Dumas Mod Pod

mlbco · Mar 10, 2008, 10:44 AM

I recently built this 30+ year old kit that I won on Ebay. I flew several Mod Pods in 1976-1977 with a Medallion 049 and a Cannon 2 channel radio and essentially learned to fly RC using this model. This version is painted all white because I'm too lazy to jazz it up and it uses a Toki 0.05 on a power pod to get it aloft.

I have to admit that my fond memories of its performance are more favorable than my recent experience with the model. The Mod Pod has a semi-symmetric airfoil and glides fast. It doesn't like to slow down or be horsed around in a thermal. I'm planning to take the power pod off and fly it on the slope where I think it will be happier.

Fellow modeler Alan Porter took these photos of it flying in the park yesterday.

Steve

jjscott · Mar 10, 2008, 07:47 PM

Nice job. The plain white is fine, too. How about building another wing with a little more span and a flat bottom airfoil?

Jim

Snorks · Mar 10, 2008, 11:34 PM

I dont quite understand why it has the semi symetrical section in the first place? The boom doesnt look like it could withstand aerobatics?
A tidy job though Steve.

Snorks · Mar 10, 2008, 11:37 PM

How is the perfomance of the Toki compared to a Medallion, Tee Dee or a Norvel?

mlbco · Mar 11, 2008, 01:44 AM

Snorks,

I posted some info on the Toki 0.05 on the 1/2A forum:
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showt...71#post9325854

The bottom line is the engine weighs more than twice as much as a Cox Medallion 049 and has similar power. Throttle response is sluggish, probably because of the heat-sink head which I believe was intended for RC car use. The muffler is very quiet. Overall it is a nice sport engine but is big and heavy for an 05.

Thanks,

Steve

mlbco · Mar 11, 2008, 01:57 AM

Regarding the airfoil, the original construction article for the Mod Pod was in the May 1970 issue of American Aircraft Modeler and the plane was designed by Harley Michaelis. He mentions in the article that the Mod Pod "glide will be surprisingly flat and faster than you expect". The glider was designed for RC and a variety of "throwing" games like playing catch with gliders. He mentions 8 different ways to fly it including a 400 foot tether on one wingtip and a power pod. Maybe he wanted a glider that could be thrown far and not necessarily have a low stall speed.

When I was young I didn't even know about thermals so I just flew mine around with the motor running. When it quit I would glide down and land, never attempting to work lift. Now that I'm older (wiser?) I've tried to soar the model and found it lacking compared to other sailplanes I've flown.

Steve

Botijo · Jun 15, 2009, 02:47 PM

Long story short, as a child in Spain I fell in love with an old magazine my dad had wirth the MOD POD on the cover. He gave away the magazines and 15 years later I found another one and made it from scratch. How could I get a coipy of the kit plans?, curious about any differences.

Botijo · Jun 22, 2009, 11:16 AM

Ok here is the ccover of the magazine, plans and article. There are several changes between the magazine plans and the Dumas kit. One is the use of different spars. I have put an electric engine in the stock pod, will post pics

Botijo · Jun 23, 2009, 10:05 PM

I built this Mod Pod in 1990 from the magazine plans, Just finish putting a pod and an electric engine with a 7x5 prop and 3s lipo

Botijo · Jul 06, 2009, 12:06 PM

Well 7x5 prop as useless as the 7x6 slow flight prop. Pulling only 4.5 Amps. Lanuching is like watching a prop driven carrier takeoff. It sinks after launch and takes a while to get speed and altitude. I took a 8x4 prop that came in an electra kit and shorten it, seems to have much more power, will hook up meter and test flight.

Botijo · Jul 06, 2009, 12:11 PM

Stock rudder ineficient, needs a bigger rudder. I made one twice as wide and is way over kill, acts like a speed brake almost when fully deflected. 1.5 times the original is much better

fhhuber506771 · Jul 06, 2009, 12:13 PM

Plans are available via AMA's Plans Service.

Plan #60090
Top of page 40

MOD POD
Span 54
AMERICAN AIRCRAFT MODELER
BY MICHAELIS
05/70
Area 6
$ 8.00

Botijo · Jul 06, 2009, 12:15 PM

Curious I called them before and they say they didnt have them, just called them and they found it and is on its way!!!, Thanks!!! The plane was sold at a later time by DUMAS as a kit (got those plans but are very different thant he original) and they sold around 14K according to Michaelis. Lamnier sold it also after Dumas but neither has kept plans for it. As far as I know 2 flying from the kit and mine from scratch. One gas, one lectric one pure glider

rchopper56 · Jul 08, 2009, 02:01 PM

Hi,
This post inspired me to scan in this astetic design this morning.
Gene

Botijo · Jul 08, 2009, 02:59 PM

Great scan Gene!!, what was the original?

Mar 10, 2008, 10:44 AM	#1
mlbco Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Palo Alto, California, United States Posts: 586	Dumas Mod Pod I recently built this 30+ year old kit that I won on Ebay. I flew several Mod Pods in 1976-1977 with a Medallion 049 and a Cannon 2 channel radio and essentially learned to fly RC using this model. This version is painted all white because I'm too lazy to jazz it up and it uses a Toki 0.05 on a power pod to get it aloft. I have to admit that my fond memories of its performance are more favorable than my recent experience with the model. The Mod Pod has a semi-symmetric airfoil and glides fast. It doesn't like to slow down or be horsed around in a thermal. I'm planning to take the power pod off and fly it on the slope where I think it will be happier. Fellow modeler Alan Porter took these photos of it flying in the park yesterday. Steve Attached Thumbnails 39.9 KB · Views: 104 65.2 KB · Views: 120 19.6 KB · Views: 97 18.8 KB · Views: 87 23.4 KB · Views: 103 19.0 KB · Views: 81 20.2 KB · Views: 86

Jun 15, 2009, 02:47 PM	#7
Botijo Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 21	MOD POD Plans Long story short, as a child in Spain I fell in love with an old magazine my dad had wirth the MOD POD on the cover. He gave away the magazines and 15 years later I found another one and made it from scratch. How could I get a coipy of the kit plans?, curious about any differences. Last edited by Botijo; Jun 29, 2009 at 09:31 AM.

Jun 22, 2009, 11:16 AM	#8
Botijo Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 21	MOd POd Ok here is the ccover of the magazine, plans and article. There are several changes between the magazine plans and the Dumas kit. One is the use of different spars. I have put an electric engine in the stock pod, will post pics Attached Thumbnails May 1970 110.4 KB · Views: 70 71.6 KB · Views: 110 126.6 KB · Views: 84

Jun 23, 2009, 10:05 PM	#9
Botijo Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 21	Electric mod pod I built this Mod Pod in 1990 from the magazine plans, Just finish putting a pod and an electric engine with a 7x5 prop and 3s lipo Attached Thumbnails Outrunner with a 7x4 prop 42.9 KB · Views: 65 51.9 KB · Views: 53 Last edited by Botijo; Jun 29, 2009 at 09:30 AM.

Jul 06, 2009, 12:13 PM	#12
fhhuber506771 Deletedfor proving Nauga wrong Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Posts: 15,865	Plans are available via AMA's Plans Service. Plan #60090 Top of page 40 MOD POD Span 54 AMERICAN AIRCRAFT MODELER BY MICHAELIS 05/70 Area 6 $ 8.00 Last edited by fhhuber506771; Jul 06, 2009 at 12:22 PM.

Mar 10, 2008, 07:47 PM	#2
jjscott Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 205	Nice job. The plain white is fine, too. How about building another wing with a little more span and a flat bottom airfoil? Jim

Mar 10, 2008, 11:34 PM	#3
Snorks Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Africa Posts: 772	I dont quite understand why it has the semi symetrical section in the first place? The boom doesnt look like it could withstand aerobatics? A tidy job though Steve.

Mar 10, 2008, 11:37 PM	#4
Snorks Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Africa Posts: 772	How is the perfomance of the Toki compared to a Medallion, Tee Dee or a Norvel?

Mar 11, 2008, 01:44 AM	#5
mlbco Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Palo Alto, California, United States Posts: 586	Snorks, I posted some info on the Toki 0.05 on the 1/2A forum: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showt...71#post9325854 The bottom line is the engine weighs more than twice as much as a Cox Medallion 049 and has similar power. Throttle response is sluggish, probably because of the heat-sink head which I believe was intended for RC car use. The muffler is very quiet. Overall it is a nice sport engine but is big and heavy for an 05. Thanks, Steve

Mar 11, 2008, 01:57 AM	#6
mlbco Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Palo Alto, California, United States Posts: 586	Regarding the airfoil, the original construction article for the Mod Pod was in the May 1970 issue of American Aircraft Modeler and the plane was designed by Harley Michaelis. He mentions in the article that the Mod Pod "glide will be surprisingly flat and faster than you expect". The glider was designed for RC and a variety of "throwing" games like playing catch with gliders. He mentions 8 different ways to fly it including a 400 foot tether on one wingtip and a power pod. Maybe he wanted a glider that could be thrown far and not necessarily have a low stall speed. When I was young I didn't even know about thermals so I just flew mine around with the motor running. When it quit I would glide down and land, never attempting to work lift. Now that I'm older (wiser?) I've tried to soar the model and found it lacking compared to other sailplanes I've flown. Steve

Jul 06, 2009, 12:06 PM	#10
Botijo Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 21	Well 7x5 prop as useless as the 7x6 slow flight prop. Pulling only 4.5 Amps. Lanuching is like watching a prop driven carrier takeoff. It sinks after launch and takes a while to get speed and altitude. I took a 8x4 prop that came in an electra kit and shorten it, seems to have much more power, will hook up meter and test flight.

Jul 06, 2009, 12:11 PM	#11
Botijo Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 21	Stock rudder ineficient, needs a bigger rudder. I made one twice as wide and is way over kill, acts like a speed brake almost when fully deflected. 1.5 times the original is much better

Jul 06, 2009, 12:15 PM	#13
Botijo Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 21	Curious I called them before and they say they didnt have them, just called them and they found it and is on its way!!!, Thanks!!! The plane was sold at a later time by DUMAS as a kit (got those plans but are very different thant he original) and they sold around 14K according to Michaelis. Lamnier sold it also after Dumas but neither has kept plans for it. As far as I know 2 flying from the kit and mine from scratch. One gas, one lectric one pure glider Last edited by Botijo; Jul 08, 2009 at 03:20 PM.

Jul 08, 2009, 02:01 PM	#14
rchopper56 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Newport News, Va Posts: 220	Hi, This post inspired me to scan in this astetic design this morning. Gene Attached Files Mod Pod.pdf (509.8 KB, 88 views)

Jul 08, 2009, 02:59 PM	#15
Botijo Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 21	Great scan Gene!!, what was the original?

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