Edge Build

[davidchoate]

Oh, I got all the radio stuff. servos,Rx,Tx, and linkages,and ESC/motor. so i was pulling up this thread to install and finish it anyway. One thing worries me, and I know David Lewis may be able to help. There is an enormous amount of dihedral on the plan. I cut it by half for RC, but its still alot. MR. Lewis if u can help me understand dihedral, and if I should lower it for powered flight, I would be most grateful. I notice that scale acrobat planes have little ,or no dihedral at all. Thanks, David Choate.

[limey]

Nice job love the paintwork. Limey

[Billy Mc]

The more dihedral you take out the quicker it will roll, but will be less stable. For very quick rolls like combat maneuvers some fighter planes use anhedral (the opposite of dihedral). A high wing plane needs less dihedral to be stable than a low wing plane.

[davidchoate]

Thanks for explaining the dihedral.

[davidchoate]

This plane will be ready for a maiden in a week. I know it will fly, but the problem is, can I handle it. I am still using trainers, and plan on alot of practice with them this week(weather permitting). This build even with all the strength I added, weighed nicely, as you noticed, I used alot of not kit wood, which I can pick out at the LHS, and they know me so good that they dont mind if I bring my scale, and weigh the wood before I buy.

[Mitch]

I have bought some 'contest balsa' over the internet and it has the ends painted so you know what's what. When I go the the LHS I always bring my scale and let them know what I am doing. You would be surprised how much difference there is in the same sheet of balsa. Mitch

[WIDDOG]

I was following this post when I noticed the topic of Contest Balsa Wood. I am working on the 900 Series kits. Even though I have the plans I still buy the 900 Series Kits. I swap out the kit wood and replace with Contest Balsa Wood. I never seem to have much luck with Kit Wood. I also noticed that the G Challenge rules say to use Kit Wood. I was wondering what other model builders though of Kit Wood. What I mean is maybe just because I have not had good luck with kit wood means its all bad wood.

[davidchoate]

my experience has been in the Laser Cur kits, there seems to bo better wood.

[Mitch]

This is what I know...and this is my opinion on the matter.

Guillow's kits are traditionally die-cut. For that process, they had to use stronger wood, hence heavier. The option years ago (and today) was PRINTED parts, made on softer, and lighter wood. I have built some of these as a youngster and currently.

With the advent of Laser cutting. Guillow's can now use lighter wood and have the parts clean and sharp. It might not be contest grade, but I believe it is close.

Moreover, wood is a natural substance, and any kit Guillow's or ANY other Company makes may have some parts that are of wood that you may not like. You then need to cut out another part.

When Guillow challenge says use kit wood, I use kit wood. For a sport flyer I will use kit wood. For my models that I plan to enter contests I use kit wood for the laser parts, but will use contest balsa wherever I can or think there is an advantage.

When I buy a kit that is a "Contest Model" I am amazed at how little they give you. You must be careful and plan every cut or you will run out of wood. They may only give you a six 1/16 stringers. Moreover those kits are not cheap. I finally found the kit that won the last WW1 contest. It cost 150 dollars. That was a Bristol Bullet the size of the 200 series SE5a. Although a Guillow's SE5a built as is will NOT be a contest flyer.

And lastly Guillow kits are "Multi Purpose" They are NOT designed for solely rubber flight.

Mitch

[WIDDOG]

Thanks Great post/explanation,

A rather small point is the fact that the 900 Series kits are not multi purpose. They are designed as "Rubber Powered Jobs." The problem I been having is that the weights of each part sheet vary so much. I would prefer to have all lite weight wood or all heavy weight wood. I don't really care so much about the wood as I substitute Contest Balsa for the Kit Wood anyway. I guess I think that Kit Wood building just comes down to luck of the draw.

[davidchoate]

After a year I'm finally done building this thing,but noe my problem is I'm not ready skill wise to fly it. I got a foam sport trainer to practice on because until now i've been just learning to fly trainers,and i just recently got good at that. So I now have to learn sport plane characteristics.I came up with a very easy way to access the battery,and all other components with a plywood tray that slides into the fuse via the front.

[Bill Gaylord]

After a year I'm finally done building this thing,but noe my problem is I'm not ready skill wise to fly it.

Not encouraging, but with mine a person couldn't have enough skill to fly it lol! I finally got onto it when I realized that it had to be flown very carefully. Small scales are tough! Really tall grass helps a lot, although they always seem to find the bare spots when something goes wrong.

[davidchoate]

Angie. This was probably My best build as far as innovation to RC conversion. It shows many of the finishing tequnique you were wondering about. I still have'nt flown it yet. I need more practice yet on my trainers.