🚀 go-pugleaf

The least expensive RC model airplane option I have seen is one based on 
an article in RCM based on the "Combat Grimlin".  This airplane is made
out of plastic down spout and a foam wing.  The wing was reinforced using
strapping filiment tape.  The model is a flying wing type, like a Polestar
or Simitar.  I have built a couple and they fly exceptionally well and are 
very forgiving.  They go where you point them and groove.  We have powered them
with everything from a 15 to 25SF.  Mine have 20s in them. One of fliers at our
field who is been in training mode for too long was given the controls and he
flew it for several flights with no problem.  Even though he can barely fly his
trainer 40.

Based on this, myself and a couple of others started looking at how cheap we could
go with these.  Would you believe $25 for a kit that includes every thing except
the tank, hinges and linkages! Of course you need a radio and engine too.  It
goes together in about an evening, not counting drying time.  Although my
versions all use the filament tape wing, the kits use a spar, as the savings
were not that great.  And we pinch pennys, ie, use phillips head screws instead
of hex to keep the cost down.  Yes, all screws are included. Going as step further
Nick, the chief designer of our project, built a prototype trainer.  It is 3 
channel; rudder, elevator and throttle.  I uses no glue, except for joining the 
wings and the verticle and horizontal stab.   The rudder and elevator are one 
piece and bolt in the down spout.  It too flys outstanding.  It is very soft on
the initial application of control, but if you throw in a lot it cranks around
very responsively.  Just right for a novice.  It's almost indistructable
as the wing is rubber banded.  The trainer is of conventional design, uses a
longer section of down spout.  Uses a 15 and flys forever on 4 oz, tank.

To further this effort we are experimenting with different covering materials. 
My first one, Bird of Prey (because we use it to chase birds), was covered with
MonoKote; very expensive, took better part of a roll.  Next one is done with high
gloss latex enamel, then clear polyurethane.  Much better.  Another one of our
experimenters didn't bother with the clear, no problem, seems to be fuel proof.
There is yet another that is covered with a checkerboard shelf like material
found at Wallmart.  EconoKote (sp?) is also used and is better than MonoKote
directly over foam as it takes less heat.  If you really want to go cheap, use a
felt tip pin and forget it; just wipe it down after you fly.

You tend to get very brave with these inexpensive models and do radical things
very low to the ground.  So low that I managed to put my first one into the
runway at our field at full throttle in an almost verticle postion (dumb thumb).
The fuselage didn't survive and the wing bent a little.  So I ripped off the 
MonoKote, added more tape to the wing, sprayed a little latex (yes, you can thin
it with water), cut a new fuselage (10 minutes) and it's ready to go again.

Anyway in Georgetown, Texas a hobby shop is selling these things at cost.  They
are even planning a "Bird of Prey" siminar to show how to slap these things
together in an evening.  The prototype trainer was sold at the field the other
day,  As soon as we get tired of cranking out Birds of Prey kits we'll start
looking at kiting the trainer.  The cost should be within pennys of the more
lively Bird of Prey flying wing.

So the jist of this little note is that I could probably put together an airplane
of the trainer catagory for $25 for the kit, say $10 for hinges, tank and 
linkages, at the most $8 for Coverite or similar low temp covering.  $50 for an
engine and a 4 channel radio, at $115.  Some white glue (borrow it).  Epoxy on
the wing center is optional, but let's say $7 from Tower with enough left over to
do about 20 more planes.  Total about $225.  And you have something that flys
great. Not like those 049 Cox things that only an advanced flier can fly, have
junk for servos and radio (2 channel) and cost a bunch. I have one of these
things, a Cessna with an 049 that I bought at a garage sale.  It's a gas to fly
but I can't imagine anyone learning to fly with it.  With the down spout type
model you have a radio and an engine that can used for other models.

I know the original sender of the note wanted direct email answer, but I
personally don't like when youall do that, because I like to see the answers to
questions asked on this forum myself.


Stan

stand@austin.ibm.com