David Davis Posted June 9, 2020 Share Posted June 9, 2020 Has anyone ever fitted a Ripmax WOT 4 XL Glider Tow Release to their model? I can find no instructions about it in the booklet provided with the kit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Davis Posted June 12, 2020 Author Share Posted June 12, 2020 I've managed to engineer a solution. It's not pretty but it's effective. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon barr Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 I think they are designed to be mounted on the former at the rear of the wing bay, not actually in the wing. We do a fair amount of aerotowing, and all my tow releases are mounted on or just behind the rear wing bay former. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Stephenson Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 We used to do a lot of aerotowing and we always attached the tow point above the CoG on top of the wing. This is the point at which the glider can have the least affect on the attitude of the tug due to being too high or low relative to the tug. Also the tail had wires between the fin and tips of the tailplane to prevent the tow line from snagging on the tailplane. this arrangement worked just fine. I remember seeing a short film that was made by Jim Davis/Dave Wright and club mates that showed a very early attempt at aerotowing where wires were fitted to swivels at the wing tips of a low winger. The wires came to a point behind the tail where the tow was attached. This arrangement meant that the tug could be in any attitude completely unaffected by the glider. I wonder if anyone has used this system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Stephenson Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 Oops double post! Edited By Andy Stephenson on 12/06/2020 11:20:24 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Davis Posted June 12, 2020 Author Share Posted June 12, 2020 Thank you Simon. Wish I'd known that before. Your option makes far more sense. Having said that there is a ply plate provided with the kit which fits on the underside of the wing. I had thrown mine away and there a Laser -marked circle in the upper balsa sheeting of the wing the same size as the diameter of the tow release! This is a picture of the installation in an advert on the Sussex Model Centre website. We'll see how or if it works! Edited By David Davis on 12/06/2020 11:24:45 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Former Member Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 [This posting has been removed] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Davis Posted June 12, 2020 Author Share Posted June 12, 2020 Posted by Steve J on 12/06/2020 11:30:33: David, the servo that you have used looks on the small side for the release on a model that size. Posted by Andy Stephenson on 12/06/2020 11:17:16: We used to do a lot of aerotowing and we always attached the tow point above the CoG on top of the wing. This is the point at which the glider can have the least affect on the attitude of the tug due to being too high or low relative to the tug. I would say that having the release in the middle of the wing pretty much guarantees that the glider will be pulling the tug's nose up. Perhaps Steve but it is metal geared. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon barr Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 Depending on the weight of the glider you are towing, David, you need to be sure that the release servo is man enough to actually release in an emergency situation. A 12lb 1/4 scale glider doing a little dance on the end of the line puts some force on the towing pin, so you need a servo with a decent torque to be able to release it and save the tug and hopefully the glider as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Flyer Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 I use the Ripmax towhook on my Wot 4XL as above. I have a Futaba S3004 4kg servo powering it . I haven’t had any release problems yet although the gliders that I tow are all under 5kg. The line I use is braided nylon fishing line. Fishing line slides on the metal pin even under load fairly easily as it is nylon so low friction. I fitted the servo in the pre-made servo box in the wing . As said above the lid for the release box comes with the kit . Edited By Tim Flyer on 12/06/2020 17:13:38 Edited By Tim Flyer on 12/06/2020 17:15:53 Edited By Tim Flyer on 12/06/2020 17:31:22 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cymaz Posted June 28, 2020 Share Posted June 28, 2020 I made my own...an utter failure. I bought on of these for about £9 including p&p. No servo included. Not easy to install but got there in the end. No friction, quick release. I wish I’d got one in the first place. The only downside was cutting the side away Edited By cymaz on 28/06/2020 18:50:03 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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