Gizmo
; RC Report, October 2002, Issue #195
Reviewer/Builder: Jerry Festa
"When high rates were activated, the Gizmo suddenly assumed a much more exciting personality!
Rolls were blazing fast, but they stop on a dime...Loops with snaps at the top (an avalanche) look
just like they they're supposed to...There were no bad surprises during that flight, but there
were several good ones."
LIKES: Well engineered; laser-cut parts fit was excellent; high quality wood; two-piece wing
makes transportation easier; instructions well thought out; a fun and great flying airplane.
DISLIKES: Needs diagram for easier identification of the laser cut parts; covering is recommended
after finishing the plane and balancing; needs lots of hardware to complete.
Click here for construction photos of the kit
that was built for this review.
Togo
; Radio Control Modeler (RCM), June 2004, vol. 41, no. 6
Reviewer/Builder: Ken Kehlet
"The transmitter has been passed around to a few of the accomplished R/C fliers, they put the Togo through
their favorite flight transitions without any problems. That big rudder is very effective during flat
spins...this model can make the average R/C pilot look good...This is not a difficult model to build,
but it is not for beginners. With accurate construction and attention to details, the builder will be
rewarded with a good looking, good flying model that has predictable flight performance."
60" Edge 540
; Radio Control Modeler (RCM), September 2000, vol. 37, no. 9
LIKES: Good flying model, wide speed envelope, full control at all speeds.
DISLIKES: laser-cut parts need identification.
Click here for construction photos of the kit
that was built for this review
Reviewer/Builder: Walt Wilson
"The Edge tracked straight and lifted off in about 150 feet. It climbed out with no tendency to do
anything unusual and no trim changes were required. It was more docile than I had expected with the rather
large ailerons. It rolls at a reasonable rate but isn't touchy...The Edge is very stable and controllable
at low speeds and when landing...
ARF Dalotel
; Model Aviation, September 2003, vol. 29, no. 9
LIKES: Laser-cut parts, fiberglass parts, the way everything fits, great flight performance.
DISLIKES: Format of instructions; fragile rudder.
Click here for photo of the finished Edge
Reviewer/Builder: Steve Kulicki
"The Dalotel felt "patternesque". We pointed it where we wanted it to go, and it flew like it was on rails.
We rolled it inverted, and it flew straight and level with a touch of down elevator. Stall turns revealed
an authoritative rudder. Snaps were predictable and stopped as soon as the sticks were released. The Dalotel
slowed easily for the first landing attempt...double snaps in a vertical line proved to be a piece of cake.
Immelmanns are extremely easy, and knife-edge flight is straight with no pulling tendency. This
airplane's aerobatic potential is limited only by the pilot's ability.
LIKES: Packing, engineering, kit completeness, ease of assembly, flying qualities.
DISLIKES: Minor instruction manual descrepancies.
by Alan Mosher
When I started the project, the laser cut parts were just coming in from Sig Manufacturing Company along with the landing gear from Abell Hobbies & Manufacturing. The cowl wheel pants and canopy came later. The instructions were “just about” finished and still in rough draft form.
After reading the instructions several times to get
the sequence in mind, construction began with
the wings. The laser cut ribs are absolutely
perfect and the building sequence insures nothing
will be omitted. The aileron balances utilize several
very small parts, but these are laser cut
and add a nice touch to the authenticity of the kit.
On tail feathers the vertical and horizontal stabilizers are standard sandwich built up and then sanded to airfoil shape, while the control surfaces are open bay construction and sanded to a taper. A nice touch here is the use of a strip aileron linkage to further hide the linkage gap and eliminate the need for elevator horns.
The fuselage construction is quite standard with a few exception. The fuselage sides are provided with the wing cutouts in pretty much the center of the side. How do I get the wing on? Slide it in? No, Just follow the instructions and a razor saw will eventually yield a perfect hatch for the cockpit. Like I said, read the instructions! The area under the wing “appears” to be a bit weak. But sandwiching fiberglass cloth or carbon fiber mat between the side and wing seat doubler solves the problem. Another nice touch.
Finally the landing gear is attached with nylon bolts and a tear away belly fairing is attached with Velcro. Another nice touch to eliminate damage should one experience a “hard” landing.
The cowl, wheel pants and canopy arrived and are of superior manufacture. The cowl leaves plenty of room for the Magnum 80 four stroke engine that I used for power.
Doug was working on the final balance and control throws when I was finishing my model. Being in some what of a hurry, I decided on the wing spar as the balancing point. And a visual “too much” and “too little” control throws on a dual rate radio as my starting point. With knees shaking the first flight was made starting with the low rates. What a pussy cat! rolls were fast and even faster on high rate. No Dutch Roll noted. Loops were large on low rate, but tight on high rate. So far landings have been smooth and as I land slower and slower I’ve seen no tendency to tip stall. Build the wing as per the instructions and wash out is there.
So, if you want a good looking, fun flying scale acro aircraft that builds like a dream, try a D&L Designs 60” Edge 540, you’ll love it.
Donald Jenkins, AMA 32209
I thought that you might like to hear about my 60 size Edge 540 built from your kit, a picture is enclosed. First off I liked the kit, the laser cutting was very good and the fiberglass cowl and pants were excellent requiring very little finishing. I built it pretty well according to your plans and instructions, modifying only the rudder hook-up to a push rod and the canopy hatch hold down tabs moved to the wing itself It’s not a beginners kit but it’s not that difficult either.
On the first flight I realized that this was a great
flying airplane. It takes off
straight with no hassle and lands very easy, slowing
down nicely with no
tendency to stall or get squirrely. The four point
rolls and knife-edge flight are
easily executed. With very little coaxing from the
pilot. The pull up to vertical is
impressive, with no yaw present. I was surprised in
how little elevator travel is
required for nice crisp snap rolls. All in all,
needless to say it’s rapidly becoming
one of my favorite planes.
At first I thought that the rudder would be a little flimsy, but it seems to perform quite well and shows no tendency to flex, at least none that’s noticeable.
My plane weighs 7 pounds and is powered by an Os 61 SF which is getting tired, but still turns a 12X6 prop adequately.
My impression is that this is a very well designed Airplane offered in a very nice kit.
Donald Jenkins
AMA 32209
14113 80th Ave., N.
Seminole, Florida 33776
email: dondelone@aol.com
Elwin Bushue
Dear Mr. Lee:
Enclosed are pictures of my edge 540 that I
constructed from your plans.
The airplane flies great and is my favorite out of
five other aircraft that
is gasoline powered. I mixed and burnt 12 gallons of
gasoline this year so far
and most of the gallons through your, our, Edge.
It is so stable and performs to all my expectations. I made some changes, I used stringers in the turtle deck area and on the bottom of the fuselage instead of wood sheeting. I think I saved some weight? The aircraft is as follows specification wise: Wing span is 80.5", Weight dry is 14 lbs 8 oz, Engine is a 2.4 Brison with a J&A Engineering muffler.
Bright yellow Ultra Coat and trim by Ultra Coat. My own glass wheel pants.
Prop is a 19" x 10" carbon fiber Mejzlik. Your design is a great aircraft and your wing flies great. I hope it is feasible to design an 84" or 86" Edge 540 in the future. Keep your wheels down on landings and scratches off of your canopy.
Elwin Bushue
P.S. Some of my fellow modeler's say the pilot looks like me, ha!!
