Nice Tail Brent Brown...

[scottessex]

I meant the construction of the tail!!!!

I cut the sucker off last night and made a steel "CroMo" rudder horn, with a tube that will slip inside the original tube. and then be bolted with a couple of an3 bolts, You recon that will work?

[Brent_Brown]

Thanks and Yes that is what I do if needed. If I get my act together by ROC 05 I will give a class on how to make one and then mount it and fly it that week. Hows that sound. maybe that will get more to show up? BTW it is a full moon tonight. BOO!!!

[scottessex]

Hey that would be cool! actual how-to builders seminars!
I'll let you know how the tail turns out.

Oh yeah, What kind of fiberglass resin should I use to cap off the cut area?? Would snakeskin and resin be sufficient? I got the epoxy filler for the finish work.

[Brent_Brown]

I use West System Epoxy it comes in all sizes and with mimi pumps. Did I tell you how to perp the inside of the glass so you get the corners so no peel back happens? call me if you think it matters.

[scottessex]

Yes I think, Undercut the foam slightly before glassing.

[Brent_Brown]

yes that will work

[Vance]

I would be very excited about your class. I will be there if I don't have a conflict. I had a trade show to do so I missed ROC 04. Thank You, Vance

[scottessex]

I have everything ready to glass up, I test fitted it today, It should be just fine! I'll take some pics before and after. I would also be interested to see Brent build a tail
It seems amazinly strong for being foam and glass, just like a surfboard.

[RayPierce]

Thanks and Yes that is what I do if needed. If I get my act together by ROC 05 I will give a class on how to make one and then mount it and fly it that week. Hows that sound. maybe that will get more to show up? BTW it is a full moon tonight. BOO!!!

Sign me up for a class!

[gyromike]

Thanks and Yes that is what I do if needed. If I get my act together by ROC 05 I will give a class on how to make one and then mount it and fly it that week. Hows that sound. maybe that will get more to show up? BTW it is a full moon tonight. BOO!!!

Brent, how about an online tutorial on glass tails for those who can't make it to ROC.
You could do it right here on the forum.

[Chuck Roberg]

Where can I find a printout of an airfoil shape. I want something that I can use as a template for a horiz. stab.

I have a Horiz. Stab on my SnoBird gyro. But it's a flat plate and too small to be really effective. What I would like to do is use the original stab and add to it to make it larger and an airfoil shape.

I used fiberglass for a project in the past and I still have the hotwire setup. Now if I can get a template to cut the 2 end boards. I should be able to hotwire the foam then glass it.

My idea is to glass the airfoil to the existing stab so I don't have to reinvent how to attach it to the rudder.

Here's how my tail looks,

[Udi]

Brent - is the building technique for a tail similar to building wings for radio controlled aircraft? I used to build wings with a styrofoam core, covered with wood veneer, and coated with fiberglass and resin. Those were damn strong.

Udi

[Screw]

Screw-In

Udi, that's the way I used to build Model Wings. Foam core, Balsa wood sheeting and fiberglass in the middle.

BTW- Body is orange & White with a checker board tail :D

Screw-Out

[Udi]

Nice plane, John. The one I liked the best was a .46 Minare with a tuned pipe. I sold it when I moved and now I am sorry I did... I will scan a pic, if I can find one...

Are you still flying RC?

Udi

[Brent_Brown]

online tutorial on glass tails

That e doable too.

Chuck Roberg I would use the rudder you have as the base and fit a tall tail to it. Not a flying one but like it is now just full span. HS on the fixed part of the rudder. I will ssee if I can e mail you a 0012 for your template

Is this a new gyro? or just an old photo?

wings for radio controlled aircraft? I used to build wings with a styrofoam core, covered with wood veneer, and coated with fiberglass and resin

No but that will work fine too . This is more of a long easy wing but with a Al tube spar.

[Chuck Roberg]

Brent, Sorry the photo is about 4 years old when I was putting it together.

The rudder is not in place it fits on the back and top of the tail like an upside down L.

I have 29' blades and a long tail. I can't go much higher with the tail height. But I sure wish I could.

[scottessex]

Here is what I did. I'll trim it after it dries, and I'll put some epoxy filler on it.

[Screw]

Screw-In

Looks nice.

Screw-Out

[Victor Duarte]

mmm smells good dust and epoxy :D i can feel the love for good job, eyecandy !
question : how are the bolts secured through the airfoil? drowned tubes?

cheers

[scottessex]

They bolt through the spar, and through the tubing welded to the rudder horn.

[Victor Duarte]

thanks scott !
personnally i would have added 2 small alu cheeks, but i m paranoid ;)

thanks scott

[Brent_Brown]

2 small alu cheeks not not going to work with that tail. the spar is not as wide as the foam. the spar is glassed to one side like a web to keep it from spinning in side the foam. If any of you never get a tail like this I would like to help you do any mods to it.

Scott look for a message from me.

[Victor Duarte]

sorry brent, i didnt see this detail, looks an efficient and simple design..
thanks

[scottessex]

Here is the finished tail. Before primering of course, sorry pics are not good.
Smooth as a baby's butt, and solid as a rock!

[Screw]

Screw-In

God, that looks so good....I so jelous.

Screw-Out

[Jazzenjohn]

Newby question,
I'm sorry to be slow but I'm not seeing what attaches the control horn to the tail. It would seem that it would need a very strong connection. I see the through bolts connecting it to the center tube but what keeps that tube from turning in the foam? Is it welded to the horizontal cross tubes for attachment? BTW it is a beautiful tail as well as a beautiful gyro.

[Jazzenjohn]

One other newby question... I have read and understand the reasons why high thrustlines are bad but this gyro seems like it would be able to have a low thrust line. If high thrust line causes an improper pitch movement would a slightly low thrustline be better in some ways than CLT?

[Brent_Brown]

I don't think it is LTL

[scottessex]

JazzenJohn,
The rudder was made with an aluminum tube spar running down the length. I cut the bottom off, and I made a new rudder horn, and welded steel tubing to the rudder horn. The steel tubing slips inside the aluminum tube, then it has two bolts running through it to make a solid connection. then I re-glassed the bottom.

[Dean_Dolph]

Scott, I think what JazzenJohn is asking is what keeps the tail from spinning around the center tube in an uncommanded manner. In other words how is the tail anchored to the center tube?

It is not hard to visualize this happening if there isn't any glass sticking to the tube at the ends or a mechanical means of attachment.

Edited to add this: Brent, do you do any vacuum bagging?

[scottessex]

The tube is expoxied to the foam and it looks like the foam was split down one side, and the epoxy connects to the glass on the outside skin. Very strong and light.

[Brent_Brown]

Yes Scott that is right, micro bubbles and epoxy are mixed to keep it from running out as it dries joining the side of the tube to the skin. The skin has to be put on before the Spar web dries so it bonds as one.
If not you have to sand the web making lots of work and mess.

No vac bagging yet. You need good mold for that my work is free hand.