Setting Up a New RC Sailplane
THIS ARTICLE is intended to help a newcomer trim out his first RC Sailplane. It can also be a refresher for those of us who do things and don't remember why. I have "stolen" (or borrowed) my material from too many good writers to even remember those who should be acknowledged. We will assume that your ship is built and covered. All surfaces should be square to the fuselage. The rudder should be exactly vertical with respect to the stabilizer, and the stab at right angles to the fuselage from the top and front. The wing and stab should be aligned perfectly. If not, fix these. Yes, your airplane will fly if they are somewhat off, but it won't fly as well or as efficiently. Besides, everyone at the field will snicker behind your back.
Electric Mods For Junior Clipper +35%
ALTHOUGH I am primarily an RC Sailplane flier, I dabble in other forms of modeling for both fun and the experience of learning more. I have always loved the appearance of Old-Timer designs and have enjoyed experimenting with electric power. Several years ago I threw together a sort of stand-way-back-and-squint Old-Timer for Electric which met with only marginal success. It was a bit blockish and bulky-not a very clean design. I used it for testing different motor, reducer, and battery combinations. The airfoil was sort of an Addidas 7 1/2E that resulted from going nuts with a sanding block on a stack of ribs.
