Span 44 cm / 17 in
Weight 21 g / 0.74 oz
The concept:
- Simple little canard design
- Detachable wings
- Detachable empennage
- Pleasant flight characteristics
Name: The bird Cauqén Magallánico or ganso de Magallanes is known in the English speaking world as upland goose or Magellan goose. It can be observed in Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego and in the Falkland Islands.
Building the sheet wing canard chuck glider Cauqén Magallánico:
Materials:
Fuselage: B 2; Wings: hard B 1; wing supports: B strips 5 x 5 or 4 x 4; empennage: stiff B 0.8; empennage supports: B strips 5 x 5 or 4 x 4; four bamboo dowels diameter 5 mm; linen band width 12 mm / ½ in; four household rubber rings; ballast – steel or lead.
Assembly:
Cut out balsa parts in accordance to plan. Sand well. Mark positions of bamboo dowels with pencil (photo).
Wing:
Fix one wing half on building board; cement other half at given dihedral to it (photo); linen/cotton band can be cemented over the joining area on bottom of the wing. Let thoroughly dry.
Empennage:
Fix one V-tail half on building board with needles and cement the other half to it observing the given dihedral angle (photo). A selfmade template from balsa can turn out as helpful for this step. Cover joining area with a linen band both on top and on bottom. Strengthen leading edges of stabilizer halves with linen band. Band may embrace the leading edge in form of the letter U or may be cemented flat on underside in correspondence with leading edge.
Fuselage:
Cement wing support and empennage support on one side of fuselage using clamps or clothespins (photo). Let dry. Repeat last step on the other side and let dry. Cement bamboo dowels in place.
Final Assembly:
Fix wing on its support with rubber rings. See that symmetry is obtained. If not sand a little one side of the wing support area until everything looks professionally. Repeat this procedure with empennage. Cement 2 x 4 balsa strip on linen band on top of center section of the stabilizer.
Use small piece of lead or scrap metal as ballast. Remember that a correct center of gravity (CG) is essential for successful flights.
¡Muchos vuelos exitosos! (passez des vols agréables!)
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