Miss Dara EF-1 racer

[McDRacing]

So I bought my son Jacob the Miss Dara EF-1 racer from Nitroplanes and thought I would share the build with the membership. The purchase price was $135 add in the shipping and its around the same price as a Shoestring. It came boxed up like any other ARF no damage and all the parts were included. I've read in other forums that there has been problems with missing wing tubes or pushrods. Everything was bagged and wrapped nicely. The spinner looks rough and unpolished no real problem. The vertical stabilizers checkerboard covering doesn't quit match up with the control surfaces checkerboard covering. The landing gear was wrapped in foam but when I unwrapped it it was scratched badly and I will need to repaint it. It's odd that the factory would take such time to protect a damaged product? Other than those things it the typical ARF. The instructions are one sheet and lack any detail but just give you an idea of what to do. For those of you that have built a Alpha foamie I think they got the same guy to produce these instructions! The first step is to put the servos in the wings. It's straight forward and there are no problems there. The really nice thing is you don't have to use a high dollar servo in the wings. I installed two Hitec metal geared servos I purchased from Jakes performance hobbies. More to come.

[Red]

Good stuff Tony. Looking forward to hearing you impressions. I've raced against the kits and ARF's, and they seemed to fly really well. A kit built version won the NATS this year.

[McDRacing]

Servos are installed in both wings. The construction of the wings are very similar to those used on the Shoestring. Looking in the area where the aileron servo is installed the same construction is used, balsa wood ribs and sheeting over them.  A carbon tube is nicely installed down the center of the wing maybe eight or nine inches (without measuring). The joiner tube is roughly twentyish inches. I held the Miss Dara wing up to my Shoestrings wing it's a very close match! The only differences that jump out to my eye is the Dara's wingtip (sponson) projects out longer. The ailerons look alot like the ones on Red's Nemesis kit. They are shorter and wider than the Shoestring. I'm thinking there is more surface area to them therfore more authority and less drag to them. A different look than the long skinny ones running down the majority of the wing of my Shoestring or Sundowner. Just my opinion. One inprovement I'm thinking about doing later is making the linkage and control horn smaller and  have less drag to them. The stock horns are gigantic! Looks like quarter scale stuff! But I'll keep them on for now (keep in mind this is Jacob's plane and I need to slow him down a little so I have a shot at passing him! Don't tell him). People on other forums have been complaining about the bolts that hold the wings to the fuse. Wow they're right more quarter scale stuff again! You could propably shave a pould off the plane by switching them out! (again it's Jacob's plane so I'm leaving them in!). More to come.

[McDRacing]

Wings are done so the next step is installing the elevator and rudder. One very cool feature about the fuse is that the entire top is removable. Two pins hold it down in the front (by the back of the cowling) and a metal rod protrodes out from the top of the turtledeck right in front of the rudder. Remove the fiberglass top and you can visually inspect all the formers, pushrods, reciever, wing tube, glue joints, on and on! It's an inprovement over the Shoestring and Pogo. The elevator and rudder glue right in no problems once again. Jacob wanted just a skid and not a tail wheel. The control horns are again more quarter scale stuff and to large but they are good quality hardware. Just insulting to the eye and scream lots of drag! The wheel pants are smaller than the ones on the Shoestring. It may not seem like a lot the little details I keep mentioning about drag but it all adds up I believe. I'm starting to get the impression from the small differences I've seen on the Miss Dara ARF and compare to the Shoestring is that the Dara is a slicker airframe. The front of the Dara is smaller and gets larger as you get towards the rudder. It's the opposite with the Shoestring. I know from flying pattern aircraft you get a better flying plane if the drag is in the back. More to come.

[Red]

How about some pics?

You are correct about the wings being similar to the Shoestring. They are the same in fact, except for the tip. They were both designed by the same people and share the same wing. Early on I cut some kits of both, so I have both sets of plans.

[Red]

Tony,

Is it ready to go? I'm heading up to the field tomorrow to test fly Invictus.

[McDRacing]

Well it's done! Everything went together without to much trouble. The pushrods are not the greatest. They bind and need some playing around with until I could find the sweet spot, I would like to change them out to carbon rods and save some weight. Miss Dara weighs 3.6 lbs! She needs to go on a diet. Test flight this morning.

[Red]

Sorry about that grape stake Tony, it was flying real nice! 

[McDRacing]

Whoops a little low on approach! Now I'll have to see how Nitroplanes is at providing spare parts. The miss Dara is a nice flyer. The only thing noticeable was the wing flex in hard turns. Other than that it seemed fast and a reliable racer.

[McDRacing]

Wow! So after my dumb thumbing the Miss Dara into the vineyard and shearing off the left wing I went onto the Nitroplanes website and tried to look up replacement parts there are none?!?!!! I then tried on four different occasions today to call Nitroplanes and get a replacement left wing. I was immediately put on hold every time I called. The support service sucks! My only option is to E-mail them I guess?

[Red]

Tony,

The only way anybody is having any luck getting ahold of them is by submitting a service ticket via the website. Good luck!

[McDRacing]

Well after six calls and going thought the automated telephone service and being put on hold until I hang up (usually a half hour). I sent a E-mail to them. I stated my case in the best way I could but they have me pretty frustrated with their lack of costumer support up to this point!

[McDRacing]

After a day and no response I E-mailed Nitroplanes again. Did another service ticket again! the live chat on the website says busy

[McDRacing]

Finally got through to Nitroplanes via live chat with Chris. No parts are avalible for the Miss Dara!!! WTF? Chris said Nitroplanes might be able to get parts in late spring or summer. I'll spare you the details of the rest of the chat. Don't buy the Dara!!!!!

[McDRacing]

Wow I just now recieved a new wing for the Dara! What 3 months later!? Plus it was damaged!? Jacob stiffened the stock wing tube and he is putting the plane back together because I can't stand to look at the POS. The only way I was able to get the wing from Nitroplanes was joining in on a forum disscusion on RcGroups and slamming Nitroplanes online. What a shame Nitroplanes has the only Miss Dara Arf out there. As I said before the company is horrible to deal with.