Coaster (oz9084)

About this Plan

Coaster. Radio control aerobatic glider, for full house multi. Plan shows both T-tail and conventional tail layout.

Quote: "Latest in the mini-multi vogue is this 60 inch full house glider. Coaster, by DN Pickering Pick.

Take a good look at the model in the photos. No, your eyes are not playing tricks with you; it really is as small as it looks. What's more, it is equipped with full-house proportional gear. A few years ago, needless to say, the idea of a full-house soarer of these dimensions would have been ludicrous. But it's 1970 and mini-multi sets are becoming more and more common. The Coaster was designed with several ideas in mind; it had to be small, look like a soarer on the ground and in the air, and be fully acrobatic. Quite a tall order. The model shown here is the result of three prototypes which, with various modifications, have been flown over many hours and in all weather conditions over the last year or so.

The glider may be built in two types - either a T-tail or a conventional tail, the wing in either case being identical. Both look very pretty in flight, the T-tail version more so if anything. Their performance is almost identical, although the stall on the T-tail version is rather more sudden.

Generally speaking, Coaster is rather similar to a low-wing acro-batic power model to fly; there is very little inherent stability, and it flies fast, flat and furious. Indeed, the speed is really quite something. It's certainly the fastest soarer I have ever flown, or seen flying, and it's great for pylon racing. In addition to this, it is really fully aerobatic; consecutive loops, stall turns, really axial rolls, bunts, unlimited inverted flying are yours with Coaster.

My prototypes have all weighed between 2 and 2-1/2 pounds, giving a wing loading of some 15 oz/sq ft. At this loading, obviously it likes a good bit of blow - it's not really practical to fly with less than about 10-12 mph on the wind speed meter, but I have flown in winds of up to 40 mph without any problems. The only difficulty then is landing, as a gust just before touchdown can really make a mess of things, if your reflexes are on the slow side.

If you are at all impressed by the foregoing sales talk and feel like building a Coaster, there are a few things you will require. First and foremost, you need a set of miniature proportional gear, with two or more functions (you can do without rudder). Secondly, you need about a week to build it in. You need the pile of balsa wood listed on the plan (cost about £3 at current balsa prices; changes after 6 pm yesterday not counted) plus about 30s worth of Solarfilrn in your own pet colours.

Construction This is pretty simple and, if you don't find it so, don't bother to go any further, because you won't be able to fly it anyway, when you have finished (if you see what I mean). Starting with the wing, make the ribs using the sandwich method..."

Coaster, Radio Modeller, June 1970.

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Supplementary file notes

Article pages, thanks to RFJ.

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