Bolero (oz9166)

About this Plan

Bolero. Radio control glider model. Wingspan 72 in.

Quote: "An ideal introduction to slope, thermal or even power-assisted soaring. Bolero by WI Barrett

Bolero was designed to fulfil a variety of roles; it simply takes too much time, money and storage to build special-purpose gliders. even though they may be desirable! It had to be able to function as a slope soarer for windy occasions, a flat site 'thermal' soarer for those calmer days, and be able to fly as a power-assisted glider on those liftless or more rare, windless, days. In addition, something rather more elegant than a simple box glider was required without going to all the trouble of a planked fuselage, as the design presented here features straightforward, robust construction with a special emphasis on minimising material costs. Even in these days of escalating prices, the model should not cost more than £5 to build (excluding R/C), assuming, of course, that your 'scrap box' will come to the rescue with regard to many of the smaller components.

The ideal form of control is provided by one of the many two-function proportional radio control outfits, currently available at very competitive prices, and the model was in fact designed around such a system. Two servos are mounted side by side in the fuselage centre-section to operate the rudder and elevator controls. However, flight tests have shown that quite satisfactory control can be achieved using rudder alone, thus simple single-channel equipment may be used if preferred.

Construction should present no difficulties to any-one with a little previous free-flight and building experience, and the model is a suitable choice for the many new converts to radio control. Whatever your feelings about the 'purity' of free-flight, you must admit that having a model land at your feet certainly beats the usual cross-country run!

Two basic fuselage sides are made up from 1/8 sheet balsa; the joint lines on the side elevation enable these to be made from three sheets of 3 x 36 in medium stock balsa. Glue the 3/16 in sq longerons to the sides (remember to make them opposite hand) and then mark upon them the position of the formers. Make up the servo mounting frame from hardwood, then position this, with the formers, between the fuselage sides. The nose and tail can be held together by rubber bands while the glue is drying. Before fitting the keels, install the operating rods from the servo units to quick-release clips at the tail; the position of the control horns can be determined from the plan..."

Bolero, Aeromodeller, January 1974.

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Supplementary file notes

Article pages, thanks to RFJ.

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