Hi Mark,
I will try to answer your questions. I also
suggest you check out the website:
www.amaglider.vze.com
for some information. This site specializes in
gliders but it has some useful information for rubber
models as well. Some articles describing the Balloon
Launch Glider contruction address a lot of your
questions.
1) Thinning the glue is mainly done to lighten the
glue joint. I thin the glue about 60% glue with 40%
thinner. I find the joint is as strong if not
stronger and the joint sets up faster. It is also
easier to control the amount of glue you put on. Make
sure to put glue on both parts that you are gluing.
2) Typically I purchase rubber from FAI Supplies,
there is a web link on the from the amaglider website.
I purchase 1/4" wide rubber and then strip it to
whatever size I would like to use. We have plans for
a rubber stripper on the website but I never been able
to strip mini stick rubber with this stripper. You
could strip Double Whammy rubber with the stripper
that is shown. I typically use .075" wide for Double
Whammy and .024" rubber for mini-stick. I have a
commercial stripper and strip all my rubber with that
since it is much easier to use. I have purchase
mini-stick rubber from Indoor Model Supplies.
3) I trim my penny plane and mini-sticks to circle in
about a 25 foot diameter circle. I do fly mini-stick
in my living room where I am using about 15 ft
diameter circle. Penny planes typically circle in a
little larger diameter than mini-stick.
4) I grade my balsa by: Grain A,B or C. Then by
density and finally by stiffness. What really matters
is the stiffness to density ratio and the grain type.
I have store balsa flat and on edge and found very
little difference. The main thing is that you don't
want to put stress/strain on the wood so supporting it
uniformly over its surface is important.
5) As for tools well a glue applicator is important.
I have built a few and have purchase some for Indoor
Model Supplies.
a) Rubber Stripper- I would purchase Harlan's or
the one new one Indoor Duration sells.
b) I have had more success with building my own
balsa stripper than most commercially available ones,
with one exception, Harlan's balsa stripper.
c) I would do a web search for scales. Make sure
you get one that is accurate to the .01 grams. There
are a lot of these pocket scales available these days,
the one I have is nice but is very sensitive to
temperature variations and would not recommend it.
Well I hope this helps, good luck and welcome.
Kurt
--- Mark <mcrabby311_at_yahoo.com> wrote:
> I was directed to this group by John Kagen after
> writing him a couple
> of emails.
> After about 10 years in the AMA, and doing RC, I
> found myself alittle
> bored.(alotta bored) I ran across some freeflight
> vids, now I may be
> hooked. I am currently building a Double
> Whammy(Penny?) and on my third
> ministik. Not alot of luck, broke as much as built.
> I started with some
> Peck kits, those went well. But I have a million
> questions also. Dont
> want to clog up this forum, if its not the place,
> let me know.
> First, I was wondering if someone may live close
> to Indianapolis,
> Indiana? It may help me quite a bit just to "see"
> some of this close up.
> a few quick questions if I may...
> 1. Is the purpose to thinning Ambroid glue to
> lighten it? Does it
> effect the strength that much?
> 2. I see rubber strippers online. Are you stripping
> existing motors, or
> do you get wide lengths of rubber? I need some small
> motors for
> ministicks, but havent seen anything as small as
> needed pre-stripped.
> (1/32nd)
> 3. What diameter circle should I expect for a
> Ministick, and a
> PennyPlane?
> 4. I'm going to purchase some balsa as soon as I
> figure out "grading,
> weight and such. Do you store it flat, or on end?
> 5. Im going to have to buy some tools I think. any
> suggestions for:
> a. Rubber stripper
> b. balsa stripper(have a Master Airscrew, seems only
> "o.k.")
> c. gram scale
>
> Well, I hope to not be a burden. I will continue to
> look around the
> posts here, and there. Maybe just a question or two
> a week. Hoping to
> catch an event soon, Im sure that would be neat, and
> educational.
> Have a great day!
> Mark Crabtree
> Greenwood, Indiana
>
>
>
Kurt Krempetz
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Received on Tue Feb 05 2008 - 15:10:33 CET