christchurch and district model flying club

The Eagle-eared bat,

by Andrew Tubb

The plan for the Nietoperz was bought for me a few Christmas's ago along with a couple of others, the most notable being an 86" span DH-108 sloper. That one in itself is to behold. The basic plan is for a one piece 100" span scale model of the Polish Tailless glider by SZD classification 6X, called the Nietopertz, which translates as 'Bat', for obvious reasons when yoou look at it.

      The fuz is basically an irregular octogan, sheeted for the best part in 1/16" sheet, with a large opening for the wing to drop into.

      The rudder is huge, so hopefully will not need lots of movement. Well it's a scale glider, so shouldn't. I've tried to keep to the full size with the hinging and kept it in rather than Kavan or Robarts, and faired in, shrouded, the hinge line.

      The wing is as hugely tapered as it is swept, with about 3/8" washout, and fully sheeted.

      Curiously, there are no sheer webs on the spars. This concerned me, but talking it over with Trevor, and Clive a little later, confirmed that it wouldn't be a bad to add some. Although Trevor assured me the designer was known for his well designed models and their strength.

      So, I'd already gone to the knee joint in the wing, but was thinking that it will be best to go to a third of the span out past there. For peace of mind I will be glassing the wing to finish it, but that is some way off, as is painting, but it doesn't hurt to think about it.

       I have downloaded a 79 page thesis and design, on the viability of an 18mtr two seat high visability sailplane for eligability in the 20mtr class, but thought I'd spare you that, just now.

       I cut three of the four wing skins this afternoon, and sheeted the top of the starboard wing. Hopefully when I go out to the shed after breakfast this morning, I can safely take the wing up and be pleased to see it has kept the wash and there is minimal work to do on the inside to catch any missed ribs.

      I didn't realise just how long I've been working on this model until I had a look at the date of the photos in this attatchment. May last year I built the fuz, so the way things are going, it'll be another year before it's finished an will qualify for the C&F scale rules of 3 years,  ??.

     Hah.

     Cya, Andrew.

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[Contents] [Chairman's Chatter] [Editorial] [Diary of a Flier] [Sealand Flies!] [Nietoperz] [Brian's Spitfire] [C&F 2007] [Seagull Arising] [Harry Spotter's] [St Louis Blues]