Bug HLG

> Yes I have ordered the plan but it is probably going to take weeks to > come, since I live in New Zealand, which is so remote and most people > would think is part of Australia. I do have on hand a copy of the > magazine from the library, and from what you suggest I'd better > photocopy / scan the pictures rather than relying on the one with the > plan. > > The only thing I worried about with balsa is cutting the parts to > right size and shape. Am I right in saying that for such a small > plane that is not much room for error? With foamie it does not really > matter if things are bit off, coz they will fly regardless. > > I guess I will buy myself an x-acto knife, since this is what most > people use. Some web sites speak of scrow saw and disc sander > although I honestly don't want to shell out that much money right > now. I will however look at pawn shops and second hand market and see > if I can pick up some used ones... Paul, A nice sharp x-acto knife is all you need to cut out the parts. Since you're in a remote area, I'd go ahead and order enough of the carbon fiber tubes to do a couple wings. Once you fly the bug you'll want more than one! Al =============================================================================== Allan Wright Jr. | Without love life's just a long fight - Southside University of New Hampshire +-------------------------------------------------- Research Computing Center | Come see 'The Gambler' side-arm launch glider at Internet: aew@... | http://www.wrightbrothersrc.com ===============================================================================

Thank you Paul for your useful advices Yes I have ordered the plan but it is probably going to take weeks to come, since I live in New Zealand, which is so remote and most people would think is part of Australia. I do have on hand a copy of the magazine from the library, and from what you suggest I'd better photocopy / scan the pictures rather than relying on the one with the plan. The only thing I worried about with balsa is cutting the parts to right size and shape. Am I right in saying that for such a small plane that is not much room for error? With foamie it does not really matter if things are bit off, coz they will fly regardless. I guess I will buy myself an x-acto knife, since this is what most people use. Some web sites speak of scrow saw and disc sander although I honestly don't want to shell out that much money right now. I will however look at pawn shops and second hand market and see if I can pick up some used ones... Thanks again Paul Henry --- In BugHLG@yahoogroups.com, paul@b... wrote: > I assume you purchased the plans, and are going to > scratch-build one. > Your goal with the bug is to keep it light. I use a gws > single-conversion receiver that weighs about 5 grams. > The original design calls for a 555 receiver, but I > wouldn't use anything larger. > > Balsa skills: > The original article in the june 2001 RCM issue has > great pictures which the photocopied article you get > with your plans is lacking. I've scanned that article. > If you have a fast connection, I would be happy to > email you the pictures with captions. > > There are no great skills required other than to build > light. You could download several manuals from Great > Planes kits, such as the Fundango. Their instructions > are almost like textbooks in the way they present > construction techniques. The pictures area in this > group is also a great resource. > > You might as well put a cruciform tail on, as well as a > peg in the wing. It launches straight with the > cruciform. > > I think the bug would be a decent HLG for a > first-timer. Don't hesitate sending it off the edge for > some light-air sloping. > > By keeping it light, you'll keep it durable. So, other > than applying some CA to the wingtips and tailfeather > LE's any other weight will be a detriment. "The heavier > they are, the harder they fall." > > You'll need a small sanding block, a square, small > drill or pin-vise, 2-56 tap, medium CA and some > 5-minute epoxy. The only power tool that's required is > a dremel (or similar) with a cut-off wheel for trimming > the carbon tubes. Use an exacto to cut your ribs. I > prefer photocopying the ribs, and use some 3m77 to > tack the photocopy to the balsa sheet and carefully > cutting on the outlines. It's very accurate, and you'll > cut all your ribs out in less than an hour. Of course, > you'll also need an iron and heat gun. > > When flying, a bottle of CA in your pocket will > probably be all that is ever needed for expedient > repairs.

I assume you purchased the plans, and are going to scratch-build one. Your goal with the bug is to keep it light. I use a gws single-conversion receiver that weighs about 5 grams. The original design calls for a 555 receiver, but I wouldn't use anything larger. Balsa skills: The original article in the june 2001 RCM issue has great pictures which the photocopied article you get with your plans is lacking. I've scanned that article. If you have a fast connection, I would be happy to email you the pictures with captions. There are no great skills required other than to build light. You could download several manuals from Great Planes kits, such as the Fundango. Their instructions are almost like textbooks in the way they present construction techniques. The pictures area in this group is also a great resource. You might as well put a cruciform tail on, as well as a peg in the wing. It launches straight with the cruciform. I think the bug would be a decent HLG for a first-timer. Don't hesitate sending it off the edge for some light-air sloping. By keeping it light, you'll keep it durable. So, other than applying some CA to the wingtips and tailfeather LE's any other weight will be a detriment. "The heavier they are, the harder they fall." You'll need a small sanding block, a square, small drill or pin-vise, 2-56 tap, medium CA and some 5-minute epoxy. The only power tool that's required is a dremel (or similar) with a cut-off wheel for trimming the carbon tubes. Use an exacto to cut your ribs. I prefer photocopying the ribs, and use some 3m77 to tack the photocopy to the balsa sheet and carefully cutting on the outlines. It's very accurate, and you'll cut all your ribs out in less than an hour. Of course, you'll also need an iron and heat gun. When flying, a bottle of CA in your pocket will probably be all that is ever needed for expedient repairs. Good Luck! I have never flown HLG before, all my prior experience is with EPP slope foamies. I am very keen to try HLG, and I want something cheap; therefore I have chosen the BUG. I hope this is the right choice... I have a few questions: 1. Do you have any good links to basic balsa handling skills? I have never worked with balsa before. The Bug does not seem to have too many parts and I hope I can manage... What tools do you need (basic hand tools)? What power tools would be desirable (and cheap)? 2. I have JR R600 rx, hitec hs 55 and 50 servos on hand. I only have a vanilla 4 ch futaba skysport tx with no mixing / advanced features what so ever. Question is, is it better to build a cruciform tail, with no mixing required, or shall I stick with stock, and get an electronic mixer (I have used this before in my foamie wing so). Is cruciform suitable for beginner? I just don't want to get an extra mixer and add additional weight if I can help it. 3. How do you increase resilience of the plane without adding too much weight? How crash proof is it (considering I am a beginner). How would you apply these reinforcements? (I have read about fiberglass etc but being used to foamies I only know of fiber tapes...) Any other hints would be much appreciated Thanks Henry Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ADVERTISEMENT To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: BugHLG-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com Home Page - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BugHLG/ Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.

I have never flown HLG before, all my prior experience is with EPP slope foamies. I am very keen to try HLG, and I want something cheap; therefore I have chosen the BUG. I hope this is the right choice... I have a few questions: 1. Do you have any good links to basic balsa handling skills? I have never worked with balsa before. The Bug does not seem to have too many parts and I hope I can manage... What tools do you need (basic hand tools)? What power tools would be desirable (and cheap)? 2. I have JR R600 rx, hitec hs 55 and 50 servos on hand. I only have a vanilla 4 ch futaba skysport tx with no mixing / advanced features what so ever. Question is, is it better to build a cruciform tail, with no mixing required, or shall I stick with stock, and get an electronic mixer (I have used this before in my foamie wing so). Is cruciform suitable for beginner? I just don't want to get an extra mixer and add additional weight if I can help it. 3. How do you increase resilience of the plane without adding too much weight? How crash proof is it (considering I am a beginner). How would you apply these reinforcements? (I have read about fiberglass etc but being used to foamies I only know of fiber tapes...) Any other hints would be much appreciated Thanks Henry