PlaneJim,

The splitting up of the aileron servos does not necessarily give you a higher roll rate. It does due to the linkage set up at the aileron, but it may not be that noticable. I am not a torque rod fan, and almost always do away with them, even on something as simple as a trainer. Ailerons are less likely to "give" at speed, and there's no wearing out the aileron hole, where it enters (torque rod set-up). I've had to land a couple of planes after the servo failed (torque rod) and I can tell ya it is a little tricky banking with the left hand, while controlling altitude with the right!

It also allows you a "backup" should one servo fail!

Not everybody will agree with this, but it is my preference.

And yeah, dem DragonLady's float in nice, eh?

Gary

If you are a fly-on-the-wing kinda flyer, .60 2stroke should service the 'Lady fine. Around when I started RC, I'd seen many an Astro Hog flew with older non-Schnerle .60 engines. The hog has about the same wing area, and many of them were silk, doped, and painted to around 9-10lbs.

These days, however, people consider an airplane underpowered if it can't pull out of hover with authority. I can't argue with the never-ending lust for more power, as I am guilty of it too sometimes. And if there is a better ship to overpower, the 'Lady is it! Those long legs just beg for a big long wood... prop, that is. Looks like an 18" prop would clear no problem.

Personally, I would strap on an 1.08 2stroke or 1.20 4stroke and take her to town.

Even though Gary I do not really agree with the idea of another servo gives better service-at least two more connections and one more servo to worry about is what I think about-and talking about floating nicely-I hope so-I am installing floats on the second one for I hope will make a great float plane

O.K. I think you convinced me. I sent back the Tower .75 and ordered a Magnum 1.08 with a Pitts muffler.
Sounds like this will be a better setup for her.

PLANE JIM,

In theory you are absolutely correct, but how many times have you had a servo connection fail? It's never happened to me , but I have had problems with torque rods wallowing out their holes in ailerons, and I've even had one break through the top of an aileron once (crappy soft balsa). That being said, I prefer one servo per aileron but if an ARF has torque rods installed I usually use them.

PT,

I thought you were in my neck of the woods, did'ja move a little east? Howz that Futaba radio workin' for ya?

Backwing,

A 108 w/ a Pitts muffler sounds great. You won't be sorry, you'll see. The cowl on the DragonLady begs for an in-cowl muffler, don't it? I made the mistake of putting a standard ST muffler on my last one, and was sorry I did afterward. Already have a new ST 2000 w/ a Brisson just waiting for it.

Somebody mentioned the clearance these have up front to swing the wood, and just wanted to let you know that I used to swing an 18x6-10 with no problem at all. New one will swing the same size! [sm=surprised.gif]

Gary

Hey Gary, good to hear from you!

Yup, I just moved last month into a new house near Base Line and Cherry. Much nicer than the little apartment I was in!

The radio was great up to early August when someone smashed my window on my truck and swiped it from the back seat, along with all my tools and some other things. Luckily I had homeowner's insurance (even though I lived in an apartment!), and they bought me a new 9cap! Overall I lost my ass, but I did get all my hobby related items replaced.

Are you flying that jet you were building yet?

Man, sorry to hear about your truck, radio, and tools.

The jet flew...for about 30 seconds. If you ever have a couple o' hours, I'll give ya the whole story... If ya want it in one word....."underpowered". [sm=frown.gif]

I know....underpowered....from me....AirGar.....the overpower everything preacher! HAHA

Oh well, live and learn.

Good to see ya still hangin' 'round!

Gary

Greetings.
I agree with all the positive comments made of the DL.
Mine is ARF #39, purchased from Aero-tech hobbies in North Canton, Ohio for $155 + $8 shipping.
I ripped off all the covering, re-shaped the tail feathers, sheeted the aft deck with balsa, added a blackened canopy and SIG wheel fairings, then re-covered in monokote. Main wheels are Dubro 3", tailwheel GP 1 1/2" with a Dubro bracket and my own 3/32 wire.
I used a 3/32 wire to connect the elevator halves after lengthening the fusilage 1 1/2". Both the elevator and rudder servos are located at the rear, almost opposite one another. One Hitec 475 servo is used for the ailerons and works beautifully. The engine is an old Magnum .91 with a J'Tec pitts style muffler ( a mistake-- I should've bought the Bisson) a SonicTronics 310 plug using 7 1/2 % Morgan Omega fuel. This swings a MA 14 x 6 or APC 13 x 8 prop at 11,400 to 11,700 rpm. That's too fast. I'll try the APC 15 x 6 tomorrow.
Total weight came to 9 pounds 6 ounces and balanced both ways with a 1100 mAh battery along the left side of the fuel tank. Incidently, the fuel tank is 14 oz. from a Kyosho 232 Cap 60.

Notable is the fact the wing weighs 2 pounds, 11 ounces!! And it is not sheeted with balsa as the ads state; it appeared to be Obeche, but the product manager at Global tells me it's a wood native to southern China...Monokote will not readily iron onto it. The airfoil design is symmetrical at 16 1/2 %, and except for the "hook" mount, it is the same as the GP Big Stik 60 which I'll use as a replacement and save 1 1/2 pounds.

All in all, it is an exceptionally good model with excellent performance and will knife edge with no roll coupling! After the wing change is made, I may go to a GMS .76 ($82) with a Bisson Muff and save even more weight. The GMS will swing a APC 11 x 8 at 10,700 on my test stand, and I expect even faster once it is fully broken in.

Regards,
DrGO

Well....my decision has been made....I'm going with the 1.20
Magnum 4-stroke, inverted........looks about right to me. [8D]

Dave.

....YEAH, BABY....

....preliminary hackage....glow plug exposed....

...."I think it's gonna fly, Orville"....

I think this old pasta strainer will have alot more fun on the
front of the "Lady"....

....than it was having in the junk drawer of my kitchen....

I'm going with the Magnum 120 - 4 in mine, too, but I'm putting it at 90 degrees. Let us know how she flies.

autopilot ....OK, will do....Let us no how yours works out too.
Mine might take 2-3 weeks to get going, I'm in no hurry. My
tank is very high for the inverted set-up, and I can only lower
it about 3/4". I might just try it in the stock position and see what
happens....if it floods out I'll have to do some major surgery. I
wanted to put a hatch in the bottom front of the fuse for the tank
access....but the way it's made in the bottom, it can't be done. []

Dave.

Hey Doc, does the GP Big Stick 60 wing bolt right on the 'Lady? I just bought a NIB Big Stik 60 with an extra set of wings. I've always liked the 'Lady and came real close to buying one - especially when HobbyPeople had them for $149. But I backed off mostly because of the weight issue. If the Big Stik wing is a direct bolt-on, or takes very little mod work to fit perfectly, I might get me a 'Lady afterall.

Can you elaborate on the "hook" mount? Are you refering to the plywood center rib extensions on the Big Stik wing? If so, I assume the Dragonlady has dowel pins instead? Is that the only difference? Thanks.

Hey Dave,

You may want to think about adding that "pasta strainer" up front, there's a possibility it could create a "whistle"?? It shore looks good though!

Gary

Been flying a Dragon Lady ARC for over five years with a Saito 91 FS and a single standard servo on ailerons and two on split elevators. Flies fine in wind or calm. Nice three point landings when you want them. Only problem has been leaky fuel filler valves causing erratic engine runs. Changed over to fuel dots and smooth engine runs ever since. By the way, all my servos are Airtronics.

I don't mind torque rods either, especailly if they are allready in.
The Lady will spend most of her time chugging around in the 60-80
MPH range, so I don't expect any aileron flutter from soggy torque
rods. I will mount two ailerons servos like I did on this Twin Star.

You have the safety factor, and you can have a bit of fun with
flaperons, and the flap/elevator coupling as well....
I'll go with dual elevators servos as well....mounted fore or aft,
depending where the weight is needed for the balance.

Dave.

Forgive my ignorance, but I have been following the DL threads for the past few weeks and am really interested in this model. Hope nobody minds, but I have a few questions.

I am an intermediate type pilot and would like to know if a TT 91FS would pull this model adequately? How are the slow flight characteristics? Will it handle slow approach and landings or does it need to come in a bit hot as do most sport planes? How complicated would it be to add a second aileron servo? Does this model call for dual elevator servo's or is that something ya'll add for more control/authority? Are there any design and/or assembly problems that could be expected from this ARF?

Thanks,

I've had a Dragon Lady for years. Club members liked it so much they bought up several. They have tried numerous engines with this airplane. The engine of choice is a Surpass 1.20.

You will love this combination.

Good luck.

Crash Master....

"I am an intermediate type pilot and would like to know if a TT 91FS
would pull this model adequately"?

Not really....the lady is big and fat....you would be disappointed in the
performance with a .91 4-stroke.

"How are the slow flight characteristics? Will it handle slow approach and
landings or does it need to come in a bit hot as do most sport planes"?

It floats like a Dreamboat....not a problem.

"How complicated would it be to add a second aileron servo "?

Easy enough to double up on the center mounted servos....using
the torque rods. However, if you wanted to mount dual servos in
the wings....it will take quite a bit of additional work.

"Does this model call for dual elevator servo's or is that something ya'll
add for more control/authority"?

The Lady has a one piece elevator....it could be actuated by a single
servo....and a single push rod....however, some Modelers might
prefer to use double push rods....running off a single HD servo....
and others would prefer to split the elevator....and use dual servos
for redundancy....and an edge against failure. Myself....I haven't decided
yet.

"Are there any design and/or assembly problems that could be expected
from this ARF"?

Not really....the usual stuff....glass the center of the wing....epoxy the
firewall, and glue the heck out of the rest of the fuse. Perhaps....beef
up the rear wing hold-downs....double-up on all the CA hinges, and seal
all the control surfaces with clear Mono-cote....at least on the bottom
surfaces....ect, ect....

The "Lady" is as true and stable as they come....it's all about how much
power you want to put up front....and what you expect to get in return.

Dave.

I would think the TT would pull one of the 9 1/2 pound ones OK, but the 11+ pound brick ones are a little marginal for it. I have a 1.08 so I could pull the heavier ones, but I won't because I doubt a 11+ pouund plane of that size lands very well, at least not if you don't land a little hot. I have the same problem with most Global / Modeltech ARFS. Either they make them heavy or a weird size. I would probably buy the Kwik Fly, but they made it too large to fly well with a .60, but SPA won't let you use an engine larger than a .60 two stroke or .91 four stroke. That plane would be at a disadvantage going up against the 7 1/2 pound Daddy Rabbits powered with OS .91FS's. The Giles is another heavy weight.

Picking my lady up tonight. Power a OS 120. Question, should I buy it with or without the pump? Is there a major advantage?

John_RedSox....

....get the pumper....yes there are Major advantages. You can mount
the tank and engine anyway you like, and still have constant fuel
flow to the carb....no matter which way the plane is flying, as well.

In my case....with the carb spraybar....fully 1 3/4" below the tank
centerline....I may have to fit a Cline pump/regulator to fly inverted
without the carb leaning out. No big deal....lottsa planes require
pumps....but with your pumped OS....you can just be smiling away,
as us non-pumpers are fiddling with our planes.

Dave.

Flyboy-

Thank you for the information. I will get the pumper. Hope she fly's as good as people say it does. I was going to get the H9 Corsair but figured it was too early and didn't want to fuss with their crappy retracts. I figure stay with the lady and she won't let you down. Now if I can only get the temperature up to 40 or so I can take her out next week. John