Stephen Jones Posted June 10, 2017 Share Posted June 10, 2017 Hi, Just read that some guys have already converted Lidl Xl Glider to Radio Control. I am not on face book so have not seen the conversions . But here is my start. 1st i removed the cockpit as that is where i will be putting the Radio gear. Remove the free Bolt. Add some control snakes and hollow out. I may need to make the space bigger will have to see as things progress. So i have a snake that exits on both sides of the Rudder. As you can see with the tail plane fitted in the normal glider mode all lines up right. Cut the elevators out and fitted with packing tape. More to follow. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Cotsford Posted June 10, 2017 Share Posted June 10, 2017 Simon, a lot of the ones on f'book have had a length of carbon run up the rear fuselage to stiffen them up. Is that your intent for the rod in the photos? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nightflyer Posted June 10, 2017 Share Posted June 10, 2017 Also bought one of these today and having played with it be tied converting it I think the carbon rod will help fuselage rigidity. Might fit a tow release in the fuselage. Hopefully will have radio in tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Kettle 1 Posted June 11, 2017 Share Posted June 11, 2017 Following with interest Stephen J . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy G. Posted June 11, 2017 Share Posted June 11, 2017 Also following. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nightflyer Posted June 11, 2017 Share Posted June 11, 2017 Same here as also converting one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace Posted June 11, 2017 Share Posted June 11, 2017 Also following with interest as am converting one, I also converted one of the smaller Fox ones a few years back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin Colbourne Posted June 11, 2017 Share Posted June 11, 2017 Also following. A couple of questions about the glider: Is it a one piece or two piece wing? Is it Expanded Polystyrene or EPP (Expanded Polypropylene). And on the conversion: How did you make the holes for the snakes? Did you make the holes from the front or he back and how did you get them to come out where you wanted? It looks just the job for a bit of sea wall soaring that I've been intending to do for a while. I just hope Lidl get some more in, as ours had sold out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Jones Posted June 11, 2017 Author Share Posted June 11, 2017 Posted by Robin Colbourne on 11/06/2017 10:50:39: Also following. A couple of questions about the glider: Is it a one piece or two piece wing? Is it Expanded Polystyrene or EPP (Expanded Polypropylene). And on the conversion: How did you make the holes for the snakes? Did you make the holes from the front or he back and how did you get them to come out where you wanted? It looks just the job for a bit of sea wall soaring that I've been intending to do for a while. I just hope Lidl get some more in, as ours had sold out. Hi Robin, It is a one piece wing all made from EPP i think. Snakes, i used a metal rod with a sharp point on one end which was pushed into the body from the tail end . The rod was turned while pulling it in and out to burrow a hole and the body was manipulated to get the rod to follow the desired path. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Jones Posted June 11, 2017 Author Share Posted June 11, 2017 Hi Guys, Thanks this will be a slow build as i have things around the house to do Cheers Steve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Jones Posted June 11, 2017 Author Share Posted June 11, 2017 Hi, Thinking about this glider their are many options one could chose; 1: Rudder and elevator 2: Elevons 3: Flaperons 4: Ailerons and elevator Full control Rudder Elevator ailerons, for this it would be best for the wing to be straight no dihedral. Then one could also add a motor pod or fitted to the nose. I will be doing the fourth option. Well for now anyway, Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Jones Posted June 11, 2017 Author Share Posted June 11, 2017 So i stated with the Tail plane at 1st i cut off the rear of the tail plane to make some Elevators , but for me they seemed to floppy. So i decided to make my Elevator out of left over Trailing Edge. I measured 30mm from the trailing edge of the original tailplane at both ends a sliced it clean off at a angle to allow a top hinge. I made up my Balsa Trailing edge to match that what i had removed from the original Tail plane and sanded to outer portion to match. Then covered with Solar film. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Jones Posted June 11, 2017 Author Share Posted June 11, 2017 I then top hinged with clear packing tape then added packing tape to the under side to complete the hinge. The bottom of the fuselage was cut at a angle to allow full movement of the Elevator, the Tail plane was then glued in place. I then fitted the control horn as normal. Checked for free movement which is good. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Jones Posted June 11, 2017 Author Share Posted June 11, 2017 I weight the free Bolt that was inside the cockpit which is 40g and i then weight , Two 5g servos one Frsky Rx and a small 4.8 volt nicad battery which came out at 39g, Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Jones Posted June 11, 2017 Author Share Posted June 11, 2017 My next job to tackle is the Wings as i plan to remove the Dihedral and fit two 5g servos, one for each Aileron. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave F Posted June 12, 2017 Share Posted June 12, 2017 Yours looks so much neater than mine haha I wish I'd seen this before I started..Wanted to ask your opinion on what size motor you'd stick on the front if you wanted it powered?DF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Jones Posted June 12, 2017 Author Share Posted June 12, 2017 Hi Dave F, I have not yet weight the whole glider as a ready to go model, but i would expect a 150 watt motor should be fine. I will have to weight it when it is complete before i could commit to a given size of motor . Thank`s for your comments. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wihtgar Posted June 12, 2017 Share Posted June 12, 2017 Hi Steve, there is a video on YouTube with one soaring along a dam wall. Do you know if that one is using elevator/ailerons? Nige Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devcon1 Posted June 12, 2017 Share Posted June 12, 2017 Looking good, following with interest to see what you do with the wing control surfaces. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Jones Posted June 12, 2017 Author Share Posted June 12, 2017 Hi Devcon1, Wings, The wings have been straightened by applying heat ( solar film iron ) and allowing to cool flat. I cut a slot into the underside of the wing and inserted flat Carbon strip to add strength to the wing. The ailerons where cut at an angle the the left aileron was turned upside down and fitted to the right wing and same on the opposite wing. Servo fitted under the wing and into the body. And the Aileron horn was made from the clear plastic that formed the window on the box the glider came in. Ailerons where hinged with clear packing tape. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speedster Posted June 12, 2017 Share Posted June 12, 2017 My Lidl XL (with wingerons) is ready for maiden, and I hope it will be tomorrow Cheers Soren Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Jones Posted June 12, 2017 Author Share Posted June 12, 2017 Hi Speedster, Hope all goes to plan and would be nice to see a Video. Cheers Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Robertson 3 Posted June 12, 2017 Share Posted June 12, 2017 OOOh, Lovely - more Speedster Den video. Inspiring! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devcon1 Posted June 12, 2017 Share Posted June 12, 2017 That's very clever with with the wing flattening Steve, did you apply heat on both sides then hold them down. I was thinking ailerons may be a tad innefective just using the inboard sections, I was thinking of some clever articulated joint to operate the outboard sections but your solution is far more sensible. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speedster Posted June 13, 2017 Share Posted June 13, 2017 Thomas from my club also made one yesterday, and the weather is great with 20 knots wind right on the Cow hill. So maiden with 2 Lidl gliders at 1700. My XL have room for 100 gram extra ballast. Video will come. Soren Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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