red racer build

[paulatgis]

going to put all my notes into one thread. This is a red racer build. i saw this plane here http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=997818 a while back and built a few like it. the first a little 24 inch that flew very nice. Next a 36 inch version which flies superb. from comet plans. mine aren't red, but yellow instead. the two had tapered semisymmetrical wings (i used the falcon rib template). The design is a little different than the standard low or top wing plane.

I scaled it up to 60 inch wingspan with naca 0018 ribs. and after debating mid or low wing design went with the mid to shoulder design. im going to riase the motor and therefor was able to raise the wing a little to cut down on loss of fuse strength while keeping a one piece wing.

Also debated the fuse construction of balsa sticks or foam. My last balsa plane took a year to finish so I went with foam. Note the interlocking fuse parts.

looks pretty good so far. Next up is landing gear mount, wing supports and thought on battery placement below wing.

[dgjessing]

Looking good! How thick is the blue foam?

[paulatgis]

half inch from lowes.

[paulatgis]

making progress. i cut the fuse to take the wing then put it back in the wing puzzle wise. shooting for zero incidence. i might have achieved it. hoping not to have negative incidence. looking good so far. going to sheet the wing with 1mm foam voered in bright orange and bright yellow.

[paulatgis]

wing has an 11 inch chord. planning on making strip ailerons tapered. 6 inch aileron width at fuse tapering to 4 or 3 inches at wing tip

[paulatgis]

video and pictures of flight. flies nice. hoping to fly it again tomorrow. big fat wings made the landing very slow and easy. did bounce though, i need to get it even lower before killing motor.

im using a 5 cell battery on 17 prop.

60 inch red racer rc plane (comet design)

60 inch comet red racer rc plane with electric 46 motor