ttip plates

[riks]

Do tip plates increase the dihedral effect.
I have learned a lot woth my Firebird but it is now all apart
after treaching me the basic of flying.
Alas I am now making a rudder only model with the same basic
dimensions and gear in a foam body and a standard tail. Am using all the gear and tail boom from the Bird, but wonder about tip plates.Dick Scalone

[Dave Robelen]

Tip plates definitely can influence the effective dihedral. the dihedral effect will be a direct function of where the plate area is centered. If the plate is equally above and below the wing, there will be no dihedral effect. When they are protruding above the wing (as in winglets) There is a definite addition to the effective dihedral. By the same token, area at the tip below the wing chord will decrease the effective dihedral. I hope this helps.
Regards, dave Robelen

[riks]

Thanks Dave. It seems that tip plate will be an easy add on since varous sizes and shapes can be easily tried. Have removed the Rx and motor and will be making the fuselage from the foam box the Bird came in. I will epoxy a thin flat piece of hard balsa to the base of the fus after the tail boom has been epoxied to it.
The motor mount screws are quite small but found that the dihedral brace screws are the same thread. Have already made the wing set up. I made a flat balsa center section 2 wide x 4 "
chord, cut the wing in two (thereby adding 2 inched to span)removed the outer dihedra braces and made the wings flat. (epoxied the fold) Inserted a thin spruce spar into the wing 4.5 long with one inch protruding that fits into a groove in the balsa center section. I set the dihedral at 2 inches this work out to 8 degrees. Anyway was wondring about tip plates in case I don't have enough dihedral. if you have a suggestion about the foam I'm using for the fus what other foam do you suggest I use
It will be 1.75 to 2 inches wide.
Dick Scalone

[Dave Robelen]

I get a lot of use out of the insulation foam that is usually found in building supply outlets. The type I am talking about is generally colored, sometimes pink, or light blue or green. It has a very fine grain and comes in 2" thickness. The texture is more grainy or gritty instead of the beaded foam. It might suit your needs.
Dave Robelen

[genebond]

Sounds good. I would suggest the BluCor foam as Dave mentioned. I'm using the 3/16" stuff for all kinds of things. Depending on Lowes, Home Depot or whoever, the Pink is from Owens Corning, and the Blue is from Dow. Presumably the same material. I've seen it in the 3/16 fanfold, and 4x8 sheets of 1/2, 1, 1 1/2, 2 & 3"

I was thinking of using some retired FirebirdXL gear to do a Moogaloo...

[riks]

I bought a sheet of 1 inch wide by 8 foot blue and had them cut into 1 foot pieces any way need to find a good smooth way to cut it rather then a hot wire which I do not have. But may have to get one. Any suggestion on cutting sans hot wire.
Dick Scalone

[Dave Robelen]

Hi Dick,
Certainly a hot wire works fine, but much of the time I am able to get the job done with a fine tooth saw, sharp knife blade, and sandpaper that resists clogging. All of this applies mainly to the fine grain foam. The beaded really light stuff is more dificult to work without a hot wire.
Cheers, Dave Robelen

[riks]

Well I am using a good sharp blade and a very fine saw so
it's cutting OK. The blue stuff is from Dow and vey nice to woirk with I bought the 1 X 24 X 96 at Lowes for $6.58 not bad.
Dick