Mini Lunak... Because I had some yellow Oracover left!...

[Fred]

...And I also like the Lunak  

Ok, if I remember well, I said that I was taking a break from building, for at least a month!
Did not last long!

So, short story, was bored to death in the evening (that's after the daughters goes to bed... before that, house is pretty much a war zone!), and again, thanks to the range of excellent programs shown on Irish TV, I decided to break my own rule and do something new for Retroplane...
Cannot go big this time, needed something scale, and very quick build!

I had a look in my 3 Views folder, and while browsing it, stopped to the Lunak... Want one for a while, so this could be the perfect occasion!
Quick build, so I'll go mini and went for a wingspan of 1mtr.
Went to the CAD program, and printed the 3 views... God, that's small!!  :shock:

Ah well, let's do it !!  

Quick and simple, all surfaces are scale, no cheating, but the fuselage have a bit more angles than the real one (entirely made of 2mm balsa). Rudder and elevator are in 3mm balsa, and the wings, to keep it simple, are plain 6mm balsa that will be sanded to shape.

For the controls, I went pitcheron (rudder and elevator are fixed, wing do elevator/ailerons control), but with the option to have a moving rudder for more aerobatic possibilities...

Anyway, after 2 hours on the computer, I had a plan, just have to start cutting balsa (and good for the forest... 1 sheet of 6mm, 1/2 of 2mm and 1/3 of 3mm!

Building time : 2 hours taking my time...
Cutting of the various bits :



First assembly



Start to look like a flying machine!
Wing key are a 6mm carbon tube and the wing joiner is a 5mm tube.









Then, everything is sanded to give the machine a more civilised look!
The wing profile has been shaped by eye with a plane and a bit of sanding...

Covering of the beast in Yellow... Took me 2 hours again!

Et voila!











All the "moving" surfaces were simulated with a cd marker...

Of course, because I have a slight space issue in the garage   the wings are removable, and like that, will almost fit in a glove compartment!






2 servos take care of the controls and the linkage are done with 1mm piano wire and Z bend in one end (servo) and a L on the other end, going into a brass tube of the correct diameter.
Quick and simple!

Prototype AUW (with a 55gr battery and 2 mini not that light servos) is 176grs...
Should be more than easy to do it lighter!
All ready to go, and first flight should be anytime soon now !...

[Happy Days]

That is Un-real Fred  

Knocked up in an evening,----- bloody outrageous-------well done! :clap:

Keith.

(Any chance of you comming up with the plans for the Aphrodite yet? :?: )

[Alan_Perse]

Your joking  :shock:  :shock:. That small thing is remote controlled!!

[Fred]

Thanks you both  

Keith, no plan yet for the other one (cool name... :?: ) as all my big project are on hold and all will be resumed after Retroplane.

Alan, this is not that small, in comparaison, my Nano Floh is smaller... In wingspan, but the chord on that thing are really small ! Mr Reynolds is not an happy man!

Anyway, flew the beast last night, just some trimming launches as the wind was coming downhill !

Well, first launch, went straight, so all good ! Just have to sort out the efficiency on the elevator, but I think that was mostly due to the fact that I was flying up hill, in no lift and turbulences ! That not help !

So next flights at the dunes in Kilmuckridge !  







The radio gives you a good view of the size of the model...

And to conclude this build, Here are the plans for you to download !  



Plan in A1 format - PDF

http://www.gliderireland.net/files/flat-lunak-A1.pdf

Plan in 15 A4 sheet to assemble - PDF

http://www.gliderireland.net/files/flat-lunak-A4.pdf

Have fun ! And if you are going for it, don't forget to post photos!  

And as usual, the stickers / decal set for any Lunak are available if you ask Anthony (error404) !    :clap:



Ok, I have 3 views of a Fox here... Hmmm, looks like a nice project too !  

[Fred]

Ok, time to bring back this thread from beyond the grave!  
Received some news last week of a succesful flight of the mini Lunak from a flyer at the Menez-Hom  :clap:
No issues with the flying, and a great build! (much more scale than mine  :oops: )

Here are a few photos, and I hope the author will describe the flights a bit more with us    :clap:









Mine is hanging off the workshop ceilling... Might be time to dust it off!  

[Keith]

Nice one fred thats a cool looking glider

[bren.p]

Jee whizz Fred its hard to think you turned out that build in a day faree play to you.

[Fred]

Thanks  

Very minimalist glider!
You will spend more time doing the covering, than actually building it.

I might do another one  :?:

[erwan]

it's cute

[Keith]

So when does production start on theses fred    

[Fred]

Ah God, no need! There are literally 4 pieces of wood to cut  :mrgreen:

But maybe one day, I'll take time to look a these small gliders  
Also have a Fox and Swift plan made this way  

[Keith]

Yeah but sometimes its easier when someone else does the work for you or just buying it in kit form    

[Keith]

Yeah but sometimes its easier when someone else does the work for you or just buying it in kit form    

[Fred]

Ok, looks like the guys at the Menez Hom are doing a group build of the Lunak  :clap:  :clap:
I'll keep you posted (and I'll have another look at the plan, might go on the cutting machine!    )

[selleri]

About time you did something useful!!!   :lol:

I'll take one if you make them!   :wink: