Graupner Slipper

[tonyturley]

I have on its way to me a NOS Graupner Slipper, a 21" balsa HLG. I will be converting it to 2ch RC with a UMX brick, and adding a motor pod so it can be launched using 18mm A & B Estes engines. I think C engines would push it beyond 400', as well as make it harder for my aging eyes to keep track of it. I've not done any rocketry in around 20 years, but I still have all of my equipment and a large plastic container full of motors and launch supplies. The rocket club that used to meet at the LHS moved to a town across the state line about 2 hours away, so my re-entry into rocketry is going to be solo. Stay tuned for updates.

 

[bisco]

can't wait to see it, all the best!

 

[telnar1236]

I have on its way to me a NOS Graupner Slipper, a 21" balsa HLG. I will be converting it to 2ch RC with a UMX brick, and adding a motor pod so it can be launched using 18mm A & B Estes engines. I think C engines would push it beyond 400', as well as make it harder for my aging eyes to keep track of it. I've not done any rocketry in around 20 years, but I still have all of my equipment and a large plastic container full of motors and launch supplies. The rocket club that used to meet at the LHS moved to a town across the state line about 2 hours away, so my re-entry into rocketry is going to be solo. Stay tuned for updates.

How heavy is it? Even A and B engines are a ton of thrust for a 21" wingspan plane

 

[tonyturley]

How heavy is it? Even A and B engines are a ton of thrust for a 21" wingspan plane

Looks like it is going to be 80-90g. It is mostly built now, and the wings are a pretty dense balsa. The kit was old and had been banged around some through the years, so I had to cut out and replace some chewed up edges in the wing.

 

[bisco]

looks good! are you going to cover it?

 

[tonyturley]

looks good! are you going to cover it?

No, just a very light coat of lacquer on the wings and fuselage.

 

[L Edge]

Welcome!!
Suggest you put some sort of color (yellow, red) on at least one wingtip to help you with your aging eyes. Are you going to launch vertical or at some steep angle? Gee, you might be able to control the flight going up as well as down.

Hope you video your flight.

 

[tonyturley]

Welcome!!
Suggest you put some sort of color (yellow, red) on at least one wingtip to help you with your aging eyes. Are you going to launch vertical or at some steep angle? Gee, you might be able to control the flight going up as well as down.

Hope you video your flight.

Like this?

 

[tonyturley]

Update: Well, that didn't work well. I installed the 1S brick in the rocket glider and installed the pushrods. I had to run external fine wire pushrods in short housings because the wires were binding when I tried running them through the tail boom. Upon testing, the rudder servo still seemed to be binding, and a close examination looked like the battery wire was pinched. I gently moved the wire aside (or so I thought), and there was a sudden puff of smoke. I quickly unplugged the lipo, but the brick was toast. Sigh. So I unhooked everything, removed the brick and tossed it, and ordered a Ma-RX42-D+ micro receiver. This time I'll use a pair of Spektrum linear servos I have on hand and install them on the outside of the fuselage, away from the receiver. This project is turning into a lot more work than I expected.

 

[bisco]

it looks good!

 

[tonyturley]

Sadly, I had a crash worthy of the FT guys this morning. It was the first and only launch of my rocket glider. I set the camera to take a set of images 1 second apart with a delay of 5 seconds to give me time to get ready. Sadly, the rocket came off the launch pad at about 150mph in a severe arc that went about 15 feet high and impacted about 60 feet away and to the right less than 3 seconds after ignition. My reflexes were just not quick enough to make course corrections. Still trying to digest what went wrong. I was trying to get an image of the exhaust flame, but it came off the pad very, very fast. Crashes happen, but it's still pretty disappointing.

 

[Mr NCT]

Sadly, I had a crash worthy of the FT guys this morning. It was the first and only launch of my rocket glider. I set the camera to take a set of images 1 second apart with a delay of 5 seconds to give me time to get ready. Sadly, the rocket came off the launch pad at about 150mph in a severe arc that went about 15 feet high and impacted about 60 feet away and to the right less than 3 seconds after ignition. My reflexes were just not quick enough to make course corrections. Still trying to digest what went wrong. I was trying to get an image of the exhaust flame, but it came off the pad very, very fast. Crashes happen, but it's still pretty disappointing.

View attachment 259782
View attachment 259783

Ouch, that hurt.

 

[bisco]

sorry to see it, a valiant effort. all the best on your next project!

 

[L Edge]

Are you going to try again?