From: gregt@col.hp.com (Greg Tarcza)
Subject: Re: Some Glider Questions...
Date: Thu, 20 Aug 1992 22:28:23 GMT
Organization: HP Colorado Springs Division

Dave Kurth covered most of the questions quite well.  We are both in the
same club (Pikes Peak Soaring Society) and Dave has been flying sailplanes
twice as long as I have (at least), but I wanted to add my 2 cents worth
to the discussion, anyway. 

Radio: 
>  If somebody *WANTS* to stay with polyhedral gliders do you
>  still suggest to buy a 4 channel system, or a simple 2 channel AM
>  system is enough? 
Another reason for getting the four channel radio is for spoilers, which 
I recommend, or flaps.  ...And then there is the question of resale 
value when you want to upgrade or bail out.


>  Are these planes good for both thermal and slope soaring?
Yes.


Hi-Starts: 
>  Which one to buy? 300 feet or 800 feet versions? 
If you have a lot of room, get the long one, but you can find thermals 
off of a short one, too.  It is a one-man operation to launch,  but...

************** DON'T TRY TO TEACH YOURSELF HOW TO FLY!! ***************
** Visit your local hobby shop and ask about local clubs or where to **
** find an instructor.  It will save you a lot of grief and balsa.   **
***********************************************************************

Covering: 
>  What can I use to cover them? 
I use Monokote, but I am sure that most of the other similar coverings
will work fine. 

>  Can I use Japanese paper with tightening lacquer?
Probably, but how easy is it to repair when it gets punctured or torn?


>  How can I produce multi-color coverings frequently pictured in sales 
>  catalogs? 
     By overlaying Monocote.  You can join two pieces over a spar or a 
rib easily.  Attach the first piece of Monocote firmly to the structure.  
Then, with the second color, allow at least 1/4" overlap to ensure that
it won't come apart.
     My Spirit looks just like the one on your Tower catalog except for
the choice of colors. The front and back half colors of the wing were 
overlapped on the spar and I cut a 1/8" strip of trim from the Monocote
to finish the job.
    By the way, when you tack down Monocote over Monocote, you will 
probably notice that you have a handful of air bubbles in between the 
layers.  Just make a small pinhole in each bubble and work the air out
with an iron. The hole will seal itself as you heat it. 
    On the negative side, the more Monocote you put on your plane, the
heavier it will be.  Go easy on the covering.


>- Misc: Besides kit, radio, hi-start, covering, iron, epoxy; what else
>  do I need to get started? 
A building board (ask about this at the hobby shop - buy it at a building
supply store!), small bottles of fast and slow CA glue, maybe a small 
bottle of wood glue (aliphatic resin), #62 rubber bands to hold wings 
onto fuselages, sandpaper, other tools.


A note about ARFs:  I advise against getting an ARF.  Although it is a 
faster way to get in the air, you are going to feel REALLY lost if you 
damage it in any way.  By building a kit, you will develop your own 
construction techniques (and some feel for repair techniques). You will 
still need help and encouragement from another flyer/builder in this 
situation.  FIND A LOCAL CLUB THAT CAN HELP YOU.  Ask about what the 
locals fly, get their recommendations on a first plane.  
     Also, the ARFs I have seen either have plastic construction which 
is damn near impossible to glue for repairs or the All-Wood-ARFs will
use a covering which appears to be twice as thick (heavy) as Monocote. 
I'm just not impressed with them.
						Greg

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Greg Tarcza      WA2OOD                                               /
Hewlett-Packard Company                                              /
P.O. Box 2197                                                       /-,  /-,
Colorado Springs, CO  80901                                        /  / /  /
719-590-2471                                                      /  / /--/
                                                                      /
gregt@col.hp.com                                                     /
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