Which is Better, power pod or nose mount?

[jjscott]

I am getting back into RC after a 20 year break and have an old Bridi Windsurfer 100 kit (100", 790 squares, modified Eppler 205, and 44 oz weight stated on box with the old heavy radios). I've also got an AP Hornet 09 R/C that I want to use for power.

I'll fly out of farm fields, have no place for a high start, and don't want to go the electric route. In the old days I had 3 gliders at different times, all motorized - a Schweizer 1/32 with a Cox 09 on the nose and an original Olympic 99 with an 09 pod and a Sailaire with a ST 20 on a pod.

What do you all think will be better, modifying the fuse and mounting the motor there, or building up a detachable pod over the wing? If I use a pod, how much upthrust do I need, a couple of degrees?

I did see that Bird of Time pic in an old post on this site with a pod and it looked great.

Thanks, Jim

[bobby legue]

Nose mount=less drag.
Bob

[Stan_in_AR]

I am getting back into RC after a 20 year break and have an old Bridi Windsurfer 100 kit (100", 790 squares, modified Eppler 205, and 44 oz weight stated on box with the old heavy radios). I've also got an AP Hornet 09 R/C that I want to use for power.

I'll fly out of farm fields, have no place for a high start, and don't want to go the electric route. In the old days I had 3 gliders at different times, all motorized - a Schweizer 1/32 with a Cox 09 on the nose and an original Olympic 99 with an 09 pod and a Sailaire with a ST 20 on a pod.

What do you all think will be better, modifying the fuse and mounting the motor there, or building up a detachable pod over the wing? If I use a pod, how much upthrust do I need, a couple of degrees?

I did see that Bird of Time pic in an old post on this site with a pod and it looked great.

Thanks, Jim

Why not an electric?

Stan

[woro]

Nose mount=less drag.
Bob
nose mount=ugly shape

[solo6796]

nose mount electric..

[Gliderguy]

nose mount electric..

[Curare]

power pod allows you to at least take the thing off when it irritates you to death.

a nose mount is less drag.

up to you.

[Plantation Bruce]

I built a 2 meter Spirit in 1991 with 50% less dihedral and 50% less polyhedral in an attempt to make the Spirit look more scale like to me. Doing so didn't really hurt it's abilty to turn and I believe with the flatter wing it actually helped increase lift once in a thermal.

I used a Cox .051 on a pod that has the fuel tank built in. 5.5X5 prop for best performance.

It's amazing how much a Great Planes 2 meter Spirit looks like a real sailplane called a Scheibe 27A.

I am going to build another original 2 meter Spirit but this time with a scale like looking Scheibe 27A wing with a wing span around 90" inches with a center mounted servo to operate ailerons. I will use the pod again but I haven't made up my mind if I'll use a .051 again or attempt to modify the pod to hold a brushless electric.

This is what I want my Spirit to look like when I toss her up for it's first flight.

http://www.sailplanedirectory.com/PlaneDetails.cfm?planeID=299

More SF-27 pics

http://www.sf27.de/

Plantation Bruce

[soarhead20850]

i flew a midwest lil bird a no of years ago with a power pod.that is befor i found out about hi starts.
once i went to the hi start i could not believe the differenc in performance.
WAY too mutch drag from the power pod....ken