toy glider controll line conversion idea

cmulder wrote:Saw this on the facebook "lidl glider" group.
Original idea from brisbane controll line club


Don't know anything more but the vid shows it  flies well.

I think maybe a Cox .020 would have been enough?
That foam is fairly light.

sosam117 wrote:
I think maybe a Cox .020 would have been enough?
That foam is fairly light.

Agree that a .020 would fly the model.
Though for a beginner on a budget or as a combat model a cheaper 049 might be a more apropiate choice.
Or put a td0.049 on it and make it into a true speed model.
These gliders are so cheap that a failed experiment/crash does not matter.

cmulder wrote:

sosam117 wrote:I think maybe a Cox .020 would have been enough? That foam is fairly light.

Agree that a .020 would fly the model. Though for a beginner on a budget or as a combat model a cheaper 049 might be a more appropriate choice. Or put a td0.049 on it and make it into a true speed model. These gliders are so cheap that a failed experiment/crash does not matter.

A technique back in ye olden days was to put a prop on backwards. The reduced thrust efficiency by having the blade airfoil going the wrong way would reduce thrust. One could use a milder prop like a 5x3 instead of a 6x3. Looks like he shortened the nose sufficiently to get the 8cc tank engine closer to proper balance. Also run the engine in a rich 2 cycle, use a lower compression glow plug head. Looks like he used a mild Babe Bee type engine because the tank is not stunt one, which means not a Black Widow.

But, the idea does have merit as you say Charles, cheap fun and less worry about crash damage.

Looks like the engine is the "skymaster"
Cheap fun and even cheaper if a used engine is avaiable.

Usually...  a fully-symetrical airfoil is already in-place...... which is definitely "key"....

You know.. I've seen these little foamy's around town........ I "always" look at a model airplane package.

Are these like Walmart models ? where was the video i didn't see it ,, Had some nice models at the meet .

I picked up something that looks very much like that plane in the Toledo show before the virus came. No spar, but the paint is pretty good. Have not checked if it is fuel proof. Never thought of control line for it. It does not fly well as a glider because it is too tail heavy. I had planned to go electric at some time, but it seemed a bit heavy. It would go straight up, stall and crash straight into the ground, and bounce up a foot or so. Pretty tough. Maybe a side mounted motor with the Golden Bee tank and the needle valve sideways too. Then the canopy might be a bit longer and trimmed nicer. Of course a TD is always best. Think I paid about $7 U.S.

In C/L mode, a .020 Tee Dee might be a good one because its power is akin to a weaker .049, plus being lighter, one could do less shortening of the fuselage nose and basically blend it smoothly with the contours of the fuselage nose, instead of the functional but deeper hacking for .049.

Multiplex fox is the "original" and this lidl version is almost identical.

They are just foam and have no reinforcements at all so a spar (or strip of that glass fibre tape) would be a good idea wne more power is used.
ALso i would make the elevator out of balsa "just to be save"

I might cover mine with simple clear packing tape to make it slightly stronger and easier to clean.
ALso its a good idea to wash them with warm water and soap to remove any mold release wax so that any tape/ covering sticks better.

5 gram was added to the included nose weight to optimise the free flight glide.
That gave a CG of 30mm from the leading edge.

A continuous strip of clear-plastic packing tape across the wing's leading-edge would add some protection against folding.. while also protecting against cuts/abrasions. The "dollar stores" in my locale have these little foamy-kits in stock. The ones I've seen there are pretty small though.. more like for a Cox Tee Dee .010 power.

Well, no-one's taken on the challenge to build one of these yet. Any activity out there? It would be good to see a couple of people rise to the challenge

Oldenginerod wrote:Well, no-one's taken on the challenge to build one of these yet.  Any activity out there?  It would be good to see a couple of people rise to the challenge

Well, I have not taken on the challenge 'yet', but made some activity which may help someone find them. I picked up a 22" span, white beaded foam glider, the one with the squared leading edge, and also a smaller 15" span one with the better foam. The white one is quite tail heavy and does not fly well at all, and the wings are two piece and would need sanding. The size may be OK for an .049 if it is all stiffened up. The smaller one looks good and flies OK as a FF. and might be overpowered with an .049. The other one that I bought a few years ago for $7 is slightly bigger @ 19" and would be OK with an .049. It is branded 'ready made RC' Anyway the first two were at the Dollar Tree which is a common store in the US and Canada. Here it is the $1.50 store with inflation + 13% tax, still a deal. Not sure if I will go further with a build, but it looks cool hanging beside a speed model in the basement.

Ok.  Well I made a start.


$3.50 at Kmart.  Identical to the original one pictured.
I thought I'd better buy my own rather than carve up my grandson's example.  

Yes best not to take grandkids ,, Sounds good hope you document it here