There should be an imaginative introduction to this second page of freeflight models, rather than "More freeflight models", but I can't think of one at the moment, so here are more of my freeflight models.
I really must stop building new models, because I am rapidly running out of storage space, and my r/c fleet is falling into disrepair.
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A funny little model that was a free plan in Radio Control Modellers World. It has very simple construction, and the most weird flying characteristics. It flys in left-hand circuits, if conditions will allow. However, if I launch it with the right wing low it starts right-hand circuits which rapidly tighten untill it spins in. In a blustery wind it will even change from right to left-hand circuits in flight, with exciting results.
The large firewall produces so much drag, that when the engine stops the glide is guaranteed to return it to earth, sometimes very fast!
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| Chunky at Middle Wallop, 2002 | Flying at the Odiham Free Flight meeting, April 22, 2002 |
The engine is an old DC Bantam .049 which only just produces enough power. I was unable to start it at first, so installed a spring starter, and now it roars into life very quickly.
Update
Since writing the above I have decided that flying Chunky at grass-top level had to stop. One of the main problems is that on a crowded flying field other modellers, (including those I was flying with), frequently had to dive out of the way. So I installed a DC Wasp, which although the same capacity, has more power.
The first flight was at Old Warden with the engine throttled back, but Chunky rose majestically to a height only once before attained when it flew into a thermal at Middle Wallop. I now look forward to some flights when I can lean out the engine, and deliberately go for height.
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An Eric Clutton design from Model Aircraft, June,1965. Very simple design, very entertaining to fly, and so light that it is virtually unbreakable. However, the 25% nitro fuel is inclined to eat everything it comes into contact with!
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I was then amazed how easily it started, and how powerful this tiny engine is.
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| Three Wing Dings - what next? Right is Gray's, and left is Peter's |
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Well, what can I say about this flying machine! Powered by an ageing Cox .020 with the prop on backwards, its short fuselage means that it is very easily upset, so flying in anything other than still conditions, or very light winds, is just about impossible.
The all sheet wings I found especially difficult, they would not stay flat. In the end I rebuilt them, and added 1/32" crossgrain sheeting to try to minimise the warping. They still warped but not to much. I then added four little trim tabs, and the Bee buzzes.
Last week (May 2002) I stopped at Chobham Common on the way home from work. A scorching May day, with very little wind, but a very unfavourable direction, ie straight towards the M3? However, with the fuel limited I had the best flight yet. The Bee buzzed along without gaining much height, clearing shrubs and gorse bushes by inches, looking for all the world like a bumble bee. It eventually landed in some long dry grass, and dispite watching its flight path very carefully, it took me several minutes to find it.
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I had to rest to cool down after that. Flying free flight models, work clothes, rough ground and a hot evening with little wind are not a good combination. However, I went home with the modellers silly grin on my face.
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Years ago my Dad and I flew gliders, both free flight and r/c, every weekend. I then went to college, discovered girls, and gave up modelling for many years. The usual story.
When I started again it was with R/C power, and then free flight power. It was only very recently that I bought (second hand) the Leprechaun (below), and then built the Caprice.
The Caprice is one of Keil Kraft's success stories, it sold thousands of kits. As soon as I first flew this example I knew why it had been so successful. Amazing glide, slow and graceful, with an arrow straight climb on the tow-line.
I built this example from a copy of the plan that was given to me, along with a complete set of ribs, (beautifully cut and sanded to shape) by my friend Peter, at least twelve months before I got around to contructing it.
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The Caprice has a wingspan of 51 inches and is a real joy to fly.
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This version of the Leprechaun is only XX inches, the original was 103 inches - a very big glider. Designed by Dick Twomey in about 1950, this mini version is a delight to fly.
At MIddle Wallop in June it flew off the airfield and landed right on the edge of the road that runs alongside, achieving a time of just over 2 1/2 minutes.
Unlike the Caprice this Leprechaun is rather tricky on the line, but with a bit of coaxing will go up reasonably straight. It is equiped, like the Caprice, with an auto rudder and a Toomey Timer powered d/t. Both will quite happily fly away in the right conditions. The real trick is to set the timer so that it will operate the d/t before the glider flies off the field.
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Its funny how time, distance and speed can all play tricks on you on the flying field. You watch other peoples planes flying and when they catch a thermal you think how lovely it all is. The model circles upwards, the sun shines, the clouds are beautiful, the model d/t's and lands, and all is well.
However, when it is mine the wind strength always seems just too much for me to keep pace with the model. I worry about the d/t being set properly, if at all. It constantly seems to disappear behind trees or into mist, clouds, or my eyes are failing. The warm sun is far too hot and the beautiful clouds turn into raging thunder storms.
On the other hand, I have not yet lost a free flight model, although my flying pals will tell you I tried pretty hard with the Fizzle Fazzle and subsequently with the Chip Chopper Too.
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