Messages

1

Slope Soaring / Re: Quark 2M - Back to cutting innocent trees!

« on: January 04, 2018, 13:13:01 PM »

Next will be to try the mad-snap:

https://youtu.be/89dJg3ac7PU

I tried this on my Phase 6 earlier in the year and it mostly worked - even though the elevator throw on the P6 is quite tame (I had my keychain cam on it... recording... but with the lens cap on grrr!). Not quite sure the Quark would take the stress - certainly I'd want to reinforce the hole in the elevator crank as it's rather near the top - closer on mine than this one:

2

Slope Soaring / Re: Quark 2M - Back to cutting innocent trees!

« on: December 31, 2017, 12:47:39 PM »

https://youtu.be/nST_VUXO6mU

I'm not sure I'd dare try the crazy snap reversal around 0:36 but I'd love to know if it works on the real Quark!

I tried it today - it does indeed work on the real thing!

3

Slope Soaring / Re: Quark 2M - Back to cutting innocent trees!

« on: August 15, 2017, 12:23:53 PM »

Some of you might have encountered my R/C simulator (http://rowlhouse.co.uk/PicaSim/) which has a subtle bias towards gliders I've created a Quark for it, and have been setting it up following my flying time during holidays in Ireland. I think I'm pretty happy with it, though I'd need to fly the real thing again to confirm. Here's a video - flying in moderate winds, very little turbulence (less than I had in Ireland), and on a big hill:

https://youtu.be/nST_VUXO6mU

I'm not sure I'd dare try the crazy snap reversal around 0:36 but I'd love to know if it works on the real Quark!

If you want to/can test it so I can refine the behaviour, a Windows installer is here:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/dyuw8rtxsthk7dn/PicaSim-Installer-Quark1.exe?dl=0

I just noticed I haven't yet made a correct thumbnail for it in the description/selection part of the application.

4

Slope Soaring / Re: Quark 2M - Back to cutting innocent trees!

« on: August 07, 2017, 22:14:59 PM »

Here's my Quark flying during holidays in Ireland (Kilkee Cliffs):

https://youtu.be/R_Inobt6fgY

It was lovely to fly. Unfortunately the receiver was glitchy so after a couple of scares I didn't dare fly any more.

5

Slope Soaring / Re: Quark 2M - Back to cutting innocent trees!

« on: April 12, 2017, 13:03:06 PM »

Nice!

Mine will be going to Ireland on its holidays later this year

6

Slope Soaring / Re: Quark 2M - Back to cutting innocent trees!

« on: April 05, 2017, 23:51:22 PM »

Woohoo - it flies! I finally got it airworthy last night, and as luck would have it needed to take this afternoon off work anyway, so off I trotted to the nearest slope at Wittenham Clumps. A pretty place, but not a great slope at the best of times, and with the wind at about 45 degrees to the main slope, it was not the best of times! I tested the air with my DLG - that had no trouble staying up, but the air was rough and not providing much lift. Worth a go, though.

So off went the Quark - and wow! It's so sensitive and responsive, even at low speeds. With a touch of flaps it actually stayed up pretty well (though was obviously never going to match the DLG). The wind turned along the slope after a while, but before it did I managed to catch a thermal and gain enough height to do a loop and roll - the roll rate is amazing, and I loved the howl that it produced! After having to land due to lack of lift a few times I thought it best not to push things too hard. Really looking forward to flying this in good conditions!

7

Slope Soaring / Re: Quark 2M - Back to cutting innocent trees!

« on: April 01, 2017, 23:45:05 PM »

Basically done - just need to hook up the ailerons, secure the radio gear/battery and add some nose weight (160g). Total weight will be 1330g for the CG as on the plan.

Unfortunately I can't fly it tomorrow because... I'm going flying (full size). Life is tough!

I was thinking of adding wavey strips (orange with black borders) on the wings (my daughter likes nemo colours!) - not sure whether to do that with covering (oracover) or paint?

8

Slope Soaring / Re: Quark 2M - Back to cutting innocent trees!

« on: March 25, 2017, 22:31:42 PM »

I'm getting there!

9

Slope Soaring / Re: Quark 2M - Back to cutting innocent trees!

« on: March 13, 2017, 11:32:38 AM »

That looks good. I think I may adopt your cross-bracing on the ailerons.

I have a numpty question - what do people use/favour for covering? Oracover/Profilm or Solarfilm? Is Oralight too, well, light? Do I need to treat the wood before covering or will that just add unnecessary weight?

The last wood glider I made was a Phase 6 (still going strong, fibreglassed), and before that either tissue or nylon & dope planes. I'm a bit behind the times...

10

Slope Soaring / Re: Quark 2M - Back to cutting innocent trees!

« on: March 09, 2017, 01:12:14 AM »

I had just sheeted the fin with 1/32, dry fitted it, and liked the improvement, when I saw your post - so all is good. With the rod as well it should be fine. Thanks for the info about the elevators too.

11

Slope Soaring / Re: Quark 2M - Back to cutting innocent trees!

« on: March 08, 2017, 21:56:40 PM »

Thanks - yes, I was planning on doing that anyway (possibly making a hinge with rod & tube, so long as I have enough). But my concer was that the tip of the fuselage is supported by not that much fuselage - just the section underneath the curved slot. It twists more easily than I would like.

I'm actually in the process of sheeting the fin (I have some nice 1/32" sheet from long long ago) with the grain running vertically. Hopefully that should stiffen up the bottom of the fin, and therefore reduce the twistability...

12

Slope Soaring / Re: Quark 2M - Back to cutting innocent trees!

« on: March 08, 2017, 17:05:36 PM »

My Quark build is coming along pretty well (though I'll post some photos below so you can tell me what I've done wrong!).

Two pressing questions as I'm on the tail and fin:

1. Do people glue the tail(s) onto the axle and incidence rod through the bellcrank? My inclination would be to keep the tail removable, if only for ease of repairing (not that I intend that to be necessary!) and travelling, but if so, what's the best way to keep it in place.

2. After dry-mounting the fin, and cutting through the stringers, I realised that the fin and rudder will be supported mainly by the tail end of the fuselage - behind the incidence pin slot. This isn't as rigid as I would like because of that slot, and the lower part of the fin (that straddles the upper part of the slot) has got a fair amount of give in it so isn't a lot of help. Should I be worried about this? I'm somewhat inclined to sheet the fin with 1mm balsa, cross-grained with the base of the fin, but don't want to add any more weight than necessary.