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The E-flite Timber X 1.2m is the aerobatic branch of E-flite's high-wing Timber family, a second airplane rather than a first, and which version you buy matters as much as how it flies. Anyone still choosing a first model is better served by our guide to RC planes for intermediate pilots or a conventional high-wing trainer. What the X delivers is one airframe that keeps the bush-plane hardware of its STOL siblings, with functional flaps, oversized tundra tires and optional leading-edge slats, while adding the double-beveled control surfaces, six metal-geared servos and 3S/4S power system of a 3D aerobat.
What decides whether you enjoy it is setup discipline rather than raw power. The manual calls for 33 mm of aileron throw and 22 mm of elevator at high rate, and E-flite rates the airframe at Skill Level 3. Paired with a programmable radio and sensible rates and expo, those big surfaces make slow flight and hovering feel controlled. Paired with a basic transmitter and too much throw, the same airplane feels nervous.
E-flite sold the Timber X in several packages between early 2019 and March 2025, and the newest one exists specifically to fix the two problems the original earned over years of owner feedback. Buying well means knowing which airframe you are actually getting.
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| Specification | E-flite Timber X 1.2m BNF Basic (EFL38500) |
|---|---|
| Wingspan | 47.5 in / 1200 mm |
| Length | 41.5 in / 1055 mm |
| Wing area | 527.3 sq in / 34 dm² |
| Flying weight | ~55 oz / 1560 g |
| Construction | Hollow-core, composite-reinforced EPO foam |
| Motor | 900Kv brushless outrunner (EFLM17533) |
| Propeller | 13×4 (EFLP1304E) |
| ESC | 50A brushless |
| Servos | Six 9g metal-geared |
| Receiver (BNF) | Spektrum AR631 (AR636 on the original EFL3850) |
| Battery | 3S–4S LiPo, 2200–3200mAh |
| Radio | Full-range 6+ channel Spektrum DSMX/DSM2 |
| Center of gravity | 82–98 mm aft of the wing leading edge at the root |
| Flaps | Functional |
| Slats | Optional-use, supplied with the kit |
| Floats | Compatible with the EFL5261 Timber float set |
| Manufacturer skill level | Level 3 (intermediate) |
E-flite Timber X 1.2m BNF Basic is the pick if you want one foam airframe that lands on a rough strip and still holds a hover, flown on 4S with a programmable radio. It is a poor first airplane, and the discontinued classic carries two known weak points in its battery access and landing-gear mounting. If you are buying new, the Night Timber X Evolution addresses both; if a clean classic turns up, it still flies the same mission.
E-flite Timber X 1.2m: Overview
E-flite's Timber line spans trainers, bush planes and sport flyers, but the Timber X is the one built around control authority. A 527.3 sq in wing sits on a 47.5 in wingspan airframe 41.5 in long, molded in hollow-core composite-reinforced EPO. Where a standard Timber emphasizes gentle slow-speed manners, the X keeps the short-field hardware and swaps in oversized aileron, elevator and rudder surfaces with a double bevel, letting each surface deflect further before the foam binds.
Two features set how it flies. The first is the flap-equipped wing plus the leading-edge slats in the box, which let you trade some speed for lift and experiment with a slower short-field configuration. The second is the power system: a brushless outrunner turning a 13×4 prop through a 50A ESC on the classic airframe, on either 3S or 4S LiPo.
The payoff is a plane that flies as a mellow sport model on low rates and opens into loops, rolls, inverted passes and hovering once the pilot is ready. It is the same split personality that makes the X a natural step into our RC 3D aerobatics models territory.
Specs & What's in the Box
The Timber X shipped in several packages, and the receiver is the fastest way to tell them apart.
| Version | SKU | Released | Key difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Timber X BNF Basic (original) | EFL3850 | Early 2019 | Spektrum AR636 receiver |
| Timber X PNP | EFL3875 | Early 2019 | No receiver, transmitter, battery or charger |
| Night Timber X BNF Basic | EFL13850 | Late May 2020 | Full LED lighting, 60A Avian Smart ESC, AR637TA |
| Night Timber X PNP | EFL13875 | Late May 2020 | Same airframe and lighting, no receiver |
| Timber X BNF Basic (revised) | EFL38500 | Cataloged April 2022 | Spektrum AR631 receiver |
| Night Timber X Evolution BNF | EFL013850 | March 6, 2025 | Top battery hatch, strengthened gear, 70A ESC, AR631+ |
| Night Timber X Evolution PNP | EFL013875 | March 6, 2025 | Same Evolution airframe, no receiver |
The BNF Basic arrives with the airframe, motor, ESC, six metal-geared servos, receiver, propeller, tundra wheels and the optional-use slats supplied or installed. It does not include a battery, transmitter or charger, so you also need a 3S or 4S 2200–3200mAh LiPo and a full-range six-channel or better Spektrum DSMX/DSM2 radio. On the classic airframe the battery connector is EC3 family.
The PNP version drops the receiver along with the transmitter, battery and charger. It uses the same airframe and power installation and lets you run your own receiver and stabilization, or none at all. Both configurations accept the EFL5261 Timber float set for water flying, and the slats come with the airplane rather than as a separate purchase, so you can fly the stock wing first and add them later.
Check the E-flite Timber X 1.2m BNF on Amazon
Check the E-flite Timber X 1.2m PNP on Amazon
Build Quality & Durability
Years of owner feedback separate the Timber X from a spec sheet, and it points to one clear weak spot.
The landing-gear mounting is the classic airframe's most repeated structural complaint. Owners describe the wire gear surviving a hard bounce while the small plastic retaining and mounting pieces fail. The standard fix is reinforcement, from epoxy to aftermarket or 3D-printed braces, and some owners report the repair never fully restores the original mounting area after repeated impacts. On a used purchase, inspect the fuselage around the gear mount for hidden foam and epoxy repairs before anything else. Our RC plane landing gear guide covers the repair patterns.
The underside battery hatch is the second recurring complaint, and it is ergonomic rather than structural. Swapping packs means turning the airplane over, and repeated handling wears the hatch area while making it harder to reproduce battery position, which in turn shifts center of gravity. E-flite's move to a top-mounted hatch on the 2025 Night Timber X Evolution is the clearest confirmation that owners found this worth fixing.
Servo reliability is a softer story. There are recurring reports of oscillating flap or aileron servos and elevator servos with dead or jumping positions, including at least one isolated with a servo tester. That justifies checking every servo through its full travel before a maiden, and it does not justify a fleet-wide defect claim or replacing all six as a precaution. Our RC plane servos guide covers the bench checks. The airframe itself, molded from composite-reinforced EPO, holds up as well as any foam model in its class, with the usual caveat that hollow-core foam is light and repairable rather than indestructible.
Performance: STOL, Sport and 3D
The Timber X is not one airplane. On low rates with flaps down it is a stable high-wing model that lands short on a rough strip. On high rates with 4S it will hang on the prop.
Battery choice sets the tone. E-flite supports both 3S and 4S in the 2200–3200mAh range, and 3S is a legitimate sport and STOL configuration rather than a compromise to be apologized for. It gives a calmer envelope with less vertical punch. Pilots buying the X specifically for hovering, harriers and aggressive aerobatics overwhelmingly favor 4S, which restores the vertical authority and propwash the oversized surfaces are designed to exploit. If you are working out pack options, our RC plane LiPo battery guide walks through capacity, C-rating and connector choices.
Flaps do real work here. The manual sets roughly 20 mm of half flap and 35 mm of full flap, and full flap produces enough lift and pitch coupling that a flap-to-elevator mix is close to mandatory. A programmable radio handles that mix. A basic transmitter without it will pitch the nose up noticeably when you drop full flap, which is the most common setup complaint about the airframe.
Control authority scales with where you set it. Manual starting throws are 33 mm high and 25 mm low on aileron, 22 mm high and 16 mm on elevator, and 30 mm high and 20 mm on rudder. On a switchable low rate, the X flies like a friendly sport model. Advanced pilots can run a full-span aileron configuration for a large jump in roll authority, but that setup needs at least seven channels to keep SAFE Select active, so it belongs in a later phase rather than a maiden. Rates and expo are covered in our dual rates and expo guide.
Expect a short leash on the timer. E-flite publishes a starting point of about four minutes on a 2200–3200mAh pack and suggests adjusting from there by battery, which is realistic once you fly the X the way it wants to be flown. Set the center of gravity inside the manual's 82 to 98 mm range behind the leading edge at the root and check it inverted before the first flight.
When you want to slow everything down, the included slats and the big tundra tires let the X operate off grass and unimproved strips that would punish a low-wing sport model. It is a genuine short-field airplane, not just an aerobat on bush tires, and our best RC STOL bush planes roundup covers the wider field if that mission is your priority.
Timber X vs Night Timber X Evolution: Head-to-Head
The practical question is not whether to buy a Timber X but which one. E-flite discontinued the classic line, and the Night Timber X Evolution, released March 6, 2025, is the factory answer to the classic's two owner complaints.
| Feature | Timber X 1.2m (classic) | Night Timber X Evolution |
|---|---|---|
| Wingspan | 47.5 in / 1200 mm | ~47.5 in / 1206 mm |
| Length | 41.5 in / 1055 mm | ~41.5 in / 1054 mm |
| Battery access | Underside hatch | Top-mounted hatch |
| Landing gear mounting | Standard | Strengthened, heavier-duty springs |
| Wing connections | Separate | Combined and simplified |
| ESC | 50A brushless | 70A Avian Smart Lite |
| Receiver (BNF) | AR631 (AR636 on EFL3850) | AR631+ with AS3X+ |
| Lighting | None on standard, full LED on Night | Full LED |
| Ready-to-fly weight | ~55 oz / 1560 g | ~63.9 oz / 1810 g |
| Battery | 3S–4S 2200–3200mAh | 3S–4S 2200–3200mAh |
| Status | Discontinued | Current production |
The Evolution is more than a lighting refresh. It moves the battery to a top hatch, strengthens the landing-gear installation and fits heavier-duty springs, combines the wing electrical connections to simplify installation, and updates the electronics to a 70A Avian Smart Lite ESC and an AR631+ receiver with AS3X+. Those two headline changes, the hatch and the gear mount, are exactly what classic owners repeatedly repaired themselves, which is why the redesign landed well with long-term owners.
The trade is weight and cost. The Evolution is heavier at roughly 63.9 oz ready to fly against about 55 oz for the classic, and it carries a higher list position. The classic is what you find used or as new-old-stock, often at a friendlier number. If you value the corrected hatch and gear and want a current SKU, the Evolution is the better long-term buy. If a clean classic turns up and you are willing to add a gear brace, it flies the same mission.
There is no daylight version of the redesign. The only evolution derivative E-flite lists carries the integrated LED system, so the cockpit-access and gear fixes currently come bundled with night flying. The 2020 Night Timber X (EFL13850 BNF, EFL13875 PNP) sits between the two: it added the full LED system and a 60A Avian Smart ESC over the classic 50A unit, with an AR637TA receiver, but kept the underside hatch and the original gear mount, so it inherits the classic's weaknesses rather than fixing them.
Check the Night Timber X Evolution BNF on Amazon
Check the Night Timber X 1.2m BNF on Amazon
Recommended Upgrades and Setup
A handful of additions transform a classic Timber X, and none of them require rebuilding the airframe.
- A reinforced or 3D-printed landing-gear mounting brace. On the classic this is the highest-value modification, because the mounting structure is the airframe's clearest long-term failure point.
- A programmable six-channel or better Spektrum radio. Six channels flies the standard airplane, seven or more unlocks the full-span aileron configuration while keeping SAFE Select active, and any programmable set gives you the flap-to-elevator mix and expo the airframe wants.
- A 4S 2200–3200mAh LiPo if hovering and aggressive 3D are the goal. Keep the pack near the middle of that range so the center of gravity stays inside the 82–98 mm window without added ballast.
- Individual servo replacements only where a servo shows jitter, slop or a dead zone. There is no evidence supporting a mandatory six-servo swap.
- The EFL5261 Timber float set for water operations, which fits the classic, Night and Evolution airframes. Our floatplane RC guide covers the setup.
- The supplied leading-edge slats for pilots chasing the slowest practical landing speed.
Who Should Buy the Timber X?
The X suits pilots who already fly four channels and want a single airframe that covers short-field landings and aerobatics without adding a second model to the hangar. If you can take off, land and hold a coordinated turn without thinking about it, the Timber X rewards that foundation immediately.
It is the wrong airplane for a beginner. SAFE Select limits bank and pitch and can self-level, but it does not shrink the oversized control surfaces or the performance margin, and E-flite rates the airframe at Skill Level 3. A high-wing trainer or a high-wing STOL trainer is the right first step.
It is also the wrong airplane for a pilot who mainly wants relaxed bush flying. The Turbo Timber line trades some of the X's control authority for a calmer, more conventional STOL mission, which fits that brief better.
Buy the PNP if you run a receiver ecosystem of your own, or none at all, and want to control your own mixing architecture. Buy the BNF if you want the Spektrum electronics, stabilization and telemetry already integrated.
For a used or new-old-stock classic, treat it as an inspection rather than a purchase. Check the fuselage around the gear mounting for hidden epoxy and foam repairs, move every servo slowly through its full travel, inspect the elevator and rudder hinges, verify hatch retention, check the prop adapter and motor mount, and confirm the receiver generation stamped on the case. Our RC plane crash diagnosis guide lists the failure signatures worth knowing before you hand over money. If you want a dedicated pure aerobat instead of a hybrid, the E-flite Extra 300 3D is the next step up in precision.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is the E-flite Timber X 1.2m a good first RC plane?
No. E-flite rates it Skill Level 3, and SAFE Select limits attitudes but does not change the oversized control surfaces or the performance margin. It needs prior four-channel experience with a trainer and a programmable radio before it becomes manageable.
Q: Should I fly the Timber X on 3S or 4S?
Both are factory-supported on a 2200–3200mAh pack. 3S is a valid sport and STOL setup, and 4S is what most owners choose for hovering, harriers and strong vertical. Pick 4S if 3D is the goal and keep the pack near mid-range so the center of gravity stays in the 82–98 mm window.
Q: How many channels do I need?
Six channels covers the standard airplane, including flaps and SAFE Select. Seven or more is required for the manual's full-span aileron configuration while keeping SAFE Select active. A basic transmitter without flap-to-elevator mix will pitch up sharply under full flap, so a programmable radio matters more than raw channel count.
Q: Is the landing gear a real weakness?
On the classic airframe, yes. Owners repeatedly report the plastic retaining and mounting structure failing even when the wire gear survives, and a brace or epoxy reinforcement is the standard fix. The 2025 Night Timber X Evolution strengthens the same mounting and adds heavier-duty springs.
Q: Can I fly the Timber X off water?
Yes. The airframe accepts the EFL5261 Timber float set, and that float option carries across the classic, Night and Evolution versions.
Conclusion & Final Verdict
The E-flite Timber X 1.2m earns its reputation because it genuinely reconciles two missions that rarely share an airframe. It can drop onto a rough grass strip on flaps and big tires, then hold a hover on 4S with the throws opened up. For a pilot who has outgrown a trainer and wants one model that teaches aerobatics while still being a practical every-weekend flyer, that combination is hard to beat, and it remains the most aerobatic option in the Timber family.
The catch is that the classic version is discontinued, and its two flaws are well documented. The landing-gear mounting breaks in ways owners keep repairing, and the underside battery hatch makes pack swaps awkward enough that E-flite redesigned it. If you are buying new and want the corrected airframe, the Night Timber X Evolution is the model to chase, at the cost of extra weight and a higher list position. If you want the lighter classic, buy it knowing you will add a gear brace.
Whatever version you land on, treat the setup as seriously as the airframe. A programmable radio, a serious flap-to-elevator mix, and throws you actually measured will do more for the experience than any spec on the page. Start with the flying-side fundamentals in our how to trim an RC plane guide, then work up to your first basic aerobatic maneuvers. If you are still comparing second airplanes, our intermediate pilot picks put the Timber X in context against the rest of the field.
→ Check the current price of the E-flite Timber X 1.2m on Amazon
