Bought the partially assembled Multiplex Flamingo glider via Oscar, my enabler on RcCanada.
I have always liked gliders and the price on this was reduced several times. There were parts missing (canopy, servo tray- cross braces, plans) but the wings, rudder and elevator were built and ready to cover. The fuse is very nicely made of fibreglass.
It has ailerons, spoilers, rudder and elevator. No flaps.
Basic numbers-
- 100.25" span (2.5 meters),
- 3-4 lbs weight depending on ballast.
- first contest flown in 1980.
- kit first released in 1982
It will eventually be powered but will build it in its entirety as a glider and then surgically add a motor (nose or pylon) once I get an idea of the size and weight. I may toss it as a glider a few times to see how to optimize it.
The building will be done on rainy days and will probably see the sky next year.
Frank
ps: the kit came out 40 years ago!
re: my first post "The building will be done on rainy days"
It was raining today so I made the first two moves:
1) elevator linkage: the fuse cannot be finished until the elevator linkage is made and installed. It is a flying stab so had to fabricate a horn that could move it. The hinge point is in the middle of the fin with a radiused slot for the travel. The horn was made out of an old aileron linkage that had to be extended to reach the slot in the fin. Photo 1
2) Servo tray- keel. This part was missing. It gives strength and holds the servos. I made it out of 1/16" balsa so it was easy to shape then traced the final product onto 1/8" balsa with cross braces that will be fibreglassed to the fuse. Photo 2. The clamps hold the cross-braces in place while the 5 minute epoxy dries.
Frank
Photo 1- added the hinge point for the flying stab by installing the control horn. To make up the difference in diameter between the piano wire and the control horn I used 4 pieces of tubing of telescoping diameter (one inside the other), 4 brass washers on the inside of the hollow fin to make up the thickness and and two on the outside to anchor it. (see brass washer in the middle of the fin). The rudder is hinged. In the bottom of the curved slot you can see the gold coloured end of the elevator belcrank.
Photo 2- the rudder removed to show the new rudder post (1/4" thick hard balsa) and the hinge slots. Yep, five minute epoxy.
Photo 3- the hard balsa servo tray floor glued in place inside the cockpit. Yep, again...five minute epoxy.
Frank
Because of today's lockdown announcement I have officially changed the title from "Time Fiiler Project" to "Covid build #7."
The change makes it a daily time filler. ;D
Frank
@Frank v B if it is a "flamingo", will it be pink and stand on one leg?
Asking for a friend...
@Andy Hoffer ...
Guy
Guy,
It's a Flame 'n Go*. 8)
F.
* that avoids having to deal with the "pink" and "mono-leg" issue. ;)
@Frank v B 's
Flame 'n Go should look something like this when completed. The key is steam forming the wings! Trailing edges are made of 1/64" 3-ply - articulated of course.
Landing gear schematic is shown below. Frank's elevator control horn design will "fill the bill". ;D
Andy
After the Flamingo anatomy lesson from Andy I will go back to building.
Installed the control horns and servos.
Photo 1- the servos glued in place with the pushrods attached and neutralized. The sideways elevator servo is trapped in balsa on 3 sides. Will build it up with another layer and place a strap across. The elevator servo is a Hitec HS225 metal gear. The rudder is an HS-81.
Photo 2- the tail group with elevator at "neutral"
Photo 3- elevator at full "up"
Photo 4- elevator full "down"
Frank
Quote from: Frank v B on April 17, 2021, 08:29:42 PM
Photo 1- the servos glued in place with the pushrods attached and neutralized. The sideways elevator servo is trapped in balsa on 3 sides. Will build it up with another layer and place a strap across. The elevator servo is a Hitec HS225 metal gear. The rudder is an HS-81.
@Frank v B could you please enlighten us with the type or brand of glue used for this application.
What type of "strap" will be used?
Thank you. :)
Guy
Guy,
If a picture is worth a thousand words, here is a 3000 word answer to your two questions....
Photo 1- glue *
Photo 2- strap
Photo 3- in case you want to know where the strap came from.... salvaged from damaged transmitters. You can see two more "straps" in the yellow box. I un-bent them.
Note: I had no idea what kind of strap until after I read your post. After starting the hamster wheel in my head and opening up several boxes, the yellow box offered up a treasure trove.
Frank
* first clue should have been "my name is Frank".
Quote from: Frank v B on April 17, 2021, 08:29:42 PM
After the Flamingo anatomy lesson from Andy I will go back to building.
Installed the control horns and servos.
Photo 1- the servos glued in place with the pushrods attached and neutralized. The sideways elevator servo is trapped in balsa on 3 sides. Will build it up with another layer and place a strap across. The elevator servo is a Hitec HS225 metal gear. The rudder is an HS-81.
Photo 2- the tail group with elevator at "neutral"
Photo 3- elevator at full "up"
Photo 4- elevator full "down"
Frank
Hi
@Frank v B . Intriguing build. I only have a modest knowledge of physics, especially dynamic loading. Could you help me to understand what situations might arise which would warrant the hold-down strap
in addition to the 1500 psi shear strength epoxy used to glue the servos in place on (trapped in) the 160 psi shear strength, 145 psi Compressive Yield Strength (Perpendicular to Grain) and 1000-1310 psi Compressive Yield Strength (parallel to grain) balsa.
Your attentive student,
Andy
Answer to "Could you help me to understand"....
1) Rob Dickinson's tag quote is "What could possibly go wrong". Now this can't be the reason.
2) Belt and suspenders by "Joe Overkill" as my wife Cynthia calls me.
3) If a post-crash evaluation determines it to be "Pilot Error", it would not upset me (been there. Done that lots). If it were* determined to be "Builder's Error" I would be very upset.
Frank
* Andy, note the use of the subjunctive. My grade 8 grammar teacher would be proud.
Quote from: Frank v B on April 18, 2021, 10:26:33 AM
Answer
1) Rob Dickinson's tag quote is "What could possibly go wrong". Now this can't be the reason.
2) Belt and suspenders by "Joe Overkill" as my wife Cynthia calls me.
3) If a post-crash evaluation determines it to be "Pilot Error", it would not upset me (been there. Done that lots). If it were* determined to be "Builder's Error" I would be very upset.
Frank
* Andy, note the use of the subjunctive. My grade 8 grammar teacher would be proud.
Duly noted
@Frank v B ! I am similarly proud of you! It's like a breath of fresh air.
Bravo!(Bad grammar drives me wild!) ;D
Andy
The wing
Description of the challenge
This plane has ailerons and spoilers but was designed for the old 90 degree belcrank in the wing and then to the aileron. The wing servo was installed (Multiplex BB servo with the old AM 3 pin connector). The previous owner/builder installed the servo but gave up on how to connect it.
Fishing
- Loosened the pushrod housing that was already installed, tied a string of dental floss to it by force-fitting a toothpick in the tube to secure the dental floss and pulled the housing out from the root rib, then used the dental floss to feed in the 3' of servo wiring.
- soldered the servo wires to the wing servo (photo 1) and soldered a male end to it on the root end (photo 2).
- tested it with a servo tester (see photo 2- still connected)
Photo 2 shows the root connections from the bottom of the wing. From the bottom of the picture to the top:
- the new servo wired still attached to the servo tester.
- the spoiler activation wire (push-pull). It is a scissor type spoiler.
- the dihedral brace- solid aluminum gets bolted together inside the fuse.
- the last pin is the piano wire registration pin for the trailing edge- to keep the wing from rotating around the main spar. (wingeron? :)))
Frank
attaching the wings. "It just ain't fitting" from Gone with the Breezes. See clip below.
Photo 1 shows the port side of the fuse after the adjustments.
- Opened up the small hole at the front and made it into a slot so the servo plug could fit through. It was similar in diameter as the one at the back.
- had to drill a second hole for the spoiler wire. It missed by about 1/4"
Photo 2- the starboard servo wire has a Multiplex connector (Dean's). Have to switch it to a JR/Spektrum compatible plug. Have to make the holes fit as well.
Photo 3- spoiler in closed position. Yes, it is blurry.
Photo 4- spoiler in open position. Also blurry.
Frank
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIUlx9mMcXs
Quote from: Frank v B on April 18, 2021, 04:49:26 PM
attaching the wings. "It just ain't fitting" from Gone with the Breezes. See clip below.
Photo 1 shows the port side of the fuse after the adjustments.
- Opened up the small hole at the front and made it into a slot so the servo plug could fit through. It was similar in diameter as the one at the back.
- had to drill a second hole for the spoiler wire. It missed by about 1/4"
Photo 2- the starboard servo wire has a Multiplex connector (Dean's). Have to switch it to a JR/Spektrum compatible plug. Have to make the holes fit as well.
Photo 3- spoiler in closed position. Yes, it is blurry.
Photo 4- spoiler in open position. Also blurry.
Frank
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIUlx9mMcXs
Whew! Thank goodness. I thought Wednesday's snowstorm had come early!
Thanks for the clarification
@Frank v B. 8)
Andy
P.S. Great build thread. You should get GRADISTRIBUTION to sponsor you!
Hinged the ailerons on both wings. These wings are beautifully built. Obechi over white Foam.
Photo 1- I put in four five* sets of hinges (CA hinges)
Photo 2- aileron closed. No gap! The hinges are glued after the covering is finished.
Photo 3- a photo of the spoiler opened. Better than the previous photo... but not much better. :)
Frank
* I have registered for a remedial finger counting class. ;)
Quote from: Frank v B on April 19, 2021, 11:02:58 PM
Hinged the ailerons on both wings. These wings are beautifully built. Obechi over white Foam.
Photo 1- I put in (4) 5* sets of hinges (CA hinges)
Photo 2- aileron closed. No gap! The hinges are glued after the covering is finished.
Photo 3- a photo of the spoiler opened. Better than the previous photo... but not much better. :)
Frank
* I have registered for a remedial finger counting class. ;)
@Frank v B ,
This is a
HUGE improvement. All this time I had thought the holes in your spoiler were oval-shaped. Now I see that they are actually round! What a revelation!! :D
Keep up the fantastic build-thread photography.
Andy
Problem solving
Problem: How to hook up the spoilers and still make the wings removable.
There are 4 things that have to line up to attach each wing half 1) the main spar, 2) the aileron servo lead, 3) the spoiler wire 4) the rear registration pin. (see photo 1)
Each spoiler has firm piano wire to activate/retract it. When the piano wire is pushed in the spoiler opens. When pulled it closes.
This plane was designed when it was done with a single servo, a rotary wheel with the spoiler wires attached to opposite sides of the rotary wheel. The real problem- how to attach the spoiler wire of the port wing which is set back farther into the fuse where you cannot reach with a screwdriver.
I have built one servo bearer and attached the servo for the starboard (right) wing. Once that works, the other servo will be installed but it will be backwards so it reaches farther back. (see Photo 2)
F.
Hey
@Frank v B ,
Clever use of the translucent fuselage as a diffuser to provide soft even lighting of the interior of the fuselage.
Oh yes, nice spoiler linkage too. :D
Andy
Spoiler servos in place. Couldn't get the screws into the servos at the back so the balsa pieces lock it in place.
Note that the servos are not in the same direction, neither are the horns. This is because the spoiler wires differ by about 1" (fore/aft) where they enter the fuse. The servos are also crossed so the piano wire has room to bend slightly (port spoiler is activated by starboard servo). The photo only has one wing/spoiler attached in the photo.
One problem remains: The servos move in the same direction. I have ordered a servo reverser from John's Hobbies today so the servos will activate in opposite directions.
Frank
Note: the 3 screws/bolts in the rear are the screws to hold the wing halves together. There is no joiner tube.
Building the hatch/canopy.
Photo 1 & 2: Made out of 3 pieces of balsa and 5 minute epoxy. Did not shape any of it until the 5 minute epoxy dried. It took less than 5 minutes to shape it with a sanding block.
Photo 3: two balsa registration pieces in place. One at the front of the cockpit. Held in place by masking tape inside the fuse. Another one at the top of the back part of the canopy. You can see the drop of 5 minute epoxy on both balsa pieces. Placed the canopy floor in place and taped it again until the glue dried. The 5 minute epoxy was just to adhere it in place. Once dry, I removed it and glued the everything together with thin CA. The 5 minute epoxy was just placed in the centre so it would not squeeze out and glue the canopy floor in place permanently.
Frank
Does this mean a lot of inverted flying?!?
Guy: re: "Does this mean a lot of inverted flying?!?"
Only when eating. ;D
Canopy- there was no canopy with this kit. I made a hatch out of balsa, covered it in black Monokote.
How to add the clear windscreen.
Attempt 1- I bought a 2 Litre bottle of Compliments Soda water from Sobey's. These are the clearest plastic bottles. Too small. That's $1.29 I will never get back. ;)
Attempt 2- Cover it in clear Monokote. Failed miserably. No way to shrink it enough.
Attempt 3 - Make it out of balsa strips and formers like a Guillow's kit. Will start that tomorrow.
Frank
Canopy- back to square one.
The bottle trick was still the best option.
- filled in the front of the cockpit until the bottle cut-out fit. Notice the fake instrument panel and the brace behind it in the first photo.
- covered the re-done front with curved (wet) 1/16" balsa and covered it in black Monokote. Made the instrument panel bright red... just because. :)
- attached the cut-out part of the bottle. Notice how the shoulder of the bottle forms a beautiful curve at the back end of the hatch... just like a real glider.
.... and I didn't waste my $1.29 investment in the bottle after all. ;D ;D
Happy now.
Frank
Very nice canopy!
Fabulous
@Frank v B ! Especially the Dutch morse code pins in #3705. :D
Andy
Ingenuity!
I like the red panel too!
Thanks Guy, BJ, and Michael.
Andy- 18 pins; 18 letters; 5 words. That should bother you all day. 8)
Michael, me being cheap requires ingenuity. ;)
Sig canopies are now $6- $8 and require a trip to a hobby shop.
Frank
No posts but:
- covered both wings and ailerons
- covered the stabilizer
They are a very bright red. Next- have to decide the colour of the fuselage/rudder. This will have to be spray painted because of the fibreglass.
Frank
Quote from: Frank v B on May 02, 2021, 10:36:22 PM
No posts but:
- covered both wings and ailerons
- covered the stabilizer
They are a very bight red. Next- have to decide the colour of the fuselage/rudder. This will have to be spray painted because of the fibreglass.
Frank
Hey
@Frank v B ,
Maybe bight yellow or bight KLM blue? ;D
Andy
Photos of the wings and elevator halves.
A large plane. Perspective given by the pilot. ;D
Now I know how Ben Feist must have felt building his large glider. This one is 8.5' span. Ben's was 14 plus feet.
Frank
I like the flaming red colour, goes well with the Flamingo theme (Flame & Go).
Nice selfie, better than any picture from
@Andy Hoffer could ever take ;-)
Quote from: GuyOReilly on May 03, 2021, 10:28:53 PM
I like the flaming red colour, goes well with the Flamingo theme (Flame & Go).
Nice selfie, better than any picture from @Andy Hoffer could ever take ;-)
I have to agree with
@GuyOReilly .
@Frank v B 's face always gets terribly contorted whenever I approach him with my camera! ;D
Andy