I have started experimenting with inexpensive depron as a new building material.
My first attempt is nothing more than dollar tree foamboard.
It was my interpretation of Charlie Fite's UberPfeil, which I just called an Arrow.
His had a flat panel wing and had various EDF powering options.
I went with a pusher outrunner.

The darn thing flies like a paper airplane. And looks like one in the air too.
It's got an excellent wing loading and I don't think it even weighs a pound. It took all of a weekend to build. The airfoil isn't from built-up ribs. I used a strip of balsa as both a spar and to create an airfoil once the foamboard was glued to the top. All the leading and trailing edges are balsa, so that I could sand for better streamlining.
Wing span is 32"

The second plane is a depron version of my balsa Baby Gryphon.
The airfoil on this one IS made up of ribs, also cut out of 3 mm depron. It too has leading and trailing edges in balsa for streamlining. The construction is very similar to the balsa version, but only took one day to build.
It hasn't maidened yet because the motor has a broken wire and needs to be replaced. But the balsa version flew beautifully. Really fast and really aerobatic.
Wing span is 24"

Testing...

BBCC 4 -- 4th Balsa Builders Conversion Contest Thread

The Goal: Build yourself a flying model, constructed predominantly of balsa and derived from an existing model, kit or plans, changing your model's "mode of control" from that used by the prototype (i.e. FF, CL, RC) to a different mode. Examples include: FF to RC, CL to RC, RC to FF, etc.

Changes that need to be discussed:
1. Whether or not to expand this contest to include original designs.

Discussion: When altering an existing plan to the degree it has to be altered to support a new mission objective, (i.e. enlarging for RC, vastly changing the design for increased strength to handle an alternate power source, etc.), you have already altered the design to the degree that it's more your design than the original designer's.

2. Whether or not to expand this contest to allow an alteration of an existing design to a lessor degree.

Discussion: For example, designed as RC but increasing it from 2 channel to 3, 4, 5, or more channels. Or changing it from gas power to electric conversion, but still RC.


Current Rules (Unless the majority chooses an alteration):
1-- take an existing design (the "prototype" which can be your own design) and change the mode of control.
2-- build it out of balsa, explaining any deviations from the prototype in your thread
3-- it's eligible for rollover until first flight
4-- provide proof of flight and you get voted upon

Significant Dates:

Contest...Continue Reading