RC First Look: Hobby King Raven 990 DLG

[@kf4293]

Great info buddy! Yes, all the battery stuff was really something I need. I figure those that don't can skip over it. 🙂

[@janmercjmg]

thank you for this very informative Review. Five Stars Rating for the professional camera job too.

[@Painless360]

Thank you! :D Check out the playlists for lots of other content arranged into easy to use topics. Happy flying!

[@gsansoucie]

It looks like a more refined "HK mini DLG". I have one from last year that is OK. I want more wingspan and composite wings now. This one looks beautiful though.

[@GraemeDJ]

If you haven't done it already I recommend a drop of thin CA on either side of the rudder where it enters the boom- it will move on a rough landing and tear the covering. You can also add a bit of tape to protect the bottom of the rudder from scrapes.

[@Painless360]

+Graeme Macalister great tip! Thanks!

[@KaminKevCrew]

I just built an Armsoar GO over the last several days. I finally got to toss it a couple of times yesterday evening, and really got to fly it around today. Mine is built with a D4R-II receiver, KST X08h V5 servos (the x08 seems to be one of the defacto servos, even for the highest end DLGs) and it was an absolute joy. I flew mine on a 1s 800mah tattu battery. I flew for about two straight hours, and went from about 4.0V down to 3.7 across those two hours. I would suggest that anyone building something like this should avoid using a step up or step down regulator for the ability to monitor battery voltage easily. Having the battery run straight to the receiver is great. FrSky receivers have voltage telemetry built into them, and being able to check that without any additional sensors or wires (or weight) is really lovely.

[@narejongen]

KST X08h is that not a bit of over kill ? 40 dollar servo in this entry level DLG.

[@KaminKevCrew]

narejongen I mean, sure, but it's the recommended servo, and I can always pull them out for future builds.

[@Witness27]

Bloody hell, Perfectly timed upload!

[@Witsenburg]

A bit late, but maybe of interest to others who like me are coming across this model (and other small DLGs). I take off the 'heavy' battery wires and power the plane via the balance plug. Saves weight and in these small planes, it is sufficient.

[@hughhemington9559]

I wonder how resilient the crucifix tail is on landing? You probably can't depend on a grab landing. I suppose a bit of protective tape could be applied (reducing nose weight), but all weight is "bad". I'd like to see a primer on how you get a DLG to altitude from the ground. You obviously need wind, but at ground, wind tends to be unstable with little lift, and with little forward speed at launch, it's tricky to do more than establish some stability before landing.

[@Painless360]

Thanks for the idea, I would like to cover more of the basics of DLG flying once I've got a little more experience and practice under my belt. I'm excited to see how this part of the hobby compares.. Happy flying!

[@OlegBovykin]

Modern setups are using 2s lipo without 5v. FrSky receiver eats up to 2S, modern HV servos are 2s too.

[@Painless360]

6v max on this models servos. Thanks for posting, this is a fun learning curve with this. Any good resources you use?

[@OlegBovykin]

rcgroups headlaunch category

[@Eagle71_Tirol]

I use 2S LiPoFe, there is (5V)6V-7.2V. OK for FrSky + HV Servos. Or use LM7805 for 5V Servos.

[@fortboy66]

Weird that a new model out would have servos that couldn't take 2s lipo voltage?

[@these.are.my.things]

How durable is this model? I've had some of there HobbyKing mini DLG's before and they always crack around where the wing mounts to the carbon rod. Is it woven or extruded carbon tube for the body. I have had Two of the old model fail in the same way. If its strong I would love to pick one up but for the price I would need to be sure it will last more then the few flights my last DLG's did.

[@KaminKevCrew]

James Williams the tube looks like it's a mandrel wound tube. Similar to the one on my Armsoar GO.

[@hughhemington9559]

I wonder what the virtue is in a DLG over a drag-launched glider? (surgical tubing/cord) You have to have an adequate flying area in both cases. As clunky as drag launch is, it does at least generate altitude! Can you comment further on that smoked plastic nose? How secure is the hatch, and how bad would a landing need to be to reduce that thing to shards?

[@Painless360]

This isn't a model designed for rough treatment. A piece of tape is needed to stop the nose coming undone in all types of landing. I've actually fitted the rod into the end of the right wing despite being right handed as my backhand is by far the most powerful play for me in lots of things! :)

[@KyrreXXL]

I seriously encourage you to try it out, the launching itself is really addictive. The best flyers with the best (and most expensive) DLG's can reach 70+ meter. I can maybe reach half of that with my BLaster II, but for me its not about getting those great hights. Its all about having FUN. And you really dont need much space for just throwing and having fun, Im doing it in a small park with less area than a soccer field, surrounded be tall trees. It was barely large enough to launch my UMX ASK-21, but there's no problem flying my 1,5M BLaster, and certainly not my Elf thats about the same size as the Raven.

[@BikingVikingHH]

You wonder what the virtue is of being able to go to a flying field and simply throw a model into the air, versus setting up a rickety elastic toe line that requires substantially more room?

[@Eagle71_Tirol]

Why you mount the pipe with Elevator upside down? When the Sail broke, the spring moves the Elevator up. The Glider pumps to Ground, like airbrake on free Glider without RC.

[@patriotrob7066]

That's how they come

[@handleymachine4421]

Please run through your radio setup. I noticed that you had your ailerons also working as flaps. (Flaperons?) I am working on a scratch build and I'm unsure how to do that with my taranis.

[@Painless360]

Check out the 'opentx mix school' series. Our video on it is hiding in there.. it's out publicly next week. Let me know if you're stuck. Best of luck!

[@JimN5QL]

are you going to iron out those wrinkles in the film?

[@GraemeDJ]

This looks like a combination of the Mini Versus balsa and the Cumulus DLGs. The Mini Versus is a great DLG so I'm sure your going to have a fun summer. I wish they would bring the 1.5m versus 2 back it is a wonderful DLG. They need to bring back the smartlipos too.

[@Painless360]

+Graeme Macalister I've only started looking at the smart lipos since I got this. Have they been out of stock for a while?

[@GraemeDJ]

Yes- I bought 4 when i got my DLGs from HK a year ago and I haven't seen them since they did a 500 mah version too. They are brilliant and the 250 mah fits the mini versus perfectly ( which looks to have the same cockpit as the Raven) but I just smashed up my Versus 2 1.5m because the battery just died on me after a full charge- I'm guessing you can't use them for more than a year so I am now in the same dilemma as you over power supply I'm going to try your second option.

[@guiltyman3503]

Thanks for the good videos. Regards, Jukka Komu from Finland :)

[@Painless360]

You're welcome! :D

[@erwinbeizeiten1499]

Hallo had a short look to Your video my setup 3,7 V Lipo 350mAh Turnigy mihi receiver ... 160g weight some problems with the 2 servos for ailerons , too short rudder horns I exchanged them by longer rudder horns and mounted the servos better with tape

[@meljones7066]

Interesting video, as a dlg beginner myself I am hoping you will continue your footage of how you get on with dlg flight.

[@Painless360]

+Mel Jones thanks for the support on this one, we are learning - slowly! ;)

[@oldasa]

I noticed that you've set it up for a left hander.

[@Painless360]

I launch backhand.. ;)

[@richardconejo5460]

looks similar to their mini dlg pro. if it is, they're very fragile. The tail boom cracked after a dozen or so dlg launches. Also the plastic body cracks very easily, so make sure you are in a field with soft grass or try and catch it.

[@Painless360]

Thanks for the tips, we're taking it easy and only trying on very calm fine days.. Happy flying!

[@NJ-Tech]

art form they are indeed! Nice overview, I love my DLGs, get a hairdryer on those ailerons though :)

[@Painless360]

+NJ Tech will a normal hairdryer work? Any tips?

[@NJ-Tech]

Yeah it works great to re-shrink, just be cautious with the distance and you'll see it start to tighten. Biggest tip I found on throwing is not to throw up but actually to aim for the horizon. It will naturally climb like mad with all that energy. I also use the throttle stick as an active elevator trim with full forward as the launch trim and then as little as two degrees up from that in difference at bottom stick. it's save a lot of time trimming for thermals, speed and take off that way during flight. it just feels a little weird at the start but you'll find yourself using it a lot! as you get more aggressive with your throws you'll find out where those trim points on the throttle stick should sit. let me know how your arm is feeling the next day ;)

[@pvenzELP]

Are you going to fly it ?

[@Painless360]

We sure are and will share more when we have a little proficiency and tips and tricks for launching, radio mixes and finding lift.. Stay tuned :D

[@wayneshephard]

Oh, I thought I was going to see it fly, I guess first look is just that, a look, good explanations anyway, I'll wait :)

[@Painless360]

+Wayne Shephard no point in showing if flying until we can launch and fly confidently. ;) There are flight videos in the HobbyKing vids. We will come back to this model a few times in the coming weeks, once to talk about camber and reflex settings on the radio and again to fly! :)

[@wayneshephard]

Unfortunately I'm in Australia, buying from HK is now painful here, just last night HK suggested I look elsewhere after trying to buy two wings for sloping, not sure what's going on with them.

[@hughhemington9559]

I get the impression HK is either going through growing pains, or management turmoil. Maybe Stewart did more than just videos and they're more lost without him than customers assumed? Ironically, if someone actually ran HK worth a damn, they'd TOTALLY dominate the hobby. The website is an appalling mess, the distribution of products seems random and they disappoint as many customers as they please.

[@wayneshephard]

Yes, that new website! oh dear!

[@thenatedog]

or just buy a receiver battery

[@Painless360]

If I could have, I would have. ;)

[@thenatedog]

the batteries are pretty cheap, its just basically a couple AA batteries. I think most guys permanently install them in the planes with a servo lead accessible for charging.

[@Painless360]

+Nathan Knight details on weights, capacities, sizes and voltages are not easy to come by. So what type of aa cells? What would be the weight and voltage discharge curve? What about their capacity? This sure feels like part of the hobby where it could be more straightforward.. thanks for posting, food for thought!

[@thenatedog]

electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/35869/at-what-voltage-is-a-nimh-battery-empty The nice thing is you can actually use the automatic A1 voltage you get from your frsky RX for something usefull. It is the actuall pack voltage of your nihm pack. alofthobbies.com/4-8-v-2400-mah-4-5a-pack-flat.html

[@thenatedog]

probably fly for a couple hours on a battery

[@microgliders]

heavy glider, but good value if youre a beginner

[@BikingVikingHH]

Bring back the FireFly2!

[@ralphmcmahan2139]

Requires better foot work than my uncoordinated ass has to launch.

[@Painless360]

We're learning all of this - slowly! There is a knack to it.. Video to come when we can launch confidantly :D