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Medicine Man Glider

After seeing the article in Make Magazine I just had to have a blast from the past and build an old style balsa frame RC plane. Since I already had the radio on hand from another project (and even that was a $20 shipped bargain on ebay) other than the cost of the Kit (Around $25 shipped at the time I'm doing this) some covering material, a new micro servo (I only had one micro on hand), and some miscellaneous hardware/tools (About $30). I started building around March 6th and finished on April 16th. I took a break from it for about a week while my parents were in town but mainly built for an hour or two each night while waiting on dinner to cook or listening to TV.
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  • My simple work area. Just a cork board on our living room table.

    My simple work area. Just a cork board on our living room table.

  • My simple work area. Just a cork board on our living room table.

    My simple work area. Just a cork board on our living room table.

  • My simple work area. Just a cork board on our living room table.

    My simple work area. Just a cork board on our living room table.

  • Building the fuselage sides these two panels were the biggest problem. The pieces marked on the printwood were a little too small so I had to fill in with some scraps.

    Building the fuselage sides these two panels were the biggest problem. The pieces marked on the printwood were a little too small so I had to fill in with some scraps.

  • I liked this part of the fuselage design, it's obvious that this is where the greatest stresses on the airframe are encountered.

    I liked this part of the fuselage design, it's obvious that this is where the greatest stresses on the airframe are encountered.

  • Rudder assembly before sanding.

    Rudder assembly before sanding.

  • Still the rudder

    Still the rudder

  • Elevator and tail pre-sanding

    Elevator and tail pre-sanding

  • Overview of tail.

    Overview of tail.

  • There was some minor shipping damage to the box my kit came in. The biggest issue was a crack though the sheet of 3/16" balsa right through one of the elevators. Sure enough it ended up snapping when I started sanding and I had to repair it.

    There was some minor shipping damage to the box my kit came in. The biggest issue was a crack though the sheet of 3/16" balsa right through one of the elevators. Sure enough it ended up snapping when I started sanding and I had to repair it.

  • There was some minor shipping damage to the box my kit came in. The biggest issue was a crack though the sheet of 3/16" balsa right through one of the elevators. Sure enough it ended up snapping when I started sanding and I had to repair it.

    There was some minor shipping damage to the box my kit came in. The biggest issue was a crack though the sheet of 3/16" balsa right through one of the elevators. Sure enough it ended up snapping when I started sanding and I had to repair it.

  • There was some minor shipping damage to the box my kit came in. The biggest issue was a crack though the sheet of 3/16" balsa right through one of the elevators. Sure enough it ended up snapping when I started sanding and I had to repair it.

    There was some minor shipping damage to the box my kit came in. The biggest issue was a crack though the sheet of 3/16" balsa right through one of the elevators. Sure enough it ended up snapping when I started sanding and I had to repair it.

  • There was some minor shipping damage to the box my kit came in. The biggest issue was a crack though the sheet of 3/16" balsa right through one of the elevators. Sure enough it ended up snapping when I started sanding and I had to repair it.

    There was some minor shipping damage to the box my kit came in. The biggest issue was a crack though the sheet of 3/16" balsa right through one of the elevators. Sure enough it ended up snapping when I started sanding and I had to repair it.

  • There was some minor shipping damage to the box my kit came in. The biggest issue was a crack though the sheet of 3/16" balsa right through one of the elevators. Sure enough it ended up snapping when I started sanding and I had to repair it.

    There was some minor shipping damage to the box my kit came in. The biggest issue was a crack though the sheet of 3/16" balsa right through one of the elevators. Sure enough it ended up snapping when I started sanding and I had to repair it.

  • Rudder all sanded.

    Rudder all sanded.

  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo
  • Few days latter, and the fuselage is fully assembled!

    Few days latter, and the fuselage is fully assembled!

  • Few days latter, and the fuselage is fully assembled!

    Few days latter, and the fuselage is fully assembled!

  • Few days latter, and the fuselage is fully assembled!

    Few days latter, and the fuselage is fully assembled!

  • Few days latter, and the fuselage is fully assembled!

    Few days latter, and the fuselage is fully assembled!

  • Few days latter, and the fuselage is fully assembled!

    Few days latter, and the fuselage is fully assembled!

  • Trying to show how I built the access hatch, but missed my focus. The plans call for adding tabs and apparently bending the hatch to remove it. I found it didn't bend easily enough for my likings so I made a bevel cut instead. Wish I had thought to do it on both sides so the hatch would have just slid out from the side.

    Trying to show how I built the access hatch, but missed my focus. The plans call for adding tabs and apparently bending the hatch to remove it. I found it didn't bend easily enough for my likings so I made a bevel cut instead. Wish I had thought to do it on both sides so the hatch would have just slid out from the side.

  • Slightly better shot of the bevel.

    Slightly better shot of the bevel.

  • On the other side since I had already made a straight cut when I thought of the bevel I ended up using a tab as called for in the plans.

    On the other side since I had already made a straight cut when I thought of the bevel I ended up using a tab as called for in the plans.

  • I soaked both the bevel and the tab in CA glue to strengthen them.

    I soaked both the bevel and the tab in CA glue to strengthen them.

  • Detail of the area where the landing skid and tow hook mount.

    Detail of the area where the landing skid and tow hook mount.

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