Guillows

[pedwards2932]

I am building a Gillow's 180 Cessna.  My first kit build in a while and I noticed the notches on the die cut parts are pretty much oversize. I am used to cutting my parts from my plan tracings and my notches are much tighter.  The strip wood varies from usable to not usable.  This model was a build by number and I could see where it would give a young kid a lot of difficulty.  I had very little success with these kits when I was younger (translation = impatient). I think the Lancer was the only one I got to fly okay.

[OZPAF]

At the very least - these formers would be good templates for lighter replacements. It would be interesting to know what percentage of these kits were finished to a flyable stage by young modellers.

Happy building.

John

[Crabby]

Lately Guillows is going to laser cut part sheets, but the cost is for people with good jobs. I bought the Arrow recently and the wood is great, and the parts practically fall out of the sheets. I paid the money because the Arrow has a high return to investment ratio. I haven't got time for the pain!

[pedwards2932]

I bought plans for the Arrow cost $20 with shipping.  Traced all the parts in Inkscape so I could cut them.  I plan on building 2 more one for rubber power with rudder control and one all electric for a 3 channel.  The first one I built flies great.

[Crabby]

Did you get them to climb OK?

[pedwards2932]

This was with 350 winds.  Didn't want to over fly the field,  that's why I want to do one with rudder control/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLIX0xwZx3o

[Crabby]

Wow that sure answers my question. Can you tell me a bit about your propulsion combination? I am so hit and miss with that!

[pedwards2932]

It's a homemade prop.  I printed a freewheel hub and used cottage cheese cup for the blades.  I think it is about 9.5 diameter.  I used 2 loops of 3/16" rubber. Not sure the length but it stuck out about 6" from the end.

[Crabby]

Did you fit up a spinner? Sorry Mr appetite is building for this plane.

[pedwards2932]

I printed a spinner.  Nice thing about the prop design is that it is easy to center the spinner.  I "borrowed" the prop design and modified it by using the printed freewheel hub.  Also with the printed hub my printer gives me the weight of the spinner so I can adjust the thickness to add weight to the nose if needed.

[OZPAF]

The spinner really sets it of - together with those wheels!

John