Gladiator G2 Build Thread

[cgroves]

Well here it is, my current work in progress. A yellow and red Gladiator G2 from Icare (http://www.icare-rc.com). So far it is going together well and I decided to use the camera on my phone to document a few steps. I am very happy with this kit so far. The only change would be more documentation for first time DLG builders since I was nervous about drilling a hole in the wing and wanted to be sure I was close.

http://www.calmdays.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=58&stc=1&d=1134355400

One question for the more experienced DLG guys, the assembly instructions don't mention reinforcing the wing around the peg but it looks like that would be a good idea given the amount of force this sees during the "fling". Suggestions?

http://www.calmdays.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=59&stc=1&d=1134355161

The radio installation went fairly well. I am going to need to do some fancy programming to get my 8U to run the 5 channel receiver w/differential and flaperons but so far it looks like it will work.

http://www.calmdays.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=60&stc=1&d=1134355161

[cgroves]

Well I have been behind on the pictures so here is some catchup.
1,2,3. Installation of levers for ailerons, this is a unique feature of the gladiator since there are no exposed pushrods or control horns.
4,5. Installation of the wing peg
6,7. Installation of servos, battery and rx hole.
8. Tail feathers are installed
I'll post up more pictures as the build progresses

[cgroves]

More photos

[mikemc]

Looks like you,re build is coming along nicely. I.ve got one ordered should have it this week. Have you had a chance to fly it yet?

[cgroves]

I am almost finished, had a short delay while work got in the way of my free time :mad:.
All that is left is to balance it and I should be flying it this week. I can't wait.
Where did you order it from?

[mikemc]

Darn work it,s nothing but trouble:) I ordered mine from ICARE as well. Have you had a chance to guestimate the weight? From what I,ve read looks like they come out around 11oz. Have you been to http://rc-sailplane.com/ They have some pretty good info on the plane.

[mikemc]

I got my g2 today very nice plane. Did you go with the pull pull set up? I went ahead and set up the rudder this evening but it,s impossible to eliminate all the slop. I,m a little worried about using this set up on the elevator, just seems like an acident waiting to happen.

[cgroves]

Unfortunately I don't have a gram scale so I don't know what my AUW is. That is something that is on my list of tools to buy. I had some problems with the aileron pushrods being too short and have my control system apart right now while I put new rods in. The +18mm to -18mm throw is difficult to setup correctly. I had no problems with slop and I have pull-pull on the rudder and elevator (I almost always use pull-pull on gliders unless the mfg put in really nice pushrods like my Eraser). How much tension are you putting on the system when you set it up?

I looked at the rc-sailplanes articles a while ago after I had already glued my servos in. I really like their servo setup and would do it their way if I was starting again. It means you don't need to setup any cable guides using the white tubing. I think their throws are a little more reasonable. I can't imagine any real use for 18mm up on the aileron since it looks like that would cause a LOT of drag.

[mikemc]

I have my cables as tighgt as I could get them, I guess my main consern is the way you terminate the ends. Iv,e had two dlgs before this one and there are alot of forces going on back there during lauch If something were to hapen too the elevator during launch or any time you might as well kiss the airplane goodby. I,ve seen it hapen, my last one ended up in a heap on the ground. As for you,re aileron throw you are using diferential right I agree 18mm up is probly a little much unless you are going to do aerobatics with it. The way mine turned out with the brass rods, its the other way around lots of up not quite enough down,to have full 90 landing flaps that is. I probly get about 13mm down and all the up I can stand. Hope to finish her up today just need to figure out what I,m going to do about my elevator, make and install the aileron linkage and balance. Sounds simple right.

[cgroves]

I take back what I said about the pull-pull. I guess I put too much tension on and distorted the tape hinge. I am in the process of redoing the pull-pull with a little less tension.
How are you routing the antenna? I am intrigued by the aft spar installation. I think that would be really clean and should be glitch free.

[mikemc]

I haven,t decided yet on my antena. I usually poke a small hole in the bottom of the fuse and string it back with a little clear tape holding it up in a few places. not sure what you mean by aft spar install. could you elaborate. All that is left is for me is to shorten up my servo leads and route the antena. I did weigh it at 11.5 oz. Hope to get rid of .5 by shortening up my servo leads. it,s a little nose heavy right now hopfully it will be just right after that. Can,t wait for a decent day to fly it.

[cgroves]

How did you do the tape hinges? What kind of tape? How did you apply it? I am using Dubro hinge tape on one side and the pull-pull system is killing it. I haven't tried this combination (tape hinge and pull-pull) before and I am not impressed. Can you show any photos of yours?
Thanks,
Corey

[cgroves]

The aft-spar installation for the antenna involves running it along the balsa spar just forward of the aileron hinge. You put a connector in the antenna so you can remove the wing but it looks like a really tidy install since the antenna is along the trailing edge of the wing, out of the airflow and not shielded by any CF.

[mikemc]

I used 3m packing tape. I cut the roll in half with my band saw.3m used to make tape called cristal clear it came on a roll that was about 1in wide. I t worked perfect. But I haven,t been able to find it lately. I did keep my rudder as a pull pull, it does have a little slop but I don,t think its enough to cause a problem. For the elevator I use a wire and sheath I think it was.025 wire I ran it on the outside of the boom. Not really all that pretty or clean but very functional. Like you say its imposible to get a slop free control surface using pull pull and tape. You just have to come up with a happy medium.As far as tension. You never did tell me more about you,re aft spar install on the antena.

[cgroves]

Well, it is finally ready for its maiden flight with some minor control revisions. I converted the elevator to a pushrod setup and went with a relatively low-tension setup on the rudder. The receiver is a Hitec Electron6 with the case removed. I just have the basic setup on the radio right now with 50% differential and no rudder mix. I'll tune that as I learn more about how it handles. Since it is a DLG and it will mostly be in close it probably won't need any rudder mix at all since I can do it manually, which is my preference.

[cgroves]

And some more photos here. The CG came out at exactly 76mm with no lead in the nose thanks to the use of a heavy extension for the rearmost servo. I'm going to head out now and see how it flys.

[mikemc]

How did it go? I,ll post some pictures of mine if I can figure out how. I,m computer illeterate. I haven,t worked on mine anymore at all. Hard to get motivated when the high temp is only 12.f

[cgroves]

The weather was uncooperative. I'll save the test flight until its a little warmer and a lot less wind.

[mikemc]

I finished mine up today after work and took it out for a few flights. The sun had already set so I was only able to fly it little while. It was pretty impresive I timed my last flight and got 1:17 in dead air. I haven,t even played with launching it with reflex or flying it with camber so I know theres more there. I hope to be able to fly it more tommarow. The sun is supposed to shining so hopefully there will be some lift. I,m going to try to post some pics later on tonight. Mike

[mikemc]

I flew my plane again today. You will be very satisfied when you get a chance to fly you,res. I was able to fly it a noon time for a little while even hooked a couple thermals with it. The lift was pretty light you really had to work for it but the plane really impresed me. With just alittle bit of camber down It really floats. Put a little more down when thermaling and it practicaly turns on a wing tip. Ive attached a picture I think, if I did it right I,ll take some more and post later.

[mikemc]

Whats up cgroves have you had a chance to fly you,re dlg yet?

[cgroves]

:mad: No, the weather has been very unco-operative. I was only barely able to maiden my Sniper last weekend becasue of the winds. I am keeping my fingers crossed for this weekend.

[cgroves]

I should add that I have completely given up on the pull-pull systems for both the rudder and elevator. I will be converting the rudder to pushrods tonight.

[mikemc]

I think I told you that I ended up running my elevator pushrod outside the boom. I exited the fuse roughly a half inch in front of the boom. My reason for doing this was that then you don,t have to make a slot in the boom for the push rod to exit. By the time you make a slot long enough that the push rod isnt binding you,ve made a pretty long slot. The boom on one of my old dlgs failed a that slot. The way I do it now definetly isn,t the prettiest but it is very functional. Nice smooth operation just the way you want it. Fortunatly I,ve been blessed with quite a few nice days to fly mine. So far my longest flight has been 8:29.Took two thermals to do it and man was it fun. I,ve had many other sucesful flights with it but so far I,m still working on breaking ten minutes. Hope the airplane gods bless you with some good weather soon. I can tell you from experiance you,ll be smiling the hole time your flying it. This plane is definetly a winner.:)

[cgroves]

The Gladiator has flown :D. I was very impressed with it once I got my launch technique down. I haven't quite go the catching part down (I even tested Dave's ducking reflexes :eek:) but I am catching it about half the time. I signals lift very nicely and seems to have a very efficient glide. I decided to stick with the pull-pull on the tail and give it a try for a while. I will be fitting my RAM2 into it so I can record the launch height and see how I am doing.
I give this DLG a solid two thumbs up.