help with 2x4

[karpiloco]

hello,
im considering buying and building the house of balsa 2x4 glider, the main reason is because it uses standard size radio gear and its only 30 bucks. but my only concern would be its weight, the specs say it weighs 28 ounces, and only has a 49.5 inch wingspan, i was wondering if anyone has lightened this bird up so its not such a rock, also is the length a problem, because it uses the same fuse for the 2x6 and 2x4,
so i was thinking that you could drill like half inch holes in the fuse, because i think the fuse is made out of plywood, so i definatly think it would be strong enough still, also lightening up the ribs of the wing by doing the same thing, drilling holes in the ribs, as i had heard someone post that their wing for the 2x6 came in at like 11.5 ounces, i know i could use mini radio, but i just have some std. servos lying around looking for a bird to go into, my last mod i was considering is to shorten the fuse a few inches so that its more proportionaly sized, any help is well appreciated, or do u think the 2x6 would be a better choice, any help is will be considered so feel free to post away.
thanks cory

[Sparky Paul]

I built the 2Tee... and used the plywood fuselage sides only ahead of the wing.
I cut the sides diagonally from the trailing edge forward about 5 inches to the bottom, and substituted balsa aft of there.
Holes in the wing ribs won't add up to much savings.
Extending the flat portion of the wing is worth the effort. Get new spars, leading and trailing edges, make some more ribs..

[karpiloco]

thanks for the suggestions
any other input welcome

[John Gallagher]

What type of flying are you planning?
The 2x4 has been used for slope flying.

[karpiloco]

i kinda would like something to do both with because of my small budget, college student, i have flown the spirit of 76 u know the giant hunk of foam that weighed in at a little over 2 lbs, i still love it cause it was my first glider, and now started e-flight a little and for some reason i am still drawn back to gliders, both slope and thermaling fascinate me in that one can stay aloft for a day sometimes and never have to recharge batteries, refuel, i do have a high start so would definatly be high starting it.
thanks everyone for the input, i went to order it today but they were out of stock, they said the dynaflite skeeter as a replacement, and i really like it but it requires mini radios, so i started looking and for only 10 bucks more i could get the dynaflite, 2m daydream, that can also use standard size gear, but i still kinda like the smaller size, has anyone ever flown or built the dynaflite daydream, and do u think that the two planes are comparable in any respects, like i said i would be doing a little of both high starting and trying to get my feet wet on the slope
thanks cory

[John Gallagher]

Pick the daydream over the Skeeter. Bigger thermals better and the quality of the kit is a big improvement over the Skeeter. The only problem with the daydream is the one piece wing.

[bobby legue]

The daydream has a really good airfoil and is quite easy to build. I dont think you can go wrong.
Bob

[Phi3l]

My 2x4 came in at 22 oz.

Built the airframe stock, but used Hitec Electron 6 RX and Futaba S3101 micro servos. I made a servo tray for both servos and put everything as far forward as it would fit and only had to add about 1/2 oz of lead shot in the nose to balance.

It flies great!

If you have to use standard sizes I don't think you will be able to save much, if any, weight.

Phil in MN

[jrgospod]

Cory,
I have built the 2x6 and enjoy flying it. It was one of the first planes I built. I wanted something on the low price side so if I had problems I would not have wasted a lot of money. I learned a lot from the build. If I had it to do over I would go for a better kit and design, like something from SkyBench. The build came out fine and I now wish I had a fine built better-designed model.

Anyway, the main way to keep it light is to move the equipment as far forward, as was mentioned earlier, and lighten the tail as much as possible. Use Z bends at the tail to save the weight of the clevises etc. etc. Use lighter control rods if possible. You can also drill a hole in the nose to add the balancing weight as far forward as possible so it will take less. Wipe off extra glue (I use cotton swabs). That can save more weight than you can believe. Use a scale to check your wood and make sure you use the lightest wood for the tail. I’m sure that others will have more suggestions but that will get you started.

John

[histarter]

hello,
im considering buying and building the house of balsa 2x4 glider, the main reason is because it uses standard size radio gear and its only 30 bucks. but my only concern would be its weight, the specs say it weighs 28 ounces, and only has a 49.5 inch wingspan, i was wondering if anyone has lightened this bird up so its not such a rock, also is the length a problem, because it uses the same fuse for the 2x6 and 2x4,
so i was thinking that you could drill like half inch holes in the fuse, because i think the fuse is made out of plywood, so i definatly think it would be strong enough still, also lightening up the ribs of the wing by doing the same thing, drilling holes in the ribs, as i had heard someone post that their wing for the 2x6 came in at like 11.5 ounces, i know i could use mini radio, but i just have some std. servos lying around looking for a bird to go into, my last mod i was considering is to shorten the fuse a few inches so that its more proportionaly sized, any help is well appreciated, or do u think the 2x6 would be a better choice, any help is will be considered so feel free to post away.
thanks cory
2X4 was too light, with too much lift for the slope for my tastes. The 2X6 on the other hand was a sailplane that was similar to the Drifter, and heavier was an advantage for better flat land soaring. I built about 4 of these machines over the years, but still prefered my beefed up GL that had much more performance. :D

[flowerpower]

I just got the Daydream in the mail yesterday. Absolutley wonderfull kit!
True it is cut-out with a cookie-cutter, but it is the best cookie cutting job i've ever seen! Very very close to being a perfect match with a laser. in fact the only diffrence is you don't have the burn marks on the edge's.
Tower has this glider going for $40.00 at the moment. Can't beat that!
I wish I could tell you how she flies, but I'm waiting till this weekend to start the build.
So far though, I've made copies of the airfoil at what not....just in case sometime in the future she require's a total rebuild from scratch. Which doesn't look like it wouldn't be to difficult at all.
Going over the plans, and manual, I'd say this glider is easily worth abit more then what I paid for it!
Well good luck in your choice's.

[chrisrosenkrans]

I built a 2X4 in 2002. It was the first aircraft that I had built from a kit and flown. I did not know any different so I built the aircraft stock. I had never heard of an airplane that had an elevator on just one half of the horizontal stabalizer. As it turns out the aircraft flies well. I launch the 2X4 with a high start. I even put a cox .049 motor on a power pod on top of the wing and it still flys great. I do not think weight will be an issue. This airplane is my oldest and it still flies when I want to get back to the basics. Good luck with your choice I do not think you can go wrong for $30.00