Brief
A "D" engine powered pop-pod boost glider constructed primarily out
of foam-core.
Construction
Packaging was sparse - several of the parts were loose in the shipping box with
foam peanuts. The instructions are also sparse, but complete enough to use. The
pre-cut foam-core parts already had the edge taped. I could have spent a little
time and done a cleaner job, but it did not affect the performance. The plastic
nose cone had the shoulder cut off to allow the weight at the end of the
pop-pod to extend as far forward as possible. I would have just cut off the
bottom and left the shoulder. The pop-pod was also pre-constructed, this could
have been left for the builder to do. The model went together easily. The only
omission from the instructions was rigging the paper-clip mount for the rubber
band.
The foam core wing pieces are glued together, and then taped at the joints for strength. This is easy to do and works well. The nose cone is taped on with a heavy metallic tape which also serves as nose weight - again, this would have been easier and neater if the shoulder were left on. The materials and the construction techniques in this kit are instructional for the modeler interested in scratch building gliders "on the cheap".
PRO: complete and easy to assemble
CON: slightly rough appearance
Finishing
The "rough" appearance carries over into finishing. The taped wing
edges, while needed for durability, make a "perfect" finish
difficult. The large foam-core wing area allows for a striking finish if
desired. I would recommend some kind of finishing, as plain white can be
difficult to see in some conditions. Foam-core is easy to paint, and needs no
primer. Definitely looks better at a distance.
Construction Rating: 3 ½ out of 5
Flight
Recommended Motor: D12-3 Motors
Used: D12-3, D12-5, E15-4
Preparation for flight is simple - just tape in the motor - an engine hook would be nice but is not necessary, then wrap the trash-bag streamer around the pod and insert the pod in the glider - a plastic coated paper clip holds the wing down during boost. This model is different than the "normal" boost glider in that the entire back half of the wing elevates for glide. It looks strange, but works very well. The model looks kind of clunky with the square edges of the foam core and I was prepared for a disappointing glide. I was surprised at how well it glided. This seems to be very forgiving of trim - it glides well enough even if not trimmed "perfectly".
Recovery
The boost is straight, and it glides amazingly well for such a "clunky
looking" thing. As it ejects the pod it does a cute little flip and
transitions to glide.
Flight Rating: 5 out of 5
Summary
This has become a favorite because of it easy flights and consistently good
performance. In spite of its "clunky" appearance on the ground, it
looks good in the air. It is big enough that it really gets noticed at
launches.
Pros: Consistently good flights.
Cons: Kit a little "rough"
Note: Pictures courtesy of Paul Gray
Overall Rating: 4 ½ out of 5
Sponsored Ads