Good + Cheap 2M RES?

[sparkysko]

Getting laid off, so I'll finally have time to attend the local sailplane contests. 2 meter RES winch/hi-start contests are the most popular, so I wanted to add one to my collection. I wanted to stay around $50 for the airframe, since you can get ARF's for that price, but I'm not sure about the planes I see, since most of them seem to be *very* old designs.

I don't mind building, so wood kits are welcome and I have quite a stack of wood. All the recommended kits I've seen so far are 100$+, which I don't think the financial committee will approve.

I already fly DLG and have a 2M electric (Cox Dust Devil, which is wayyyyy too heavy to take the prop off and fly with a towhook [I think it's 4 or 5 pounds]), so it doesn't need to be a beginner plane.

[Sweet-ole-Bob]

Sparkyspo:

Definitely look at the Allegro light (Charles River). If you need it, Mountain Models has a short kit for less than $20 (mainly ribs and shear webs-in other words, half the wing). Good design, and bullet proof wing.

Bob

[nlpken]

Sparkysko - you might check out the Laser Arts website for the Jester 2 meter sailplane. It has the same wing that the Soverign had - which they no longer make - and was an excellent 2 meter ship. I agree it is pretty hard to beat the Allegro but it is going to be difficult to round up all the parts for that plane. www.laserarts.com is the website.

Ken

[tkallev]

Get plans for the Sagitta 600, one of the best 2M RES planes ever. Stretch the nose 2" and the tail 4" and you have a SWEET little aircraft.
tk

[sparkysko]

Financial committee approved 120$, so I'm looking at Chrysallis or Lil Bird. Not a whole lot of posts on a non electric Chrysalis.. Hmmmm. I was hoping for a short kit at worse, preferably a full kit. Anything kevlar is out of the picture and I can't make my own molds. I won't even attempt an Allegro, that's wayyyy out of my building league.

Open to other suggestions.

[Wylie Shaw]

Mate you can't go wrong with either of these two kits, they both can and have been electrified... Keepin em stock that is cool too.... excellent kits and both have excellent flying capabilities..... :D


Wylie Shaw

[sparkysko]

Ehhhhh. Now I'm concerned about strength for winching. Anything besides a drela design that can take winch loads?

[Sweet-ole-Bob]

Sparkysko:

Both Chrysalis and Lil Bird are well designed and will withstand better than average winch loads. Remember that we were launching with winches long before Carbon fiber was invented.

If I had to make a choice, I would go with the Chrysalis 2M, but I will admit that the only deciding factor is price.

Bob

[scaflock]

If you've got a little time don't forget to keep an eye out on Flea-bay. You can often find some good kits for cheap there if you're patient. I've seen everything from the 70s to current designs there at one time or another.

[Soar_dude]

MMglidertech Grand Illusion http://www.mmglidertech.com/grandillusion.htm

Kick'en strong wing you can put pedal to the metal on the winch.

Soar Dude