Trick RC Zagi 400x
My first attempt at electrics, and at a "Park Flyer."  A learning experience, for sure.  Fortunately the Zagis are cheap, build quick, and Trick R/C gives great service.
 

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Bob

Bill

2001-2

Zagi #1:  25.9 ounces ready to fly
Zagi #2:  24.6 ounces ready to fly

On main spar per plan

Stock Speed 400

Stock Zagi plastic

NA

NA

Futaba TX6AS
FMA Quantum 6 receiver
Great Planes 20A ESC with BEC

Hitec HS-81

Zagi 1700 mAh 8 cell 4/5A NiCd
Batteries America 800mAh 8 cell AAA NiMh

Blue and White tape

*I've built two Zagis.  Zagi #1 came in at 25.9 ounces RTF, due to my using Coverite and epoxying in the carbon spar.  This was my first electric, so I had some learning to do.
*I made a big effort to make Zagi #2 lighter, spray glue all around, tape covering, not finishing evelons.  It came in at 24.6 ounces.
*Not for somebody who has never owned an RC plane before, unless you have some help from an experienced builder.  The instructions are not super clear on the receiver and electronics install.  Not a problem if you have a feel for what works and what doesn't, but not for the first-timer.  You have to cut cavity in the foam and bury the receiver in the foam, then figure out where to route all the wires, keeping in mind that things can tear loose when you crash.
*Using spray-glue, you can build your Zagi in about 4 hours, or two easy evenings.

*Keep in mind that the claim (Tower catalog) is "Fully aerobatic even at half throttle."  This just ain't so, IMHO.  Mine has to be WFO to do anything fun.
*Weight is critical.  Zagi #1 was total pig and almost unflyable.  Zagi #2 has remarkably better performance, even though it is only 1.3 ounces lighter.
*Make sure you understand evelons and how to set them up.  Don't get them backwards.  Don't ask me how I know this.
*If you use the HS81 servos, get a couple of extra gear sets.  Smacking the evelon on anything will strip them.
*Fun to fly, a bit twitchy and not for the first time flyer.  Having to stay on top of the plane has probably made me a better pilot.  It has absolutely no self-correcting tendencies, let it get away from you and it quickly spirals in.
*Low angle of attack stalls mush a bit then drop a wing, high AOA (i.e. trying to maintain a 45 degree climb) snaps to one wing or the other.
*A real kick in a stiff wind, the Zagi's "slope" heritage shows thru.  I think a good steady wind may be the key to really getting the most out of this model.
*Ho-hum climb rate, in calm conditions with the 1700 pack it requires a couple of laps around the field to get to a nice 100 ft. aerobatic altitude.
*Aerobatics are below average.  Can do a loop and Immelman with a diving entry.  No real vertical capabilities without diving to gain a bunch of speed.
*Evelon rolls and inverted flight require a lot of down elevator.
*Fiddle with the battery location to get the CG to where the plane flies best for you.  Makes a big difference.
*Pretty durable, can be slammed into trees, the ground, your legs, cars, did I mention trees? with no damage.  Don't ask me how I know this.
*Be sure to secure the ESC side of the Dean's plug to the motor zip-tie with dental floss or something similar.  Otherwise, when the battery ejects in a crash it drags out the speed controller and everything else.
*Zagi speed controller works flawlessly.  Very linear, plenty of reserve for the radio after motor shutdown.  Unfortunately, I lost mine in an encounter with a pine tree and decided to try a Great Planes ESC, which so far works great as well.
*For calm conditions, I like the Crazy Max better for basic aerobatics.  I think the Zagi might be better with their smaller battery pack, I plan to give it a try soon (update below!)  There are a lot of guys flying Zagi combat, most seem to use the small batteries, so maybe they know something I don't.
*Easy to transport, fun to throw in the trunk with TX, extra batteries and my Triton charger and fly anywhere.

Top View - I never will be crazy about the tape covering!
You can see the servos sunk into the foam and covered with tape.

The motor tray. BEC is at rear near the motor.  Receiver is in front under popsicle stick.  (The popsicle stick helps the battery eject out the front during a nose-in crash.  Not that I ever crash ;-)  )

Update 1/21/03:  Had an opportunity to fly the Zagi with a smaller pack last weekend.  Bill loaned me one of the 800mAH NiMh 9.6V 5/4AAA packs from his Crazy Max.  It appears to be about half the weight of the 1700 pack I was flying.  Wow, what a difference - the Zagi is a whole new airplane!  I was able to goof around with some low-level aerobatics and then motor up to altitude, shut down, and glide around for another 10 minutes.  If I knew what I was doing, I could probably catch a thermal or two.  Total flight time was about double that with the old pack.  Landing was very slow and catchable.  I did have to put the new pack all the way forward in the motor tray to get the CG right.  (The Zagi is pretty tricky with a too-aft CG, almost any input results in a snap and spin.)  Another bonus is that the lighter weight means much less crash damage.  Anyway, I ordered two of the packs from Batteries America, they certainly seem to be the way to go, IMHO.

Update 7/15/03:  I've retired the Zagi in favor of a Slow Stick.  The Zagi just never had the climb rate I thought it should, and if there was any wind blowing, the lighter weight due to the smaller pack gave it zero penetration.  I know the Zagi is capable of more than I got out of it, there are too many folks flying Zagi combat for that not to be the case.  This is more of a lack-of-interest decision on my part, also looking for something my daughter can fly in our front yard.