GliderFlyer
Elite member
Simple soarer RES
...need I say more?
...need I say more?
Here is the abridged version of the huge draft I was about to post:I just participated in my first F3RES contest today....it was a casual club contest...no awards or trophies just low key and laid back. The guy who was expected to win did. I would say your Gentle Lady is closer to a competitive F3RES than the simple soarer. Someone flew a gentle lady in the contest today. Its going to give you a lot more realistic practice than the simple soarer and build your skill faster. Most of the planes in the contest today weighed around 15oz. Also, F3RES (usually, I think) uses a high start and not a winch. But I'd love to see an F3RES simple soarer. Greg, our club president, has built around 30 balsa F3RES planes so if you want a used one we could probably get you one for around $100.
I'm thinking the regular wingspan of the Simple Soarer, which is about 1.5 meters. At that size, it will probably go super fast on the winch. I feel like having 2 or 3 piece wing would be a good idea, however, since foamboard is not as rigid as balsa, the joint would need to be reinforced a whole lot. 1.5 meters is not too inconvenient to transport.@GliderFlyer - thanks for the vid. I watched a little of it but its off to bed and I'll watch the rest tomorrow. What a sweet set-up at the field. If those winches were at my field I'd want to make something too so I could use those winches. The folks that make that plane in the video say its a F3J. I think that the motorized version of that is an F5J....which is popular around here. Amazing planes but you're talking $1600 are there abouts for a plane. I think it would be quite a challenge to make a foamboard plane for those winches. I can't wait to see what you come up with.
What wingspan are you thinking about? Most of these planes have sectional wings in 3 - 4 pieces to make them easier to transport. The 2 meter I just made has a 3 piece wing that uses carbon rods that slide into aluminum tubes to join the wing pieces together. You could do that with foamboard too for not a lot of money.
That ought to be durable! I had the tail break off of one of the simple soarers I made once.Just saw this thread. You may be interested in my build where I essentially rebuilt my simple soarer with a fiberglass fuselage, balsa tail, and an Armin wing with CF spar.
I don't know about winch launches, but it will take a bungee launch just fine.
You can try fuselage mounted speed brakes rather than wing mounted spoilers.Simple soarer RES
...need I say more?
Our club usually has an F3RES fun contest once a month. We have a bunch of modern gliders - almost all with a large diameter carbon spar or a fully sheeted leading edge. The exception is the occasional Gentle Lady. The Gentle Lady seems to hold up well to bungee launch.
Don't know if you remember Hobby Shacks "TOMY" bungee launch kit, but I kicked butt at CSUDH one weekend using it against all sorts of high performance stuff. Mainly it was knowing how the plane flew and bit of luck and skill on teensey tight thermals the big boys couldn't turn into. A foamy dlg could beat your friend under the right conditionsno foam wings - the aspirations in the club are way to high. The Pres. is on the development team of Sonora Lazer Arts and competes in the NATS. I believe he got 9th in F3RES. Evryone else is chasing him. I amuse them with my foam creations. When I get around to it I'll make a foam DLG.