5 Gliders HLG (oz15074)

About this Plan

5 Gliders HLG. Simple chuck glider models. All-sheet construction.

Note the drawing includes 5 different designs: Conventional, Sweptback, Delta, Saucer, and Flying Wing.

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Update 27/1/2024: Added article, thanks to Pit.

Quote: "Today's beginner demands more, gets less than ever before. Fun to build, they show wood cutting, sanding and illustrate modern plane types. Gliders Five, by John Zaic.

Here are five little gliders that can be flown in any room. They are for the pleasure of anyone, the expert or non-expert model builder. Craft teachers, den mothers and others will find them suitable as a project for their classes. Although the gliders may look different from each other, they all follow the same principles of flight and demonstrate types of modern aircraft.

The planes on the opposite page are drawn half-scale. Full size plans, including step-by-step directions, are available. Those in a hurry can connect the handy grid marks from border to border. These marks are 1/4 in apart. Prepare a drawing exactly twice the border dimensions given, measure off new grid marks on the big drawing, then connect these marks as before. By counting squares and fractions of squares on the small plan, then transferring the measurements to the big drawing, full size outlines can be developed.

A single-edged safety razor, a 12 in ruler and 00 sandpaper are all the tools required. To protect the point of the razor, a piece of cardboard is placed underneath the balsa that is cut. When the point of a razor is dull, it will be difficult to cut cleanly. It is not necessary to press hard on the razor blade when cutting balsa and several light passes, instead of one heavy stroke, serve better. A 12 in ruler is used to guide the razor in making straight cuts. A metal ruler is especially suited to the purpose.

Cut out each part and sand with very light strokes. Bend up the edges of the sandpaper or cement the paper to a small block of wood so that the edges of the sandpaper do not dig into the wood.

To prevent the freshly cemented parts from sticking to the work table, place underneath them a paper that has been rubbed with dry soap.

Note that part of the rear of models one, three and five is cut out and cemented back in place, but with an angle. This gives stability to the model.

All the gliders are tail heavy and some weight is required in the noses to move the center of gravity to the proper place in relation to the flying surfaces. Modeling clay is good for this purpose, as it is easily put on and off. However, bits of metal, like small nails, may be cemented on until the required weight is reached.

The gliders are flown by throwing them gently forward and downward. Remember a glider is not a powered plane and its flight path is downward and not upward in normal flight. Before adding weight to the models, it will be noticed that the models nose up and down violently, but as weight is added, the flights become less rough and eventually iron out into a smooth even glide.

After the models are balanced, gliders two and four can be thrown with more force and banked up in a turn for longer flights. You can now experiment with them as you wish and warp the surfaces with your breath and fingers to see what will happen. "

Supplementary file notes

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