Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Dragonus II SA Intruder Build

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Dragonus II SA Intruder Build

    I thought I would take the time to take some photos of me building my Dragonus II SA Intruder. It is only the second proper heli I have built. The first one was a SJM400 V1.

    I was not happy with the SJM it was a bit twitchy and to be honest I think it is better suited to slamming around in 3d than simple hovering and learning. I was all set to get a Trex but then i stumbled across a thread on RG groups about the Dragonus and it looked great! Everyone who bought one raved about it, and 99% of people that had both Dragonus and Trex seemed to prefer the Dragonus! High praise.

    So I ordered from the USA and the kit came in 5 working days.

    Started building it a few days ago and i have to say I am really enjoying the build! The SJM400 I had was semi built, but the Dragonus comes in complete kit form, every single nut bolt and braring is bagged waiting for you to carefully assemble!

    The kit is mostly plastic - with alloy frames and the od alloy bit. Its the equivelent of the Cheaper Trex 450XL / 450S, except that price wise it undercuts the Trex by a large margin!

    Here is a picture of the kit.

    [IMG]http://www.rcheliaddict.co.uk/gallery/data/562/medium/11.jpg[/IMG]

    As you can see - everything is neatly bagged up. A good feature that I really like is that each bag label pertains to a particular section in the manual. So when you go to to section A in the manual, it refers to the Bag A - and all of the bits and nuts and bolts pertaining to that build section are in the one bag. It makes it really easy to go methodically though the build - you don't have to rip apart 10 bags and sort out all of the contents. You know if you get a bit left over from bag A - there is something in section A that you have not done!

    More to come!

    Butuz
    Last edited by Butuz; 28-02-2007, 03:12 PM.
    Heli 1: Mikado Logo 400 3D
    Heli 2: RCer Dragonus 450
    DX7SE / Cellpro 10s Keeping me in the air!!!
    Gaer Park Model Flying Club

  • #2
    I spot a hobby wing ESC and programming card......that thing plays music, it's hilarious
    Sponsored by CSM, Optifuel


    Your RC Heli World

    Comment


    • #3
      So we start off with Part Kit PM-A. Open the bag and be greeted with a few plastic parts - a shaft, lots of bearings an some screws.

      I have to say the first thing that struck me is the quality of the plastic. It feels really stiff and expensive! Smooth - no dodgy holes, or cuts, or swarf - everything is crisp and clean.

      The each blade grip is dual ball bearing and each mixer arm is dual ball bearing. There are so many ball bearings in this kit! I think 36 in total. Basically if it rotates on a shaft, its ball bearing - and more often than not - dual!

      I used threadlock on all metal - metal bolts. Do not need to use it on bolts / screws that go into plastic.

      Here is a picture of what you get when you have finished bag PM-A!

      [IMG]http://www.rcheliaddict.co.uk/gallery/data/562/medium/22.jpg[/IMG]
      [IMG]http://www.rcheliaddict.co.uk/gallery/data/562/medium/31.jpg[/IMG]

      It is now time to have a cup of tea whilst you admire your handywork!

      Butuz
      Heli 1: Mikado Logo 400 3D
      Heli 2: RCer Dragonus 450
      DX7SE / Cellpro 10s Keeping me in the air!!!
      Gaer Park Model Flying Club

      Comment


      • #4
        Now on to Bag PM-B! Open her up! Oh my yet more bearings!

        We have the main shaft, and the flybar mounting mechanism. Forgive me for the lack of technical descriptions but i am still very new to all of these part names!

        This is what you get when you have bolted on the contents of bag PM-B

        [IMG]http://www.rcheliaddict.co.uk/gallery/data/562/medium/41.jpg[/IMG]

        Wow look at that! It begins to look like something that belongs to a helicopter! Again - i am muchos impressed with the quality. Bearings press fit (stiffly), no plastic needs trimming - all bolts fit smoothly through holes. All of the rotating parts move freely and smoothly. If this is what a cheap kit is like - I can only dream of what a really expensive kit is like!!

        Butuz
        Heli 1: Mikado Logo 400 3D
        Heli 2: RCer Dragonus 450
        DX7SE / Cellpro 10s Keeping me in the air!!!
        Gaer Park Model Flying Club

        Comment


        • #5
          [QUOTE]I can only dream of what a really expensive kit is like!!
          [/QUOTE]

          It leaves a bigger dent in your bank account and gets you evils from your mrs.
          Sponsored by CSM, Optifuel


          Your RC Heli World

          Comment


          • #6
            I wonder how this mainly plastic dragonus compares to the mainly plastic TT mini titan?
            It would seem the miniT beats the trex450XL...
            www.heli-extreme.co.uk a good club in south Sheffield
            600n pro BeastX Align DFC head bls251, 3xbls451, align gov, 600d, 2in1
            trex500, BeastX DS510 swash, Beast X cutr and carve head DS520 HK3026-1900, Align 425D blades, 5S4200 rev'trix, K&BDD dampers, AR6200
            "450" superframeSTK, align DFC head v2tail, hk22281-8 on 3S 9650w9257gear commander 55A align 325D hitec digitals Tarot ZYX, AR6100e
            MCPX kbdd tail and blades, miniaviation bats

            Dont spend more flying models than it costs to fly for real

            Comment


            • #7
              Hi

              That would be the out of production 450XL now, it has been replaced by the much nicer still 450S.
              Align move quick!

              Cheers
              Bob

              [QUOTE=moyesboy;39878]I wonder how this mainly plastic dragonus compares to the mainly plastic TT mini titan?
              It would seem the miniT beats the trex450XL...[/QUOTE]

              Comment


              • #8
                I have a Dragonus Elite coming for review on TrexTuning, the plan was also to get a Titan but I need to talk nicely to the Thunder Tiger rep to see if that works out.
                Sponsored by CSM, Optifuel


                Your RC Heli World

                Comment


                • #9
                  So here we continue the build with the assembly of the swashplate.

                  [IMG]http://www.rcheliaddict.co.uk/gallery/data/562/medium/5.jpg[/IMG]

                  And then we fit the swashplate to the head and connect everything up! Looking good so far huh!

                  [IMG]http://www.rcheliaddict.co.uk/gallery/data/562/medium/6.jpg[/IMG]

                  It is all moving very smoothly and freely now! None of the ball links needed adjusting they were not over tight when fitted to the balls! Very pleased with the build so far.

                  Now onto the tail and boom. Thread the belt through the boom and assemble the two sides of the tail case with all of the bearings pushed into place.

                  Tighten eveything up and connect the links and you have a working tail!

                  [IMG]http://www.rcheliaddict.co.uk/gallery/data/562/medium/7.jpg[/IMG]

                  The tail action is veeeeery smooth - and there is no play at all. Very impressed - because there was some noticeable play in the tail of my SJM400 and there is none here.

                  Butuz
                  Last edited by Butuz; 05-03-2007, 01:12 PM.
                  Heli 1: Mikado Logo 400 3D
                  Heli 2: RCer Dragonus 450
                  DX7SE / Cellpro 10s Keeping me in the air!!!
                  Gaer Park Model Flying Club

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Now on to the frame set. The frame's are made all out of aluminium. You get an upper frame, and a lower frame.

                    Here is the lower frame assembled

                    [IMG]http://www.rcheliaddict.co.uk/gallery/data/562/medium/8.jpg[/IMG]

                    Its fairly straightforward though the M2 nuts and bolts are a tad fiddly. A good set of needle nose pliers, a small spanner, and steady hands will sort you out. Luckily I am still young enough to have steady hands! As the nuts and bolts are metal to metal i used thread locker on all of them.

                    Here is the upper frame assembled:

                    [IMG]http://www.rcheliaddict.co.uk/gallery/data/562/medium/9.jpg[/IMG]

                    And here are both upper and lower frames assembled.

                    [IMG]http://www.rcheliaddict.co.uk/gallery/data/562/medium/10.jpg[/IMG]
                    [IMG]http://www.rcheliaddict.co.uk/gallery/data/562/medium/111.jpg[/IMG]

                    Once fully assembled the frameset is actually very strong and doesnt bend or twist. I like it!

                    Butuz
                    Heli 1: Mikado Logo 400 3D
                    Heli 2: RCer Dragonus 450
                    DX7SE / Cellpro 10s Keeping me in the air!!!
                    Gaer Park Model Flying Club

                    Comment

                    Working...
                    X