Rigel (oz4194)

About this Plan

Rigel. Free flight glider model.

Update 15/12/2023: Added article, thanks to ilgk48. This is an extract from the full magazine scan posted on HPA see: https://www.hippocketaeronautics.com/hpa_plans/details.php?image_id=13158.

Quote: "The Rigel, by H Liner. This model is built to FAI specifications, and gives an average flight of about two minutes from a 200-foot tow line.

Fuselage: Like the rest of the model this is of easy construction, the trickiest part being the fitting of the launching hooks. These are bound to a piece of 3/16 x 3/16 in PSS which is cemented firmly to the fuselage, nicks being made in the bottom longeron to ensure that the hooks are central. The hooks and wing rests are made from 20 and 18 swg wire respectively. The fuselage is built from 1/8 x 1/8 in PSS and the sheet in the nose is 1/16 x 1/16 PSS. To ensure that the fuselage retains its original shape throughout its life, formers are cemented at the position shown on the plan. Wing runners are of 3/8 x 3/16 bamboo and the nose block is curved from a piece of hard balsa.

Wing: The wing employs Clark-Y section which gives good results on a glider of this size. The ribs are cut from 1/32 sheet PSS, the spars and LE are of 3/8 x 1/8 PSS and the TE is of 3/32 x 3/8 PSS or balsa. The top spar is not continued right to the tip but stops at the last rib. The tips are shaped from 3/32 balsa.

The centre-section is built as a unit and the tips then cemented into position giving 3-1/2 inch polyhedral at the tip. Do not omit the gussets and other strengthening pieces at the wing join, or if the model experiences a heavy wing tip landing something will come loose. It is advisable to use PSS for the wing spars, etc, even if balsa is available, because judging from experience balsa spars will not stand up to the rough treatment which a gliders' wings are subjected to in windy weather.

Tail Assembly: This is of rather uncommon design, but improves the stability of the model ; no other arrangemenit gave as stable a flight as the tail shown here, The dihedral (1 -2 in) is put in by cracking the main spar, LE and TE after the tail has been built, and covering the cracks with cement and gussetting the leading and trailing edges. The end ribs on the tail are offset so that the fins form a sort of funnel thus giving a slight drogue effect, and making the model almost impossible to spin. on the line. The fins are cemented to the tailplane after. covering and are right angles to the tailplane, not vertical as is the usual procedure.

Covering: The original model was covered with Japanese tissue and given two coats of dope and one-coat of banana oil on the wings and fuselage, and one-coat of dope and one of banana oil on the tail assembly. The colour scheme of the original model was red fuselage, fins and wing tips and yellow main wing and tailplane. The underside of the fuselage as far back as the rear wing, rest is double covered (cross-grained). This will save any amount of minor repairs which would have to be done if these panels were not double covered.

Flying: When flying the model, use only the front hook for catapulting for if catapulted from the rear hooka especially in any wind, the model will almost certainly loop or stall and crash. The winch can be used on either hook. I have found that during calm weather it is best to let the model fly off the line without any help from the wincher; if the wind is fairly strong the best method of release is the 'back-pedal and tweak' as described by LG Temple in his article on glider launching.

Adjust the model to fly in circles of about 160 feet in diameter, by moving both trim tabs on the right: This is about the smallest circle that can be obtained without spinning, the model during the launch.

Another method which I use to get a straight tow but a circling flight, is to trim the model to fly in the size of circle required, and then to winch the model slightly cross wind. This sounds dangerous, but after a little experience you soon get the knack of it, and the model will appear to crab on the line, and as soon as it is released will commence circling."

Supplementary file notes

Article.

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