Contest to build the cheapest DLG

[o0Jack0o]

I tried the RM airfoil back when he released it over on rcgroups (still have it). He was doing a bunch of experimenting with the OSG (one sheet glider).
So I cranked one out and tried it with dlg gliding. Its very fast but has absoultly no ability to stay in the air without lots of air moving fast over the wing. Any turns or climbing lost all lift and it would drop out of the air. So no gliding for the RM.

Maybe with a KF step not just a plank. Seems weird to add a KF to a plank. If it helps the plank hold on to its lift and helps it stay in the air I'd use it.
Also the steel string sounds interesting let us know how it goes. Maybe ribbon would be an alternative to steel. Evert try to pull ribbon apart!

Any how Good luck

 

[rcspaceflight]

Also the steel string sounds interesting let us know how it goes. Maybe ribbon would be an alternative to steel. Evert try to pull ribbon apart!

I have tried steel wire before. Specifically I used marking flags or safety flags. I would have to do some digging to find a photo of it. But you just make a 180degree bend about half an inch from the end, then another 180degree bend about an inch from that, then a 90degree bend about half an inch from that. You end up with a great little peg at the end of the wire.

(Found a photo I already posted somewhere on this forum):

With the remaining 20" or so of wire glued in place, you can't pull it out. Steel wire isn't the lightest, but it is dirt cheap and it's weight isn't going to break any DLG characteristics.

The downside to ribbon is that you still need to connect a peg to it somehow. I guess you could just tie it.

Point is, the steel wire does in fact work.

 

[TheFrogman123]

Let me know if you ever post plans.
I will be watching this forum with interest.

 

[Mid7night]

I'm finally making my way back around to this guy, since I have a perfectly good set of tail feathers, fuse-tubes and wing foam.

I sketched out a simple trap-wing that makes the most use of a single sheet of DTFB, so you end up with a 60" span and about 353 sq-in of wing area. Don't know how much it'll weigh yet, but I'm hoping it's not more than 12oz. I know even that sounds high, but we're not talking about the finest in bagged-construction here.

I thought of a simple way to get a round leading edge and also some added thickness for wing stiffness; make a KF step airfoil by creasing the "inside" of the LE line, and carefully fold over and glue with a simple glue stick! Sandwich the wing under a bunch of heavy books while the glue dries.

The biggest challenge (as usual) was figuring out how to join the wing. Also I wanted it to be removable, since I don't really have room to store or transport an assembled 60" span airplane.

I have some aluminum tubing that fits perfectly over a 5mm CF rod, so I knew how the wing join would work, but didn't know how to attach it to the fuse tube.

I wound up simply lashing the CF tubes to the center tube, and reinforcing the string with hot glue. The string-lashing keeps the tubes firmly secure, and the hot-glue keeps the string from getting loose and the tubes from twisting.

I plan on keeping the wings from sliding off by attaching some rubber bands and hooks with strapping tape on the bottom surface.

Gotta get back to the continued holiday festivities, but I'll update as progress continues.

 

[paulshort]

Looks cool. I am going to build a similar one tonight. What are you doing for the pod