Easy Tuskegee Airman Plane

[ashevilleangler]

Rick,

The double sided tape idea sounds good, though in practice for novices, it could go south pretty quick since this kind of tape can end up sticking to fingers or itself pretty easily. It might be worth exploring the option of prepping the cardstock with the tape strategically applied to one half of the back of printed parts. The model could then be pre-assembled by folding over the parts that fit back to back. The parts would need to be arranged for easy folding with the fold line and the side to be cut out indicated. The part on the side opposite the one being cut out should also be slightly oversized to allow for a bit of misalignment. I have attached a pic showing a sample wing arrangement.

The great advantage to doing it this way is that it makes it much quicker for the participants to assemble the model since anything that would have needed to be glued can now be taped. The fillets to attach the wings and horizontal tail could be either double sided tape or scotch taped during assembly. The card stock used could be much thinner because the tape will add both weight and stiffness. A small weight (paperclip) would still be needed for the nose.

Assembly time would be easily under ten minutes and no wait for glue to set up. That leaves much more time to talk about the heroic Tuskegee airmen. And of course more play time. There might even be some time devoted to a discussion of dihedral, weight trim, etc.

The disadvantage is of course that it might take a lot more time to prep the number of models required. And a nice wide double sided tape would be needed. I think that American Science and Surplus still has some two inch wide tape that's pretty cheap.

Hope this helps.

Curt

[airdave]

Double sided tape does sound like a good idea for assembly.
I don't know about pretaping the models...that would take lots of time.
And handling double sided tape isn't always the easiest thing.
But its still a very good idea for assembly.

I have found glue sticks to be a quick and less messy way of putting the Glider together.
There are better glue sticks, that grab and dry much quicker.
I just used some cheap Staples brand gluesticks, that seem to work pretty well.
I found you have to get plenty of glue in place and get the parts together quickly.
Prolonged air drying seemed to hurt the grab of the glue.
I had to reglue one part that wasn't holding together well.

Not sure if I copied the same idea, but I redesigned my Glider wings to be upward folding at the center.
Then I redesigned the lower wing slot.
Now the entire wing assembly sips in real simple, and gluing in place (to the fuselage) is easy.
In fact, one wide clamp held the the connection for a minute or two, and that was enough.
And the dihedral is nicely in place too!

I think you could also staple the wing to the fuselage for a quicker attachment
...and the staples would add some weight?



...
My focus was on a fun little model that could be assembled in a few minutes.
But it doesn't fly well.

The cardstock fuselage is weak and bendy...but it still works.
Adding a paperclip to the nose helped the model to not stall.



I also creased the Elevator (a little dihedral) which helped it stay horizontal in the slot better.

I'm sure with some adjustments, it could be made to fly better.
Maybe cut and bend the wing ailerons for more lift?
Do the same with the elevator tabs for some altitude?

Anyway...I like this design, so I am going to modify my Tutor Jet Glider
using the same wing attachments ideas.

[Miles Linnabery]

Dear AirDave:
Could one glue the paperclip inside the nose of the model? or just clip it on to fly it better Idea. Miles think KISS it is for kids.
Thanks Dave,
Miles

[airdave]

yeah, I was just trying to make something that could be assembled very quickly.
I actually didn't plan on making a proper flying model.

For me, its just a simple paper airplane cutout.
I had my fun creating with the artwork!

I'm just saying that when I tossed the model, it flew upwards and stalled.
So I grabbed a paperclip and slid it onto the nose.
It made the nose heavy enough that the plane almost glided...it stayed more level.

I'm just suggesting that there are ways to mess with the model, and maybe get it to fly.
Like adding some nose weight, cutting and using the ailerons and tabs, bending and shaping the parts, etc.

lol I have no interest in the paperclip or how you use it.
So have fun experimenting.

[ashevilleangler]

That's a nice little glider Dave. It certainly looks like it could be made to fly pretty well. Maybe a smaller paper clip and some trim tabs on the horizontal stab would be enough to do the trick.

Curt

[MrConk]

For history buffs and as an aside to the original question, about ten years ago I ate at 'chicken 'n waffle' restaurant near the Phoenix Airport. One small wall was autographed by the Tuskegee Airmen. I hope the restaurant is still in business.

[airdave]

You know what they say....Photos or it didn't happen.

How are we supposed to believe you like chicken and waffles?

[MrConk]

Originally Posted by airdave

You know what they say....Photos or it didn't happen.

How are we supposed to believe you like chicken and waffles?

Modern Jazz Quartet bassist Percy Heath was also a Tuskegee Airman, but alas I have no photo of him either.

[airdave]

I sent Miles (and Curt) the Mustang Glider.

Hopefully it will work for what Miles needs.
Curt is playing with flyability...maybe he will make a report.

I've also finished a Tutor Jet Glider...and i am working on more planes.
This is fun...and its getting me back into designing (which I have been avoiding for the last few weeks).

I'll start a thread when I get more sorted out.
And I'll make the models available for download soon.

[MacSongLi]

I love those gliders Dave. Fun and simple. Great job.

Gary