Paul Holmes 2 Posted February 11, 2017 Share Posted February 11, 2017 I'm having trouble in tracking down a commercially bought glider tug release available in the uk. Can anyone help please. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Skilbeck Posted February 11, 2017 Share Posted February 11, 2017 Are you looking for the tug or the glider, Gliders Distribution do both, I find the Multiplex one in my gliders very good. For Tugs we've made our own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cymaz Posted February 11, 2017 Share Posted February 11, 2017 Wot 4 XL has one as an optional extra.....expensive for what it is. There is some inspiration HERE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Skilbeck Posted February 12, 2017 Share Posted February 12, 2017 Some more inspiration here , we've used the piano wire one successfully in the past and made one up using a brass tube in tube and Weld It metallised epoxy as shown in the photo, very easy to make. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Emms 1 Posted February 12, 2017 Share Posted February 12, 2017 We have the glider end here in 6mm and 8mm diameter if that helps at all: **LINK** Edited By John Emms - Puffin Models on 12/02/2017 13:17:23 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Holmes 2 Posted February 15, 2017 Author Share Posted February 15, 2017 Thanks everyone for your help. I have bought one from Gliders. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cymaz Posted June 8, 2020 Share Posted June 8, 2020 Afternoon a couple of evenings work, I’ve cobbled together a tow release for the Wot4 XL. Its all made from bits lying around the garage. Length of 20mm square hardwood, 2 lengths of aluminium tube, servo and bits of ironmongery. Works well and doesn’t get fouled up with the tank or Rx inside the fuselage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Skilbeck Posted June 8, 2020 Share Posted June 8, 2020 Looking at the set up, it doesn't look like you have much servo movement required to operate the release, it's always best to have the connection on the servo as close to the centre as possible so the servo torque generates the maximum pull force. The release has to work, if the glider gets hung up and can't release then the tug release has to operate, so make sure you test it by at least checking that it operates with the pull force of the glider weight. >99% of tows go smoothly, but if it doesn't it can go wrong quite quickly and the release operating is what will save the tug. And putting on my engineers hat the system above looks like it could suffer from a lot of twisting forces which could add to it locking up, so make sure the bell crank hinge is very rigid with no slop and you check it works reliably with the weight of the largest glider you plan to tow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Former Member Posted June 8, 2020 Share Posted June 8, 2020 [This posting has been removed] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Former Member Posted June 8, 2020 Share Posted June 8, 2020 [This posting has been removed] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cymaz Posted June 8, 2020 Share Posted June 8, 2020 Posted by Steve J on 08/06/2020 09:44:36: Posted by cymaz on 08/06/2020 06:21:43: I’ve cobbled together a tow release for the Wot4 XL. That looks overly complicated to me. Why didn't you put the release on the fuse just behind the wing? I used the pre built hatch on the underneath of the wing. Used the Foss picture as a guide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cymaz Posted June 8, 2020 Share Posted June 8, 2020 Posted by Frank Skilbeck on 08/06/2020 08:01:41: Looking at the set up, it doesn't look like you have much servo movement required to operate the release, it's always best to have the connection on the servo as close to the centre as possible so the servo torque generates the maximum pull force. The release has to work, if the glider gets hung up and can't release then the tug release has to operate, so make sure you test it by at least checking that it operates with the pull force of the glider weight. >99% of tows go smoothly, but if it doesn't it can go wrong quite quickly and the release operating is what will save the tug. And putting on my engineers hat the system above looks like it could suffer from a lot of twisting forces which could add to it locking up, so make sure the bell crank hinge is very rigid with no slop and you check it works reliably with the weight of the largest glider you plan to tow. There is a close fitting rod in the tube, with about 1/2 mm clearance. There is no binding. I will replace the plastic clevis for something more robust. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cymaz Posted June 8, 2020 Share Posted June 8, 2020 Thanks for the input Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cymaz Posted June 8, 2020 Share Posted June 8, 2020 It doesn’t work. As soon as some load is applied the rod jams in the tube. I placed a loop of string around the rod and pulled about 2kg . Back to the drawing board Edited By cymaz on 08/06/2020 17:57:03 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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