Modeltech Dragon Lady
 

I finally picked up My Dragon Lady today from the hobby shop. I ordered this thing about 3 months ago and it took forever to get here. I examined it pretty closely after I got home and it seems like a very nice plane. Wings are foam core and fuse is very sturdy. I had never laid eyes on one of these until I saw the ad. No one around here had one so I was curious as to quality, how it would fly and so on. Now that it has arrived I am happy to say that it appears to be a very well thought out kit and well built too. The covering is similar to Monocote but not the same and has quite a few wrinkles but I am sure they will come out with some heat. I just wish these manufacturers would get a clue and quit making these planes with all white bottoms!

I think even though this plane is advertised as being acrobatic, it is going to fly more like a J3. symetrical wing but not overly large control surfaces so I think it will be very docile.

Since I have two new planes already and one for my son that is 95% done I think I will take my time with this one and consider the best way to go with it. Engine possibilities according to maufacturer range from a .61 2 stroke up to a 1.20 4 stroke so if anyone has any experience please feel free to chime in. When I get rolling on it I plan on lots of pictures so I'll post some if there is an interest.

Modeltech Dragon Lady
 

Steve
I have one of the older ARC Ladies, and will say that the YS 120 (an older one from a pattern guy) makes it a great flyer. There were at one time seven Ladies flying at my field and the power plants varied (Ys120{1}, YS140{2}, Webra 120{1}, G-23{1}, Supertigre 2300{1), and Supertigre 90{1}), but the occasional 60 that would visit our county field were showing a lack of aerobatic ability compared to the ones we had.

The terminal speed for the airframe is right at 110MPH and was verified by the 120's on 15% and the 140's on 40% were all within 2MPH on a radar gun

I will say that you need to put something as a filler in the fuse where you glue the horzaontal stab to as the fuse will not flex with that added and that will be a good thing.

THe guys with the 140's put bigger ailerons on thiers and there were no flutter problems at all.

You also want to make yours a two aileron servo plane to be able to get the elevator flap mising that will help with the tumbling moves.

I am still flying mine, one of the others mid aired and the rest were retired/sold for the bigger ARF's.

The Lady is a great windy day flyer and is the best windy flyer I know of for its size.

Well, hope you enjoy your as much as I have mine, take care

Modeltech Dragon Lady
 

So did I read that correctly that the new Modeltech DL ARF 60 uses one servo for the ailerons?

Twin Aileron Servos
 

Thats kinda what I was figuring too. The plane appears to have much more potential with a few mods then if it is built as shown in the instructions. I have a 5 Hitec digital servos on order for it and am seriously considering a OS 1.20 with a pump (surpass) for power. Do you have a suggestion as to filler for the tail? I hadn't noticed any problems back there but hadn't looked to closely in that area. Like I said I really have a pretty full plate right now & besides, I usually don't start a plane until I have all the peices/parts. Closest hobby shop to me is a looonnngg drive so it is good to be prepared ;)

Modeltech Dragon Lady
 

Been flying one of these for a while now. Built from an arc kit about five years ago. Saito 91 FS with Master Airscrew 14-6 for power is quite sufficient for docile aerobatics and will fly around without effort at three quarter throttle. Overall weight dry is 10.2 pounds. Using one standard servo on ailerons, two on elevators and pull pull rudder. Covered with 21 st Century white fabric. Required 5 oz. of weight in the nose for balance. Has proven to be a sturdy reliable flyer.

Modeltech Dragon Lady
 

That is kind of the setup I was thinking of Touch n' Go, 'ceptin for the single Aileron servo. Did you rebuild the elevator to make it bigger or just put the second servo on it for security? In the new ARF kits the elevator is one piece and looks to be pretty sturdy. I was thinking of making a new one about 15/20% more movable surface without changing the overall shape/size of the horizontal surface. I don't want to change the looks of the plane, just make it as nimble as possible within the given size and shape.

I am hoping that the OS 1.20 will offset some of that need for lead in the front.

Modeltech Dragon Lady
 

The filler can be balsa for example as all you are trying to get is more glue surface. It can be triangle stock or a wedge shaped plate inserted, your choice

Modeltech Dragon Lady
 

Don't be fooled by its looks. This airplane can be as wild or as gentle as you wish. Mine has a Saito 100 and can tumble like a cartwheel. Give it a try and you won't regret it.

Modeltech Dragon Lady
 

I have the slightly older ARC version (coverered with coverite fabric). I lightened the wings quite a bit, per the optional instructions. I have an OS 1.20 Pumped on mine.

This Lady is one of the best all around planes I have. It move out VERY fast at high throttle settings, but settles down nicely at low to mid throttle. It's not a 3D aerobatic plane, but it will hold it's own. Be sure to use good servos and she will take quite a bit.

Regards,
Lee Snover

Modeltech Dragon Lady
 

Ok , In the new ARF's I think the tail is already addressed. There is a filler block in the back of the fuse that the tail will sit on. The tail is built in one piece prior to installing on the fuse and will be very solid once it is installed.

I think the optional instructions you are referring to Isnover have been incorporated in my plane from the factory. The outer 1/2 of the wings have been lightened quite a bit before they were covered. They are foam core and balsa sheeted from the root out to approx. halfway to the tip and are built like a standard built-up wing from there out to the tip.

The ailerons are about the same size as the ones on my Kangke .60 size Extra so they should be fine if I run seperate servo's to them. It just seems as if the control surfaces on the tail are kinda small for the size of the plane. Maybe not, it just may be the fact that I am used to my aerobatic design planes like the Ultimate and Extra and Funtana.

Modeltech Dragon Lady
 

I split the elevator and each half, right and left, is driven by a separate standard servo. No other changes to the elevators.
The difference in weight of your OS 120 vs my Saito 91 will more than compensate for the weight that I had to add to the nose.

Modeltech Dragon Lady
 

I got an email from the guy at my field that has the DL with a G-23 in the nose and since he has gone to the gliders he is selling off his power stuff. I will check with him and see if he wants to possibly sell and ship it, if someone at the field dosen't snag it first.

BTW it has never been crashed and all you would need to do is install a rcvr.

Mo' Power for the Lady
 

Got a deal today for the Dragon Lady I couldn't turn down. I picked up a Saito 1.50 new in the box for 300.00 so....... :D

I have 5 Hitec digitals 5645's and all the hardware to go with. I have a Tru-Turn spinner already cut for a 15/10 so I think I will start this girl monday.

The sod farm I fly on is plowing my runway to plant again and none of the stuff I am flying now will land in the grass. :(

Modeltech Dragon Lady
 

Well, the Dragon Lady is well under construction. I cut access hatches in the wings and bored a hole through the foam centers with a brass rod to put servos in the wings for the ailerons. i cut the elevator in two and put double servos on the elevator. Built a pull-pull system for the Rudder and reinforced the floor of the cockpit to use as a mounting point. Since Modeltech built the plane to use control rods mounted in plastic sleeves, I routed the pull-pull wires through the mounting sleeves. I figured what the heck and it appears to be going to work out well. I guess time will tell.

I decided to power the plane with a Saito 1.20 as the 1.5 looked to be gross overkill and since I already had the 1.20...... I decided to take the 1.50 back to the hobby shop to exchange for a gasser to put in my Sig Extra 300 XS when it arrives.

She Flies!
 

Finished up the Lady last night except for the Wheel pants and Pilot. Just had to go flying tonight since I haven't been flying since Sunday. (I think I have been having withdrawls :mad:

I'm glad to report that she flies like a dream. Took 3 clicks of up elevator and one click of right aileron to trim and she was hands off. The final setup was a Saito 1.20 with a Master Airscrew Classic 16 x 10 (it's what I had on it). Two Hitec digitals in the wings, two on the elevator, One on the rudder and a Futaba 3003 on the throttle.

CG was at 5&1/8 inches back from the leading edge, at the rear of the recommended range. The battery is in the center of the plane over the wing and no weight had to be added.

Inverted flight required about 20% down elev. probably due tue the dihedral in the wings. I didn't get around to any knife edges or fancy stuff as I only got 2 flights in before dark. altogether I was pretty impressed and I am sure I'll have a ton of fun this weekend with her.

Only one real complaint with the kit and that is the chinsey tail wheel. I guess that will be changed tomorrow as it just refuses to tighten up and consequently the plane doesn't have a lot of ground handling capability.