Topic: Alula

Anybody know where i can get an Alula in the UK ( or Europe)?

I don't know but in trying to find out what plane you mean I found a really interesting document here:

http://www.wfu.edu/~rossma/bio322/flight.ppt

regards

Kyri

I ordered mine direct from Richter in the states www.dream-flight.com , it only cost about £32 inc shipping and he marked the value on the box as $10 so you should not get caught for duty.
I believe he only deals direct but unfortunately he has no stock as present.
It would be worth waiting for though.

Pike

have a read of my build in construction central, and wait for one, you wont regret it

HI
I ordered the alula and a mini weasle together... so did  three of my club members-- its cheaper to order in threes. we have been flying all summer... the alula is my favorite.. i am also waiting to order more .but none are has yet available....must be popular....i will let you know when they are..
jack

every time i turn up at the field with mine Andy grabs the tranny and half flattens the battery.

very popular hand around glider this, they just can't believe how well it flys.

I've e-mailed Micheal Richter and he's going to let me know when he has stock

Thanks

Me too 

My grandson has swapped his brand new 60inch Wild Thing for an alula.. he said there is no comparison for pure fun than the alula..although i must admit they are habit forming..i still prefer to fly my micro floh...........

wonder if someone could build them under license here?

doesn't help that most of the things the yanks reccomend arn't around here.

goop and that really thin clear tape for one, Micheal kindly sent me a roll.... 3M spray mount didn't work tho.

KEEP THEM LIGHT! avoid tape on the fin, minimal tape on the back, extra bit on the LE.

the Yanks seem to be quite harsh on them hence all the goop.

some people don't even tape them, just fly them in bare EPP.

hi

what a cool little sal, gotta make one for next summer, looks so simple  :ww

kev

Be careful when applying the tape covering too.... I ended up with a warped wing due to applying the tape with a slight bit of tension!   

The next one I build will be left in bare EPP, apart from the leading edge and fuselage.

Cheers
Andy

it's easier if you cover the wings when their in the beds.
then join.

any tension can be taken out the other side then.

having said that my tapes as slack as vicky pollard thanks to the spray mount not sticking.

i have a EPP wing in a loose tape bag.. gotta sort that one day, can't be helping the wing section.

That's pretty much exactly how I did it......  Trying to even it out when applying the tape to the other side made it even worse!

I think the trick is not to tension the tape at all when applying it...

Cheers
Andy

you got it

lay it one end, smooth it down.

What mount spray glues you guys using? On my combat wings I just use B+Q carpet spray glue, but for an alula that might be a bit thick and gooey.

Mike_Y

i used 3M spray mount.

however, get the B&Q stuff really close and you only get a liquid out.

Yeah, if you spray the glue very close you have a few seconds where you can spread it out with an old credit card but it drys back yellow, I was hoping to paint the foam and then cover with clear tape.

Mike_Y 

thats why i used the 3M stuff, but it didn't stick. infact, it stuck better where i didn't put the spray!


maybe some cover grip would do the trick?

I used some spray adhesive called Smartack, which I got from Screwfix ages ago.  I don't know if it is still available though.  It is nice and blue, so you can see how heavily it has been applied.  The nozzle has a nice wide fan, so with it held about 12 inches from the foam, you get a nice even coat of adhesive...

Cheers
Andy

Wow
Didn't think of looking here.
Mine arrived today (six days to get here from Michaels place) been waiting a few months to get one.
Yep I'm still trying to figure out what to cover it with. Might, as you say just spray paint it and a bit of tape on the leading edge. Got some 4.4g servos plus a little jeti 5 chanel rx,,, what size rx battery ??
Will start to build tonight,, all indoor projects on hold ( that takes it to about fifteen projects on hold)
Dave

i've got a 2/3aaa 300 Mah ( ish ) pack fits nice, the pack they reccomend sticks out the nose.

if you've started the build already this answer is too late.

me and a mate did one slowly in 3 hours!

he used zagi tape but without the cross weave under it. light enough.

the staples stuff is mega light, but doesn't always peel well.

Hi Phil, you mention some issues about the performance of the Alula at the end of your build thread did you get to the bottom of it? One suggestion if you haven't solved it is to move the CofG back a touch and reduce the elevator throw.

http://rcmf.co.uk/4um/index.php?topic=19525.0

Mike_Y

i think my saggy tape doesn't help, but it's better with the switch., less pitch hunting

Mines on it's way from the states

just a note after shreck gave mine a launch hard enough to launch the pod but not wing! i've recovered with WHSmiths book cover, weight has gone up a bit, but that might be the adhesive as well.

but i do now have a non saggy wing even if there are a few wrinkles.

Mines on it's way from the states

Mine is on it's way also but probably wont arrive before xmas due to the increased postage this time of year.

Mike_Y

today was the last day for US bound mail, and mine only took 6 days, so you never know.

Alula landed this morning  shame I have half a dozen other things to build,fix or gear first.

Mike_Y

Mines in it's final stages of completion. Have sprayed it with car paint (start burst effect). I've given up looking for a decent clear covering so just going to leave it uncovered. This should be ok ,I've got a five foot shocky (blade XL) which isn't covered nor is my miniR3D, both epp. I've moved the servo positions to sit in the pod sides. This means I can use the hole to fit the  rx in the belly. Found a rx battery by multiplex which fits in perfectly, 280ma pack, same as I use for my Highlight DLG.
Dave

come on Mike, i showed my mate every step when we did his and had it done in 3 hours without breaking a sweat.

the covering will keep out dirt and moisture. which will just add weight and make the finish grubby anyway.

at least use a few strips of diamond tape on the LE and pod to stop dings and to help the CofG.

what glue are you using to get diamond tape to stick proper. I've used time bond, a couple of spray mount glues and even copydex. Not been happy with it's sticking ability. The only tape I've found that realy sticks well is the fibreglassed stuff,, way too heavy. I'll just have to try and keep it clean and dry.  Is there a problem with the pod parting company with the wing on a strong launch. I was going to fit some thin flat carbon strips along the pod side and extending into the wing back to the spars, try to tie the two bits in better.
Dave

the 3M photomount spray worked ok for the book backing, should be for diamond tape too, and it's clear.

the pod came off coz i was stingey with the hot glue and my tape was loose on the wing.

I've used uho por to glue the wings together and the pod on. Hopefully should be ok, but looks a bit too flexable. Will add the carbon this week end and us ca.
Dave

erm... shouldn't you have added the spars before glueing? then cover the wing halfs, glue the wings, add the flat spar, strip of tape down the wing join, add pod.

the 1mm rods are in. I'm not covering it as I'm not satisfied with the quality finish I'll get. Should be fine with no covering. The lighter it is the less protection required. I fly indoor epp planes which have 3mm epp sheeted wings (built up style) which survive quite hard impacts, so this bird will be fine.
Just got to add the short carbon spar braces.
Dave
Oh what weight are you guys getting? mine looks on target for 5oz.

eck! i'm 4.7 and i've used .3mm book covering and lots more 3m glue to recover, it was 4.3 before that

it could have been 3.8 if i'd left it untaped.

wondering about a lipo one with falcon gear.  we could be sub 3oz!

I've seen EPP covered on other sites, where they talk about using Light weight filler, then tissueing for a smooth surface, having tried it before on foam with hardly any increase in weight, I'm seriously tempted...i really don't like bare foam as a final finish, too rough and therefore i would expect very large amounts of parasitic drag? Whotcha reckon
still waiting for mine to arrive from the staes...
Alternatively i could take a template from the kit and try doing it out of white foam and covering that, it should be lighter than EPP I would think?

I remember reading an Alula thread  somewhere on RCGROUPS.com  and some people were using a clear covering which was actually cellophane (available on a roll from Hobby Craft stores). They used spray 77 to attach it and apparently  adds quite a lot of stiffness to the epp with very little weight gain.

Pike

I'll see if I can find that