I want to start off this thread by saying this plane is a modified idea of goldguys NutBall. I do not take credit for this idea, as it is basically a NutBall with a sports twist.

I have never flown a NutBall, but have followed the original thread. The simplicity has always interested me. From the variety of sizes, to the build methods it has been a very nice plane. I have built a micro size before but never got the chance to put electronics into it.

The idea of the FOOTball was sparked from Super Bowl excitement. (Im a 100% die hard Vikings fan, but the SB is always exciting) Ive always had this vision in my head of a football shaped airplane. Ive even thought of fun video ideas such as placing the aircraft 64 yards away from a football goal post and "breaking" the record for longest field goal. The NutBall seemed like the easiest way to make this plane happen.

This is my first attempt at Google Sketchup, so I apologize the lack of details. I thought if I got the idea started, someone with more experience of the program can help me out with details and such.

Id like to hear feedback from other scratchbuilders, good or bad. If it is a terrible idea, let me know

HG

I think it will fly! Cut it out and give it a try,

Hot Glue and Cheston L Eshelman think alike! Enjoy his flying flounder.

Wingless Wonders (3 min 2 sec)

I think the biggish top fuselage combined with the narrow wingspan will make it a lot less stable than a Nutball. Instead, how about mounting the fuselage underneath to add some pendulum effect for stability? Cut the rudder flush to fuselage so it's not sticking out to be broken on belly landings.

Also I'd make the rear control surface just an elevator. The elevons look too far inboard to be very effective. Alternativlely, carry the elevon hinge line all the way to the wing edge and move the dihedral joints outboard to that location. The dihedral should still be effective, at 25 degrees angle or so.

All just my opinion, of course. Looks fun!

Thanks ruddym, I was acutally going to mention that the line in the middle of the elevator was there by mistake. It is still a RET design, I just forgot to delete a line I added to align the other parts.

I can try to widden the plane without addind length. It would give it a "cartoon" football look, but I think my idea would still be presented. I will mess around with skethup when I get bakck from my morning class.

In any case it will be interesting to see how this shape affects the flight characteristics. I had thought of doing an elliptical one for that reason, but you're getting it done.

I'd guess less lateral stability, so it ought to roll like the dickens.

Awaiting results.

Since Im waiting for my radio gear to arrive I worked on the sketchup alittle. I widened the plane, as well as a few other changes that were mentioned. Im not sure what I should make the two outside pieces at and what degree they should be at. I will probably make an attempt to cut this out today and see if that will help spark some ideas in my head.

Lookin' good. I'd start with 24° tip dihedral. Just lightly spot-glue the dihedral crack (a half-depth slit cut on the bottom side) with a dab of hot glue every 1" or so. Later, if you need to change the dihedral angle, you can reheat the glue with a covering iron and adjust as needed. Is the fuselage going on the top or the bottom?

Would something like this help stability? All I did was increase the size so it was taller than the top piece.

With the broader wingspan, I wouldn't worry about stability, it'll be fine. Adding the second piece would be purely for looks -- and looking like a football is what you want. I would seriously consider changing it so that the rudder is on the bottom, though. The rudder is not very big relative to the amount of vertical area you have, and the rudder is more effective in high alpha flight when it's on the bottom. JMHO.

Maybe take a look at joseico90's Underball for ideas about top/bottom fuselage and rudder arrangement. Might be cool to consider a prop-in-slot arrangement, too. Then you can even catch it like a football, without chopping your fingers!

Alright thanks! Im still trying to think of an idea to add a rudder while keeping it the football shape.

Ive attached a quick idea I had. Im not sure how a plane would handle with something like this, or if it would work. Just a thought I wanted to throw out there.

Both top and bottom rudder. Rudder inside the fuse pieces? I benefit would be that it would not change the shape of the fuse, so it stayed like a football.

The rudders won't behave as expected that far forward. What about this idea. Symmetrical fuse top & bottom. Use the paint scheme to "suggest" the football shape at the tail, but cut the foam according to the contour shown...?

I like that idea much better. What do you recommend for the size of the top fuse? And I assume I will only need the rudder on the bottom? I noticed with the underball that the rudder was top and bottom.

Originally Posted by hot glue

What do you recommend for the size of the top fuse?

Looks about right to me as drawn. Symmetrical top & bottom.

And I assume I will only need the rudder on the bottom? I noticed with the underball that the rudder was top and bottom.

Maybe cut both rudders (top & bottom), but hinge and linkage to bottom one only for now (for the sake of getting this bird in the air sometime near Superbowl!). Later, if you want more rudder authority, add hinge and linkage to top rudder too.