4 Metre Glider Scratch Build

[Jackson T]

Cut out all the spar slots today! I decided to add a 3x3mm spar between the leading edge and the main spar to help keep the aerofoil shape, because there is no sheeting on these panels.

 

[Jackson T]

I started work on the left hand outermost panel yesterday. I'll hopefully finish it up today and make a start on the other side. She sure is coming along!

 

[Jackson T]

Got the ribs done on each end. Time to start the other side!

 

[TooJung2Die]

This bird is going to be a beauty.

 

[Jackson T]

Guess what I did? I got excited and built the next wing panel on the old wing plan, so now I've got two left wing panels . This isn't actually the first time I've done this either.

I'll try to break it all apart and reuse the parts, cause I can't be bothered making all those parts again.
I layed out all the pieces where they're going to be, and it looks awesome!

 

[OliverW]

Guess what I did? I got excited and built the next wing panel on the old wing plan, so now I've got two left wing panels!

That sucks! But, now you have a spare!

 

[Jackson T]

That sucks! But, now you have a spare!

I'm going to break it apart and hopefully reuse the pieces.

 

[Jackson T]

It all came apart better than expected. The pieces broke off with the grain direction, leaving a bit behind most of the time. Let's just hope they all still fit when I try again!

 

[Jackson T]

Commencing reconstruction! It looks like it will work, the pieces just won't fit as nice.

 

[Jackson T]

I finished re-building the right outermost wing panel.

I won't be sheeting these outer panels to save weight, so I decided to add a 3mm square spar between the leading edge and the main spar to help keep the aerofoil shape.

 

[Jackson T]

I cut out some angled plywood spars for the dihedral joints today. Two pieces will be glued in place as a balsa/ply sandwich in each joint. I know they look a bit dodgy, but that's because the different wing panels don't have exactly the same inner distance between spars, and they needed to be a snug fit.

While I was sanding a wing panel on a belt sander, I ripped off the trailing edge and some of the balsa from a rib . To fix that, I glued a random balsa rectangle onto the rib and sanded it to match the aerofoil, then I glued the trailing edge back on.

 

[rockyboy]

Looking good! Don't forget about the vertical webbing between the top and bottom spars - I tragically lost a big model this year when the wing collapsed due to missing that vertical reinforcement that turns the two spars into a very strong I beam.

 

[FoamyDM]

Shear webbing is VERY important in any structure

 

[Jackson T]

Looking good! Don't forget about the vertical webbing between the top and bottom spars - I tragically lost a big model this year when the wing collapsed due to missing that vertical reinforcement that turns the two spars into a very strong I beam.

I'll be working on the shear webbing today. For some reason I was going to wait until I had glued the panels together, but I'm not sure why I was going to do that. What model did you lose, was it the vintage one with the cloth covering?

 

[rockyboy]

I'll be working on the shear webbing today. For some reason I was going to wait until I had glued the panels together, but I'm not sure why I was going to do that. What model did you lose, was it the vintage one with the cloth covering?

Sadly yes, the big cloth covered beast with Snoopy and the dog house on top.

 

[Jackson T]

Sadly yes, the big cloth covered beast with Snoopy and the dog house on top.

That's no good, it was a nice looking plane

 

[rockyboy]

That's no good, it was a nice looking plane

Every plane has an expiration date on it, and sadly this one came up!

On the bright side, I have room for more projects now!

 

[Jackson T]

On the bright side, I have room for more projects now!

I wish I could say the same. Unless I crash and throw out my 4 meter glider, my hangars pretty full for now . What I would really like is to be able to design, build, and fly a model, than sell it for the price of the materials and go make another plane!

 

[bracesport]

@Jackson T - I am sure you will keep it and add to the fleet - I can not imagine a 4m glider in my garage though!

 

[Jackson T]

@Jackson T - I am sure you will keep it and add to the fleet - I can no imagine a 4m glider in my garage though!

Yeah, I didn't think about any other factors other than "will it fly ok" when I designed this plane