Off The Ground Models Prodigy 2M

[quigley257]

Just picked up a NIB Off the Ground Models Prodigy 2M kit off flea-bay. I am wondering who has built or still flies this model. I have found some information about it here and on the web, but no build threads or mod suggestions. Does anyone have any tips or tricks to perform on this kit? I have been flying larger (100") kits for many years. It has been almost 20 years since I have owned a 2M glider. I fly mainly using a high-start or motor pod, but would like to build it sturdy enough to withstand winch launches from time to time. Any tips, tricks or suggetions will be appreciated!!! :p
P.S. Anyone have a Prodigy fiberglass fuse laying around... :rolleyes: ?

[joefj]

Hi Quigley

The Prodigy is one great plane!! I bought one about 15 years ago after owning my first two metre plane and found that it performed fantastically with airfoil that it uses, and the technique used to achieve sharp trailing edges (by use of 1/64th ply sandwiched between balsa). it is able to fly both quite fast as well as fly very slow in thermals... as I owned my prodigy in my earliest flying days strength was an issue...I had (on more than one occasion) had radio failure at the top of launch where the prodigy went straight in only to have fuselage damage which was repairable ...eventually I scratch built another fuse, (the wing never got damaged) due to the strong trailing edge. the design ideas for the stabs is another great bit of work with a spar with cap strips bent over it to achieve a symmetrical airfoil as well as the razor sharp trailing edge.... My Friend put me onto your post regarding the prodigy and he asked me if I had any modifications for it.... well I thought of making a version with a flatter wing and ailerons for more fun at speed but I would build the polyhedral wing for it also. if constructed as to the prints using carbon on the spar this plane will take full pedal launches (although will not require it) my advice to you is to follow the instructions that came with the kit and you will have a great plane

joefj

[soarrich]

I used to fly with Michael Selig when he flew the Prodigy, it was a nice 2 meter. I remember the guys where breaking the tailboom right in front of the fin, a little CF ther might be a good thing. Keep it light it doesn't have a lot of squares. :)

[woro]

Please does anyone know which airfoil does it use?

[soarrich]

S-4061

[eissman]

I flew the prodigy box stock as my contest 2-meter right after it came out. For the first 2 years, I think I won or placed in every contest. Back then it was considered fast, now it's a floater.

The important thing is that it has a narrow speed range where the airfoil works well. Keep it there and it's a good plane.

As far as building mods go- I built mine stock, but I get kinda anal on light/straight/strong. I bonded the spars to the shear webbing in a benchtop workmate. I broke off the back of a couple of ribs to clear the screws on the workmate , applied medium ca to the shear web, put the spars in position and cranked the workmate down until everything was bottomed out. Good glue joints should be adequate.

I'm hard on airplanes, but never did manage to break the wing. Mine never saw a hi start, and darn few blips on the winch pedal.

I did have the fuselage break at the front of the vertical fin on hard landings. It'd be better to land softer, but I wanted landing points.

When I reinforced this area, it broke farther forward. The easiest fix would be to leave the tail skid off so it can't slam into the ground and flex the fuselage.

[joefj]

probably the best / easiest fix on the fuse is to double the longerons in the fuse with carbon tow, mine only broke in extreme conditions however!

[quigley257]

Thanks for the tips so far.... keep 'em rolling!! :p

[Gil Gauger]

Hi guys, I had the good fortune to begin my soaring adventure with Paul Carlson, Michael Selig, and Michael's stepfather Pete Peterson. The Prodigy was designed and produced by Paul using parameters from Michael's work at Princeton, and was produced in Lawrenceville, IL until Paul sold the company to Ace R/C and joined Great Planes where he designed the Spirit and several other kits. Paul won the Nats (1989 I think) with the Prodigy and won both 2meter and standard with a 2meter Spirit in 1991.
As to build tips, the weak points mentioned are easily reinforced using any methods you are familiar with, but the kit as designed is plenty strong if you remember that this is not a modern composite full house ship. The Prodigy is a top performer of the era of Gentle Ladies, Sailaires, Bird of Time etc. The secret is in the setup.
I disagree with the speed range comment previosly mentioned. The available range of the SD-4061 is reasonable for a wing of this aspect ratio/ small chord. It is a fairly high camber compared to modern choice du jour, but still pretty efficient in cruise.
The real trick to the Prodigy is the CG location. The farther back the better. We all moved ours back until the plane fishtailed on tow, or dutch rolled at speed, and then carefully moved it forward until we could live with it. A Prodigy built true and set up this way will thermal on a butterfly fart, make it back from "I can't see what I'm doing anymore" range and land in a full stall, nose level, ZERO foward speed condition. I've seen Paul fly the last 30 seconds of a contest round with a Prodigy at less tha ten feet of altitude, motionless directly over the spot and basically hover down to a 7:00 flat and 100 point landing many times. ( I used to do the same thing with Goldberg Sophisticated Lady. Loved that T-tail for full stall.)

Hope this helps.

Also, to those of you acquainted with Michael, I am sad to report the passing in December of his mother, Pete's wife and a grand lady, Marti Selig.

[raschow]

I had (still have some pieces of) two of these. They both flew quite well, and garnered some trophies for me in 2M competition. Once, I lost most of a stab half in a mid-air, but was able to complete the flight and launch again for the last round without any repair! Both, however, experienced upward warping (reflex) of the very thin construction of the aft part of the wing airfoil, and had to be flown faster as a result (no longer an S4061!). Perhaps you could better stabilize the TE shape by covering it top/bottom with 3/4oz glass/epoxy, before applying the film covering. At one point I had foam cores and a FG fuse that I was goint to try (maybe I still do, but not sure where), but I never got around to it. Good Lift!

[lincoln]

I have flown two Prodigies. As I recall, both of them were very tricky about stalls. Maybe there was something wrong with them. One of them definitely had something strange about the trailing edge. Anyway, I recall both were very squirelly when slow or trying to turn. But it was obvious that if flown perfectly they had good performance. Maybe there's a fix for this? Or maybe if built right they're ok?

I think if I had one I might mess around with some stall strips, at least until I felt I was really familiar with it.

[ChuckA]

Also, to those of you acquainted with Michael, I am sad to report the passing in December of his mother, Pete's wife and a grand lady, Marti Selig.

Sorry to hear this. While I never met her, she was responsible for me meeting Michael when he was still in a teenager. She brought Michael to Tullahoma when she came to visit friends on a weekend I was CD of a sailplane contest. This had to be 1980 or earlier. In 1985, I was part of the Louisville team at the Great Race. Paul Carlson was a member of that team and ask me if I wanted to meet Michael. When Michel cam in, he greeted me by name. I had forgotten his name from the time he flew in my contest and didn't realize that I knew the designer of the airfoil I was using. :)

[TexasThermalKing]

The Prodigy is a great sailplane, I agree with keep it light...fly it right...please do not build it to handle a crash! You are better to fly it first...and light ...repair as needed. Excellent, light, thermal two meter planes, are not bulletproof. She's a good flier built as per plans, already well thought out. My 2 cents. Build it, you will see what, we all mean.

[quigley257]

Thanks for everything so far. I have just gotten the stabs and rudder built. They are truly beautiful. I just love the look of airfoiled, built-up balsa flying surfaces. The razor thin trailing edges made with balsa/ply/balsa are very well thought out. I am still looking for a glass fuse for this one if anyone has one available. The wing looks to be a fairly straight forward build. I will be using a micro servo in each panel to actuate the spoilers instead of the string method.

[Gil Gauger]

With the tiny servos available today your spoiler idea is a good one. Keep them inboard as much as possible though to minimize roll moment inrease.

[zelmo]

Greetings:

I need a photograph of the Prodigy. I'm creating a web page of all the RC airplanes and sailplanes that I've ever owned an flew, and I'm missing this one.

Any clues would really be appreciated.

Thanks,

-doug-

[quigley257]

Greetings:

I need a photograph of the Prodigy. I'm creating a web page of all the RC airplanes and sailplanes that I've ever owned an flew, and I'm missing this one.

Any clues would really be appreciated.

Thanks,

-doug-
Doug, I may be able to get you a picture or scan one for you.
--quigley :D :D

[Ollie]

I had many more hour long flights with the Prodigy. It was fun to fly.