Topic: The retro glider thread

In this modern world of molded wundergliders & EPP artfs, its sometimes nice to go retro - back to when balsa trees still grew for aeromodellers...

So here's a thread for your retro gliders, however you define retro.

To kick things off, here's my own design 100" which I designed & built way back in 1974 - still flies great & will outfly many more modern planes - it came out to play again this evening at the WBMGC BBQ & glider evening - great evening fun, with floaters, scalies, foamies, leccys, DLGs, bungees, aerotows, mass foamie aerotows, burgers, hot dogs, and beautiful warm evening sunshine  

The fus has been used as a test bed for several wings, and the wings have been used on a leccy fus. Its now on its 3rd set of radio gear. There's an aerotow release in the nose - worked great for aerotows this evening with a 4x servo wing from 1999.

Come on guys - show us your retro stuff  

Phil.

You'll probably like this Racer CS on BMFA then...

http://bmfaclassifieds.co.uk/detail.php?id=28855

1974
I was 1 then
Would a 'triggers broom' M60 count! Oldest model I've got since I started ....... errm 'bout 3 years ago.

Tomorrow I will be flying my 1986 139" soaron sunshine open,  I will try and get some nice pics while im sat in my recliner 

Some of her here on this bad vid
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJBwRkOvHkI" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJBwRkOvHkI</a>

This Sagitta 900 gave me many hours of enjoyment on the building board and is still a good thermal soarer today.
The model was kitted for some years by Airtronics. The original was designed by Lee Renaud and the first one flew in 1979. To think that this model was a competitive F3B model in its time, just goes to show how things have progressed with model design and materials over the last 30+ years. Many USA pilots flew these to great success in competitions at that time.
My example was scratch built from a plan. Its strong 100" span and 900 sq.inch of wing area make it kite up on the winch well and can ping off to a good launch height. I started to build a second one about 8 years ago and it got moth balled half way through, but I'm sure it will get finished off one day.

1974
I was 1 then
Would a 'triggers broom' M60 count! Oldest model I've got since I started ....... errm 'bout 3 years ago.

Nope - gotta be 'WOODY' 

Here's my contribution...

This was my first build - didn't fly it for an age as I was a complete noob... then learnt how to whack a lump of foam into the deck before risking this beauty in the air...


Took it out this evening for some hi-start action, but it turned out to be much windier than expected so off up to the slope for some slermalling 

That looks like a Fantasia to me, I've got one, once had a 25min flight of a bungee launch.
I haven't flown it for a few years now thou

Is it one of the old Cliff Goater Balsa Cabin jobbies ? (if it's only got one elevator half then it is....)!

my Soaron Sunshine is 120 inches not 139 inches, did I miss something
whatever happened to Roney tube whatever happened to Roy Garner

Got my Fantasia out of the cupbard today, might get it flying again the weekend if the weather is still ok

That looks like a Fantasia to me..........

.engintourque said.....Is it one of the old Cliff Goater Balsa Cabin jobbies?

Thought I'd keep you guessing - engintourque is correct & Gary wasn't far off .....

......it's actually a Sonata

my Soaron Sunshine is 120 inches not 139 inches, did I miss something
whatever happened to Roney tube whatever happened to Roy Garner

I think there was also a 100" version of the Sunshine. Soaron did 100", 132" & 144" versions of the Silhouette with a choice of 2 wing sections.

Ronneytube was sold by Ron Pollard originally in smaller sizes for free flight models but he later sourced larger sizes suitable for rc & Brian Anderson used to sell the rc sizes at glider events. I don't know if Ron still sells the tube or has the contacts to get it any more.

This thread has spurred me to dig my original Patrician out of the loft. I'm not sure how old it is but it was the model I used to try out my first computer Tx, an old type FF7, previously it had flown using a Futaba Conquest Tx. It's now going to be a test bed for a Frsky module in a FF8.



The 4th photo was taken about 1997.

Fuselage is a glass pod with Ronnytube boom IIRC it was made by Mike Proctor.

 

Ronytube!
Yep - that's a Ronytube on my o/d glider in the first post! - dead skinny - if its not there, its not producing any drag 
Phil.

 

Scarfe joints are  your saviour here - an hours work and she'll be right 

Scarfe joints are  your saviour here - an hours work and she'll be right 

Scarfe Joints ??

Yup - like so

LoL
you murderer Allen!

It's just a flesh wound........

LoL
you murderer Allen!

It was not me, it was the mean barbed wire fence and a bit of turbulence 

mmm - smashed balsa - now that is retro 

Shame, but I'm sure you'll soon have it fixed

Phil.

You'll probably like this Racer CS on BMFA then...

http://bmfaclassifieds.co.uk/detail.php?id=28855

Wowowowowow...A Ridge Raper...I 'ad one O they...

Good plane in its day but a bit flimsy as a lot of the Baker/SI planes were. I virtually made a new one out of mine with the amount of glass I put inside the fooose.

Luvverly!

Boneham the incredibly young looking.

Wow, ninety quid!

[ebay link]

Phil

EDIT:  Ah hang on, that includes radio.  Still,  ... ninety quid eh?

I still fly a Bowmans 'Simple Sailman', about 1990's vintage

Wow, ninety quid!
[ebay link]
Phil
EDIT:  Ah hang on, that includes radio.  Still,  ... ninety quid eh?

I was wondering when a Veron Impala would put in an appearance in this thread 

Phil.

This thread has spurred me to dig my original Patrician out of the loft. I'm not sure how old it is but it was the model I used to try out my first computer Tx, an old type FF7, previously it had flown using a Futaba Conquest Tx. It's now going to be a test bed for a Frsky module in a FF8.

(Attachment Link) (Attachment Link) (Attachment Link) (Attachment Link)

The 4th photo was taken about 1997.

Fuselage is a glass pod with Ronnytube boom IIRC it was made by Mike Proctor.

 

Cool looking plane 

I was wondering when a Veron Impala would put in an appearance in this thread 

I've three Impala wings on my wing rack - must build a fus & tail, and get one going again!

What got me into Impalas in the late 60s was one day we arrived at Callow, no Sheffield lads there yet but a couple of lads from Sale in Cheshire, each with an identical Impala, & which they flew & flew and flew their socks off till it was too dark to see properly.  Meanwhile, we were lucky if we got 3 or 4 flights in, between snapped escapement rubber, range problems (homebrew radio), rubber bands found to be all rotten, snapped dowels, lost joiners, you know, the usual real-world stuff... the Sale lads gear was so reliable.. and their Impalas had elevators which only posh people had then.  That was that, had to build one.
And another. And another.  It was about that time we got our first reed set (homebrew Remcon 12 copy) and fitted 2 huge servos (4 reed channels). Power-pods, bungees, they saw so much action but never wore out. Probably our most successful & long-lived models ever. 
RIP Phil Smith, you did a great job.
Cheers
Phil

Yep my first sloper, it flew great. I must build another some time.. but I will have to wait to see who takes supplying the great man's plans..

Ronneytube was sold by Ron Pollard...

Ron Pollard - thanks Pat,  that's the name I was trying to recall a week or two ago.  

Now, if only I could remember why I was trying to recall the name in the first place...

I've got a Mike Trew Countryman in my loft, built from a plan it spans 144 inches and has full camber flap. Its about 30 years old.
Tony Baker's Solent Sailplanes sold it as a kit called Ridge Rover.

60" homebrew based on Phase 6, built circa 1990. now deep in some land fill site! 

I have a proper, original Dassel kit in my loft.

I may be persuaded to part with it.........

The Dassel was of course the Sitar brothers f3b machine used for practice in their speed record runs before they flew the Pfeil to the record.
I was the model used as a basis for design of the Sitar Special.

Andy

The Dassel was of course the Sitar brothers f3b machine used for practice in their speed record runs before they flew the Pfeil to the record.
I was the model used as a basis for design of the Sitar Special.

Andy

Surely they reduced the frontal area for that one? 

The fuselage was the only part that Solent Sailplanes were not allowed to faithfully reproduce......

I found this little beauty ,
       Its not a retro design , but i would say its a retro build , see what you think , i recon its cheap and fun looking.

      http://shop.singahobby.com/?q=node/15365


                             Bob

You'd have to do it in Spitfire cammo with invasion stripes. Love that wing. But not very retro really...

Agree completely John,
              I like the build style which to me is retro , but without the need to use a copping saw on the ply pieces .

        Sorry Phil if i strayed of the thread  , but i was looking for a Pilot glider kit i had after my Gentle lady 20 years ago , i cant remember the name but it was a really well developed kit in the way topmodels acro is built , anyway sorry for the thread wonder



                        Bob

My first ever glider was the KK Soarer Baby and I built this (unaided) at the tender age of 13 years (June 1969), but sadly even though it was never destroyed, it mysteriously disappeared during my youth, as did so many of my toys.  Parents have a lot to answer for!
 Others that I've sold on and wished that I hadn't done are a Bowman Models Sunduster (1988), Mike Smart Raven 2M(1987) and the sexy Sailplanes International Secret Weapon (1992 I think).
 Would love a BNIB Secret Weapon again, anyone got one?