GliderIreland - Ireland RC Forum - Flying Model forum in Ireland
Gliders => Slope Soaring => Topic started by: johnfireball on December 20, 2011, 21:18:03 PM
-
(http://www.gliderireland.net/forum/images/uploads/johnfireball/Foam%20Templates1.JPG)
Hi all,
Having never worked with foam before I have decided to have a go at making a foam 1.6m Quark as per Freds plan. Two unsuccessful attempts with an assistant at wing cutting in one go I decided to try it in two stages.I started by cutting blocks of foam 5mm all round bigger than wing size I soldered wires to the templates(in the pic the wire is broken off the back of the root template, I caught it in my jumper). I double sided taped the templates to the block ends (checking allignment) and with an assistant managed to cut 2 opposite and useable wings in two passes per wing of the hot wire. They needed a little sanding to remove lines caused by slow wire speed at the wingtips. Cutting wings this way requires a little sanding of the leading edge ( you can see the waste that needs removing on the leading edge in pic.) and cutting a sliver of foam from trailing edge using a knife and steel rule.
The small wing below the foam is a test piece which has the same profile as the quark wing. After it was cut I rolled it with a coat of PVA glue, allowed it to set off somewhat I then glued out craft paper using the same glue and roller and covered the wing top and immediately after covered the bottom and then weighted it down to dry. The result is a good stiff wing which hardly requires a spar although I will fit one.
Paper finish is difficult to paint so I will most likely be taping also.
John.
-
(http://www.gliderireland.net/forum/images/uploads/johnfireball/quark%20wing.JPG)
(http://www.gliderireland.net/forum/images/uploads/johnfireball/quarkwing1.JPG)
Some progress, have glued in 5mm solid carbon spar and tubes for 6mm wing mount. I used my soldering iron with a ruler to melt out the spar channels. The incidence pin tube is 5mm brass with 4mm carbon pin. I have taped carbon strips to the trailing edges and will hopefully get a better sharper finish.
I have tried a water based varnish to seal the craft paper and it works really well as a base coat for spray paint, so might not use tape. Waiting on lightweight filler to dry and will then cover.
John.
-
Hey John,
This is looking very good.
Are you going to use the same foam to make the fuselage ? :clap: :clap:
-
Hi All,
Some more progress made.
(http://www.gliderireland.net/forum/images/uploads/johnfireball/foam%20cutting.JPG)
(http://www.gliderireland.net/forum/images/uploads/johnfireball/foam1.JPG)
(http://www.gliderireland.net/forum/images/uploads/johnfireball/canopy%20cut.JPG)
I had to laminate foam pieces together as my foam was not thick enough. I cut the templates from hard cardboard 1.4mm thick, they work but not great (cutting wire catches).
I have now covered the wings and completed the tailplane which I made from foam sanded to shape, added carbon trailing edge and covered.
The wings are now weighed down in their outer covers and will remain there for a few days to dry out. The paper and pva dry out very rigid and hopefully wont warp. This so far is the cheapest model I've built as all materials I had to hand. It's a bit of an experiment and learning as I go but so far pleased with results. It's my thrifty recession Quark.
(http://www.gliderireland.net/forum/images/uploads/johnfireball/wings.JPG)
(http://www.gliderireland.net/forum/images/uploads/johnfireball/taillplane.JPG)
John.
-
good job :wink:
-
Looking good John :clap:
An old trick when using cardboard template is to rub graphit on the edge ( from a pencil) that make the wire glide on the cardboard :D
Looking forward to the completed model
-
Happy Christmas to all,
Yea I know its Christmas but no better time to melt foam.
Build progress, fuse complete and servos fitted just needs fin and connections. I fear she may be getting a little fat and will probably weigh similar to my phase. I like the look (very French if you know what I mean). It is perhaps an early Citroen. Can't wait to fly her(it'll go like stink and then I'll break it)
Happy new year,
John.
(http://www.gliderireland.net/forum/images/uploads/johnfireball/quark%20servos.JPG)
(http://www.gliderireland.net/forum/images/uploads/johnfireball/quark%20assembly.JPG)
-
God John, you are on fire ! :lol:
Your Quark is looking really good !
First flight should be soon, looking forward to that ! And let me know if you to Kilakee! :D
-
I'm Baaack,
(http://www.gliderireland.net/forum/images/uploads/johnfireball/fin.JPG)
Foam cut sanded and ready for covering
(http://www.gliderireland.net/forum/images/uploads/johnfireball/servohorn.JPG)
Wing servos and horns fitted and glued used hot glue gun to glue in servos and epoxy for horns.
(http://www.gliderireland.net/forum/images/uploads/johnfireball/finhinge.JPG)
I'm enjoying my venture into foam and paper and learning different techniques if I could turn back the clock I would hinge the ailerons as I have the fin, I would then not have any plastic hinge tape on the model and could then finish paint it with household emulsion of which I have loads of in the shed. I may mask off the hinges and use a cobination of acrilic and emulsion. I started this build as low budget and will try hard to keep it so. Its killing me having to buy a 6mm carbon rod joiner I,m using a wooden dowel to line up the build. The fin really brings this glider to life
Hi Fred,
Great if you come to Killakee I am planning an elevon tailplane mix perhaps to do flips, airframe weight with servos 620 grms. She's a fab looking glider and I look forward to maiden which is not far off (will let you know). By the way only live round the corner from you.
John.
-
Got her finished today, rather pleased. I learned a lot with this build and many things I would do differently so if anyone is thinking of having a go with paper and foam I can give advice .
(http://www.gliderireland.net/forum/images/uploads/johnfireball/quarkfin.JPG)
Rearview with kids. I painted it with household emulsion. I needed a lot of noseweight 200grms, bringing total to 1000 grms. so it'll fly and crash fast (gulp). Just need to get 6mm carbon rod for wing joiner and she's good to go. Forecast is gruesome all weekend and next week so will have to be patient.
(http://www.gliderireland.net/forum/images/uploads/johnfireball/quarkfin1.JPG)
Next project Santa sent. Plan is to convert to rc electric, its 28" span and being new to electric advice on motor size, lipo etc would be appreciated.
John.
(http://www.gliderireland.net/forum/images/uploads/johnfireball/nextpro.JPG)
-
Well done John, :clap: and it's nice to see a couple of young “pilots-to-be.” Did you make them out of foam & paper as well?
But I have a question John:
How are you going to stop the two wing halves from coming away from the fuse when in flight :?:
From your pictures I haven’t seen any method of holding the wings to the fuse.
Keith
-
Hi Keith,
The wings are held by short pieces of silicon tube on a forward wing pin. It's a bit tricky to assemble but hopefully will do the job. On my plouf I put thin strips of masking tape on the wing joiner rod and these hold ok with friction and dont wreck the fuse on hard landing. I will only use the silicon tube if the wings loosen up as they are holding firmly at present with friction alone.
John.
(http://www.gliderireland.net/forum/images/uploads/johnfireball/wingmount.JPG)
-
Hey John,
Your Quark is really looking good! :clap: :clap:
-
Hi all,
There maybe a weather break tomorrow so might get first hopefully not last flight in before the new year, anyway batteries are being charged.
John.
-
Hey John,
Do you know around what time you are going to fly?
Can come, but have to leave relatively early in the afternoon.
-
Hi Fred,
Forcast for tomorrow force 5-6. Could be there at 11am. I will text you my phone number. Would fly phase first and if ok then try quark.
John.
-
Sound like a plan :)
Text me when you go up there, and i'll meet you at the slope.
-
Hey John,
Are you going at the slope later ?
-
Hi Fred,
Yea will head up around 2 still think there is too much wind but it is forecast to drop later.
John.
-
Hey John,
At the slope right now. Wind around 34kph gusting west, so a bit off
-
Looks like that was the week end for maiden! Good to see all these winter projects finally seeing light :D
So, I met up with John at the slope this afternoon, and he maidened his Quark Mini.
I will leave John to tell you how it wentm but I think someone left the slope really pleased! :D
Here are a few photos :
(http://www.gliderireland.net/forum/images/uploads/Fred/DSCF7162.jpg)
(http://www.gliderireland.net/forum/images/uploads/Fred/DSCF7163.jpg)
And I have to say that John's Quark looks really good! And it feel right in the air if you see what I mean.
Right after the first landing :
(http://www.gliderireland.net/forum/images/uploads/Fred/DSCF7165.jpg)
And more tweaking for another flight (5 or 6 done today qith the Quark for John :clap: )
(http://www.gliderireland.net/forum/images/uploads/Fred/DSCF7167.jpg)
I'l put a short video of the first flight later :D
Well done again John :clap:
-
Well done john, that quark looks cool!!!
-
Hi all,
I love it when a plan comes together. A toast to paper and foam. What a glider!!! I'm afraid the phase is now for the history books. This machine is so responsive even with only 50% throws. I had my gear set up for dual rates and switched to full rates at height, well I had to quickly reset as it was tooo much for my ability but gave me a feel for its future capabilities. Yet with small control surface movement she is very easy to fly with no bad manners that I could detect. Flying weight at 1kg is I think perfect. She flew off the board with just control surface movement needing to be reset on my transmitter. You just gotta get yourself one of these (big grin, dreaming of flick rolls). Now what's that blender thingie? Cant wait to see vid Fred.
John.
-
Cleaver ol’ John! :D
Amazing what can be done with a few bits and pieces. Foam, paper, a bit of determination,…………and it flys!
I’m a great believer in getting the most you can out of virtually nothing, and I guess that airframe cost you virtually nothing John. Very well done :clap:
K.
-
congrat's john on 1st flight. tremendous satisfaction from making something from scratch that cost virtually nothing yet gives so much pleasure. well done :clap: :clap: .
-
And the video of the first flight :clap:
Sorry, did a quick job here! :oops:
http://www.gliderireland.net/images/videos/johnQuarkmini.wmv
I'll upload it in Vimeo later.
In the first 30 secs, just after the launch, you can see the test of higher rates for the ailerons / elevator.. Touchy! :D
But that glider fly great :clap:
-
Yea, good video Fred. :clap: Well done John for making the plane and then flying a remarkably agile model. :D
Er,……..Fred, what camera were you using??? :?:
K.
-
Hey Keith,
This my old dv camera(a Samsung if i remember, used to cost a leg these things at the time!)
-
Thanks for the vid Fred. Perhaps if we keep quiet no one will notice the unplanned landing at the end. Nice bit of cello. That's what I get for camera posing.
Regarding this expo thing I studied my transmitter manual and have discovered that I have a choice of dual rate or expo so that one or the other is always on and I also found that my transmitter was set for expo at 100% in the wrong direction( hence the sensitivity problem). Someday I'll perhaps get it right.
John.
-
Well done John, cracking model :clap:
-
Great looking model John (and Fred!) and an interesting build - I'm sorry I did not get out last Saturday to see the first flight but I enjoyed the video. Perhaps next weekend now the wind has subsided a bit.
-
John,
Nice looking/flying plane, what an interesting build, I've never heard of foam and paper, pretty cool. That's what makes this hobby so great, the things that people, unlike me, come up with. :D I'm still stuck in the rut of balsa and plastic. Thanks for sharing. Freedom Flyer
-
Really nice build John !
I want one for keeping in my car for those unexpected days when you come accross a new slope.
Lovely