MRC/Altech: EZ Dago Red

Model Airplane News, Oct 2002 by Trachten, Craig, Bell, Rick

FLIGHT TEST

Quick-build Reno Racer

Nothing is more exciting than the sound of a Merlin Rolls-Royce engine and the phrase, "Gentlemen, we have a race!" Since 1982, Dago Red has been setting racing records and standards that have yet to be matched.

Distributed by MRC/Altech, the EZ line of ARF (almost-ready-to-fly) models has also been setting high standards with planes that are quick to build, look great and fly even better. I have never been disappointed with the construction or performance of an EZ airplane, and the Dago Red that I recently built is no exception.

SPECIFICATIONS

MODEL: Dago Red

MANUFACTURER: OK Models Ltd.

DISTRIBUTOR: MRC/Altech

TYPE: sport-scale ARF

WINGSPAN: 54.7 in.

WING AREA: 532 sq. in.

WEIGHT: 6.56 lb.

WING LOADING: 28.3 oz./sq. ft.

LENGTH: 46.4 in.

ENGINE REQ'D: 40 to .50 2-stroke to .70 to .80 4-stroke

ENGINE USED: Enya .80 4-stroke

PROP USED: APC 13x6

RADIO REQ'D: 5-channel with 6 servos (2 ailerons, elevator, rudder, throttle, retracts)

RADIO USED: Futaba T6XA with 5 Futaba and 1 OK Models EZ-retract servo

FUEL USED: Wildcat 30% nitro hell

PRICE: $300

FEATURES: lite-ply and balsa airframe construction covered with a laminated skin made from a plastic-foam base, a synthetic paper layer with graphics and a layer of clear Mylar; retractable landing gear; chrome-plated plastic spinner; vacuum-formed plastic cowl.

COMMENTS: once again, OK Models hits a grand slam with the Dago Red. This ARF is top-shelf in the way it's built and for the materials used, and its flight performance is crisp and solid. Flying mock Reno Races at the field is very exciting.

HITS

* High-quality materials used throughout.

* Great parts fit.

* Retractable landing gear Included.

MISSES

* Instruction manual could provide more written information.

IN THE BOX

When you open the box, you'll be amazed at the contents; ARFs just don't get any better than this! The fit and finish of the parts are nothing short of perfect. All the hardware (metric), retractable landing gear, wheels, chrome spinner, fuel tank, instruction manual and stunning decals are included. I needed to add only a radio system with six servos, an engine and glue.

OK Models developed the EZ construction that consists of a plastic-foam base and a lite-ply and balsa frame. The unique feature of this construction is that the colors and graphics are bonded to the foamboard, and they are protected by Mylar. The instruction manual contains a lot of assembly photos but not much in the way of detailed instructions; in this case, more written information would have been better.

Wing assembly. Construction begins with the installation of an aileron servo in each wing panel, and you'll need two 6-inch extensions so the plugs can reach the center of the wing. To prevent the extensions from disconnecting during flight, I shrink-wrapped them for peace of mind. I mounted the servos as instructed and used Futaba's S9150 low-profile digital aileron servos; they fit completely under the cover plate, and only the output shaft and servo arm were visible. This gives the wing a nice, clean, finished look. I made the aileron pushrods and attached them to the servo arms with an L-bend and quick links, and I used the supplied clevises on the ailerons.

The included retractable landing gear is installed next. Open the compartment in the left wing half to accommodate the retract servo; the wheel wells are already in the wing. I assembled the servo mount and then installed an EZ R-7401 Super Retract servo in it before I glued the mount into the pushrods attached to the servo but give no details on how to do it. I couldn't see how the pushrod Z-bends could be inserted from the top side once the wing had been assembled.

Remember that I didn't screw the retracts into place earlier in the assembly? Here's why: the retracts must be removed from the mounting area and pushed toward the center of the wing so you will have enough pushrod length to work with. Next, I rotated the right retract pushrod so that it entered the servo horn from the bottom. I then oriented the horn front to back, inserted the Z-bends on each side and rotated the horn side to side. I made a little bend in the left pushrod so that it would clear the servo output shaft when the retracts are cycled.

The last step is to assemble and install the wing hold-down block and wing bolt plate. I left the wing bottom cover off the bottom plate. It isn't needed structurally, and it's a lot easier to line up the wing bolts and the mounting holes with it off. Engine installation. Because I had a new Enya .80 4-stroke looking for a home, I called Altech and asked Jeff Green about mounting it in the Dago. Jeff told me that the engine would fit but that I would need to modify the engine mount.

To accommodate the carburetor, I ground out a recess in the top left comer of the mount (with the engine in the upright position). A sanding drum on my Dremel Moto-Tool made short work of this task. The next problem was the throttle linkage; the carburetor was too close to the firewall for a typical pushrod installation. I used a length of piano wire that went beyond the throttle arm, made a 180-degree bend in the wire and attached it to the throttle arm with a ball-cup connector.