Masher Posted October 31, 2018 Share Posted October 31, 2018 Prompted by the latest magazine article & plan, I have started to build the Mike Birch Moonglow VI. The mag build shows quite significant dihedral yet the original plan and articles (available on outerzone) doesn't mention it. Can anyone advise if there was any dihedral on original models? Thanks, Martin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Dance 1 Posted October 31, 2018 Share Posted October 31, 2018 A fellow club member had one for many years, probably built from the original plan. I recall the model had som dihedral, possibly 2-3 degrees. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Mander 1 Posted October 31, 2018 Share Posted October 31, 2018 Hi Masher, Just built one, got the plan and laser cut parts from Belair in the UK, (i am in Australia) dihedral is 2 inch under each tip as shown on the Belair plan, great service and quality laser cut parts by the way, here is mine, electric power, flies great. cheers, Kev. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Masher Posted October 31, 2018 Author Share Posted October 31, 2018 Thanks Martin & Kev for the replies. Nice looking model! I considered the Belair kit but decided to cut my own as there aren't that many bits requiring CNC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eddie Clanzy-Hodge Posted November 14, 2018 Share Posted November 14, 2018 I built mine from the outerzone plans early this year. It has 2" dihedral under ONE wingtip with the other panel flat on the board. The rudder response is neutral with this dihedral and that is what is needed for a competition pattern ship. Other things to do are 1) Get the COG at the rearwards point shown on the plan with either an empty fuel tank or with batteries etc. if electric. An electric conversion is tricky since the nose is relatively short for the lighter electric motors..2) If running off grass increase length of nose leg (1/2" to 1" or so) so that you have some positive wing incidence on the ground. It will then take off on its own as you build up speed. Zero incidence on the ground is OK for tarmac because you can do a smooth take off run. On grass it gets a bit bumpy and it is tricky to do a proper competition style smooth take off. 3) Keep the weight down. An electric conversion is likely to come out heavier than specified on the plan/article. They say to keep it below 6lbs but mine came out at 6lbs 5ozs RTF as an electric conversion. 4) Thrust lines. On the plan it shows zero down and zero right. I changed this to 1 degree down and 2 degrees right. Again, this is how my F3A pattern ships were set up in the past and it has resulted in clean vertical climbs and no changes to attitude under different power settings. My Moonglow flies very similar to my F3A competition models from the late 1990s when set up this way. That shows what a good design it was in the late 1960s. The only real difference is that, with the rearward COG, it flick rolls so quickly that it is tricky to do just the one controlled flick. The axial rolls are not quite as axial, possibly due to the outboard ailerons. .Eddie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eddie Clanzy-Hodge Posted November 14, 2018 Share Posted November 14, 2018 Sorry - forgot to add this. Make sure you put a canopy on it as per the plan. This gives more side area and it helps with rolls and knife edge. Eddie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Masher Posted November 14, 2018 Author Share Posted November 14, 2018 Thank you Eddie, some useful information. 2" total sounds much more reasonable Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Horne Posted November 21, 2018 Share Posted November 21, 2018 i've just got my Belair kit for the Moonglow. I remember it being in Radio Modeller mag when I was a lad! I'm going to put electric power in it rather than ic and would be interested to hear how you guys have converted yours to electric. Phil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martyn K Posted November 21, 2018 Share Posted November 21, 2018 I have been advised (by Shelly on FB), that 1" dihedral under one wing tip (other side flat) is about right. She has made 2 moonglows. 2" under each tip is way too much Martyn Edited By Martyn K on 21/11/2018 15:16:23 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Vinten 1 Posted November 21, 2018 Share Posted November 21, 2018 I think I will go with no dihedral what do ya think Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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