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.

I love the flaired wing tips and the blended cockpit.

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 .

Just wonder if the wing has any solid built in spar or similar? A TD049, even if with the prop mounted with the front looking backwards, would enable such fast maneuvers that the wings could easily buckle unless stiffened with a spar...the other issue is the hot castor working on the foam..would it penetrate and make it heavy after a few flights, or, even more harmful, soften the material? Paints do not really stick well to the foam surface in my experience, and sealing the foam against castor penetration should be given a thought or too....otherwise I agree the super light fuselage would allow even 020 size PeeWee or TeeDee powerplants too...

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.