My first R/C sailplane, built Summer 2019.
This one was designed by Ryan Grosswiler in 2008 for Make Magazine- plan on Outerzone.
It's a good 2-channel flier that's not hard to build and looks very beautiful.
Alas, it looked even better when I first had it covered. The moral of the story is not to bother covering your big and involved glider with crappy tissue from Michael's, especially when you don't have any dope and are hoping to use Elmer's glue and clear coat. Any time you come near a grassy field (in other words: Glider Flying Location,) the whole thing will go soggy noodle on you.
This sad misadventure made me vow to get some dope and silkspan and do the whole thing properly next time.
Here is a bonus shot of the hi-start and parachute I made with bike tubes. It wasn't quite a success- the rubber doesn't pull nearly far enough, so when you let go, it just snaps, resulting in maybe 150-foot launches that quickly porpoise out into 50-foot glides. I'm casting around for a proper hi-start- they don't seem very common these days- but in the meantime I've gotten some nice proving flights with an improvised power pod. If making your own parachute, be prepared to face the unsettling feeling that you are actually sewing pretty doll clothes.
This one was designed by Ryan Grosswiler in 2008 for Make Magazine- plan on Outerzone.
It's a good 2-channel flier that's not hard to build and looks very beautiful.
Alas, it looked even better when I first had it covered. The moral of the story is not to bother covering your big and involved glider with crappy tissue from Michael's, especially when you don't have any dope and are hoping to use Elmer's glue and clear coat. Any time you come near a grassy field (in other words: Glider Flying Location,) the whole thing will go soggy noodle on you.
This sad misadventure made me vow to get some dope and silkspan and do the whole thing properly next time.
Here is a bonus shot of the hi-start and parachute I made with bike tubes. It wasn't quite a success- the rubber doesn't pull nearly far enough, so when you let go, it just snaps, resulting in maybe 150-foot launches that quickly porpoise out into 50-foot glides. I'm casting around for a proper hi-start- they don't seem very common these days- but in the meantime I've gotten some nice proving flights with an improvised power pod. If making your own parachute, be prepared to face the unsettling feeling that you are actually sewing pretty doll clothes.
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