The HobbyKing 950mm DLG looks to be a great way to get started in the Discus Launch Glider aspect of the hobby for a relatively small amount of money.
In the end, I used 2S 180mAH lipo and a tiny SBEC from RCTimer. This, combined with the FrSky 4-channel receiver put the CG in exactly the right place and provided flawless control.
Here are the pro's and cons:
Pluses:
- very quick build time, less than 5 minutes requiring only a single screwdriver
- very compact and easy to transport (wing can be removed and re-fitted in just a minute)
- nice construction quality, warp-free
Cons:
- elevator pushrod on mine was a little too long and had to be "kinked" to shorten it
- plastic "pod" up front may crack/fracture in a crash
- no spare nylon wing bolts included in case of crash
Flight characteristics: The model launches well, although its light weight and basic flat-bottomed wing section mean it doesn't reach as much altitude as a larger and more sophisticated model will. Despite performing the flight test in the rain, the hang time was remarkably good for such a basic model. Rudder and elevator are more than powerful enough to provide excellent control.
Summary:
Yes, I would buy this model again and so long as you have a suitable receiver and battery (or battery/UBEC) setup it's a super-simple way to get into DLG.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 in all area.
Notes:
The wife is trying hard but still has some way to go on camera.
Flight tests filmed at secret locations :-)