Skybench OLY II, NES Kestrel 100" or MM Tech Marauder???

[FrogChief]

Hey all, a younger woodcrafter here. I'm getting ready to purchase / build a standard class plane and am left wondering which I should go with.:confused:

I ordered a Kestrel 100" from NESail, however after calling them today to see if my kit shipped I found out that it won't ship until 6-8 weeks from now.:rolleyes:

Therefore...

I'm left looking at the Skybench OLY II and the MM Glider Tech Marauder. Both are lovely looking planes, with the Marauder looking a bit "more modern.":cool:

So...

I ask the OLY II, Kestrel 100 and Marauder drivers, which out of the three:

1. Builds well? (How is the quality of the Skybench, NES and MMTech kits?)
2. Is suited for my area? (Large flat coastal plain. Thermaling in open fields with occasional gusty winds
3. Can withstand hard launches?


BTW...I'm dead set on wooden sailplanes. However if there are any other 99" - 118" class wood ships I should know about, please fill me in! ;)

[FrogChief]

I voted "other" to get my vote out of the way.

[balsaaddict]

Paragon

[Ollie]

I advise you to get a Mirage short kit. You get the sheet balsa and sticks from the hobby shop. The short kit gives you laser cut parts and Vacuum Formed Canopy.
http://www.isthmusmodels.com/product_info.php?cPath=21_27&products_id=111

I suggest you get the plans from RCM.
http://www.rcmmagazine.com/store/store-plans-catalog-tem.html?item=plans:pl-753&sid=000184jMcxdVPskvg89j4w3

I think that the Mirage design is the best for wood sailplanes. The Mirage aerodynamic and structure is best functional design but not for artistic looks.

See what Dr. Drela says:

"I mostly agree with Mark Miller's comments. The Mirage is great combination of simplicity and performance, and making modifications which involve a lot of work just isn't worth the payoff.

"Nevertheless, Blaine Rawdon has mentioned to me that he would make a few fairly easy mods to the Mirage if he were to build another one today:

1) Elevator on both sides, for more precise elevator response.
The original one-sided elevator was mostly for mechanical simplicity and minimal weight, but having two elevators isn't that much more difficult. A short piece of spruce, basswood, or CF tube would make a suitable connector.

2) Get rid of the rudder balance tab, for more rudder power and mechanical simplicity.

3) Make the center-panel turbulator strips out of 1/8" square spruce or basswood rather than balsa. The balsa ones crack too easily. I myself would stick to balsa, but make them 1/8" x 3/16" set on edge. The 50% depth increase will more than double their strength.

4) Increase the torsional stiffness of the center panel by double-covering it with Monokote. This will suppress the catastrophic flutter which occurs on this plane at 50-60 mph. Using a heavier LE strip and making the TE strips as light as possible will further suppress this flutter.


"In addition to the above, I would

a) Add spruce doublers to the top-surface sparcaps, glued on to the rear of each cap, flush with the surface. The top center sparcap gets a 24" x 1/4" doubler, and the top tip sparcaps get 12" x 1/8" doublers.

b) Use thicker shear webs in the center to match the stronger sparcap. I'd use 1/4" for the three innermost bays, then 3/16" for the next three bays, then the stock 1/8" for the rest.

"These mods will nearly double the bending strength of the wing, with minimal weight and effort. The ends of the doublers can be tapered for better appearance."

[OVSS Boss]

How about the 100" Bird from Skybench? Strong, clean, and very aerodynamic clean.

[allanp]

Big Bird !
Allan

[bobby legue]

Oly for relaxed flying, Big Bird for performance. Both build very well and the fit and finish is unlike anything Ive ever assembled. Built the Oly in four days with wood glue as it has a smaller piece count than most planes. It is rugged. You will enjoy working with Ray also, he always has time to answer your questions and service from him is spot on.
Bob- owner of four skybench planes

[Alex J]

I don't have experience with the other planes, but I can't say enough of Ray Hayes great support to woodies, excellent service and great kits (easy to build, great wood selection, good plans, all hardware included, etc, etc).

I have built the Lil Bird 60" and the 2 meter version as well as the Legionair (almost finished). I also have one OlyII on the building board, another NIB and a ASK18 short kit to be built sometime.

Me? I stick with Skybench!

Alex

[FrogChief]

Paragon


Who sells the Paragon??? I've done some searching and haven't seen it yet.


Update. I bought a new Sig Riser 2m at a mall hobby shop last night to get my building skills warmed back up so I don't hose the 100" ship I eventually choose.

Got it for $24.99 on clearance!!! Can't beat that. ;)

[LVsoaring]

The Kestrel is a nice airplane, but the customer service from NSP is very poor, so I'd stay away from them. All your other choices are good ones, but if it were me, I'd go with the Maurader, just to try something new.

Rick

[Ercoupe Ed]

Hey all, a younger woodcrafter here. I'm getting ready to purchase / build a standard class plane and am left wondering which I should go with.:confused:

I ordered a Kestrel 100" from NESail, however after calling them today to see if my kit shipped I found out that it won't ship until 6-8 weeks from now.:rolleyes:

Therefore...

I'm left looking at the Skybench OLY II and the MM Glider Tech Marauder. Both are lovely looking planes, with the Marauder looking a bit "more modern.":cool:

So...

I ask the OLY II, Kestrel 100 and Marauder drivers, which out of the three:

1. Builds well? (How is the quality of the Skybench, NES and MMTech kits?)
2. Is suited for my area? (Large flat coastal plain. Thermaling in open fields with occasional gusty winds
3. Can withstand hard launches?


BTW...I'm dead set on wooden sailplanes. However if there are any other 99" - 118" class wood ships I should know about, please fill me in! ;)

Hi!
I would back up OVSS BOSS 's post and get the 100 inch Bird from Skybench, or go with the the larger version ( 132 inch version) Skybird.
OVSS BOSS and I both know Ray Hayes personally who owns Skybench, and I we fly with him often, as I live about 15 miles from Ray.
The 100 inch span Bird kit he has is of exceptional quality, will fly in calm or gusty conditions, and is a great flyer!
I mtyself plan on getting one as soon as I finish up 3 other sailplanes I have going now.
The OLY II is a good airplane, but being a flat bottom Clark "Y" airfoil, it isn't much a of a penetrator into a strong wind without a lot of ballast.

On the other hand the 100 inch "Bird" Ray kits is a great penetrator, will take a strong winch launch, and is an all around great sailplane!
And it's easy to build.

Well that's my 2 cents worth.

Good luck to you and welcome aboard!
Woodies are great!
Well time to go back to work on my Tom Martin Hall Cherokee scale sailplane which is an all-woodie!!!

Best of luck to you!

Ed

[Batmanwpg]

not totally wood but the JK Thermic 100" or RES Thermic @ http://www.arthobby.com/shop.html

They are all very good flyers.

[FrogChief]

Well, I'm 0 for 3. :(


NESnail* can't send me a Kestrel 100" until Oct...

Skybench has been away from the phones for 2 days...(*Edit - Ray is on vacation)

and MM Glider tech doesn't even have an answering machine...(*Edit - Merrill's machine was full, I got ahold of him today 8/31/06)


See I've been burned in the past faxing in orders and never hearing anything until my product arrives like a month later. So of course I'd like to speak with someone and know if the kit is in stock, how long until shipping, etc.

Oh well...I'm sure Mr. Hayes will get ahold of me sooner or later.

*intentional ;)

[skipinhouston]

Paragon.
www.skybench.com/slnost.html#paragon
SkipinHouston

[chlee]

Also see the offerings at www.laserarts.com
The Scepter is like the Oly II, but with a more modern airfoil.

- Chung

[Mark Nankivil]

I'd suggest the Oly IIs just to mess up the selection process :-) Check Ray's website for word about his new Oly IIS (Oly II layout but with the S3014 and sheeted D-tube like a Big Bird.

Good Health and Good Lift! Mark

[FrogChief]

I'd suggest the Oly IIs just to mess up the selection process :-) Check Ray's website for word about his new Oly IIS (Oly II layout but with the S3014 and sheeted D-tube like a Big Bird.

Good Health and Good Lift! Mark


Actually I'd love an OLY2 with a better airfoil. Although I heard Mr. Hayes won't have the OLY II-S ready until Oct. The same time NESail would have my Kes100 ready to ship. :(

Now if he's got an OLY II-S in stock, then I'll take one ASAP! :D

[kostuk]

Hi
I have built the following:
Big Bird
Marauder
Mirage
Majestic

In my opinion the Majestic flies the best, i.e. better launch height, penetration, cruising abilitity, and thermalling followed by
Mirage
Big Bird
Marauder

A well trimmed plane will always fly best and a larger plane generally flies better. A larger wing area will also easily pull up more winch line. The Marauder should have done better according to my rules but for some reason mine did not fly as well as I would have hoped. I know that Merrill did well with his at contests so maybe more data points are needed to evaluate it. It does have a very thick airfoil and is not very streamlined. They are also decent planes if you build them true and trim them properly.
RAy

[Ercoupe Ed]

Actually I'd love an OLY2 with a better airfoil. Although I heard Mr. Hayes won't have the OLY II-S ready until Oct. The same time NESail would have my Kes100 ready to ship. :(

Now if he's got an OLY II-S in stock, then I'll take one ASAP! :D


Have you ever scratch built any sailplanes?
The reason I ask is I think RCM magazine plans sales the OLY II plans, build your own airplane, substitute a newer airfoil.
I scratch built an OLY II wing for mine and changed the airfoil to an Eppler airfoil with undercamber. It flies great. I can switch back to a stock wing in 30 seconds.
An OLY II is simple to scatch build.
If it were me, I'd build it as Selig 3014 airfoil, same airfoil Ray uses on his Big Bird.

Or if you want to build a really good sailplane, ALL WOODY and it can be flown in thermal duration, but is more of a challenge to build try Tom Martins "Hall Cherokee II."
I have a friend who has one, and it will fly with the best of them, and looks like a real airplane! He flies his in competition with the hIGH DOLLAR "wings on a stick " sailplane moldies, and beats them quite often!
It's really more about skill than anything else.
I have Hall Cherokee from Tom Martin setting on the shelf next to my workbench.
We used to have a guy in our club , called "Downwind Ray", he flew a Gran Esprit sailplane, all woody, it has about a 140 inch span, big polyhedral ship, always took thermals way downwind, always got back to the landing tapes, all it had was RES , and he beat the high tech boys all the time. Unfortunately Ray passed away from a heart attack a few yaers ago.
Gran Esprits are sometimes seen on Ebay, but will be available again in kit form from an outfit called "aerosphere".

[FrogChief]

Have you ever scratch built any sailplanes?
The reason I ask is I think RCM magazine plans sales the OLY II plans, build your own airplane, substitute a newer airfoil.
I scratch built an OLY II wing for mine and changed the airfoil to an Eppler airfoil with undercamber. It flies great. I can switch back to a stock wing in 30 seconds.
An OLY II is simple to scatch build.
If it were me, I'd build it as Selig 3014 airfoil, same airfoil Ray uses on his Big Bird.

Or if you want to build a really good sailplane, ALL WOODY and it can be flown in thermal duration, but is more of a challenge to build try Tom Martins "Hall Cherokee II."
I have a friend who has one, and it will fly with the best of them, and looks like a real airplane! He flies his in competition with the hIGH DOLLAR "wings on a stick " sailplane moldies, and beats them quite often!
It's really more about skill than anything else.
I have Hall Cherokee from Tom Martin setting on the shelf next to my workbench.
We used to have a guy in our club , called "Downwind Ray", he flew a Gran Esprit sailplane, all woody, it has about a 140 inch span, big polyhedral ship, always took thermals way downwind, always got back to the landing tapes, all it had was RES , and he beat the high tech boys all the time. Unfortunately Ray passed away from a heart attack a few yaers ago.
Gran Esprits are sometimes seen on Ebay, but will be available again in kit form from an outfit called "aerosphere".


Ed,

I'd scratchbuild if I had the time. However I'm 27, a former Marine, finishing my 2 Bachelors degree this semester and am getting married this September 3rd to the love of my life.

I hate it but I'm really busy.

Add to that the fact that my nearest hobby shop is 47 miles away (Debbies RC world, Chesapeake VA.) I don't have the time and $$$ to drive up there for every little thing I need, hence the preference for kits. (GOOD KITS!)

Gas already costs enough and a guy on a $7,500 yearly income needs to pinch his pennies! ;)

(It doesn't hurt that my accountant fiance' makes 50K + per year. :D)

So anyhow...Ray....Please come back from vacation...I need a good plane!

[FrogChief]

Oly for relaxed flying, Big Bird for performance. Both build very well and the fit and finish is unlike anything Ive ever assembled. Built the Oly in four days with wood glue as it has a smaller piece count than most planes. It is rugged. You will enjoy working with Ray also, he always has time to answer your questions and service from him is spot on.
Bob- owner of four skybench planes

A shame too...While I can respect a Bird-type sailplanes performance, I just can't get over their looks. Personally I just can't stand the Wing or the tail, matter of fact I feel that the whole plane is ugly.

No offense to bird fans, it's just that taste is a highly personal thing. Honestly, out of all the planes we've been talking about, I feel that the Marauder is the "sexiest" of them all. It's just got the lines that I look for in a sailplane.


However don't even get me started on modern glass ships...

U G L Y!!!

Way too skinny fuse with a huge wing coupled with a few planks in the rear for steerage. No ribs through sunlight, no style and no effort to "build." Just all gloss, polish and fluff. YUCK! :mad:

Personally I prefer a plane with some T & A so to speak. ;) :D

[bobby legue]

Ray is gone until sept 8. If you ask him for a kit and it doesent get shipped by the 9th if it is in stock and it probably is, I will send you 5 dollars. He is a one man show and will NEVER let you down.Bob

[OVSS Boss]

FrogChief,
I will make you an offer you cannot refuse. I have an Oly II NIB at the house, and for a man that protected this great land and was a Marine to boot, I will send it to you this weekend or early next, give me your address. I will also, include some covering and and some other goodies.

Marc

[cynjon]

Very cool OVSS Boss...FrogChief--you'll love the Oly II. It was my first RC glider I ever built and flew and it lasted me for years until I felt like I "outgrew" it. I sold it and have regretted it ever since. One of these days I'll manage to snag another on fleaBay for a decent price.

[FrogChief]

FrogChief,
I will make you an offer you cannot refuse. I have an Oly II NIB at the house, and for a man that protected this great land and was a Marine to boot, I will send it to you this weekend or early next, give me your address. I will also, include some covering and and some other goodies.

Marc

Is it a skybench OLY II??? You've got a pm. ;)

BTW...My name comes from the fact that I was a crewchief on CH-46 Seaknights, known to those who love them as the "Frog."


"The Boeing-Vertol CH-46...Never trust a helicopter under 40. ;)"

[Ercoupe Ed]

Hey Frog Cheif,
I rode on one of those just one time.
Several Hueys, but flew around on a lot MAC planes ( at the time it was known as "Military Airlift Command")
C-130's C141's C-5A's
I was in the Army but on one of the first rapid deployemnt teams and MAC took us everywhere we went.
C-5's were the best to ride on BIG BIG BIG and had seats topside, and comfortable.
But the Air Force apparently didn't have much money left over for food, so we ate a lot of chicken salad sandwiches, and cartons of milk.
So whenever we landed somewhere with the Navy close by, we took out for the closest Navy eating establisment.
Now they know how to live and eat!
If I were you, I'd take OVSS BOSS up on his offer, he's a great guy!
Mark, you're a SWELL GUY!!!!

Frog Chief, Mark is a great glider guider, and an all-around good guy, I fly with him often.
Well back to work on my workshop, I almost can see my workbench now!
LOL!

Best regards,
Ed

[Ercoupe Ed]

Is it a skybench OLY II??? You've got a pm. ;)

BTW...My name comes from the fact that I was a crewchief on CH-46 Seaknights, known to those who love them as the "Frog."


"The Boeing-Vertol CH-46...Never trust a helicopter under 40. ;)"

Frog Chief,
I think I have a book laying around somewhere, it's called "AIRFOILS to GO" and has lots of airfoil templates in it.
I think the "3014" is in it.
I'll see if I can find it, and copy off that page, and send it to you.
All you would need to do is a get a few sheets of balsa and make a set of ribs.
If interested, let me know.

Ed

[FrogChief]

Frog Chief,
I think I have a book laying around somewhere, it's called "AIRFOILS to GO" and has lots of airfoil templates in it.
I think the "3014" is in it.
I'll see if I can find it, and copy off that page, and send it to you.
All you would need to do is a get a few sheets of balsa and make a set of ribs.
If interested, let me know.

Ed


Very interested Ed...

I'd also like to take the time to thank everyone here for responding and making my time at home between classes interesting...

I'm gonna write something in the future, however until then know this:

I may be "young" however I will...for the rest of my life be dedicated to the beauty and simplicity of all wood aircraft. Just because we live in "modern" times doesn't mean that we need to forsake the old for no reason.

One of my fondest memories is building and then flying my first sailplane with my father in 1988. The time, art and creativity that that project fostered within me still lives on today. Know that while the younger generation may be digital, connected and on the go 24/7, some of us still HIGHLY value older traditions and more artistic ways of doing things. My generation understands that the most MODERN way is not necessarily the best way.

Long live the art and craftsmanship of wooden aircraft construction!!!

[FrogChief]

FrogChief,
I will make you an offer you cannot refuse. I have an Oly II NIB at the house, and for a man that protected this great land and was a Marine to boot, I will send it to you this weekend or early next, give me your address. I will also, include some covering and and some other goodies.

Marc


The following is my PM to OVSS Boss,

"Mr. Boss,


Firstly...


SEMPER FI!!!


Secondly, thank you for your most generous offer. If you do in fact have an OLY II that you do not need. I would be more than glad to take it off your hands and give it a good home.

I will, no matter what send you a check or paypal you what it was worth to you...

I require no covering, as I do ALL my sailplanes in a special color scheme that I already have the materials for...

Just so everybody here knows of your generousity, I will post an online build log of your plane....

Again I thank you for your gesture, however you will be completely compensated for this kind act.

Sincerely,

Sean K.
Anywhere street
EC, NC 2****

Phone# (Please call me!) 252-207-****"

[Ercoupe Ed]

Very interested Ed...

I'd also like to take the time to thank everyone here for responding and making my time at home between classes interesting...

I'm gonna write something in the future, however until then know this:

I may be "young" however I will...for the rest of my life be dedicated to the beauty and simplicity of all wood aircraft. Just because we live in "modern" times doesn't mean that we need to forsake the old for no reason.

One of my fondest memories is building and then flying my first sailplane with my father in 1988. The time, art and creativity that that project fostered within me still lives on today. Know that while the younger generation may be digital, connected and on the go 24/7, some of us still HIGHLY value older traditions and more artistic ways of doing things. My generation understands that the most MODERN way is not necessarily the best way.

Long live the art and craftsmanship of wooden aircraft construction!!!


Hi Sean !
I'll look into it.
So you belive in wood aircraft?
Good deal!
You should consider this also.
Joining my group at Oshkosh Wisconsin.
The Vintage Aircraft Association, a division of the Experimental Aircraft Association.
web page is www.eaa.org

One of the projects I am involved in right now just happens to be the restoration of a very famous aircraft and a real piece of aviation history.
And it is definetly made partially of wood, but also has a stell tube frame.

The aircraft is is known as "Little Mulligan" and is parked in my hangar at Auburn Indiana.
"Little Mulligan" was owned and flown by Harold Nuemann, a very well known aerobatic and racing pilot, whose adventures date back to the 1935 National Air Races at Cleveland Ohio.
He won both the Bendix and Thompson Trophy races that year.
The Bendix was a cross country race from the LA area to Cleveland Ohio. The Thompson Trophy was the pylon race at Cleveland.
he won both in "Mister Mulligan" which was derived from "Little Mulligan".
"Mister Mulligan" was the grandaddy of the famous line of Benny Howard DGA aircraft which today are teasured classics in the vinatge aircraft world, selling for 250 thousand dlloars and up!
I also had an old US NAVY training glider stored for awhile for an aviation museum which was mostly wood.
Setting in that museum also( actually on display right now in the main terminal lobby at Auburn Indiana is the "spare engine" to Howard Hughes "Spruce Goose" flying boat, the most advanced state of the art radial engine ever built.
3,000 horsepower.
28 cylinders, 4-rows of 7 cylinders each, dual magnetos for each cylinder, 2 plugs for each cylinder knoiwn as "jugs"
56 sparkplugs altogether,
B-36 bombers later had 6 of these engines each, so a plug change out consisted of changing 336 sparkplugs!

So I too enjoy "viintage aircraft" and those made of wood, especially sailplanes.
Someday if you would like to read a book which tells the real story behind the biggest airctaft ever constucted of wood, pickup a copy of "Howard Hughes and His Flying Boat".
It's a fabulous story and looks at Hughes from a perspective most people will never know of him.
The movie was farce,focused too much on his "idiosyncranisies" and not for the brilliant engineer and genius he really was, the book tells the "real story", written mostly by those who worked with him and on the airplane.

A friend of mine was his company pilot for quite sometime,. and just laughed at how horrible and inaccurate the movie was.


Great thermalls and blue sky to all!

Ed

[FrogChief]

Hi Sean !
I'll look into it.
So you belive in wood aircraft?
Good deal!
You should consider this also.
Joining my group at Oshkosh Wisconsin.
The Vintage Aircraft Association, a division of the Experimental Aircraft Association.
web page is www.eaa.org

One of the projects I am involved in right now just happens to be the restoration of a very famous aircraft and a real piece of aviation history.
And it is definetly made partially of wood, but also has a stell tube frame.

The aircraft is is known as "Little Mulligan" and is parked in my hangar at Auburn Indiana.
"Little Mulligan" was owned and flown by Harold Nuemann, a very well known aerobatic and racing pilot, whose adventures date back to the 1935 National Air Races at Cleveland Ohio.
He won both the Bendix and Thompson Trophy races that year.
The Bendix was a cross country race from the LA area to Cleveland Ohio. The Thompson Trophy was the pylon race at Cleveland.
he won both in "Mister Mulligan" which was derived from "Little Mulligan".
"Mister Mulligan" was the grandaddy of the famous line of Benny Howard DGA aircraft which today are teasured classics in the vinatge aircraft world, selling for 250 thousand dlloars and up!
I also had an old US NAVY training glider stored for awhile for an aviation museum which was mostly wood.
Setting in that museum also( actually on display right now in the main terminal lobby at Auburn Indiana is the "spare engine" to Howard Hughes "Spruce Goose" flying boat, the most advanced state of the art radial engine ever built.
3,000 horsepower.
28 cylinders, 4-rows of 7 cylinders each, dual magnetos for each cylinder, 2 plugs for each cylinder knoiwn as "jugs"
56 sparkplugs altogether,
B-36 bombers later had 6 of these engines each, so a plug change out consisted of changing 336 sparkplugs!

So I too enjoy "viintage aircraft" and those made of wood, especially sailplanes.
Someday if you would like to read a book which tells the real story behind the biggest airctaft ever constucted of wood, pickup a copy of "Howard Hughes and His Flying Boat".
It's a fabulous story and looks at Hughes from a perspective most people will never know of him.
The movie was farce,focused too much on his "idiosyncranisies" and not for the brilliant engineer and genius he really was, the book tells the "real story", written mostly by those who worked with him and on the airplane.

A friend of mine was his company pilot for quite sometime,. and just laughed at how horrible and inaccurate the movie was.


Great thermalls and blue sky to all!

Ed


Ed,

Thats great. Actually, I'm a HUGE aviation fanatic. My grandfather flew Grumman F9f Panthers in Korea and helped design the 'Chute recovery system for the Apollo capsules. He later went on to teach at the University of Minnesota as an adjunct professor of aeronautical engineering. My father flew helicopters in the USCG as a pilot for 23 years. I myself enlisted and flew for 5 years with the USMC.

I'm TOTALLY up on my aviation history and can even tell you the name of of self appointed Col. Roscoe Turner's pet lion cub: Gilmore.

I have a passion for aviation and will NEVER let the pioneers of old be forgotten.

However until I'm rich enough to own several classic aircraft and even perhaps open a flying museum, I'll build "old school" RC planes.

I won't let my children be ignorant of their past.

[bobby legue]

Ooooooorahh!

[Mr B....]

I wanted to jump in here. To reach me during the day at work or voice mail call 562 505 3950.
The Marauder is a good model. I have been having so much fun with it, it is my primary sailplane to fly other than my 2M GI. It was design with a modern look to it to be fun with a competitive feel to it. We have been doing some new things with the wing construction design. I have made it stronger. The airfoil is still the same E195. Let's see how it does this year at Visalia in the wood kit class. It was the winner in Visalia 1999 and Pasadena in 2000.


Let's go FLY, Fishing!

Merrill Brady, Chief Designer*
AMA 276833
LSF 7247 Level V #116

M M Glider Tech
Po Box 39098
Downey, CA 90239

Tech Support/Order Line 1 562 927 2583
Voice mail 1 562 505 3950
M-F 3:30 PM to 8:00 PM PST
Weekends 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Visit our website at http://www.mmglidertech.com

[Ercoupe Ed]

I wanted to jump in here. To reach me during the day at work or voice mail call 562 505 3950.
The Marauder is a good model. I have been having so much fun with it, it is my primary sailplane to fly other than my 2M GI. It was design with a modern look to it to be fun with a competitive feel to it. We have been doing some new things with the wing construction design. I have made it stronger. The airfoil is still the same E195. Let's see how it does this year at Visalia in the wood kit class. It was the winner in Visalia 1999 and Pasadena in 2000.


Let's go FLY, Fishing!

Merrill Brady, Chief Designer*
AMA 276833
LSF 7247 Level V #116

M M Glider Tech
Po Box 39098
Downey, CA 90239

Tech Support/Order Line 1 562 927 2583
Voice mail 1 562 505 3950
M-F 3:30 PM to 8:00 PM PST
Weekends 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Visit our website at http://www.mmglidertech.com




Your Marauder is a real nice looking ship!
keep up the good work!


Ed

[FrogChief]

Your Marauder is a real nice looking ship!
keep up the good work!


Ed

Yupper, the plane is a beaut. Thats why I just bought one! :D :D :D

Thanks Merrill! Looking forward to building her. There WILL be a build log. ;)


*Note, I return from my honeymoon on Sept 15th, so construction will begin the following week...Stay tuned!

[FrogChief]

Yupper, the plane is a beaut. Thats why I just bought one! :D :D :D

Thanks Merrill! Looking forward to building her. There WILL be a build log. ;)


*Note, I return from my honeymoon on Sept 15th, so construction will begin the following week...Stay tuned!


Attention...

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=565511#post6015368

[Storman11]

Don't worry about Ray, I just ordered by FAX and in about 4 days the model was on its way. I faxed the order so relax with Skybench.

Norm

[FrogChief]

Don't worry about Ray, I just ordered by FAX and in about 4 days the model was on its way. I faxed the order so relax with Skybench.

Norm

??? Wow...talk about digging up the dead.

I have zero qualm with Mr. Hayes or Skybench. Where'd you get the idea that I did??? :confused:

[schrederman]

It's kind of a pain, but you will soon be able to order a Bantam short kit and plans from Mountain Models / Laserarts. Then order carbon for the spars, and a fuselage from Art Hobby... Like I said, kind of a pain to get it all together... and none are flying yet. It's looking like it will be about 6 oz. on the wing loading with slightly modified Drela airfoils, and it was designed for the 100" and <$150- class that some of the southeren boys are cooking up. If I can ever get back in off the *@%#* road, I may get my airframe completed and a few pics posted.

Enjoy whatever you choose... and Marc IS the MAN!!!!

See ya Froggy... I wasn't a Marine, but I did dodge quite a few AK-47 rounds about 35 years ago... so Semper Fi, anyhow...

Jack Womack

[bobby legue]

Semper Fidelis that is.Ooohrah!

[FrogChief]

Semper Fidelis that is.Ooohrah!


*Semper Gumby = Always flexible

*USMC Aircrew motto ;)



Thanks Jack, Bobby. :)

[tahachapikid]

Well, after looking at the Marauder winning the 1st place at Visaila, Ca this year beating out 36 other sailplanes I think that the Marauder is the new OLY II of the day. I am building one right now and beleive me it is a winner.

I have heard nothing but good about this sailplane. OLY II is my second choice and I have one of them also.

Good Luck.

[tonyestep]

I have seen/flown the Kestrel and the Oly 2, but not the Marauder. The Kestrel has a D-tube wing and will take a much stronger launch than the Oly 2. Since it is stronger, it will carry more ballast and hence is more flyable when the wind blows.

The Marauder has a 3-piece wing and is reputedly very strong for a wood plane. Gordy, who won Visalia woody with the Marauder, has nothing but good to say about it.

[lincoln]

Hi!
snip
The OLY II is a good airplane, but being a flat bottom Clark "Y" airfoil, it isn't much a of a penetrator into a strong wind without a lot of ballast.
snip
Ed
I don't disagree with your other comments, but please don't perpetuate the Clark "Y" myth. The Olympic 2 does NOT have a Clark Y airfoil. It has a nearly completely flat bottom airfoil. The Clark Y is only flat for maybe 80% or so of the bottom. It's a FASTER airfoil than a flat bottom airfoil of similar thickness. In fact, I compared it in Profili with the Eppler 205 and in some sizes (I forget whether on the large size or the small size) it's performance is comparable. Maybe a slight amount slower on the fast end, with more lift at the other end, but you could make up for that by making the glider a little heavier. Anyway, the Clark Y is kind of amazing because it's not bad but it's more than 80 years old, and it works well in full scale too.

You can get a bit more performance with a Drela foil, but the Clark Y is quite nice, according to all reports, the wind tunnel, and Profili. One of these days I want a glider that has one.

Having said that, for an initial trainer I think the flat bottom is better because you have to dive at a steeper angle to build up damaging speed.

I really like the Olympic 2 for instructing. I think it's a great beginner's glider. Plus I still like flying mine because the handling is so nice.

[lincoln]

BTW, Frogchief, did you ever build something? The Riser 2M you got is not bad. I instructed someone with one, thought the handling was good.

The Oly 2 would be a lot easier to build up, since it doesn't have a d-tube. I don't think it's fair to compare it to the others, since it's design task is different. (Build quicker and easier, limit speed with nose down for training purposes.)

I've flown a Scepter. It was ok. Not as nice to fly as an Olympic, but can handle considerably more wind. It's possible the one I was flying had some building errors. And I know that eventually one of the alignment rods got a bit loose, so perhaps that's why I didn't like it as much as the Oly.

[prodjx]

The Majestic is a good a/c easy build all laser cut, quick to build, and a replacement wing is available. The fuse is bullet proof, and flying a V-tail, the Majestic in this case is a no brainer. A friend of mine changed his to a X tail and flew it for a while and then flew my Majestic once and commented why did I bother changing the tail. Dave.

[FrogChief]

BTW, Frogchief, did you ever build something?


WHOAH!!! Back from the dead!

Yes...I built a Marauder. There's a little thread about it kicking around in here with 40,000+ views... :rolleyes: ;) :D

[lincoln]

Kewl

[Wylie Shaw]

Ed,

Thats great. Actually, I'm a HUGE aviation fanatic. My grandfather flew Grumman F9f Panthers in Korea and helped design the 'Chute recovery system for the Apollo capsules. He later went on to teach at the University of Minnesota as an adjunct professor of aeronautical engineering. My father flew helicopters in the USCG as a pilot for 23 years. I myself enlisted and flew for 5 years with the USMC.

I'm TOTALLY up on my aviation history and can even tell you the name of of self appointed Col. Roscoe Turner's pet lion cub: Gilmore.

I have a passion for aviation and will NEVER let the pioneers of old be forgotten.

However until I'm rich enough to own several classic aircraft and even perhaps open a flying museum, I'll build "old school" RC planes.

I won't let my children be ignorant of their past.



Ok here's one for you, a mind teaser, HU-16 (USCG DESIG) TWIN ENGINE AMPHIP. How did this acft get the nick name "GOAT"? Nobody seems to know.

Best Regards,


Wylie S.

[Curare]

froggy, want me to send you some plans of some Ol' skool hawtness?

hehehe, you can have my old sagitta plans for free!