Topic: Alula

that filler finish is only for super smooth racers and scale jobs.
not worth it on a 4oz model.

wish i had cellophane, my stuff was .1mm thicker than the tape i got from the US and it weighed that much more too... bet my CofG is now a bit far back.

I've just remembered that it is called  Clearphane over the pond.

Pike

i was very very tempted to use some clear easy cote. it's pretty thin and you can put it on without shrinkage.
only thing is getting the epp warm can ruin it permanently... as i read after I'd tried to shrink my book covering..

seems ok..

OOPS,,,, don't know how I came up with that figure. I think I converted the gramms to oz wrong. Went out a re-weighed it and it came out at 3.5oz.
That makes me feel a lot better.
Dave

feel better for now but the yanks reckon 4-4.2 oz is best as anything lighter doesn't move.

Good that means I can add some tape to the nose

i gotta do something as well. this new covering has pushed the CofG way too far back. argh..

  yay to me...it arrived today...well I know what I'm building over the next few days... ...Christmas? What Christmas?

:.well I know what I'm building over the next few days

Start it now fly it tommorrow!

use the street lights, fly it tonight
should take about 4 hours.

Woah Neddy, I've got to finish the ME163 first and then take the servos out of something else!

IT FLIES !
Finally got some time to try it out.
It ended up at 4.24oz (uncovered). Got the balance about right (had to add 5g of nose weight).
First throws were wild, with it going straight up and looping.
After getting used to the launch, I managed to put a few clicks of down in and that was that. I get a good launch at about 60 to 70 degrees, which gives me about 30 feet height. First flights were from a cold flat field with a 9ish mph wind which I think didn't help.
Later tried it on a shallow slope but the wind had then dropped. Had some good but short flights. Handles real well very responsive, nice tight turns.
Down to the coast next week, will take with and have some fun.

Happy Christmas guys

Dave

9mph on the flat is too much, the same on a slope is near too much.

the cofg is critical to within 1mm.

my mate added tape to his nose till it was right, he needed two loops!

I know it was too windy but had to try it out. I'm about 1mm behind c of g and seems good. When the wind had died a bit in the afternoon it showed to have a real shallow glide angle and got some good glides from quite low to the ground. Next week off of cliffs is bound to be too windy, but I'll see how I get on. How much ballast can you add? I was reckoning on up to about an ounce max.
Dave

i never have
but i've also sloped when the seagulls were flapping.

Oh well looks like some experimentation is on the cards for next week. I'll let you know how it goes.

How much ballast can you add? I was reckoning on up to about an ounce max.

I've flown mine on the slope in a 15mph wind with 2x 1 inch sq. pieces of sheet lead taped to it and it coped with the wind very well. It did surprise a few people on the slope with how it coped with the wind considering how light it is.

Pike

Cheers Pike just what I wanted to hear. Any idea of the all up weight it was at ? sounds like it could have been close to 7 oz. I did some leading to a new roof in the summer so have plenty of off cuts.
Dave

I'm gonna try and build mine as light as poss, but it seems a bit fruitless if yiou have to balast it up, and I've just checked and found that I've got 4 different types of micro servo...all different wouldn't you know

Thats the beauty of balast.........you can remove it. That gives you a wider choice of flying styles and conditions.

just got to add the radio gear now, it weighs a "tad" (metric/imperial ?) under 4 oz and thats with my usual overkill on covering etc etc etc, I'm fairly hopeful that I should be able to keep it under 5 oz...lardy old me I know

a couple of Stevie webbs lightweight servos and a GWS 4ch rx...just the battery to keep as light as poss...

Hi Guys

Here's my Alula2 that's coming together slowly. Weight is around 4oz (including all the 'bits')  as measured on the non-digital kitchen scales. Ailerons and elevators have had thin CA spread over them to help strengthen and protect them whilst keeping them light. Wing servos on top for two reasons: 1. That's where I put them by accident (doh) and 2. as Cactus suggested to me!! Leading edge has one strip of 2" GF tape, foam lightly sprayed with 3M-77 before any tape put on.

Elevators, weight to 'play' with, hmmm. What would happen if each elevator had it's own 4.4g servo? Would there be any reason to do that!? I've just bought an Evo 9 Tx which just about mixes everything.

it makes the aula better apparently with a 3 surface ( 4 really ) set up

i feel now i've had mine a while servos are better on top to protect them from landing, and also to stop the rods bending when you pull out of a dive.

First flight today...what a heap of fun...bring on the wind please...Only problem is that it weighs 5.5 oz because i'm a lardy builder, perhaps i shouldn't have Poly C and Glass clothed the wings :-[

you didn't..... are they still the right shape?
 should be ok, just a bit fast.

Oh Yes I did...yes they are the right shape...yes it flies quite fast, but still managed 2 circuits in dead air

I LOVE my Alula!

I even approached Michael about retailing them over here but it seems he is busy enough already!
It doesn't like too much wind in my experience, but I have the C of G fairly well back (keeps me on my toes :ww) and I haven't tried ballast yet.
The Boomer EX2 is better in a breeze so I tend to grab that when it's windier.
3M77 availability isn't a problem over here...I sell it It's not cheap, but I have yet to find anything better.

Enjoy your Alulas folks they really are great fun. Take the time to experiment with the C of G and you'll be well rewarded.

Mark

Just talked myself into an Alula, and now can’t get in contact with the company. Anyone have any info? Have they ceased trading?
All the kits on the website are out of stock and not replying to my mails.

Any suggestions for an alternative? Boomer EX2 maybe. Any others?

The Richter website has the info

http://www.dream-flight.com/

A ready built Alula available here! http://www.flyquiet.co.uk/index.php?topic=133.0

 6055140371.   try this number on ebay

mobile phone number on Ebay... silly...

can't remember what i paid for mine, but it wasn't 41 quid