Cambrian ELAN-100 Build with a brushless motor

[Murat Kece 1]

This is the summary of my ELAN 100 build/electric conversion.. This is a great beginner's glider and it was recommended to me by my experienced fellow searers from our Aberdeen and District Soarers club..  I was also inspired by Andy Sephton's build blog. 

The kit was one of my Christmas presents.. The quality of the kit was great. Well done CUMBRIAN MODEL COMPANY!! The information provided and the parts were excellently prepared and wrapped/grouped. It is also very good value for money at GBP70 a piece...

 

 

 

I started with both the wings and fuselage sides as you will need at least the root panels for connection/wing alignments with te fuselage. I checked Andy Septhon's build blog and found it to be very useful. 

 

 

I modified the nose section to accommodate the 4Max 2834 1020 KV moor that Max suggested with a 30A ESC and 10x6 folding propeller.

 

I made a firewall/intermediate former at a suitable distance from te nose. I doubled up the former 25 and drilled the central hole to allow the motor shaft access. I built in 3deg down and 3 deg right on the trust line referencing it to the tail plane level. One thing I overlooked was adding dublelers to the sides to provide a stronger nose.. I suggest any new builder may consider this as I ended up adding some nose weight anyway.

 

 

Then focused on the wings.. They all came pretty well (Not as neat as the constructions I am observing in the other blogs on this site but improving!!). The only thing that I did not like in this kit is the wing securing arrangements with the steel hooks and rubber bands.. I found that it is cumbersome and difficult unless you cut an additional hatch to provide better access to these.. I will recommend that the new builders consider an alternative wing retention system or quck-connects that are available.. 

 

Once the central panels were ready I aligned the wings and the fuselage and completed the fuselage construction. The tail fin, rudder and elevators were straight forward builds.

 

 

 

 

Please refer to the Andy Sephton's build blog  which gives a more detailed account of the wing/fuselage construction.. I gave a good sanding with 100/220/400/800 grits. Here is the resulting outlook prior to covering..

 

 

To be continued.......................

 

Edited March 23, 2021 by Murat Kece 1
Corrections

[Murat Kece 1]

Here are covering details with Hobby King films… Glued all empennages after covering.. . 

 

 

 

Final outcome:

 

 

 

Ready for the Maiden............. 

 

 

Alternative wing securing sprig design I am contemplating to build.. For the maiden I am just using a cable tie!

 

 

 

I looked at using other types of snakes but opted for the steel Bowden cables with clevises (soldered leadfree). The AWU came at 1335 gr as summarized in the photo (each wing 282 gr, fuselage/tail with battery and electronics at 748gr and te balancing weight of 25 gr)..

 

 

Again supported and initially trimmed by my fellow soarer Derek Robertson, my beautiful bird finally accomplished its goal and flew well into the blues in breeze of 8knots..

 

 

We concluded that the bird requires  probably 25gr more weight on the nose. This increases the AUW to 1360gr for better penetration and stability.

 

I really enjoyed this build and recommend the kit any new-bee soarer or flat field glider.. This is a great and well thought out/proven glider at a very reasonable price.. I however recommend that:

• Any new builder should add nose cheek doublers for a more robust nose section around the motor.. 
• 3534 motor gives a good thrust  but a 3530 or 2836 are likely to be sedate but adequate.
• Consider opening an additional hatch over the wing joining hooks for easier mounting/securing of the wings or use quickfit/alternative wing securing designs..
• I used 17gr servos with 3.5kg/cm torque as compared to the plan suggestion of standard 40gr servos saving some 

I found this forum to be inspirational and very useful in clarifying technical details with excellent feedback and experience sharing by  all the members.. Thank you..

 

 

Edited March 23, 2021 by Murat Kece 1

[Murat Kece 1]

CA Allergy

 

An interesting note on this build is that I used CA glue for most of the build. And I had developed a flu like runny nose and sneezing through out.. I thought it was the ever changing weather. Being in the lockdown, I thought this was not right.. Then I did a google search and concluded that I have developed an allergy to CA..  I stopped it for a while. When I restarted using CA again the symptoms and the flu came back immediately.. It took me about 3-4 days to gt rid of it..

 

Has anyone found a remedy for this? Can one use one of these masks with filters to wear when using CA, which is handy on some occasions?? Otherwise I will be stuck with the PVA or gorilla. ?

[leccyflyer]

Sadly Murat there isn't a real remedy for CA sensitivity and it can get very severe - I've had it for over 20 years. You can try a good quality vapor mask, which can help and it's vital to keep a well ventilated workspace with airflow to take away the fumes, but my experience has been that it will find a way to get at you. For many years I've used various brands of odourless CA, as the optimal working solution, but for some jobs thin CA is the best option. In those cases -as at this weekend- I hit the joint with the thin CA and the leg it out of the workshop whilst the fumes disperse.

[leccyflyer]

Glad to see the piccies of the successful maiden flight and that Derek did his usual excellent job. ?

 

One wee thing - I believe it's the Cambrian Model Co - Wales, rather than NW England.???????

[David Ashby - Moderator]

Very nice Murat, I still fly mine, unpowered, so it's a warm thermally day model for the hillside. 

[edgar]

I also suffer from CA sensitivity,  the merest whiff gives me a bunged up nose, I can however tolerate the foam safe type, might not work for everyone but worth a try.