456MB Dragon 40 ARF --anybody got one?
 

If so, what do you think of the plane and assembly, and what engine do you have in it. Any major disagreements with the RC Universe Magazine review?

S

RE: 456MB Dragon 40 ARF --anybody got one?
 

Hello Steve

I've been flying my Dragon for about 3 weeks now,and love it.

I using the Evolution 46 motor with a 10.5 x 6 prop.
I mounted a 6 volt battery just in front of the rear stabilizer and added 1 ounce of weight to the very back of the plane to get the balance point to 4 inches. I increased the fuel tank size to 12 ounces, and can fly 20 minutes on a tank.
Altogether the plane weighs in at 7.5 pounds with no fuel on board.

The plane floats forever. It will climb straight up and hang on the prop for a few seconds.
It is so easy to do acrobatics with it with just a little practice.

I flew it Tuesday afternoon in a 17mph wind that was gusting to 23mph, what a blast.
It took off in 5 feet or less and went straight up.
I could make good progress against the wind at less than 1/2 throttle and at full throttle I had to apply a good amount of down elevator just to fly level. The only time the plane seemed to be pushed around was turning out of the wind with little power applied.

This is only my second plane. I learned on an Avistar and then took the engine and electronics out and put them in the Dragon 40.

The only weekness I have found is the wood bracing for the landing gear. Mine was very poorly glued.
I believe if one would pour thin CA around the joints of the landing gear braceing and let it set up and then apply a good 30 minute apoxy over the top, you would never have trouble with it. I ended up landing in a rough field and I broke landing gear loose.

This plane is so much fun to fly, easy to land and well built I bought another.
I'll fly this one for awhile longer and put the other one together and use this one for spare parts.

Perhaps I'll see you at Mavis Field


Ralph

RE: 456MB Dragon 40 ARF --anybody got one?
 

Ralph --

thanks for your review!! I can't wait to fly mine. It's ready to go for when my Tiger 2 and GP Piper Cub aren't already in my car...

Hope to see you at the field soon.

S

RE: 456MB Dragon 40 ARF --anybody got one?
 

I just put a new K&B 61 Twister on my Dragon 40.
With a 11x5 prop at 1/3 throttle the tail lifts off the ground.
I'll fly it a couple of times tomorrow to finish breaking it in and it should be ready for the 13x6 prop.

With the 12 ounce tank It will run 19 minutes on the ground.

God I love this stuff.

Ralph

RE: 456MB Dragon 40 ARF --anybody got one?
 

Does it get any better than this?

The K&B 61 Twister is a dream on the Dragon 40.

It weighs less than the 46 I had on it and has unlimited power.

You should of seen the face of my instructor after he flew it :D.

With a 6 or 7 degree prop the plane is to fast. With an 11x7 prop it was plenty fast enough against a 15mph wind at 1/8 throttle. I'm going to put a 13x4w prop on it on Monday and try it again.

Let me say that the K&B 61 twister is a great running engine. It idels well even at a very low rpm. Responce is far greater than the 46 evolution, and starting was way too easy.

If you have any doubts the 61 Twister is a great engine and a steal at $99.00.

Ralph

RE: 456MB Dragon 40 ARF --anybody got one?
 

I have got to tell you guys how much I like the looks of this plane. The video I viewed of it in the air tells it all. It flys EXACTLY (and I mean EXACTLY) like my fathers sig rascal forty. My father and Flew it til we crashed it. (Dumb thumbs - New pilot) I had the chance to fly his a bunch and it was SO fun. It had great rudder authority and the ailerons were a little slow. That is just how this plane appears to fly. My fathers had a OS 52 surpass on it and would hang on the prop til I screwed it up. Don't get me wrong it may have been coming down a little but I am sure it was at least 7-10 seconds of motionless. My father will either be getting a 456mb or another rascal for christmas.

Did I say I think this plane looks the sh*t.

Dave

RE: 456MB Dragon 40 ARF --anybody got one?
 

Where do you get one in the US? Any one know?

RE: 456MB Dragon 40 ARF --anybody got one?
 

To tell you the truth, when RCU asked me to review it, I was pretty lukewarm on the idea. But I have a brother in Florida who just got back into the hobby and he was outgrowing his trainer.

He also had just bought an OS 52 4-stroke, so I told him to loan me the engine for the review, and I would give the Dragon to him when the review was done.

Big mistake.

I fell in love with that plane, but had already promised to give it away.

My brother however, is having a ball with it!

RE: 456MB Dragon 40 ARF --anybody got one?
 

RC country in Sacramento Ca. is the only place I know of.
Their web site is down right now or else I'd give you their phone number.

http://www.rccountryhobby.com/


The rumor is they bought all that the was left.
They are saleing them for $130.00.

If I were you I'd buy 2 of them. I lost the first one to a reciever failure.

The second one seems to be a better flyer than the first.


Ralph

RE: 456MB Dragon 40 ARF --anybody got one?
 

I put one together about a week ago....and really like it. I have a O.S. 46AX with 11x6 prop, lots of power and gets in the air with 1/2 throttle or less. Great handling plane and I like how it looks....had a lot of positive remarks from guys in the club!

Only criticism: would have liked them to paint the cowl and wheel pants to match the plane. It looks like cub yellow, but is a little more orange so it doesn't quite match.

I got mine at a local shop. Instruction manual had sticker for CA dealer.
Hot Bodies
27469 Colt Court
Temecula, Ca
909-296-9340
www.hotbodiesonline.com

I entered the email address and it didn't go to their website...try explaining that to your wife..."honest honey, thats the address it gave me!!"

I had better luck when I entered "456mb" with Google, that brought up hot bodies site without all the porn.

RE: 456MB Dragon 40 ARF --anybody got one?
 

I've got a magnum 52 4-stroke on mine. I got it at an RC flea market, they held at Ft. Lauderdale early this year, and I love this plane alot. This is one of the best flying planes that I have to date.

RE: 456MB Dragon 40 ARF --anybody got one?
 

Hi Minnflyer; I just picket up a built Dragon 40 from a guy. It didn't come with a manuel. I was wondering if you could tell me what control throws you had on yours. ex. aleron, elevator, rudder. Also duel rate if any and expo. It would be greatly appreciated before I step up to the plate. The airframe has an enya 40 in it. Thanks impalas

RE: 456MB Dragon 40 ARF --anybody got one?
 

Impalas i will look it up in my manual and let you know tomarrow.

Tom

RE: 456MB Dragon 40 ARF --anybody got one?
 

The dragon is a vary nice flying plane. I Have an Evolution 46 NT with a Jett in cowl muffler turning a 11-5 APC in it. The plane has one weak point however, it's the landing gear mounting blocking as mentioned earlier. If you have a dead stick and you have to land in the grass, the gear will snag and pull the bottom out of the fuselage. The easiest fix for this is to knock out the factory L.G. blind nuts and install new 1/4-20 or M6 blind nuts for plastic screws. This way the landing gear will sheer off and let the plane slide along. Works like a champ for me (3 dead sticks in the grass, over a hundred flights). Two other guys weren't so lucky (RC country employees). With a strong 46- 50 class two stroke this plane will fly knife edge all day at half throttle AND at full power knife edge LOOPS ! I punish this plane HARD! It will do outside loops too, however if you push too hard it will roll out of it. Takeoffs are easy, 15 feet and your up, 25 feet and pull back and go strait up. Be ready on the rudder for landings, the tail likes to come around just before the tail wheel drops, especially if theres no head wind to help keep it strait. For strength, glass the wing halfs all around. Go with one size larger control rods for rudder and elevator too. Drip thin CA all around the joints inside of the fire wall, wing hanger, L.G mounting bock or any other place that looks dry of glue. Put a drop of blue Locktite (removable) on the wing screws each time you put the wings on. Epoxy the tail area well. SIG cub yellow is the perfect match to paint the white cowl and wheel pants. Hope this helps!

RE: 456MB Dragon 40 ARF --anybody got one?
 

Ok fellas, so where is the cheapest place to pick up one of these ARF's?

RE: 456MB Dragon 40 ARF --anybody got one?
 

Tigernms, I picked mine up on Ebay. I don't think they are out there anywhere that you can easily order one so Ebay is the best option.

Tom

RE: 456MB Dragon 40 ARF --anybody got one?
 

I emailed the company and they replied that the Dragon 456MB is discontinued and no longer available. So ebay is probably the best remaining option, although I haven't seen one posted on ebay for quite some time, and the last one I did see commanded a pretty good price. The Rascal is a bit more expensive, but I'll vouch for it. Sig makes some pretty sweet ARF's. Probably not the best out there, but very good, and a heck of a lot better than the 'bargain basement' ARF makers. IMHO worth the extra money to get good quality wood, good quality workmanship, and good quality covering, plus the Rascal is a *very* well designed and *very* sweet flying aircraft. The rascal has elegant, golden age lines, but doesn't have any nasty stall habits like a cub and other scale models can have.

Curt.

RE: 456MB Dragon 40 ARF --anybody got one?
 

If you want one I have one NIB that has a fractured rib from the factory but other than that it is in perfect shape. It is project number 7 on my list and has been on the shelf for about two years so I would be willing to let it go to someone who wants it. My email is [email protected] .

Tom

RE: 456MB Dragon 40 ARF --anybody got one?
 

Tom,
Thanks for your reply. I sent you an email.

R-
Mike

RE: 456MB Dragon 40 ARF --anybody got one?
 

I saw nine boxes of 456MB Dragon 40 ARF's at R/C Country hobby shop a few weeks ago in Sacramento CA. (916) 731- 5868

Me too!!!
 

Hey guys!!! I picked up one of these super-duper and well... Just plain nifty Dragon 40's on eBay last year,but it's missing the cowl. I know this thread is 13-15 years old,but I'm hoping one of you fine gentlemen still has one in your hangar you might part with? Or a clue as to what might fit as a replacement for the missing cowl piece? Any help would be greatly appreciated. I've got cash or trade,let me know. I'll take parts/pieces or the whole thing. Especially the guy with the floats included! Thanks for any help you can offer,Stan O.

so65imp3s3s, A Sig Kadet Sr. ARF cowl is a very close match for your Dragon 40 cowl. The general size and shape are the same except the Kadet ARF cowl doesn't have the oil cooler intake scoop bump on the bottom. It also doesn't have the two air intake openings cut out on each side of the prop spinner. You will have to mark and cut those open yourself (easy job). The Sig Kadet cowl is about 1/4" narrower than the Dragon cowl but the Kadet cowl is thin, very flexable fiberglass and can easily be stretched 1/8" on each side during installation. The Kadet cowl is just a little taller at the rear so it can give up a little material up when you pull it width wise that 1/8" on each side. I just happen to have an assembled and intact Dragon 40 and a NIB Sig Kadet cowl in my collection that I just got out to check out the interchange possibility. It looks like a good replacement with a little tweaking to me. Call Sig for a replacement Kadet Senior ARF cowl. BTY, all the bragging these guys did 15 years ago about what a great flyer the Dragon 40 is, is 100% true. Do fix it and fly it you won't be sorry.