojan T28D RC Plane I have tested this magic formula to make it go significantly faster, without any non reversible modifications. For that matter, this combination will upgrade or hot up any warplane or RC planes that have their stock power system as a 480 size 960KV brushless motor with a 9.5×7.5” propeller, and will therefore already include the following: Parkzone RC planes, Stinson Reliant 105% faster, F4U Corsair 105% faster, P51 Mustang 9×6 prop 105 >% faster. F4F Wildcat 9×6 prop 205% faster (Percent more powerful maybe a better description than faster although it will be faster).

A very simple modification is also available to increase speed, “soup up” the Hobbyzone Super Cub LP.

So read on and let me give you the methodology and resultant statistics of doing it!

Power10 and 40amp escRemember that we need the highest RPM with the highest pull with the least weight increase and stay within the operating max’s of the Motor, ESC and battery with regards to temperature climbs, with due regard to current.. I  shall actually document the methodology and what is needed for this power upgrade or hotup in reverse and tell you what is the best (in my opinion) and then provide you with the various reasons why I selected what I have and the ideas and comparison result of the concepts I tried.

Test Equipment

  • All pull tests have been made using this equipment , pull by using a Digital pull scale 0kg to 25kg accurate to .001 kg secured and pulled from the airplanes tail with the scale anchored.
  • All power output has been by using a Turnegy Watt meter
  • All RPM measured using a Turnegy Micro tachometer
  • All batteries at time of test were fully charged each time
  • Temperatures obtained in flight and recorded min and max by a small digital device.

Modified Trojan t28D

STANDARD Parkzone TROJAN T28D

  • Standard Motor, supplied battery, propeller and Esc combination
  • Motor = 480 Size 960 kv Weight 120g
  • Esc = 30A Esc Weight 32g
  • Battery = 1800 Lipo 15c 11.1v Weight 140g
  • Propeller = 9.5 x 7.5” 
  • T28D flying plane weight 900g

Statistics

  • Max Amp draw 16.6
  • @ Volts = 10.3v
  • Max watts 177
  • Pull 700g
  • RPM 7200
  • Pull factor per kg = .77
  • Flying time = 7.5 min

MODIFIED TROJAN T28D

  • Modified Motor, battery, propeller and Esc combination
  • Motor    = E-Flite Power 10 Brushless Outrunner 1100KV 122g
  • Esc    = Dualsky 40amp = Part XC4018BA Burst 60A weight 30g
  • Battery    = Thunderpower Lipo 2100 mAh 3s 11.1v Pro Lite V2 (42A/84A) weight 156g
  • Propeller = 11×8” E-Flite Electric (fitted std to Apprentice 15e)
  • T28D flying plane weight 916g

Statistics

  • Max Amp draw =42A
  • @ Volts = 10.6
  • Max watts = 464
  • Pull = 1450g
  • RPM 8760
  • Pull factor per kg = 1.58  (pull divided by Flyweight)
  • = 107% more power than stock configuration
  • Flying time = 6.0 min (auto reduced power) needed 1500 mAh recharge

The Trojan T28D will now take off in less than a metre and go vertical, an on board GPS had it at 230 mtrs high in a single climb and still going strong, with a highest speed recording of 135.3 kmh (84.3 Mph) (no wind). On board thermal probes recorded that temp was a motor max of 27.6C, ESC max 31C, Ambient was 19.8C and Battery max 40C after a 6.5 minute flight time.

NOTE– That the temporary inclusion of the 53g GPS module speed recorder may have slowed the planes top speed, as visually it seems to go significantly faster with the module out..

Disclosure – whilst all “hotup”parts were obtained from Modelflight, our local Australian source of both Parkzone and Hobbyzone RC Planes (plus other brands), they have not prompted me to write this article but they were extremely helpful in expediting the supply of all of the hot up parts I purchased. Their staff is very familiar with this review and aware of what you need and they can be reached online at www.Modelflight.com.au for any or all of these parts.

NEXT BEST UPGRADES TESTED

  • Motor    = KD 36 – 16M Brushless Outrunner 1050Kv (HobbyKing) Weight 116g
  • Esc    = Turnigy Trust 55A Sbec brushless (HobbyKing) Weight 53g plus ends
  • Battery    = Thunderpower Lipo 2100 mAh 3s 11.1v Pro Lite V2 (42A/84A) 156g
  • Propeller = 11 x 8” E-flite electric and 9.5 x 7.5 (Stock)
  • T28D flying plane weight 933g

Statistics

  • Max Amp draw =37A
  • @ Volts = 10.74
  • Max watts = 414
  • Pull = 1330g
  • RPM 8640
  • Pull factor per kg = 1.42
  • = 90% more power than stock configuration
  • Flying time = 6.25 min needed 1300 mAh recharge

Note that various props were used with 11×8 being similar in pull as using a 9.5”x 7.5” (Stock) prop. Rpm was higher with the stock so resultant speed was similar in both; this is likely caused by this motor being unable to turn the11x8 quite as fast. All others 10×5, 10×6, 10×7 and 10×8 resulted in lower pull figures. Thermal checks revealed similar figures to above despite this motor being WELL over its posted limits.
Modified WildcatStandard Motor, supplied battery, propeller and Esc combination

  • Motor = 480 Size 960 kv Weight 120g
  • Esc = 18A Esc Weight 31g
  • Battery = 1300 Lipo 15c 11.1v Weight 112g
  • Propeller = 9 x 6” 
  • Pull .59g
  • Pull factor per kg = .71 (pull divided by Flyweight)
  • Flying plane weight 825g with (Removable F4U Corsair wheel assembly)

Modified Motor, battery, propeller and Esc combination

  • Motor    = E-Flite Power 10 Brushless Outrunner 1100KV 122g
  • Esc    = Dualsky 40amp = Part XC4018BA Burst 60A weight 30g
  • Battery    = Thunderpower Lipo 2100 mAh 3s 11.1v Pro Lite V2 (42A/84A) weight 156g
  • Propeller = 9.5 x 7.5” T28 Standard prop

Note : Wildcat engine mount will require 1 mm scraping or drilling of plastic so that engine collar does not bind, all else is fine..

Modified plane Statistics

  • Max Amp draw =35A
  • @ Volts = 10.8
  • Max watts = 394
  • Pull = 1270g
  • RPM 9480
  • Pull factor per kg = 1.46 (pull divided by Flyweight)
  • = 205% more power than stock configuration with 1300mAh battery
  • Flying plane weight 870g with (Removable F4U Corsair wheel assembly
  • Flying time = 6.5 min (auto reduced power) needed 1300 mAh recharge

CONCLUSION
Parkzone and Hobbyzone planes are in our opinion somewhere amongst (if not the best) in reliability and quality in the world but that doesn’t mean they can’t go faster!
Whilst the recommended option is more expensive, quality makes it reliable and the advantages are numerous, power 105% higher, weight is lower. The Eflite motor is rated higher but more than that it really is high quality, NO bearing noise and all well balanced. The E-Flite prop is FAR better balanced than the APC’s, The Durafly is an excellent ESC, light and has a superb linear motor response, as well as being better to programme, it is lighter than the Trust and far more reliable I should guess, The Thunder power batteries are the lightest I could find for an adequate all matched power output and fitment.

Remember that this is all about matching outputs and optimum configurations as well as Power to Weight ratio and if you make any changes to what I have done ensure you are lighter or equal or you WILL not get the desired results you are after. Be wary of using this upgrade for other planes such as the Stinson as the incredible power change may change motor torque and require changed Tx trim settings. Any better configurations that you come up with to make Parkzones faster put in the comments, but ensure that you retain flight times, reliability and power/weight ratios or better. 

PS For the Super Cub LP simply fit the ex Trojan T28 Motor prop and Esc. You WILL need to drill 4 new holes in motor mount plane plastic wall but simply rotate the motor mount to pick up new undrilled plastic. The plane then becomes 2.4ghz, change servos and it’s like a new plane with a significant power upgrade.