nnDLG

[FAI-F1D]

Vacuum bagging isn't that difficult. Watch a could videos and get started. For what it's worth, I'm now flying a bagged ZoneV2 dlg, and the launch altitudes are *very* impressive. And that's the attraction of it. Yeah, it's challenging to learn, but the results are so good that it's worth it, and even a mediocre build will give a satisfying return.

Items of note: most will struggle to build a fuselage. Best to buy a Topsky pod from Atlanta Hobby or similar and get either their boom or the Allegro boom from Goodwinds. You can, of course, get the ultimate, best in the world fuselage, from Eitan over on rcgroups for about $160.

There are a number of good horizontal stab designs. The Edge foil is good for stabs. Fr3ak foils work well for vert stabs, although I think there's an Edge foil for that as well. Whatever vert stab design you choose, make sure it's symmetrical top and bottom. The old Supergee/Apogee vert stab is outdated and will torque the boom in unspeakable ways. I know because my Taboo has one and it sounds like it's coming apart when I really throw it (twists a good 20 degrees, and that is one stiff boom).

Another alternative is to lurk in the sailplanes for sale section on rcgroups. I got a killer deal on a Neos there recently--under $300 shipped! There's a Kite for sale on there right now for $240 shipped, and I've seen some other nice starter DLG's go for under $200.

 

[flyboa]

My low budget bagged DLG turned out less than average. I would probably invest in a good DLG bagging kit, vacuum pump, and wing cores. Or just buy a wing on RCgroups.

My remaiden after wrapping the boom worked good.

 

[FAI-F1D]

My low budget bagged DLG turned out less than average. I would probably invest in a good DLG bagging kit, vacuum pump, and wing cores. Or just buy a wing on RCgroups.

My remaiden after wrapping the boom worked good.

Yes on the vac pump and kit items (ACP perhaps?), but no on the cores. Far better to build your own hotwire cutter (gravity feed) and cut your own cores. The services that provide those charge quite a bit for what you can do for a couple bucks and 10 minutes of work on your own after a little practice.

Your new DTFB model looks pretty good, but several things come to mind: you can throw harder and much more comfortably with a proper throwing blade. Pegs are draggy, inefficient, and downright painful. Consider buying a tapered boom. I think you still might be seeing a lot of flex. Set a momentary switch on your transmitter to give 15 degrees up elevator during launch. That will get the model going straight up after it comes out of your hand, then you release the switch into cruise mode and don't touch the sticks until you're ready to nose over into glide. Also, looks like something is flexing badly (wing?) causing that roll on launch. That's definitely hurting performance, which is something to be said since I've not seen anyone else getting the performance you're getting.

An interesting project going on at rcgroups is the CANDY dlg. Looks like it actually flies pretty well. Could be made from DTFB with the paper stripped off... http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2603135

 

[flyboa]

I like my sub $30 DLG for now. Easy to build and fly. Hope more people start building along these lines. My next will be another 50".

My launch peg was moved to get behind the CG on the last video. Half way through the peg came detached because I didn't anchor it very well. My pegs do swivel so there is no discomfort when launching.

 

[flyboa]

Hotwire cut LE and TE my new 50".

Will sand and add a 3mm Carbon flat, carbon tow, then cover with fiberglass.
Quick build.

I'm glad I have 4 DLG in build at one time.

 

[TexMechsRobot]

Hey Nic, do you have an update on this project? I mean, it's not like you have anything else going on...

 

[flyboa]

I should get mine flying again

 

[nerdnic]

Hey Nic, do you have an update on this project? I mean, it's not like you have anything else going on...

I'm just wrapping up my nnChipmunk v2 and will be picking this project back up!

 

[TexMechsRobot]

I'm just wrapping up my nnChipmunk v2 and will be picking this project back up!

Nice. I knew the v2 would be taking up most of your time for now. I'm looking forward to this one!

 

[FAI-F1D]

Every once in a while I tale a momentary interest is the idea of foamboard DLG's. Bottom line is it looks like someone has the problem solved. He's getting almost 40 seconds in what appears to be pretty dead air. Have a look:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8E1PqhXXJPA

 

[ajsmcs]

I'm really interested to try out your v4 DLG design. The wing seems pretty straightforward, but I'm perplexed by the fuselage. Particularly the part where the BBQ skewer crosses over a bend line. Do you bend the skewer first? Break it in two?

I'm sure you're crazy busy with other projects, but if you could take a minute and add a few labels for what each piece is made from and what goes where, it would be a really big help. Or even just a picture or two of what the inside looks like would be tremendously helpful.

I really appreciate the fact that you're so contributing your time and effort to progressing this hobby. Keep up the good work.

 

[nerdnic]

Hi there!

I actually don't do anything to the skewer. Just glue it in before you fold up the sidewalls. It will bend a little as needed as the fuse takes shape.

For the other odd pieces those are layers to the fuse nose. Glue them in a stack and then sand/trim down to make a cone shape.

I'll get the parts labeled here soon to help. For any other questions in the meantime feel free to post them here in this thread.

 

[Kurt0326]

I'm just wrapping up my nnChipmunk v2 and will be picking this project back up!

I'm sure you're crazy busy with other projects,

Nic should be busy, he was going to build me a nnDLG... what happened to that?? ;-P

 

[nerdnic]

Let me finalize the design, then we can talk about that

 

[Sky Pirate]

Alright, so I am sincerely intrigued and am going to start building. Are you still doing the aluminum spar? If so what is the placement? Also, any update on the CF arrow shaft? At the very least I can start building the nose. How do the little pieces go together? I figure the semi-circles go in like the ones on the FT Racer, but I don't even know where to start on the other ones. Also, could you post some photos of the inside of the current design? Thanks!

 

[nerdnic]

Hi there. Did you already start the build? If not hold off a day or so, I'm updating the plans now with some adjustments. There is still alum in the wing but I've switched to an alum carbon hybrid. The wing shape has also changed to accommodate the updates as well as give it a much needed visual enhancement.

 

[Sky Pirate]

Nic, thanks for the reply. I have not started the build yet (fortunately it would seem). I'll just wait a few days until you release the next version of the plans. When you do release the plans could you also include some photographs? Thanks!

 

[ajsmcs]

Whelp, now I'm glad I got sidetracked and didn't get around to starting on the second wing...

The original v4 seemed like it had way too much aluminum (aka unneeded weight), and whenever I got around to getting some my original plan was to swiss-cheese the crap out of it to make it lighter. I'm glad you addressed that so now I don't have to.

Can you do us all a big favor, though - would you mind adding in the second wing - in reverse - to your plans PDF? Or perhaps putting it on a second page? I would definitely appreciate the crap out of it.

Because I don't know how other people build their planes, but I always tape the drawing to the foam and use it like a template, cutting through the paper and completely destroying the plans in the process, so I end up needing two sheets of paper anyway. My office has a 36" plotter that I use to print out plans, and it's a giant PITA to 180* flip a PDF on my work computer.

 

[AkimboGlueGuns]

That's looking incredibly promising Nic. I might build one as a launch trainer before I pick up an Azure

https://north-planes-model-company.myshopify.com/products/azure-1-5m-dlg

There look pretty sweet for the price, and they're Dr.Finn approved

 

[Mac82]

So just to clarify the aluminum spar leinght and location, from the above image. The slot behind the servo is the spar ??

Hmm.... I wonder how this would preform with a V tail I'll guess I'll have to build it and find out .

Once again great stuff nerdnic