Review: Kyosho Hype DG1000 ARF Version

“Yeah, you won’t get very far today without a motor!” two model airplane enthusiasts tell me somewhat pityingly as I prepare my new DG1000 for takeoff on a hill with no wind and no sign of thermals. But I push the throttle lever forward two notches, the retractable engine extends, and after a little nudge, the model soars rapidly into the sky at a 40-degree angle at full throttle. Unfortunately, I can’t enjoy the astonished expressions on my two colleagues’ faces, because I have to watch my model, which has soon reached the edge of my field of vision. One of them says:

“Oh yeah, I’ve read about that…!”

For now, the show with the new Kyosho DG1000 is still a hit. But not for much longer. Because it’s almost certain that not only fans of “foam planes” will fall in love with this extremely innovative model, but also so-called “serious” model pilots.

The Kyosho Hype DG1000 has a wingspan of about 2 meters and is made from a newly developed, EPP-like foam material called Hypodur. Carbon-fiber spars in the wings and horizontal stabilizer are also designed to provide high stability. The model is available in an RTF (ready-to-fly) version, which includes a five-channel 35-MHz radio system and all the necessary accessories, as well as an ARF (almost ready-to-fly) version, which does not include a radio system

and for which a receiver and LiPo battery must be purchased separately.

The model is equipped with 4 micro servos for the ailerons, rudder, and elevator, as well as a standard servo that extends and retracts the retractable engine via a Kevlar cable. While the RTF version has the mix module—which controls the retraction and extension of the engine—built into the remote control, the ARF version comes with a separate mix module that is connected between the ESC and the standard servo. The ARF version was tested.

Calibrating the folding engine isn’t rocket science, but it does require a certain amount of attention. Anyone who knows their remote control well enough to reverse a servo’s polarity, limit its travel, and equip the 5th channel with a switch can handle this with ease. To ensure the entire folding mechanism works smoothly, the throttle trim on the transmitter must also be precisely adjusted and further optimized using the two potentiometers on the mix module until the engine retracts and extends absolutely smoothly and without the servo growling in the end positions.

Depending on the position of the switch for channel 5, there are two operating modes:

– Normal mode: The folding propeller remains extended at all times, regardless of how much throttle is applied. →

While Normal Mode is actually rather uninteresting, the latter mode does require a bit of finesse to operate. It’s important to note that retracting the propeller while the model is stationary usually doesn’t work properly because there’s no airflow. With the motor turned off, this airflow must keep the propeller spinning so that it can be slowed down and locked in the vertical position by a rubber buffer. The Mix module is programmed so that the propeller retracts about 3 seconds after the propeller stops spinning.

The following malfunctions were observed: If you move the model too slowly while retracting the engine, the propeller comes to a stop in some position because the airflow is too weak. Attempting to retract a propeller that’s sticking out sideways into the shaft results in a jam, and the servo makes an ugly grinding noise. This is particularly frustrating because, once you’re in the air, it’s hard to tell whether the engine is jammed or has retracted properly

. A simple fix: Make sure the model has enough speed when retracting the engine!

Another problem—though a much smaller one—is that the two flaps sometimes don’t close completely due to two guide pins. After much deliberation and hesitation, I brutally cut off these two small guide pins, and now everything works perfectly.

There is little cause for celebration when it comes to the imprecise bonding of the lower and upper half-shells of the right wing. The resulting 1- to 2-mm edge runs the entire length of the wing and certainly does not improve flight characteristics. A German colleague was sent a new model after filing a complaint. And lo and behold: this edge was also present on the new model. It seems that Kyosho’s manufacturing process is a bit too careless here. Whether you try sanding the Hypodur or cutting it with an ultra-sharp knife, the material becomes soft beneath the surface and would need to be treated. But as the saying goes: Worrying only makes things worse! It’s best

to just leave it as is...it flies just fine anyway. Hopefully, Kyosho will fix this flaw soon.

If you launch the model on flat ground—that is, without thermals—you should be prepared for it to initially try to dive downward at full throttle due to the elevated motor. So give it a good push upward, and it’ll take off quickly. The flight pattern is really beautiful to watch. However, extremely slow “cruising” is hardly possible; it needs to be flown at a fairly brisk pace. The flight time with a 3S 1300 mAh LiPo battery, without any thermals and with about 7 climbs, was approximately 20 minutes. With thermals, or on a slope with a bit of updraft, longer flights are of course possible.

The engine break-in process works perfectly if you make sure to ease off the throttle slowly and—as already mentioned—maintain sufficient airspeed. The flight characteristics of this lightweight glider are quite good. A half-looping comes out nicely, but a roll looks rather pitiful. So certainly not a

This model isn’t just for aerobatics experts, but for enthusiasts who want to fly leisurely laps anywhere—with or without updrafts and thermals. One move that’s always a hit is to appear to be gliding in for a landing, then extend the engine just a few meters in front of the spectators and quickly soar back up into the sky.

On a freezing cold winter day with low-hanging, gray-white clouds and a temperature of 5 degrees below zero, the DG1000 had the opportunity to prove its winterworthiness on the Maschwanden Plain. Surprisingly, the Hypodur’s stability remained virtually intact. Unfortunately, the colored decals that were applied to

didn't adhere well to the Hypodur; almost all of them came loose during various cleaning sessions. Following the East Frisian motto “White Eagle on a White Background,” the model was now barely recognizable against the completely overcast sky. The model, equipped with a FlyCamOne2 strapped on and an extra battery, easily handled several high-speed recovery maneuvers at the limit of visibility (without touching the ground!).

The highlight of this afternoon of flying, however, was our colleague Loki-Hans’s absolutely brilliant idea to try a ground takeoff on the snow. It worked perfectly, taking off at a right angle to the slope, directly into the icy Bise wind. After

about 4 meters, the model took off after gliding perfectly across the snow and, within a few seconds, reached an altitude where it was once again barely visible amid the low-hanging clouds...

The Kyosho-Hype DG1000, with a 2-meter wingspan, offers a well-functioning folding propeller system at an affordable price, though it does require some attention. Although the marketing team at Kyosho-Hype lists “beginners, intermediate pilots, and professionals” as the target audience, this DG1000 is certainly not a typical beginner’s model; rather, it’s best suited for pilots with some flying experience.

*H. J. Baum*