Shock Flyer Aquabatics!

Modifications

The Icarus Shock flyer is great fun, cheap and easy to build. It can do the sorts of aerobatics a lot of models can't manage:- Knife edge loops, Prop hanging and torque rolls, Flat spin and anything else you can think of!

Brushless power and Lipos is the only way to go. Axi 2212/26 and 2 cells and 10*4.7 APC slofly prop gives easy unlimited vertical. A slightly different motor and 3 cells if you want total overkill. 

They do have some problems though; wing warp and a flexible tail. They can't be flown in anything over 10MPH winds. If you want something a bit more money, a bit more building, but is a better flying machine have look at 3D foamy.  The Super Extra is very rigid and can be flown in totally unsuitable conditions :-)

Flippers

Double up on the carbon wing support spars that join to the bottom of the fuselage. The sheets are not very flat due, I think, to the colour printing. Any excuse and the wing wants to warp like a propeller blade. This makes a big difference in having something nice to fly or just something that flies.

Snorkel

Take the spring out of the carbon spars at the leading and trailing edges of the wing. The tension tries to warp the wing into that nasty propeller shape. What you do is cut them in half right on the centre line and then bind with carbon tows and superglue.

Speedos

Chuck out the plastic motor mounting cross and make a proper one out of ply. Don't be afraid to give this the Forth Bridge effect when choosing how much wood to use. Seen 2 Shockies lose their motors in flight.

Lunchpack