911hillclimber

The plane is all done today, ready to fly next year I hope. Wings covered well, raided an old RC trainer of it's electrics, and re-installed the lot into the glider with a new folding prop etc. Remarkably for me I managed to get the RC all bound and servo's all working inside of 20 mins. Pondered though on the question of balance, but with battery in place (3 cell) and 30g of weight in the nose to achieve a slight nose down when balanced on the main spar position of the wing. I hope this is right! Has been a nice little rescue project.

1/2 way through the 'design as you go' glider wing. Coming along well, covering nest.

Thank you Pat The plane came with a very small prop unmarked but measures 7" dia open, blade length only 2.5" The original motor a 2 wire lump with a small 1/8" shaft dia I do not yet have an ESC for this Overlander, 4Max I'm sure will advise when I'm ready. My club has a good field with a relatively tight strip, but others manage perfectly ok gliding into the field, one in particular flies with laser precision....but that's not me!

Off to the model shop tomorrow to buy the wood for the wing. 74" wingspan as the spruce/balsa length is 36" and the centre section will be 2" flat width and the wing halves will angle from that root. dihedrel will be 100 mm at each wing tip. I have a set of super clean laser cut ribs from Sky High RC, and have now designed the wing: (I use the term 'Designed' loosely.... it took me all of 15/20 mins). I plan to install ailerons from the tapered wing tip across to the parallel length of the wing ( approx 560 mm) and might thieve these (foam) sections from a 'dead' Kingfisher that will donate the servos too. Will use 3/16" SQ spruce for wing spans and bridge between top and bottom runs with 1/16 balsa sheet pieces from root to tip. There are 26 ribs/ half wing, so 35 mm between ribs. Root will be reinforced by ply for 4" either side of the root section and then those 1/16 balsa infills there after. Ply will join the upper and lower spruce strips together with epoxy. This fuselage centre section will be sheeted over with a hole to allow servo wires out to the Rx. Parts will be glued using Super Phatic! and Gorilla epoxy. Covered with semi see-through Solartex (as the tail plane) I expect this wing (my first self 'designed' model aero plane part ever) to be strong enough. (optimist) I have a new motor from another project which I think is FAR too powerful but fits the fuselage nose a treat. It is an Overlander T4240/10 and will run on my stash of 3S batteries. Will this be too much; I don't HAVE to use full speed.. What size folding prop should I use for this model please?? I could buy a used wing off ebay, but this is far more fun.

I now have the gifted fuselage which is in perfect condition along with tail plane and rudder. Futaba servos to the tail and a very old looking motor! As a winter project I will build my own wing, 2 meters span in 2 parts. Simple dihedral as previously suggested using a pre cut taper wing 'kit' of ribs off ebay if the chord is about right. I fancy adding long ailerons while there as I have a pair of wing mounted servos spare. A few more questions please; What motor size would be good? I have some 3 cell batteries (Lipo) so want to keep this 'capacity' so the motor is just to get to altitude etc. Also, what size folding prop would I use? Motor/esc/prop will all come from 4Max. Radio will be with my trusty Spektrum DX6, so I will be removing the current RX etc. Just to add, have ordered the rib set, root chord 7.16". Adding ailerons, there is no need for dihedral, the wing can be flat?? (easier to build and join) Thanks for all the help as ever! Graham.

Thank you Robin for this info, could be the way forward. Must get over to my friends and get the fuselage to see what size I need (chord)

I say carbon because the foam models I have have this tube to link the 2 halves, With a wingspan this big it will have to be 2 halves to get it into the Skoda!

Good going! Classic build up of those parts, I can do that! The cord will come off the fuselage and the section shape at the centre, joint with carbon spar tube (etc). The kit will come with radio, but I'll 'fit' the plane to match my trusty Spektrum DX6 and a plane dedicated Rx Notice 2 gliders on ebay right now, one £75 and complete, but buy to take the wing is not much of a winter project! Again, thanks to all.

I really appreciate everyone's help. Do people actually sell 'general' wings of this size? My local flying field (CMFC) is definitely flat though on a very slight crown of a 'hill'. A flyer there uses a powered glider to such good effect by power/hand launch.

Thank you everyone! Great forum of fact not fiction. So, I am told (not seen the plane yet) that the fuselage is not foam, fibre glass sounds right. Question now is finding the plan for the wings. I like the simplicity of flat bottom section I must admit. The wing shape is interesting and idea for a winter project. Anyone with an idea on finding a source for the wing plan? (whatever the span, but 100" sounds good.

Too true! Just done some google and it certainly is not that design. So, any ideas? I really need to find a plane of the main wing used on this design.

Thanks for your reply, looks exactly the same I think. Is the wing 2 pieces or one?any other details welcome! Off the box, Bird of Time is clear, but the manufacturer is 'Dyna????'

This glider is coming my way gifted by a friend. I think it is from 2000 or thereabouts, but it is missing the main wing... Winter project is to find/build a main wing, but knowing what it is would help (find a wing, find a plan etc) Any help appreciated.

Thank you very much Denis, all really helpful! However... Changed the Tx to 'Plane #5', my normal trainer is #3, and everyhing works! Had to reverse on the Simulator a few channels etc, but it all flies now. Off to the field with my Tx Buddy there tomorrow to try my new unblemished WOT4. Hope to come home with it in one piece.

Just tried the process, still the same. All comes on but states the Tx or a joystick not found, thus the tx controls do nothing, no responses on the simulator. I presume it is done for, but was working well 12 months ago.

Thank you Denis, will try that first thing tomorrow morning. Fingers crossed. Graham.

Last used the Sim about a year ago, hoping to fly next week so thought a few hours on the SIM would be a good idea. I have a DX6 Spektrum as used before, linked it all up and the Aerp says it cannot find the Tx or even the USB lead. The dongal(?) lights up and is set where it was, 2.AERO Get the same message with the TX on or off. On the screen, when FLY is selected the model shows on the field on tick-over, the TX joy sticks have no influence on the plane. Any ideas what I'm doing wrong please?

Ok, I think this has run its time , so I do thank everyone for their help and advice. I am sure I will have other things get in my way trying to progress that I will need help on as I have in the past. I wish you all a great New Year! Graham.

I returned to model flying 2 years ago, and as I was wearing short trousers when I last flew (control line), I was a total novice. I bought a FMS Kingfisher back then with a stabiliser. The Kingfisher is a 5 channel plane, high wing with a flat wing, no dihedral. I joined my local club, joined the SMEA and arrived at the flying field. Stating my novice status i was very 'all the gear, and no idea' and was adopted by one of the members to buddy connect so to teach me. This was only if I switched off the stabiliser and got stuck in with a simulator added into the bad weather day mix. Today, I am classed as nearly ready to fly solo by my buddy and others. Another member has 3 WOT4's, all foam-e and he felt I was ready for this plane. I can take off with ease and control, attain height without drama and turn etc using the alierons etc, it is just landing I find tricky which is coordination of the plane to the strip, speed and heights ok, just tend to be off-centre. Sometimes I get it right, times a bit bouncy, some times crash in equal measure. I am sure there are many who would say this plane is not right for me but that can only be based on what I have written here, the members at the field have shared my 2 years of learning and can assess me accurately, they have all flown WOT4 foam-e's. I am a long way off yet being able/confident to arrive at the field and simply go and fly and return in one piece, but I'll get there, maybe this year. My interest is to learn and be able to be safe and competent enough to fly the models i really like, my vintage Ben Buckle planes in still or 5 mph breezes, 3 channel. The plane is right in front of me. I have high hopes of success in reaching such basic levels in 2023.

My Ripmax Foam-e has (had) that weight under the plastic cover, and it sure was glued in.. It will make the plane very aerobatic, great if you can handle that. However, this plane is sold as trainer and acrobatic. Surely, this should be the plane has the tail weight loose so the expert flyer can glue it in and do aerobatics, the novice starts with a calmer handling plane. It is the wrong way round. As to 2 summer hobbies, yes, that is true, but I race the car at weekends and fly if weather is good Tuesday or thursday mid week, but i must admit my stick time is very poor, i am also reliant on my buddy instructor to be available too which he usually is. I think I 'flew' about 8 times in 2022.

To my surprise, Ripmax have replied to me concerning this plane and have asked for my thoughts by email. We shall see what may happen, but at least they replied first day back. The plane is now on 100mm dia wheels for the rough and tumble of our flied surface. Looks good too!

That is a very good description of how the Kingfisher behaves, and the other club member who also has one finds the same. Looking forward to the WOT4. On the tail weight: I think some of these 'WOT4' designs may have been made with and without the weight. Another member said his has no weights in the tail. As to getting an A ticket...that could be some time off at my rate of learning, I'm not a natural but love this side hobby of mine and the flying field experience too.

Thank you Nigel, my Kingfisher is very heavy due to the copious layers of Gorilla brown expanding glue in the front of the fuselage. When I crash I rally CRASH. Plastic screws for the u/carriage is a good idea, I will follow that up. I have fitted larger wheels already (club strip is quite rutted) but plan to go larger, have some to fit already. Chap at the field who can fly really well has a Kingfisher, and he thinks it a hard plane to learn on and the WOT is far better, so your thoughts are not alone.

Thanks! I've been adopted by a really good flyer and teacher at the local Club and his patience is most welcome. He is all buddied-up Tx to TX so has rescued quite a few situations I have got myself into. I hoped this RC thing was simple, it certainly is not, but I never give up. I have crashed more times than I have landed, but soon in 2023 I hope to get over that and actually fly my Standard Buccaneer in a calm afternoon solo. That is the target!

Just to conclude this little issue: I am still a novice/trainer so need a calm plane. Took the large weight out of the tail, probably the best bit of gluing on the whole plane. Took all the weight I put on the nose off. Battery in etc and the tail was 'just' too light, so added in the cavity back there 5 grams and put the patch back on. Now everything is well balanced (to the advice given to me by fellow WOT4 pilots at the club) and I'm happy. Just need some weather to trim and try it. As ever, thank you to all who have contributed.