I am putting this thread together in a hurry at the behest of Mr. Sushil Anand, to whom I had promised this many days ago. At the outset, my apologies. I hope those of you who are interested in teaching youngsters a bit about Aerodynamics, will find something useful here.

The first Picture shows some of the colourful examples that can be achieved. These models are made out of Depron/Biofoam plates and broom sticks.

This next picture series is all about an adjustable wing chuck glider that can be loads of fun! The attached picture shows the basic requisites. A Biofoam plate (preferably laminated) and a Spine folder (we only need the spine) for the fuselage.

This will be the final result. I have used a KFm 2 wing here, however, a simple wing can also produce a graceful flyer.

The wing is cut out from the plate, using 2 straight horizontal / vertical cuts across the diameter (use the broadest part of the plate). The wing should measure around 9 cms in width.

Run some cellotape across the Leading edge for added strength and some cellotape across the centre chord. One layer all the way over and under should do. Now you need a piece of cardboard / balsa 1 cm X 7 cm. Add a light layer of Super Glue to the cellotape across the centre chord and glue this strip vertically to it. The cellotape grips the biofoam and at the same time prevents the CA from attacking it. A little diagram explains this...........

Don't be impatient here. let the CA dry completely before you slide the wing into the slot in the fuse. The whole purpose of this exercise is to create a wing that slides along the length of the fuse. If the glue is not 100% dry, the wing will get stuck to the fuse and defeat the very purpose.

The Tail plane and vertical stab is also created from Biofoam and is laminated with cellotape and CA'd together and then CA'd to the fuse.

Those are beautiful models VC. What paint did you use?

Another great use of broom stick...i used them to make pushrods...they are great to work on and have many uses. Would love to see a video of these chuck gliders.

Cheers

Dear VC,

Amazing Graphics on the first photographs. Congradulations   .
I have copied the photo for my future reference. Nice looking gliders.

What paint did you use is it acrylic or permenant markers?

I was able to obtain a Biofoam plate pack of 200's which is 13 inch in overall diameter.

Now I use only the flat portion of the plate. I use two plates cut out the flat disks from both of them, cut out two halfs of the wing and join them together. then I get a good wing span of 15 Inches. because of which it glides very well.

Last two micros wing span 15 inches, which I made of AUW under 12 gms including electronics and power pack was made like that.

This is what the front view should now look like.

Now we need to slide in 2 or 3 cycle ball bearings (You may use modelling clay or M Seal if you like) into the hollow channel of the spine and add a layer of Biofoam to the nose tip. This absorbs shocks on impact. Do a few flight tests - if she flies well, seal the nose and the weights with tape, so that the weights don't get dislodged. A drop of CA on the weights, may be a good idea.

Do a few test flights and see if any adjustments are required. Hold the model just below the wing mid section and throw it gently INTO THE WIND.

Ankur, Colonel Sir,

You compliment me for the smallest of reasons. This time, I shall pass on the compliments to my daughter. I admit, she did a rather good job on the models with Fevicryl Fabric colours.

Colonel, I have done the same thing and have obtained a larger wingspan by combining two plates. I am trying to motorise it using a Vibra Motor. Props have been hand made (Will PM you my secret!!!) need some help in figuring out the exact battery placement!

Cheers!

VC

Cheers!

VC

Once the model glides well, we can experiment on the wing adjustments. Keep a marker pen ready and slide the wing along the channel. Slide it back (the wing leading edge should be about 10cms from the tip of the nose) and throw it into the wind. She should give you a long glide. Experiment for the best glide effect. Mark the position of the Wing Trailing edge on the fuselage as (1).

Now slide the wing forward and throw it hard and high into the wind, she should perform a loop and glide in for a landing. Mark the trailing edge position again as (2). Distance between 1 and 2 is approximately 1.5 cms on this glider, but can vary.

She is ready for the young aeronauts. Hope they enjoy (and learn?)!

Sincere thanks to Mr. Sushil Anand for making me do this, it makes me feel good to know that somewhere, one child may benefit from this and he/she will one day fly a 10 Channel RC Aircraft and still recall the first Glider of his/her life. Just as I recall my first ever Balsa Hawker Hunter, more than 35 years ago.

Cheers!

VC - I love this forum, I do!

I cannot end this before mentioning that Col. Sundaram @ Sundaramvelar is the person from whom I learnt how to use Biofoam plates as wings and create models. He, in his humility, is keeping quiet. However, he is a past master at this game and has not only motorised his models but also RC'd them!

Thanks Colonel, for guiding and inspiring me.

I am yet to sucessfully make one will be eagerly waiting for the secret.

I believe if you are making direct drive props then for a 4 mm vibra motor you can use only a one inch dia prop. How ever if you are using geared drive you may use bigger dia.

battery placement should counter balance tail weight taking into consideration the motor weight and placement. CG location is like any other bigger plane. any where between the leading edge of the wing to the wing 1/3 chord, all dependant on the thrust of the motor and lift of the wings.

VC you are humbling me there, by very kind words spoken for me.

I am just an ardent fan of ultra micro RC since I enjoy flying RC with my 9 year old son. Further being a fan of micro RC, I am trying to identify with someone who shares my interests.

Sir,

Not much of a secret. I got hold of some Strap Sealing Tape ( The kind used by Airport Authorities to seal Check In baggage) and experimented with prop designs by cutting,shaping and heat warping it. I used a Vibra (4mm?) motor with a direct drive and a 25mm dia (1 inch) prop. The results were quite satisfactory. The weight of the model is around 10 - 12 grams and she is flying a smooth straight line. I need to trim her to fly in a circle.

Just beginners luck, I guess.

VC

Some photographs of the hand made prop. Performing well, just lucky I guess! Didn't do any study of prop dynamics before I made this. Just cut, shaped and warped using the heat from a cigarette lighter. It works fine, but I don't think I can replicate it again. I would love to experiment with X Ray film plates in future.


Cheers!

VC

Another great build..congrats.
I will be coming to bug you.
Regards
Anjan

VC,

That is a real nice job there.

I think I was obsessed with recreating the original props with the thicker centre axle and thin fan blades with balsa and some time mix of materials like film, plastics and balsa hence the failure. I will try following your route now for the props. Thanks VC.

OOOOOOOOOOOOPSSSSSSS! Sandy, I was following you! Round and round we go then..........!

 

VC

Thanks ever so much for your inputs. Plan to hold a small workshop under the aegis of Mumbai University, in the summer vacations.

Will try out your design and keep you posted.

Keep up the good work! And yes, even if we manage to get a single youngster into the fold, we will have done our job.

You are more than welcome. Thank you for giving me this opportunity. Will update this thread if I feel i have something more to contribute, in the meanwhile, may I request others to also add their simple chuck glider designs and build plans / techniques (including Balsa - though it is becoming prohibitively expensive) to this thread? Just keep it absolutely simple so that it can be implemented by kids.

Regards,

VC

i have a gr8 collection of chuck models[with thermo/balsa/foam/toothpics]
will post them after my exams gets over[22nd]

Hey VC,
Those are nice ones, and kudos for the effort to use local materials and encourage youngeters to get into the hobby.
 

What about the small motors and props that come at the tails of the cheap chinese helis that you find in many toy shops.?
I think they are ordinary DC motors- may run on a single cell lipo
Avijit

yes sir they  are normal small dc motor having very high RPM.........

http://www.rcindia.org/batteries-and-chargers/remote-control-batteries/msg16068/#msg16068

the motor posted in this thread is on of those i got it from a chinese toy plane only.......

they can be used with 2508/2510 props[gws]
and they can run on 1s lipo but will give a good performance with 2s!!!
u can use the full tx/rx of a cheap  toy heli with two same motors/props for a micro rc!!!