Cloud Dancer (oz16839)

About this Plan

Cloud Dancer. Radio control glider model. Wingspan 73 in.

Quote: "Free Pro Plan. Easy does it! De-stress yourself with this simple lightweight glider - ideal for the slope, towline or power. Cloud Dancer, by Mark Bees.

Cloud Dancer was conceived to fulfil the need for a lightweight, general purpose glider which would be easy to fly, forgiving, cheap and simple to build. There's nothing fancy about the Cloud Dancer, simplicity is the key behind the design, allowing the builder hours of stress-free enjoyment from the moment the first piece of balsa is cut to the end of the first flight. So if you're in the market for a no-nonsense model, be it your first venture into radio control flight or a break from that adrenaline-pumping, tuned pipe two-stroke screamer, then read on - this could be the model for you.

If you're a dyed-in-the-wool power modeller and can't contemplate flying without the smell of some sort of exhaust residue filling your nostrils then Cloud Dancer can still accommodate you, courtesy of a power pod.

Built entirely from balsa and a small amount of ply, this model is so straightforward to build it would be pretty pointless to go into a 'stick part A to part B' type of construction detail, so instead I'll simply give pointers on each stage of construction to help the building process. If you've been weaned on ARTF models and are unsure of your balsa bashing skills, don't be afraid to ask a seasoned clubmate for advice - with an aeromodelling apprenticeship completed amidst the heavy atmosphere of dope (the cellulose type!) and balsa dust there are still plenty of 'traditional' builders out there to lend a hand to a shaky scalpel!

The plan shows two types of rib, the variants allowing you the option of building the wing using either pre-shaped balsa or sheet and square stock for the leading and trailing edges (LE & TE). The choice is yours. Of course, it's easier and less time-consuming to use the rib layout using pre-shaped stock but any combination of the two is acceptable (if using a pre-shaped TE you'll need to notch it to allow for the ribs).

Once you've selected the type of rib you're going to use, pin the TE onto the plan and loosely pin the lower main spar at the location shown. Make a ply or alloy rib template and cut out the 26 ribs from 3/32 sheet. If you're feeling more adventurous, why not try the sandwich method? This employs a pair of identical rib templates 'sandwiching' 26 pieces of oversize 3/32 sheet, all joined by a pair of long, small diameter bolts, washers and nuts; a quick session with some glass paper and a file will soon see the ribs sanded to equal perfection with inherently aligned spar slots.

Glue the ribs in place over the spar and onto the TE, not forgetting to angle the root rib. Note also that the inboard pair of ribs on each panel need to be cut to allow room for the 1/16 ply dihedral braces which are located immediately fore and aft of the top and bottom main spars.

Once all the ribs have been glued and pinned in place, add the remaining spars, gussets, LE and main spar webbing. When dry, remove the wing panel from the plan and build the other panel in similar fashion, remembering of course to build port and starboard items as mirror images. Before joining the panels it's a good idea to add the soft block wing tips and carve / sand to shape as per the plan - easier to do this now than when you have an unwieldy 1.82m length of wing to contend with..."

Cloud Dancer from RCM&E September 1999.

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Supplementary file notes

Article pages, thanks to RFJ.

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