Anyone have any input on Modeltech, or in particular, this ARF...

http://www.hobbypeople.net/gallery/123680.asp

Thanks,
kliff

As they say "You get what you pay for." But I've found the Modeltech planes to be a good buy. I'm still flying my Extra300 .25 and it's a little work horse. The main thing on these and several other ARF manufacturers is to REALLY LOOK OVER the plane carefully before slapping it together. Do a mock-up assembly to check wing and tail fit. Check for any warping Don't take any chances with your expensive motors and radio gear. Use plenty of 30min epoxy on high stress areas like the wing hold-downs and the firewall. Add tri-stick where it needs it. Plaster that thin CA around light/thin fuse sides and gear block areas . Let it cure good and apply another coat. Then build your plane. You won't regret it.
Sorry I don't have info on the SE5A. There is a good thread on it here in the ARF forum.

I have had the Magic Extra 300L with an OS 50SX and I'm currently flying the Magic Formula 3D with a Super Tigre G90. Both planes were nice kits except the covering on the Magic Extra was not very good. The covering on the new Magic Formula 3D however is Monokote. The Magic Formula 3D is a really nice kit with some thick lumber and solid. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another Model Tech product.

I've got the Global Tequila Sunrise in the 25 form factor and it's a tough little plane. A word of caution, it seems like the landing gear ply was added as a second thought on my Tequila. I'm not sure about this aircraft though. Overall, the fit and finish are great. The use a high quality covering and I believe it's a name brand type. I like the quality of the Global/Modeltech ARFs and would gladly buy another.

I like their planes. I had the Fokker D7, still have the big P-47, the Dragon Lady, and the RCM Trainer. Good quality planes.

Thanks for all the input guys, sounds like a ModelTech ARF is in my future!

I have a Dragon Lady, and i am very happy with it. I got the ARC version, and it was well built. The hardware included was crap though!

I like both Model tech and the great customer servace from Hobby People

Gang, I have a dragon lady for my next project. Any hints that might save my plane. I am going to put a saito 100 in it. Looks to be a gentle plane am I wrong?
I'm counting on using std. servos.

Well, as far as I can tell, the Dragon Lady looks like a great model. If it's like the Tequila Sunrise, the weak point will be the landing gear pad. Most likely this is the weak point on any ARF. I completely ditched the pad, and the shaped balsa, on my Tequila for five ply light weight birch for the entire portion of the front of the fuselage. I tucked the birch under the wing mount and epoxied the entire thing to the rest of the fuselage. After the epoxy cured I used three long servo screws to reinforce the front of the ply into the motor mount. HUGE DIFFERENCE! The landing gear no longer rips out if I look at the grass cross eyed. Landings have to be hot with the Tequila too. It's not a floater, but it's a blast to fly. It looks good on the ground too. The covering is great, and it's resilient too.

I like the lines on the Dragon Lady. Go a head and fly the crap out of it. You'll have fun. Hopefully I have given you some ideas and such. Let me know if you have any questions.

Have a Dragon Lady .40 ARC, bought about 8 years ago. The model was well built and came with good instructions. I built it stock out of the box, dont remember about the hardware though. As far as flying, I first had an OS.46fx on it and it was a rocket if I opened it up, as the plane is light[8D]. The next engine for the DL was an OS.40 Surpass, not so much power but great for cruising around and cool sounding[8D]. Even with the Surpass it is not underpowered, just reasonably powered. The plane is gentle with no bad habits, take off and landings are smooth as silk. Just a nice flyer.

Yeah i had a 46Fx in my Dragon lady, and it sure did go like a rocket! i love it!! i am currently flying it with a Enya40SS, for a more relaxed putt around the sky!! I had not problems with my landing gear mounting plate
Firewalkerd1: Dunno about the big Dragon lady but the 40 size was a beautiful plane to fly! a very gentle lady!

I have been flying my 60 size dragon lady for about 3 years now on a magnum 1.20 4 stroke still on the original landing gear using standard servos. Has well over 150 flights and still rock solid. I swear that this plane is more gentle than my trainer. Handles wind like a champ and really lands like a lady. No 3-D, but a great flyer. A saito 100 will rock!!

I had the Me-109 and did not like it at all. Nothing seemed to fit right, and it didn't fly very good once completed.

A while back I had the Sonic 500 ARC and that was a different story. Very nicely built and everything went together great.

So I guess I'm kinda 50/50 with them, I would take the advice of looking at the model before buying.

I've had two modeltech ARFs lately and both had similar problems...first was a Mach one, the second a brand new demon.

the first problem I had was the landing gear blocks are hot glued in and will fail at some point, so like an earlier post suggested...Thin CA and repeat upon assembly.

the second problem i had with both airplanes is that at some point the fuel tanks developed a leak around the neck and flooded the nose of the plan with raw fuel.

Might be wise to ditch the stock fuel tanks in favor of a better dubr/sullivan/hayes type.

However both planes do have positives, flew great, light and strong airframes.

Those problems are Pretty much shared by every ARF Manufacturer.
Dragon Lady is a fantastic flying, Rugged Model. The Se5A Is another winner. I've flown both and they're great. Their Fledgling Trainer is a wonderful flyer as well.

I have a Modeltech P47 60 size. Great flying plane that handles wind well and is as easy to fly as a trainer. The one thing I had to replace was the nylon block piece that bolts in for the tail wheel. It looks old and brittle and shatters to little pieces when very little pressure is applied to the tail wheel. I bought a new piece which looked as old as the first one and it broke the first time the tail wheel moved! I had enough and replaced the tail wheel with a Sullivan assembly with no problems since. I also had to add lots of support blocks for the large cowl to keep it on solid.

I guess I dont get the modeltech business model , considering they market BP and advance scale models as there own brands as well as modeltech , I just dont see a reason for modeltech , its like the now defunct sportman avaition also once sold by hobby poeple .
The new releases from BP seem to be absolutly excellant .

I have their P47 60 size as well. Great flying plane. I'd recommend them.

I know this post is a few years old, but thought I would give this a try. I just bought a Dragon Lady ARC, but do not have the instructions. I am a fair builder but sure would be nice to have them. Would you by any chance still have them, I would be happy to pay for them or a copy. Thanks.