Andy C Posted February 25, 2018 Share Posted February 25, 2018 I have been offered the opportunity to purchase an un-built slowpoke sport 40 kit and wondered if there is any current experience with them on here please. It will probably be one of a few third planes that I intend to fly after I have spent time with the WOT 4 foamE. A google search has thrown up a wide range thoughts, although there seems to be a consistent thread that it needs a perfect CofG which requires a lot of nose weight but I do like the looks of it and think it will be great wit a 4 Stroke up front. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fylingdales Flyer Posted February 25, 2018 Share Posted February 25, 2018 I have been building a Great Planes Slowpoke Sport 40 from a kit, but it's not finished yet. It's covered, with Solartex, but needs the radio and engine fitted. There has been a delay, as I originally built it to take my HP61VT engine, but, as I have recently gravitated towards electric power I have an Axi 4120/14 motor and Jeti 70 Amp ESC to fit. I don't think that it actually needs a 'perfect CG' but I understand that they have a tendency to turn out nose heavy. I have tried to keep the tail light and with the weight of the batteries and motor well forward, I hope I won't need too much lead. I also have an Eagle Tree Guardian flight stabiliser to fit, which it might not need, but then I'm not a great pilot. I bought it because I liked the look of it, an ebay purchase from the USA. It was a very enjoyable build with everything slotting nicely together. The instructions are great, but some of the wood seems a little heavy. However, with it's massive wing area, this should not be an issue. There is a recognised weakness in the fuselage structure where the solid side panels join the strip structure, just aft of the wing seat. This is easily taken care of with a little doubler over the joint. I was also unhappy with the wing trailing edge, between the aileron bay and the centre section. It just looked inadequate to me, so I modified and strengthened the structure. I would have photographed these modifications and posted them, but they are under the covering now. When you see the plan, though, I think it will be obvious what is needed. It's unfortunate that Great Planes have discontinued this model. I have another discontinued Great Planes kit, waiting to be built, an Old Timer 40, which I also bought for it's looks and will build for electric power. Graham Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piers Bowlan Posted February 25, 2018 Share Posted February 25, 2018 The plan is available from Outerzone here in case anyone is interested. Looks like an interesting project, do let us see some pictures when they are finished. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fylingdales Flyer Posted February 25, 2018 Share Posted February 25, 2018 Thank you Piers. Now that I have seen the plan again I can remember why I was unhappy with the T.E. It was a single skin, over which the end of the ribs extended. I cut down the ribs, and added an upper T.E skin with a vertical shear web between each rib, forming a triangular section. I don't think that much weight was added, but it certainly is stronger and supports the covering better. I'll add some photographs when I fetch it from the loft to make some progress, hopefully soon. Graham Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piers Bowlan Posted February 25, 2018 Share Posted February 25, 2018 Sounds like a good modification. The Slow Poke reminds me of Derek Woodward's Very Short Plane, although that was only 36in span and electric. It's been on my build list for a while! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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