Greg Covey

The [link=http://zagi.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=108]Zagi Tazz[/link] is the latest model from Trick R/C that continues the tradition of the popular foam wing designs from our friends in Venice Beach. The new high performance Tazz is a hybrid design of EPP foam, carbon spars, lite-plywood bracing, and custom plastics. The package also comes with a brushless motor, ESC, and battery pack that boasts of level speeds up to 85mph!

Designed for advanced flyers, the Tazz utilizes a 5x5 carbon prop that spins at 20,000 RPMs on the powerful brushless motor to achieve a diving speed of 130mph! The Zagi Tazz is sure to get your heart rate pumping!

Features
[ul][*] All EPP Foam [*] Light plywood brace [*] 5 carbon spar matrix [*] Precision CNC wire cut [*] 1800 mAh NiMh battery [*] Transverse battery position [*] Carbon prop w/machined hub [*] Die cut servo and battery bays [*] Zagi Tazz 10 Turn Brushless motor [*] Zagi Tazz 25 Brushless speed control [*] Airfoil shaped, 1.5� constant width elevons
[/ul]

Specifications
[ul][*] Airfoil: Zagi 101.4 [*] Flying Weight: 26 oz [*] Wing span: 48" [*] Wing area: 2.8 sq ft [*] Wing loading: 8.75 oz sq ft [*] Servos: 2 Micro [*] Radio: w/mixer [*] Battery: 1800 mAh High Rate [*] Motor: 10 Turn Brushless [*] ESC: 25A Brushless
[/ul]

ZAGI-XS-=FatalFlyer=-

Ahh!!! I'm in heaven! An actualy zagi thread!! And not only that its a brushless one!! Now why when I posted a thread on the forum board about Zagi Tazz, only like 3 people replied lol...

-Steven

Greg Covey

Introduction:

After mastering my electric trainer many years ago, my second plane was the original Zagi 400 wing. Now considered an outdated "classic", the Zagi 400 had the aerobatic capability needed to train me for a 4-channel plane with ailerons. Although the flight duration was somewhat short, this problem was eliminated when its successor, the Zagi 400X, hit the market. These older models have since been replaced by newer, better designs.

I can still remember coming home after my first Zagi 400 flight and telling my wife what a fantastic experience I just had. The original Zagi designs had a huge impact on the early days of electric flight! These inexpensive yet aerobatic wings introduced many glow pilots to their first successful electric plane and should be remembered as a significant part in the evolution of electric flight.

Tazz Parts:

The Zagi Tazz kit comes complete with wing parts, power system, battery pack, prop, and adapter. The 8-cell, 1800mAh NiMH pack boasts a high rate of discharge current to feed the powerful brushless motor. The 5x5 "spoon" prop is now made from stiffer carbon. The new thinned-out low-drag airfoil combined with an assortment of low profile custom plastics, carbon spars, and reinforcement parts reveal that this wing was designed for speed.

Greg Covey

The kit also comes with 4 rolls of tape; red, white, blue, and nylon-reinforced strapping tape. Several sheets of decals are included and a manual that contains well thought out pictures and assembly step instructions. Trick R/C did a great job on their manual!

Last, but not least, I found a piece of the coveted Zagi candy that I put on the shelf next to my many other (now fermenting) candies from past Zagi projects. I remember eating one years ago and they are good!

Greg Covey

Hi Steven,

Feel free to add to my review thread. I love to hear from others as I test out a new design.

Greg Covey

Assembly:

The all EPP wing halves are glued together first before removing the pre-cut center section and servo bays. I went against the manual recommendation and used 5-minute epoxy for this step. Since little epoxy was used, I felt it did not add much weight and I could hold it perfectly in place until the glue set. Note that my pen points to some plastic wrap under the wing bottom cores and that they are pushed away from center about 1/4" on each side.

After the epoxy dried, I removed the pre-cut sections and then glued the four flat carbon spars in place with 3M Super 77 spray adhesive per the manual. The spars run the full length of the wing on both top and bottom sides.

The remaining fifth carbon spar is cut and CA'ed to the plywood brace. The brace is first fit into the wing slot and marked for the curvature of the airfoil. The excess wood is cut off with a sharp razor knife for a perfect fit. The brace is then glued into the wing with 3M Super 77.

ZAGI-XS-=FatalFlyer=-

Thanks Greg, I fly the Zagi-XS with a brushless astroflight 020 5 turn pusher, and it halls butt on that kan 8 cell 1800 nimh pack. Can't wait to see a video of an XS in flight with a brushless motor! heheheheh

-Steven

Greg Covey

The motor mount tray is first trimmed to shape and then holes are cut for the tywrap and motor wires.

The brushless motor fit perfectly into the custom molded tray. The custom motor fit requires only a single tywrap to properly hold it in place.

Greg Covey

The Tazz servo bays were designed for HS-81 servos. The servo is mounted flush on the top side of the wing. The bay cutout is cut thinner to be made flush with the bottom side of the wing and then glued in place.

Other servos can be used by modifying the bay cutout.

Greg Covey

The Tazz wing is reinforced even further by adding some strapping tape in strategic areas.

The wing is first sprayed with 3M Super 77 and left to dry for 20 minutes before applying the nylon-reinforced strapping tape.

Greg Covey

After taping the electronics bay bottom to the wing, I decided that I simply had to deviate from the manufacturer's plan on covering the Tazz with colored shipping tape.

The Zagi Tazz is for advanced pilots so I figured that I would excercise some freedom of choice here and replace the colored shipping tape with heat-shrink wrap. In the past, I have successfully covered many Zagi wings using Oracover (aka Ultracote). This covering shrinks with low temperature heat and simply looks great!

chris elliott

Greg,
Sorry to interupt the flow, but I've got a question on the shrink wrap covering. I've wanted to do just this, and have always been told "Nope, you can't put heat shrinkable covering on a foamy because(a) There's nowhere for any air bubbles to go to (b) The iron will melt the wing.

May I ask you to give a little more detail on your technique please?

Cheers

Chris

ZAGI-XS-=FatalFlyer=-

Hey Greg, hows the wing coming along? You havn't posted anything on here for a while. I've been coming everyday on here to see how your TAZZ progresses. You gonna film its maiden flight?

-Steven

Ronbo

My Feedback: (12)

chris,
i would have thought someone would respond to your question.

i would say those that told you that never tried it with ultracote or econocote!

its simple really, just spray on 3m77 (or european equivelant) just like for the tape. then, cut out the covering, lay it down without wrinkles and apply heat just like on a balsa plane. about 200-220F should work. use same technique as on a fully sheeted surface, work from center out to make sure all bubbles/wrinkles are gone.

ZAGI-XS-=FatalFlyer=-

Ronbo, 220 F. is over kill on EPP Foam. I remember reading on here that 130 Deegrees F. was a sufficient amount of heat.

-Steven

Ritewing

My Feedback: (1)

I turn my Iron up all the way, and aply the heat by the way I use my Iron.
It is all technique if you get the feel for it you aply the heat by applying the rite pressure and pattern.Just work a pattern the same on both sides and keep it moovin. If you set the iron at 130 You might as well stick it in the sun instead.It will take days. Chris Ritewingrc

ZAGI-XS-=FatalFlyer=-

Chris, by turning it up all the way. How do you not warp the wing? This will be my first time heat shrinking, what temperature would be safe for me to use?

-Steven

Ronbo

My Feedback: (12)

trust me , ive done a fair bit of ultracoting, and ive got a temp sensor cuz i was curious. 200-220 is the starting point. 130 like chris said, might as well let the sun or breathe on it to get it to stick.

its all technique too. i prefer lower temps to start, then i can apply a little heat later so it will still stick. once you start at a certain temp to apply, then you must increase it in order to get wrinkles and adhere again.

pooman07

My Feedback: (2)

Hey guys i am thinking of getting the zagi xs one for 175 bucks on trick RC for my first wing...How experienced do i have to be to fly one of theese?[sm=confused.gif]

ZAGI-XS-=FatalFlyer=-

Pooman, do you have a rchobbystore anywhere near you? Go on www.zagi.com and go under dealers, You can find a store near you. If you do, buy it there. You will save 30-40 dollars that way.

Flying it is pretty easy, just set your throws accordingly to the manual and give it good straight and level toss, apply power and off it goes. Is this your first airplane? If it is, I'd recommend buying a few extra canopies and winglets from zagi's website or the hobbystore, incase you break them in a hard crash. If you can, upgrade your winglets to coroplast, they are much stiffer than the ones provided by zagi.

-STEVEN

pooman07

My Feedback: (2)

Thanks Steven but i have been in this hobby for a while i just havent ever looked into the zagi before and heard alot of people talking about it so i thought id check it out.and no my LHS doesnt cRRY IT FOR SOME ODD REASON[]

ZAGI-XS-=FatalFlyer=-

That sucks man, I understand why your LHS doesn't hve it since your all the way out in the cook islands. The Zagi-XS is worth every penny, good luck.

pooman07

My Feedback: (2)

lol nooo im not on the cook islands...my last name is cook so i felt like being stupid and i dont live in a city called MOtown.hahaha but no im Florida and theres crap loads of hobby shops down here but none have the zagi ....???

ZAGI-XS-=FatalFlyer=-

Then... ORDER from www.atlantahobbies.com or try towerhobbies.com one of the two has the zagi-xs for a decent price.

-Steven

*Crash*Johnson*

My Feedback: (7)

With the Zagi as a first plane I'd be careful. They are great in my opinion, and the first plane I flew. It's all a matter of going easy on the sticks and having the throws correct.

The only real issue with the Zagi: When you make a turn, if you bank and yank (ie: Left hard aileron then up elevator) it WILL stall a wing and go into a death spiral. The wing loses lift and has nowhere else to go but down. Unless you are kinda high up it will go in.
Be forewarned, but do not let this change your mind about the Zagi. They are great flyers and I think everyone should own one I love mine.. they are just about indestructable! I am practicing touch and goes with mine! (gotta skim it off the ground. not easy to accomplish!)