The Cloud Surfer is a very nice and great value plane! Very well finished, well designed - just all done very well. In the 'newer' generation that current foam aircraft are being made.
You could just build it up and fly it totally fine just as it comes really, BUT... as usual, I find things to improve....
1) Move the Rudder servo from the nose battery area to the rear end, down with the Elevator servo so that both are then direct short links to the surfaces they control.
2) Cut off the motor pod and cut open the area under the Wing seat, so that you have full access to the fuselage interior there. This allows things to be placed in there, instead of in the nose area, so then you can fit more battery Capacity, plus have more leeway for moving the batteries to balance the CofG best.
3) Make a new mechanical Wing mounting system - which ties in with a system to bolt the motor pod back on too. Rather than the stock "Plug and PRAY' way they attach the wings!
4) Make a new larger battery tray that 'floors' the entire nose area for placement of any items you want there.
5) Put Blenderm Tape along/over all the stock foam hinges.
5) Paint it fully in WBPU, as usual, of course.... to protect the foam and also lock down all the decals.
6) I also made the T-Tail assembly totally removable (bolted on) to allow a smaller form factor for transport.
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The Cloud Surfer flies like any of the 100 other aircraft of this same design principle. Docile... stable... like a trainer... yet still a great fun plane to fly, in the many ways it can be flown. Sedate.... lively.... aerobatic... sporty.... gliding....
The 3S power system is a bit lack lustre but adequate - more so for cruising/gliding and/or FPV uses. And after all, it is named a Cloud SURFER, not some Sports aircraft (Cloud Blitzer???), lol.
I need to do tests to see the numbers, but I expect it can run fine enough on 4S to get a Power boost if you want a more sporty performance. That MIGHT need a larger ESC than the stock 30Amp one. Maybe a 50Amp. But I will be just leaving mine in its 3S state most likely, OR running 4S with a SMALLER prop so that the Power output is the same as 3S.
I can fit 3S 6000mAh easily... and it would fit 10,000 fine.
I am also going to test a 4S 10,000mAH Multistar battery I have for long range FPV use.
My original aim for this plane was long range FPV, but then I bought the Powerzone 2600 (on Sale) to do that task. So the Cloud Surfer might get sold, otherwise it will be a replacement/upgrade for my Bixler (though that is still totally fine and a great fum plane too!).
