Multiplex Easy Star

Multiplex Easy Star 1

The Bixler line, the Sky Surfer, Volantex Ranger line, and Finwing Penguin and Sabre all have something in common. They are mid-fuselage pusher planes.  But, who started this branch of excellence in RC flying?  The Germans. The Multiplex Easy Star to be exact.  It's just a bit smaller than the Bixler 1/1.1/1.1 v2

A different concept

Efkute Radian is a similar concept, the prop is upfront

The Easy Star is a foam trainer with extra rigid wings. The wings feel a bit more like EPP than EPO foam.   Thus it's durable.  It was designed for new pilots, a type of trainer where the prop is not at the front or back of the plane and thus less likely to get damaged.    And, it's only 3 channel.   It has elevators but no ailerons.  It steers by the rudder.  The dihedrals in the wings help keep it stabilized.   It's the basic concept of the Horizon Hobby Radian.  The Radian is two meters and has a prop upfront, but other than that, they are similar.

The joy of floating

I can't explain floating to people.  You either enjoy watching a plane fly Line of Sight (LOS) and floating on the air currents, or you don't.   I find that it's like Indian food, you either simply love it, or you avoid it.   If you love it you seek out planes that can float well,  this is one of them.

Rebuilt with left-overs

I used the Racerstar  BR2212 2200KV motor

I found this plane for sale used.  Someone had pulled out the stock brushed motor that came with the plane back in the era where brushed motors were a thing.  He was going to put a brushless motor in it but didn't get around to it.  I just finished the plan.  The plane was rebuilt with stuff I literally had laying around.


Motor:  Racerstar BR2212 2200 -  I believe this is similar to the DYS D2826/6 2200KV motor.   I think the original motor may be around 30g heavier.  With a 6" prop it's plenty powerful.  The motor is only 2S and 3S. Honestly, the plane flies great on 2S

ESC:  Skywalker 20A-  The motor tops out at 21 amps.   So, technically, the speed controller should be around 25A.   If I were going to weigh down the nose and fly this plane at full throttle all the time on 3S then yes, it would get the proper speed controller.  But, that's not what I am doing.

I found a motor mount from the Bixler 2 that I wasn't using, That seemed to be a bit too large, but I made it work.  It wasn't pretty but I sent her anyway.

The maiden

The first flight was with 2S.  Not only that, but it was at 1/3rd power the majority of the flight. Needless to say that it doesn't take much to make this plane fly.   It floated like crazy. It's simple yet stunning to fly.  It just floats about the air currents which is both simple and relaxing.

Old School still works

Something off-topic but does drive the point home is 'In & Out Burger.'   For those who don't know, In & Out Burger is a Southern California institution.  It offers a couple different burgers, shakes, fries and a few drinks. That's it.    The most famous burger, the 'Double Double' is essentially two beef patties.  There really isn't much to the burger, it's nothing you wouldn't find elsewhere. Meat, cheese, onions, buns, etc.  Though there are variations of the burger that can be ordered (such as Animal Style) there are no "Southwestern Double Double" nor "Chipolte Double Double"  nor "Monterey Double Double." 

Don't try and fix perfection!

As an experiment, we took these delicious burgers home and added avocado and bacon to it.  So, what was learned with our experiment? It's simply the economic term "The Law of diminishing returns" in action. The avocado was nice, but not needed, and for whatever reason, I couldn't really taste the bacon.   You see this same thing happen when beautiful gals go a bit too far with playing with their hairstyles. Sometimes it's counter-productive. 

The Easy Star is the same thing, it just works, and it's beautiful as it is. There is no need to fix perfection.

The Easy Star, the plane that started the sensation

I can easily hack the wings and drop in ailerons and flaps if needed.   I can put a flight controller in it, as well as a camera, VTX and GPS.  I can make this a full INAV plane.   And yet, I won't.   Why? I mean, this is what I do.  I look for odd planes to put INAV into, and this would be a perfect fit.   The reason why this plane works is because it's light and simple. Once I start weighing it down with gear, it's a small Bixler, and perhaps not as good as a Bixler.   For around $45 US you can buy the SkySurfer any day of the week from Banggood. It's an EPO Chinese knock off of the Easy Star,II and a much better plane to hack and improve upon.   The Skysurfer has ailerons.  The Easy Star did capture lightning in a bottle with the original concept. The only issue was that it came out at a time before brushless motors were popular.   The brushless motor upgrade makes it fly even longer.

Multiplex blinks

The Easy Star II has five channels with the addition of ailerons.   So, I will say this as a guy who owns a Bixler 1.1, 2, and Sky Surfer.  The original Easy Star is perfect.  Like the Radian, the rudder is all you really need to turn the plane.  Sometimes, less is more. Unless an Easy Star II falls into my lap I wouldn't spend the extra money on it when I could have a Bixler 2.  If you would like to add things to the Easy Star such as more servos and FPV, it's far, far better to buy a Bixler 2 or Bixler 3 and start from there.  Why?  Both planes are larger than the Easy Star and can take the weight a lot easier.




This plane has been for sale for the last year.   It's the Easy Star II with FPV already added to it. The ad claims it has a flight controller.  It has a long-range VTX in it. So, why is it for sale?   Without flying it, I would guess that the plane is heavy and it doesn't take long before the battery voltage is depleted.   Had this gear gone into a Bixler 2 or 3 it would float better, and take larger batteries.


Update:  Motor mount and new motor.  I wrote to Terry at SmallPartsCNC.com and asked him to find me a mount for the Easy Star 1.  Keep in mind this plane hasn't been made in a very long time and thus the demand for the mounts are gone.  But, he found one. This allowed me to put on a one inch larger propeller.   So, this is what I did.


I put on the Racerstar 2208 1400KV motor.  It's around 13g lighter.  Then I put on a Master Airscrew 7x3 prop.   I sent the plane out for a flight at 6 AM.  The old 2200 motor  was loud and I wouldn't ever think of sending it that early when people are sleeping.  But, this plane was so quiet that it didn't matter. 

This flight was with a 3S 1500mAh battery and lasted 40 minutes.  It floated effortlessly in the sky.   And yes, I probably could have put in a 3S 2200mAh  battery ahd let it float around in the sky for an hour. 

Did we leave something behind?

There is a simplicity and honesty to the Easy Star that got lost in translation when these planes went from Germany to China.   Yes, you can still buy the Easy Star 2, but it's not the same thing. Perhaps it's like talking about LP vinyl albums.  There was a time that you would put on the Beatles Abby Road album on your record player and listen to it. Then you would have to get up and go flip the album over and listen to the other side.  You would often listen to the entire album and see how it was structured.  Now you'll hear "Something" from that album mixed in with other songs from other artists as they are streamed. It's not the same.

 For around $45 you can get the Sky Surfer from Banggood and leave off the servos on the ailerons and perhaps get a plane that's 95%  as good.   Therefore, I am not saying that you should search high and low for this plane.  But, just the same, it's about as enjoyable as listening to the Beatles Abby Road album.