The Second Boys' Book of Model AeroplanesCollins, Francis A. (Francis Arnold)
Science
The Second Boys' Book of Model Aeroplanes
Collins, Francis A. (Francis Arnold)
Airplanes -- Models
The success of a glider depends more upon its modeling and finish of its
planes than in the case of the model aeroplane. It must gain as much
support as possible from the air, since it has no motive power to keep
it aloft. Its head resistance must also be cut down. The ordinary
cloth-covered planes, which serve well enough for an ordinary model
aeroplane, will not carry a glider far. The planes must, therefore, be
of metal or wood, or when built-up planes are used they must be of the
most careful workmanship.
The simplest form of glider, excepting, of course, the paper model, is
made entirely of wood. A glider two feet in length will be found a good
size to experiment with. The model should be much heavier than an
aeroplane so that one need not take the care in its construction to
reduce weight which may make the construction of a model tedious. A
glider of this size may weigh upward of one pound. Under favorable
conditions, it will glide for two hundred feet, when launched from the
hand, while if it is thrown from an elevation, an upper window or a hill
top, it may travel considerably further.
Select a stout stick for your base, one inch square and two feet in
length. The main plane should measure fifteen inches in width by six in
depth, and the smaller plane ten inches by four inches. A thin board
about three-sixteenths of an inch thick may be used for the planes.
The front corners should be slightly rounded, and the rear edges cut
sharply away. These planes may be flexed by steaming. Hold the section
to be bent over the spout of a tea kettle until the wood is soft and
pliable enough to bend. If it does not soften sufficiently, immerse the
wood in boiling water. The plane should be flexed slightly upward just
back of the forward edge. A good curve may be obtained by heating the
under surface over a flame.
To hold it in position until it has dried and assumed shape, bend it
over a stick laid on a board and fasten the plane down by driving brads
around the edges and bending them over to keep it down. Leave it in this
position until it is dry and hard.
Your glider will fly better with a vertical rudder, as in the case of
the paper models. The rudder should be cut from a thin board of the same
material about six inches square. Round off one corner and plane or
sandpaper this front edge, which will be the entering edge. The entering
edges of the front plane should be prepared in the same way to reduce
the head resistance as much as possible. Nail this rudder to the side of
the stick directly beneath the rear or larger plane. It will be still
better if you mortise it neatly into the center of the stick.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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