Thanks for the tips guys! I think it may be in my best interest to cut out a notch in my wing before sticking my cabin to it. Considering I plan on using a 1500kv, I guess I'll either switch up to a 3s and 6-7" prop, or stick to a 2s 8x4 and use a prop saver. Good heads up on the cabin, guess I have some reinforcing to do when I start building.

That paper plane looks like it flies great! What was your AUW on it? I've been toying with the idea of building one myself, but tiny servos seem to be really expensive.

AUW is about 750g with a 3000mAh 3S. I'll be going to 4S when making it long-range capable though so probably around 1000g when loaded up.

My small-ish paper airplane would still be about 2ft or 60cm long.

Hi all! Just wanted to share my progress. Finished my build of the lighting and maidened it today. at 260g AUW it's a great slow flyer and glides really well unpowered. Took a couple nose ins before I got the reflex right and it handled them like a champ. It needs very very little reflex, maybe something like 3-5mm. It also has great elevator authority, possibly too much, although it doesn't roll very well. All in all a good wing for slow flying.

Specs:
Skywalker 20A ESC
Racerstar 2206/1500kv motor
8040 prop (the 6040 was a bit lacking on 2s)
2s 1100 mah
9g Towerpro servos
CG was 40 mm back from where the wing meets the fuselage

Maiden video:

DW Hobby Lighting (1 min 45 sec)

Very Nice flying, Marcus. It flies like a dream... good job *

Originally Posted by Protato223

Hi all! Just wanted to share my progress. Finished my build of the lighting and maidened it today. at 260g AUW it's a great slow flyer and glides really well unpowered. Took a couple nose ins before I got the reflex right and it handled them like a champ. It needs very very little reflex, maybe something like 3-5mm. It also has great elevator authority, possibly too much, although it doesn't roll very well. All in all a good wing for slow flying.

Specs:
Skywalker 20A ESC
Racerstar 2206/1500kv motor
8040 prop (the 6040 was a bit lacking on 2s)
2s 1100 mah
9g Towerpro servos
CG was 40 mm back from where the wing meets the fuselage

Maiden video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOVNRAJGGVg

I have my CG at 50mm and no reflex is needed. It might be a little nose heavy at 40mm. But hey if it flies it flies.

Slow rolls and super responsive elevator... Welcome to flying planks.

Hello how are you? I just got my dw lighting and im also gonna make it for slope.. wich cg do you use and how much movement on the ailerons should i set up?? Thank you
Joni

It's been windy lately but finally getting it trimmed out.

DW Hobbies Lighting Plank Twin (2 min 51 sec)

DIY EPP pod.
Cobra 2204 1960kV
KISS 18A
4S 1700mAh Gaoneng
TBS Nano/500mW

well done mod, good performance!
twin motor moves weight so your custom longer cabin allows better battery access.
(looks better, too)

Hi All,
I bought one lightning (or lighting :-) ) , thank you for all the ideas I found here.
I made several mods I want to share with you.

mods are :
- servos mounted throught the wings with the rods on top (I cut the servos attachment ears...). Those cheap blue 9g servos get the perfect size for the lightning thickness.
- I installed a cheap JMT 1806 2400KV brushless motor
- the front wood plate needed some down pitch angle. I installed the motor on a 3D printed cross to make it adjustable
- I wanted a foldable prop. I printed a spinner (https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5608492) and installed some cheap 6x4 blades
- I designed a 3D printed nose cover to improve the overall look
- I wanted more space in the body, I replaced the bottom by a wider EPP part that can be glued on top the sides. I could then install the Rx right at the end of the body
- I glued a carbon spar to the bottom of the tail

I fly it with either a 550 mAh or a 1300mAh 3 cells batt which gives plenty of flight time

My CG is set at 30 mm from Leading Edge at the body attachement (or 20 mm from the carbon rod)
Very few reflex is needed

It's very fun to fly and is quite a good performer in thermals... I will fly it at the slope soon !
I must admit it's really a nice bird for it's price...

Interesting mods a lot of you are doing. I will consider them as options for the future.

I’m building mine now, and I plan to go stock initially and see how it goes. Reasoning is I want to build light as I suspect complaints about airframe strength, etc, are maybe because of people adding weight by reinforcing and going with bigger batteries/3s, etc. None of those things are wrong, of course, but they have consequences.

Colin Chapman’s motto (from Lotus car company) was “add lightness”. ;-)

It looks like instability at it's peak to me.