Phase 6 Build with mods

Hi I thought I would start a build log of a Chris Foss Phase 6, from the photos you'll see I maybe be cheating a little, since I managed to pick up a part built kit from eBay.
As you can see from the instructions, I think this is quite an early produced kit, but still in great condition.
The kit is nearly complete and jut missing the closed loop rudder system and wing locating dowel.
The wings have been put together already but my plan is dismantle the trailing edge and mod the wings to install four servos in the wing for ailerons and flaps.

After much research on forums I have come up with a plan:

So the build plan is to rebuild the wings with 4 hitec HS-82MG servos installed in hitec round moulded plastic wing mounting boxes, wired back to the centre of the wing to MPX connectors, for quick wing installation.

2 Hitec servos in the fuselage for rudder/elevator.

Spektrum AR620 antenna less receiver.

2000mah Eneloop AA rx battery.

Switch Harness.

All covered in light weight fibre glass cloth and Poly-c resin, finish with a spray job to be decided.
 

Wild Thing Maiden at Mill Hill 26th January 2019

With only having Saturday to go flying this weekend, I monitored the weather and leased with the family to find a window of opportunity to Maiden my new SAS Wild thing 46.
I had completed the final control throw range and COG  checks on Friday evening as per the instructions.
On Saturday morning I checked the weather and a positive SW wind was blowing but a good chance of rain from 13:00.
I headed for Mill Hill and arrived at 12:oo, partly cloudily, sun peering through now again, I was the only one up there apart from the usual dog walkers, I set myself up behind one of the bushes and carried out my range check.

Now all set and happy, with a good consistent blow I launched my Wild thing, she went up straight and level from the start, I tracked the slope, with a dog in toe chasing and suddenly plummeted.
Being a foamie, I just picked it up and checked over and walked back up the slope, it was either my flying or I hit some dead air.

So I launched again and flew further out of the slope, now there was masses of lift, I tracked the slope left to right and felt happy.
From kit setup I have 30% expo, 12mm elevator and 25mm aileron either way and found the elevator perfect but the aileron a bit sensitive. after a few minutes I got use to it but may increase the amount of expo on the ailerons to desensitizes them, instead of the amount of movement, so I don't loose the full range.

Now settled I thought lets see what she can do, rolls loops not a problem, the roll rate is quite fast and nice big loops, I did find either I wasn't directly into wind or a bit out of trim or a build fault, it would be more of a cork screw loop.

After ten minutes, I thought I would land and call it quits after a positive flight, I checked around me and got some height and made a left had turn back to slope.
I made it round two foot off  behind me up the slope and it carried on gliding, this was a go around situation or push the nose down, I went for the push, still carrying speed and damp grass she landed and slid 10 feet down the slope.

Over all very happy with the flight and model, now looking forward to mixing it up in the sky with you other guys.  

Newbie to the club

Hi from inspiration from John, I also thought I would introduce myself.
I am just making my way back into the hobby after not flying since 2006, where I was flying I.C power aircraft.
My history of the love of R/C started when I was a kid, started with rc cars, then with the start of an annual family day out to the great Plumpton airshow I fell in love with aircraft. My first glider was a Gentle lady which I still have, then a middle phase. My Grandad was already a keen flyer himself and so I was taken under his wing. For six years I flew IC aircraft, then took a break and did what lads do, then went back in 2004. I did keep my fingers busy for the last five years with racing 1/10th touring cars.
Now to present day where I stumbled across this blog, I thought let's give this a go again, with the help of Rob on one blowy day up on Ditchling, I had a go of the club's foamie and it was like riding a bike.
I knew I just wanted more.
So look forward to meeting more of you soon.

Nick

First blog and introduction

Hi All,

John Marchant here. I just wanted to test how this blog works and introduce myself to some of the members that I haven't had a chance to meet as yet. I used to do a lot of model flying years ago but have only just got back into. Slope soaring was always my favourite discipline. Here is a picture of me with my first all moulded glider. Hope to see you all on a hill soon.

Friendlito Build

Late last year I ordered a 2m RES thermal soarer to supplement my Omega, which is good for breezy days but less so for calm days, the model I chose was a Friendlito from Modellbausservice Schuster in Bavaria, Germany.

The kit arrived with all the wood, yes wood, a combination of balsa, spruce and ply. There isn't a plan though, all you get is a CD with a number of pdf's in German with lots of good photos. Initially I was a little concerned, particularly for the wing build but as all became clear I didn't need to worry. The design has been really thought through and the CNC cut parts are very good and fit together well.

The fuselage can be dry assembled and if you so desire you could just go around and superglue the joints but I didn't as ensuring the fuselage is straight was a concern as it's over 1m long and very thin.

To make life easier when installing the controls I inserted the rudder threads in the fuselage before I fitted the bottom otherwise life would have been very difficult as the thread is fed through holes in each of the frames as is a bowden cable for the elevator.

The nose provides a bit of a challenge in that the motor fit is very tight side-to-side and the side walls need a scallop in each to allow the motor to fit, which makes installation even more interesting. I bound the rx to the tx and then checked out the servos and set up the motor control and rotation on the bench before going further. To install the motor, once the nose was ready for it, I used a couple of long 3mm threaded rods, which I connected to the motor and pulled the motor with the ESC still attached to the front bulkhead.

The wings had been my biggest concern but the designed had that covered. The rear of the D section has cut outs for the ribs and the whole fits over the bottom spar beautifully. A comb is then used to position the ribs correctly towards the TE and hey presto it all falls into place. A dry run was ready proof of this and gluing then became a low risk task.

All in all it took me about three weeks to put the model together with the following result:

The Friendlito or Little Friend is now ready to go (with propeller blades) and I'm just waiting for calm conditions to test fly it off the flat.

I have another model on order from the same guy, a Friendly F5J this time, again in wood, with a wing span of 3.6m.

Friendlito first flights

Today, 24th Jan, I flew the model for the first time at Coombes thanks to the lack of wind (approx. 8 mph from the west). It was rather cold though!!

I launched the model on half power and it climbed away in a straight line and on increasing the power to full chat it tended to go into an increasingly steep climb but not too bad and easily controlled. Straight and level gliding needed almost no trimming and turns were easy needing just a touch of elevator to keep the nose up. Deploying the spoilers was equally unexciting until almost full deployment at which point the model went into a controllable dive.

I did a second flight to confirm the initial impressions and tonight I've been busy adjusting power compensation and spoiler deployment curves in OpenTX Companion ready for the next test flight.

Robin Strange

Bernie Jones - GPS Triangle Training

I am hoping that John Greenfield will be able to run a GPS Triangle training weekend and light competition on the weekend of 29 / 30th June 2019 at Baldock, Hertfordshire.  but we do need some idea of the interest,  as the NLMFC will need to clear the weekend  for the event.
The format of the weekend is to promote GPS Triangle flying and all are welcome. Loan GPS kit will be available to anyone who would like a try. All you need is your favourite self launch sport glider that is big enough to see flying around the course. Anything over 3m will be fine but smaller models could be used.
For those who already have the kit, this is an ideal opportunity to develop your skills with experienced GPS flyers on hand to assist.
Camping on the site will be available all weekend. There are proper flush toilets and water on site and food will be available during the day.
Please respond to this post if you are interested in this event as we need to have an idea of numbers so we can make it work, updates will be provided here as we get any news.
Some may ask why is this here on the BARCs site - well because its Silent flight - you will need a self launch model 3 meters or more (smaller is OK as long as your eyesight is better than mine) Its a fun weekend and a chance to see yet another side to our love of Glider flying and thermal hunting.
For further detail please comment on this topic and I will keep an eye and update as required
Cheers . Bernie

https://www.barcs.co.uk/forums/topic/8683-gps-triangle-training-weekend-2930th-june-2019/?tab=comments#comment-163198

Ditchling 20th Jan

Hi All,
Today we arranged to meet at Ditchling Beacon car park at 9:00 - 9:30 , the forecast was NNE but the hill was saying different. Paul crossed the road to try to NE hill with his Zulu but was soon back as it didn't work. That was the test which decided us what models to take, it was obviously a day for large wing area or very light / DLG stuff.
There were 8 of us today despite the freezing conditions - Paul, Ian, Scott, Jim, Graham U, Robin A and Robin S plus me.
On reaching the usual flying place Paul launched his green mouldie but decided to walk East a bit to get better lift - we all followed with bags and models, etc.....
Once we decided on a place, we were able to make use of the not very good lift with a variety of models from Graham , Paul and Ian's mouldies to Robin S with his 2 channel glider and Scotty and Robin A with DLGs.
I only had the 2.5 mtr Impulse which I asked Paul to trim as it was sitting around for about a year. I then took control and had Paul help me by talking me through the A test and talking me down through 2 pretty good landings - much obliged Paul.
Meantime everyone else was flying a variety of models and having pretty good lift (which had improved a bit after 30 minutes), Scott's DLG and Robin S's 2 channel were way up there soaring in the thermals (what there were), and Graham, Paul and Ian were carving things up with their large mouldies. At one time I think there were 7 models flying at once .
Paul helped Jim maiden the Cobra but it had a broken servo mount and had to go home !
Scotty maidened his Kloudrider with help from Paul on the landing and it was pretty good.

Robin S flew both of his 2 channel gliders, but a hard landing in the very cold weather took its toll on the old Apex whereby the fuselage snapped pretty cleanly through - he was warned about it being brittle in the cold ! I hear subsequently that it's now all fixed up.
That was the only casualty (and Jim's servo mount), so a good day.
By 11:00 ish we were all too cold to carry on (except Graham U who stayed for a while).
All told I had a great time and was able to put my nerves to one side for a while to execute 2 good landings.
Hopefully everyone had a good time and thanks to all who came.

Rob

AGM Date Set For 9th February

Hi Everyone,
I have set the date for our Annual General Meeting as 9th February - it will be at the Ardingly Inn as usual and we will start at 12:00. We encourage as many members as possible to come along as this is your chance to make a contribution to the discussion and meet some of the people who have joined us this last year. I have sent each club member an email detailing the date and the venue and asked everyone to let us know whether they can attend.
We hope to see you there.


Regards
Rob Stanley
Hon Sec

The corner of Itford

A small group of us met up at Itford Hill yesterday. The wind wasn't really on the main slope so we moved the very corner (facing towards Lewes). I was joined by Ian, Scotty, Rob P, James and Robin. The lift was light but workable. I took up with me my Weasel and a tiny camera together with FPV goggles for some FPV slope soaring. Unfortunately, the Weasel wouldn't power up, so we taped the Small FPV setup onto the wing of my Ascot. Myself and Ian flew the Ascot very cautiously while Scotty was watching on his small screen. When flying the glider FPV we had someone standing right next to the pilot watching the model and ready to take over (all legal and sensible).
I took a copy of the BMFA 'A' slope test which we all went through at least once. The 'A' test isn't difficult or arduous but the list of questions you need to know are. Twenty questions you need to know and the examiner will ask you 5 questions.
The only issue which could be an issue is the model you chose to undertake the 'A' test. You need to undertake a rectangular circuit and land within 20 metres of a predefined landing spot (60'). It depends on what slope we use to take the test and you're ability to land in this defined landing spot.
Anyway, my aim is to run through the flight test every time we go flying and give as much help and assistance to anyone that wants it. I really would like to help you all achieve your 'A' badge and I am sure you will.
More training with Scotty, who managed very well flying Ian's Shadow and my Ascot. His confidence is growing and the landings are coming along well. It has to be said flying a mouldy with flaps makes landings so much easier than trying to burn off height with a foamy.
Rob P was buddied up with his son James at times and they flew various models and Robin flew his wing and tried out his 'A' test but the light lift was proving to be difficult but a good attempt Robin.
Next weekend is promising to be a lot windier, so I will be out again and practising my tests.

Club Subscription Now Due

Hi All,
I have emailed all our members individually to explain the annual subs for this year.
If you haven't seen the email, please check for it and renew your subs as soon as you can so we can get our finances in order.

Many thanks to you all for your support.

Rob Stanley
Hon Sec

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to all of our members and everyone who might read this blog regularly.
This last year has seen the club grow to its largest number of members since we started and we're hoping that we can get as many members as possible out on the hills as often as possible with lots of flying. We also expect to make use of our fields again this year when the weather permits.
Look forward to meeting you all sometime this coming year - maybe at the AGM which will be announced very soon ……..

Best regards
Rob Stanley
Hon Sec