Span 28 cm / 11 in
Weight 27 g / 0.95 oz oz
Regularly going through various defence reports one certain design caught my attention, that of the Russian kamikaze drone Lancet. A sleek fuselage and eight wings – this would be quite a challenge!
As I had no earlier experience with models of the eight-wing type I cut half a dozen simple sheet balsa fuselages and an uncountable number of wings. — Why so many? – I had no idea what angle of attack (AOA) would be the right one, so I cut wing slots with different angles into the fuselage sheets.
The result in a few words was as follows: many types of wing arrangements lead to useful flight characteristics, some better, some worse. The one shown in this model’s plan was the third or fourth and it provided the model with the longest flights.
As I don’t like to rest when I find something that works well I went on and made two more eightwingers, one with built in rubber motor, the other for my detachable rubber power unit (RPU). See plan numbers 2009 and 3026.
By the way, some modelers asked me what inspires me most. Well, one thing especially, vintage Chinese music from the former British Crown Colony Hong Kong, furthermore recordings from pre-communist China and from Japan. Take for example the art of Grace Chang, Yoshiko Yamaguchi or Chiemi Eri.
Building the sheet balsa Double X’er eight wing glider:
Materials:
Fuselage: B 1.5; wings: B 1; linen/cotton band width ½ in; ballast: piece of steel or lead.
Assembly:
Cut out balsa parts according to plan. Sand meticulously. Make coloring now, if wished (photo).
Fuselage.
Make four wing slots as shown on plan.
Wings.
Cement four pair of wing halves one half to the other according to plan thereby paying attention to given dihedral. Visual check to obtain best possible symmetry. Use linen/cotton band for reinforcing wing half joints on top and bottom as also on leading edges of all four front wings.
Final assembly.
Put fuselage on a so called „third hand“. Glue wing pairs into fuselage slots. Double check here as well symmetry.
Balance at given CG.
Have fun with your Double X’er which is a glider with exceptional flying characteristics. For altering direction of flight warp left or right upper rear wings up or down a little.
When storing your Eightwinger don’t have it sit on its wings, as these thin balsa parts tend to bend when loaded with weight; instead put model on its rear end standing upright or hang it at its CG from your hobby-room ceiling.
Tenha um bom vôo! (dumogi penerbangan becik!)
Leave a Reply