Coyote Glider Build

SLEC Coyote Glider 

This is a very traditional looking model with bands holding the wings on. I am going to replace that with a bolt, otherwise it'll be as originally designed.
The kit comes with all wood and accessories required although I will replace some of the parts.
The kit also has 2 copies of the plan - 1 for building and 1 for keeping ? It also comes with plastic sheeting to protect the plan during building.
There are 2 versions in the kit - 1 for electric motor and 1 for just a sloper (which I'm building).
I've only just spent part of today on it so far after identifying and labelling all the parts last week.
The first wing-half has gone together very quickly, here are some pictures from today -





Update Sun 3rd Dec 17

I spent some time yesterday finishing the first wing-half and then went on to make most of the second wing-half. In order to be able to make it according to the plans, you have to join the two halves pretty much straight after gluing the ribs to the bottom spar - it then makes the rest of the second wing-half build as bit more fiddly as you've got the first wing-half attached at the dihedral angle now.
Anyway, because I want to attach the wing with a bolt - I added 1/8 inch to the centre which I made from solid balsa so I can drill it for the wing dowel and bolt hole (that's the theory !).....
second wing-half is nearly finished as below -




Update Weds 6th Dec

I have had little time to work on the Coyote, but I have now shaped and attached the wing tips , shaped the TE and the ailreons and attached the ailerons (dry fitted only). Next job will be to install the servos before I move on to make the tailplane/ fin and then the fuselage.......


Update Fri 8th Dec

I have now been able to construct the tail parts of the Coyote - this involves making the fin from 6 pieces leaving a hollow through the centre for the elevator snake. I have also shaped it all ready for covering.


Update Weds 13th Dec

I have now put the fuselage together and started to cover the top and bottom with sheeting. I also glued the outer snake in place and put the front nose blocks on but not shaped them yet. I must now try to figure out how to secure the wing using a dowel and a bolt - I think I know how to do it, but I will have to change the canopy shape afterwards, but that should be easy......







Update Sunday 14th Jan 18

I have been working on my broken Mini Vec to put all the old stuff into the new fuselage so I haven't done much on the Coyote....
I have made the canopy frame but haven't yet decided on the final shape of the canopy so I haven't glued it to the frame yet - 

I have also decided where to put the battery - there's very little space because I want to fix the wing permanently, so it can't go under the wing - it's been fixed under the elevator servo, I have also put in the pushrod snake for the elevator and fixed in the servo, plus now sheeted all the underside of the fuselage.....

I have also fixed the wing servos in with epoxy and run the leads through the centre section and out underneath the wing plus I have decided on the final colour scheme - solartex vintage yellow and mid blue ....


Update Tuesday 20th Feb18

I have now managed to cover the wings and ailerons and attach them to the wings. 
I have made the pushrods for the ailerons and put the horns on them.
The wings are now finished apart from attaching to the plane.




I have covered the fin and tail and made the slots for the hinges. I have to cover the elevator and attach it now.

 I have made the canopy and fitted it to the shape of the fuselage and shaped the nose of the fuselage to fit the canopy shape ....


Update Thursday 22nd Feb 18
I have now finished the canopy - I rubbed down the shiny surface supplied and sprayed it matt black with 3 coats and then buffed it slightly with a little polish to make it look like the Solartex finish, I also devised a way to fix the canopy using 3m 'velcro' which is very positive..... and I've started to cover the fuselage now 






It's coming together very well, so I don't have much left to do - cover the elevator and finish the fuselage, fit the receiver and get the c of g correct....

21st June 18 
Finally, after 4 months of not doing anything on this glider - I got round to finishing it today !!!

All I need to do is fly it now 

20th April 19 - update
I have finally got round to flying this model after a LONG time (nearly a year sitting around) ! Must say it went straight and true 'out of the box' but I would prefer something a little more responsive and aerobatic. Oh well It's pretty much what I expected ! Easy to slow down and dead easy to land.

Rob

22 comments:

  1. Looks like a nice job on the wing Rob. Well done!

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  2. Yup, all very neat and tidy. If a job's worth doing... as they say, keep up the good work!

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  3. Looking good Rob, I'm currently building a Ridge Runt (I've made the wing with a D box to strengthen it) so really interesting to see your build!

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    1. Hi Neil, Isn't the Ridge Runt the same model almost ?? I am deciding whether to fix the wing permanently as it's small enough to go in the car...saves all the hassle with dowel and bolt, etc.... what do you think ?

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    2. Hi Rob, the Ridge Runt was the Hobby Craft original glider and has a sloping top aft deck rather than sloping bottom. The tail is the same as are the wings. When Hobby Craft went bump (I think) Balsa Craft redesigned it as the Coyote, still die cut. SLEC I think bought the rights to the Coyote after Balsa Craft went bump and now CNC route and/or laser it. I sell the Ridge Runt on eBay (my best seller) as people seem to like it even though it's not the best flier in the world. With regards to having a fixed wing, as long as you land the glider rather than have arrivals then it'll be fine. The wing's quite weak and I got through a couple from tip strikes (and one cartwheel which also took off the tail) on landing and that was with wing bands!

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    3. Hi Neil, Thanks for all that, I still haven't decided but I won't be using bands, so might as well fix it on permanently....

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  4. No problems Rob, I think it would take a fixed wing well and as you say it's small enough to go in the car complete. It was Hobby Shack not Craft as I put above! My Ridge Runt is post #85 on https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?2354363-Ridge-Runt/page6 I've shaped the wing tip and LE but that's about it as far as progress is concerned. Just can't seem to get the time for building

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  5. Hi Neil, I had a look at your post / build on RC Groups. They aren't really similar at all when I take a good look at the Runt. Anyway, I hope to make some progress on the Coyote soon....

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  6. Any progress Rob?

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  7. Hi Neil, I've been working on some other models, but I have made some progress as above

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  8. Sensible covering material Rob. And I like your choice of colours, I wish I'd had that blue Solartex to hand when I was finishing the Omega. I hope your fixed wing idea works, it seems to make radio and ballast installation more difficult, I never had any problems with the rubber bands on my Coyote and Runt models.

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  9. Hi Russell, I debated about the elastic bands, but I think fixing the wing will be altogether easier especially as it doesn't say how to attach the canopy in the instructions so that might have been another band ? anyway I will use velcro for that.

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  10. I've never thought of using Velcro. My current favourites are a pair of rare-earth button magnets, with a peg or tab at the other end and a 6in length of string for insurance.

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  11. Hi Russell, I have the peg at the front, but I thought that velcro on the underside frame would be elegant ? I also have those button magnets but the frame isn't all that robust and they do tend to stick to each other rather well !

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  12. I have just ordered some A4 sheets of inkjet printable waterslide transfers off Ebay. The idea is to design my own labels and graphics for my home-built models. I'll let you know if they are any good for sticking on Solartex or heat-shrink film...

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    1. NOW I KNOW why you wanted to experiment on the Coyote graphics !!! Let me know how it comes out, I don't think water-based will stick too well to Solartex ?

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    2. A coat of clear varnish is recommended to 'fix' the decals to the chosen surface. My latest model will have areas of Solartex and film covering so I can try both. In the absence of lettering, stripes of contrasting coloured material can be ironed on.

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  13. Hi I know this is an old post but could someone tell me where the COG is please

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    1. Hi GWE, when I made the Coyote I stuck exactly to the kit instructions, so the C of G is 60mm back from the LE at the wing root, Hope that helps ?
      By-the-way it flies very well !

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    2. Thank you, seems I can't add images is there anyway I can send you one to confirm I have it right

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    3. You can use my e-mail to send an image. Anthony.Crawford28@aol.com. I will then pass the image to the member who built the glider. Tony.

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