Ready Made RC Strix Goblin
Perfect for long-range cruising or high-speed FPV
Perfect for long-range cruising or high-speed FPV
Designed for high-speed runs of more than 100mph or long-range, high-efficiency cruising around 50mph, the Goblin sports a blow-molded orange ABS fuselage that is aerodynamic and rugged. Its wings are constructed of high-density EPO foam with carbon-fiber spars for rigidity. There is no covering to mention as all parts sport a natural finish and color is added with the included decal set.
This plug-and-play model comes with its power system and servos installed and ready for flight.
The only hardware to mention are the four screws that are used to attach the wings to the fuselage. The plug-in wings are supported by an extremely strong and well-designed square carbon-fiber spar. There is also a clever wing center section that has an optional light-ply tray, which can be used for your receiver or firstperson-view (FPV) gear.
The Strix Goblin is intended for the intermediate-and-above pilot. It is extremely fast and nimble, so you will want to have some experience with higherperformance models. You also need to handlaunch the Goblin as there is no landing gear, so be prepared for that.
BUILDING THE GOBLIN IS QUICK: THE BASIC ASSEMBLY TAKES LESS THAN AN HOUR. DEPENDING ON YOUR FPV SETUP, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO COMPLETE THE ASSEMBLY IN AN EVENING. EVERYTHING IS WELL DESIGNED, MAKING THE BUILD OF THE GOBLIN EXTREMELY EASY.
UNIQUE FEATURES
The only control surfaces on the Goblin are the elevons on the wings. They arrive prehinged and reinforced with clear tape for sustained highspeed flight and longevity. As mentioned, there is no landing gear on this model, which really speeds up assembly and makes transportation easy.
All parts are preformed and ready for final assembly and flight. No cutting or gluing is required. Strix did a great job designing the
Goblin to move quickly from the box to the airfield. The included decals are precut to shape and sticky-backed, requiring no application fluid. The decals added a nice finish to the model, and they laid down nicely.
The four screws used to attach the wings are metric thread with Allen heads. I really appreciate the Allen-head screws, which limit slipping and stripping if you decide to transport your Goblin with the wings off. Another nice feature is the high-density EPO canopy/hatch. It arrived premounted with a quick-release, quarter-turn mechanism in place. It also has a removable insert section that interlocks and is held in place with a rare-earth magnet. When removed, the insert section leaves a nice flat spot to mount your action camera to capture high-definition video of your flight. There are also provisions in the canopy for a pan/tilt FPV camera so that you can look around while you are exploring.
When assembling the Goblin, I made no modifications. Strix really did its homework and provided plenty of opportunity for flexibility for the modeler regarding equipment used. The included Cobra 2217 2300Kv outrunner came premounted in the tail for the plane, and it is out in the open, making access to the motor a nonissue. I like the fact the Strix turned to Cobra
IN THE AIR
The Goblin is a model that must be thrown for takeoff and belly-landed. For this reason, a grass field is best suited for operation. We flew our Goblin off my club’s packed-dirt runway, and there was no issue. Just make sure you have plenty of room for your approach and landing.
GENERAL FLIGHT PERFORMANCE
Stability: The stability of the Goblin surprised me. With its relatively small size, it seems heavy when you get the battery in and ready for flight. Once in the air, the Goblin flies lightly and is controllable at all speeds.
Tracking: When we performed our initial flights on the Goblin, one of the onlookers likened it to more of a guided missile than a plane. It tracks straight as an arrow and doesn’t seem to hunt for a line at all—just point it where you want it to go and hold on.
Aerobatics: The Goblin has no rudder and small elevons. It is not designed for aerobatics. I did perform a few loops and rolls, and it did them with no issues. I did notice that the ailerons could use some differential to straighten the rolls, and I will work on this during future trips to the field.
Glide and stall performance: Strix says that it considered efficiency and aerodynamics during every step of designing the Goblin, and it shows. The model carries its airspeed extremely well and will glide for what seems like forever. As with stability, the stall performance of the Goblin blew me away. Before bringing it in for landing, I did a stall test at altitude and found that I could apply up-elevator until I was holding it all the way back and the Goblin would slow to walking pace and continue to fly straight ahead. The Goblin never dropped a wing or tried to spin. On landing, I used this trait to slow down and land the plane close enough that I didn’t have to walk a hundred yards to retrieve the model.
PILOT DEBRIEFING
The Strix Goblin delivers everything that is promised in its advertising: blisteringly fast, straight-and-level flight; high efficiency for cruising; quick assembly; and durability. I am excited to get to know this model better. If you are interested in an FPV plank, check out this model.