Danny's $2.99 (plus $80.00 in servos and motors)
"Lifelike" glider conversion
(really made it for my 12 year old son Joey, but I'll sneak it out when I can)

 


Video taken during second flight, after model was trimmed
Video is in RealVideo format and is 4.2mbs

The day was quite windy, with gusts to 23mph, but the glider handled it pretty well
If you listen closely you can hear the camcorder mic picking up the wind noise

Equipment used:  Cirrus CS-20 servos (one for each aileron for simplicity and one for elevator, mounted below elevator)
Graupner Speed-280 motors, direct drive, with Master Airscrew 5.5x4.5 props, cut down to 4.5"
Hitec 555 receiver
8-cell (future flights will use 10-cell) 1600mah nimh Sanyo pack
Jeti 180 ESC

Construction notes: 
 

  • A carbon fiber spar was add to stiffen up the wing, and the wing was also covered with Fast-pack tape
        which added even more strength
  • The elevator, which was adjustable, was glued in neutral position
  • The wings were glued permanently into fuselage for simplicity
  • The canopy/battery cover was made from a 2-liter bottle of Pepsi, painted from the inside
  • The canopy is held on with CF rod, which was glued into fuse, with lite-ply reinforcement
                         (I've used this system on several models and it works great)
  • After gauging out the foam for the battery compartment I smear on epoxy over the entire compartment.
  • The ailerons and elevator were made from 3/32" balsa, and covered with Fast-pack tape.
  • The hinges are self-stick Lexan (light gauge), available from FMA Direct.
  • The wing was strengthened a bit by adding a length of very thin yet strong fishing line, braided, and glued to the
        motor mount -  Adds strength for +G's, but not -G's.  I don't think we'll be doing any outside loops anyway