Steve Thomas 3 Posted June 19, 2015 Share Posted June 19, 2015 Hi everyone, Im after some help with the dihedral on the Keil Kraft Elmira. I am having to build a new centre section of the wing and cant find what the dihedral should be. can anyone Help Please Thanks Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Hopkin Posted June 19, 2015 Share Posted June 19, 2015 Theres a KK Elmira plan available free on hippocketaeronautics (**LINK**) you will have to have or create a (free) account there to down load it though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GONZO Posted June 19, 2015 Share Posted June 19, 2015 Its also on outerzone, no account required. **LINK** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Green Posted June 20, 2015 Share Posted June 20, 2015 In his review Dave Hughes refers to the Elmira not turning very well - I'd be tempted to add an inch more either side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Thomas 3 Posted June 22, 2015 Author Share Posted June 22, 2015 That's brill, thanks very much for your help and comments. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoyS Barber Posted July 18, 2022 Share Posted July 18, 2022 I have a Keil Kraft Elmira which has been in my many lofts over the last 50+ years! I have started the build and I have decided that I would like to reduce the dihedral and add ailerons and (over wing) air brakes. If anyone could pass on any knowledge and wisdom to help me with this I would be so grateful. Remember though, I've done absolutely no model aircraft building or flying for over 50 years, I mean I don't even understand how the the wing joining set up on the Elmira works! I have read Dave Hughes' build and flight test report and I don't quite understand the modification he recommends for the "rather soft silver steel" which he had to replace with piano wire. I seem to have very stiff wire in my kit. Did KK upgrade it? Hoping for help, Roy Barber Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kc Posted July 19, 2022 Share Posted July 19, 2022 If you haven't built a model for 50 years I reckon you would find it much easier to build exactly to the plan! Better to have a finished model than an unfinished one that ran into problems......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Sharp Posted July 19, 2022 Share Posted July 19, 2022 (edited) I have an Elmira from the original kit. It was built 1982 and upgraded to ailerons in 2006. Currently in mothballs as I'm flying mostly electric. When did the conversion I did this. 1. Reduce the dihedral to 1/2 what it was (from memory 4" down to 2" at wing tip). Drastic measures were done via a "SAW" and inlay of new dihedral brace. 2. Took 1/4" out of the wing incidence at the fuselage simply use a 12" rule locate at trailing edge 1/4" downfrom leading edge remove that triangle, in my opinion the wing incidence was too great which meant Elmira flew too slowly hence the poor rudder response. Any way she still flys well now. 3. Made ailerons by simply cutting the trailingedge of the wing tips starting 1 bay from inboard end of the tip going to 1 bay from the outboard wing tip. the width stops at the sub spar e.g. leave that intact. 4. I used a pair of HS81mg servos to drive the matching aileron mounted near the inboard end on 1/8" liteply plywood between the ribs. 5. Set-up a coupled Aileron/Rudder mix on the transmitter controlled by a switch (flight mode) so I could use it if needed... 6. The wing joiner is two 10SWG piano wire lengths going over three ribs in the root/tip of the center and tip panels. Between the upper and lower spars you cut out the rib cente and make a box with vertical sheet webbing each side of the spar. Then for flight you add a 3/8" or 1/2" x 3/16" spruce or birch wood joiner ( this is the original method as supplied in the kit). So .... she flys nicely in a vintage way - don't expect to be able to "Roll" because she won't. but the model looks much better than with bucketfulls of dihedral. for completness here is a link to a few photos of mine within a review of Vintage Models replikit version. Nige Edited July 19, 2022 by Nigel Sharp my typo error's doh! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Crow Posted September 2, 2022 Share Posted September 2, 2022 Myself and my brother had a few models in the 70s including an Elmira and it really didn't want to turn. Another chap flew one with ailerons and it was a massive improvement. I'd probably add flaps these days to give full length ailerons/in board flaps/crow brakes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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