Chuck Plains Posted February 17, 2019 Share Posted February 17, 2019 I'm looking to by myself a pressie soon and it's going to be a nice big glider, preferably 3M or more. But although I like the idea of lightness, I'm puzzled by the designs on Topmodel. Particularly their Albatross3.0 https://www.topmodelcz.cz/index.php?&desktop_back=eshop&action_back=&id_back=0&desktop=eshop&action=zbozi_detail&id=15450 Also the Enigma https://www.topmodelcz.cz/index.php?&desktop_back=eshop&action_back=&id_back=0&desktop=eshop&action=zbozi_detail&id=14820 The Thermic https://www.topmodelcz.cz/index.php?&desktop_back=eshop&action_back=&id_back=0&desktop=eshop&action=zbozi_detail&id=12418 And others of different sizes. They rely on just the ribs to shape the L/E, so leaving the covering to sink n a bit between each one. Yes I've seen videos of the models flying and that's ok, but there's nothing for comparison. Also, obviously a potential lack of robustness is something to be considered. So, does anyone have experience with these models or similar wing designs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stearman65 Posted February 17, 2019 Share Posted February 17, 2019 As an alternative, why not take a look at mine. **LINK** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Former Member Posted February 17, 2019 Share Posted February 17, 2019 [This posting has been removed] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Plains Posted February 17, 2019 Author Share Posted February 17, 2019 Posted by Stearman65 on 17/02/2019 19:58:59: As an alternative, why not take a look at mine. **LINK** Thanx, but I'm not into scale at the moment, and I'm in Exeter, so a 600 mile round trip would be out too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Plains Posted February 17, 2019 Author Share Posted February 17, 2019 Posted by Ikura on 17/02/2019 20:44:19: All the Topmodel CZ designs fly extremely well and there is absolutely no problem with the carbon rod leading edge. My Prelude and Marabu have the carbon rod leading edge and both fly beautifully. If you want a D-Box built up wing look at their Elite. You can't go far wrong with a Topmodel CZ glider. All the best. Thanx for that info, I like the look of both of those, and love the transparent coloured covering, but I already have two 2.5m gliders, although I modified my Volantex ASW28 to 3.1mtrs, just for the hell of it. But I'm encouraged by what you've said, so I'll be choosing between either the Albatross the Element or the Fascination. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Former Member Posted February 17, 2019 Share Posted February 17, 2019 [This posting has been removed] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Plains Posted February 17, 2019 Author Share Posted February 17, 2019 There's also the Thermic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stearman65 Posted February 17, 2019 Share Posted February 17, 2019 Posted by Chuck Plains on 17/02/2019 22:24:41: Posted by Stearman65 on 17/02/2019 19:58:59: As an alternative, why not take a look at mine. **LINK** Thanx, but I'm not into scale at the moment, and I'm in Exeter, so a 600 mile round trip would be out too. No problem, worth a try? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Plains Posted February 17, 2019 Author Share Posted February 17, 2019 Ouch! I've just noticed how expensive Topmodel's motors seem to be!!!!! I'll probably fall back to Hobbyking then. Well anyway, I'm not into competitions or anything, as long as a glider gets up there I'm happy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Miller Posted February 18, 2019 Share Posted February 18, 2019 Why not build my Easter Eagle SEnior? Dead simple, and boy, does it fly! **LINK** Has been flown in 20mph winds. You can also see my build blog here **LINK** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Plains Posted February 18, 2019 Author Share Posted February 18, 2019 Thanx Peter, but I'm more in the way of looking for light wind performance this time, and I freely confess my love for high aspect wings. No surprise then that my favourite bird is the beautiful Wandering Albatross! Which I hope to model in foam one day. But I've never built any planes in balsa since I was a kid making chuck planes. Edited By Chuck Plains on 18/02/2019 20:28:30 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Miller Posted February 18, 2019 Share Posted February 18, 2019 The Easter Eagle senior is really intended for light winds. The fact taht the current owner has flown it in stong winds is purely bis slightly insane choice. He actually used to fly Mystique glider. Now he has admitted that he never knew what a real glider could be like. Today he made a 300 mile round trip for me to repair his standard EE.THat is how much he loves even that one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Plains Posted February 18, 2019 Author Share Posted February 18, 2019 Cool, I'm glad he's happy with your creation, but it's definitely not what I'm for right now. And I still want to spend what I'm calling "my xmas money" on something shiny and new. Hmm, actually, I also need a TX with more than 6 channels too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatMc Posted February 18, 2019 Share Posted February 18, 2019 How about the Introduction F5J (rudder, elevator, flaps & motor) or the Inside F5J (same plus 2 ailerons each wing), both have very light wing loading. Hyperflight also have the Inside in stock but are out of stock on the Introduction. There are a couple of build blogs of them in RCG. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Plains Posted February 18, 2019 Author Share Posted February 18, 2019 Ah, thanx but no, I'm definitely not into building balsa kits. I definitely see the positive side of it, what with it being economical and satisfying, but I don't have the patience. I may be 65, but I'm still working 5 days a week as a CNC machine setter, plus my tinnitus tends to piss me off more at home. Don't get me wrong, I have made stuff with foam wings including my 2.5mtr pod and boom scratcher and have what you might call "projects" that have kind of stalled for years. So anything that takes too long gets forgotten about. Oh, plus I seem to have a dust allergy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Hall 9 Posted February 19, 2019 Share Posted February 19, 2019 I enjoy flying my 2.5m Topmodel Avia. It's open structure gave me some thought about its strength. Having flown it, dropped it into rough grass land, accidentally performed full power tight loops (note to self....never, ever fly after a low power range check without a power off/on cycle) and whacking my leg with the leading edge on landing ,,... I can say that it should not be a worry.. One useful aspect of the Topmodels that i have checked out is that the fuselages are of a bigger diameter than the full competition models that I fly against. Many of the serious models will only take a 28mm motor or motor/gearbox. The Topmodels (all I've seen) will take 35-37mm motors which allows a large range of cheap motors to be used... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Former Member Posted February 19, 2019 Share Posted February 19, 2019 [This posting has been removed] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Plains Posted March 7, 2019 Author Share Posted March 7, 2019 Eventually! Finally!!! I decided on an Art Hobby Odyssey E 2.7, the cross tail version. https://www.pp-rc.de/FLYING-MODELS/ART-HOBBY/ELECTRO-GLIDERS/Electric-powerde-glider-Odyssey-E-2-7m.htm?shop=pp-rc_en&SessionId=&a=article&ProdNr=1620&p=127 This one belongs to Sir Dumb Thumb on RC Groups Here's his build thread, https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?2289862-Art-Hobby-Odyssey-EC-2-7M I'll be building it up with just a basic 5 deg dihedral and full house controls. Seems it can weigh in at about a kilo or less all up, so that's my aim, as my 2.5 scratch pod and boom is 1.5k. So I'm sure that with it's proper airfoil and half a kilo less weight, this will be a proper Summer thermal floater. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stearman65 Posted March 7, 2019 Share Posted March 7, 2019 **LINK** **LINK** Edited By Stearman65 on 07/03/2019 23:26:55 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Former Member Posted March 8, 2019 Share Posted March 8, 2019 [This posting has been removed] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Plains Posted March 8, 2019 Author Share Posted March 8, 2019 Thanx Andrew. Yes I plan on using Eze-Kote, I've has this 500ml bottle of it here almost unused for about 3 years. I know I could have purchased the required electrical parts from pp-rc as well, but I want to check everything over before I decide on motors, servos and stuff. And of course, I'm cheap when I can be. .... Stearman65 sensei, please teach me the way to add links to threads. Edited By Chuck Plains on 08/03/2019 17:44:23 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FilmBuff Posted March 8, 2019 Share Posted March 8, 2019 Posted by Peter Miller on 18/02/2019 21:10:37: The Easter Eagle senior is really intended for light winds. The fact taht the current owner has flown it in stong winds is purely bis slightly insane choice. He actually used to fly Mystique glider. Now he has admitted that he never knew what a real glider could be like Reality check needed Peter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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