Hi Folks!

Does anybody know what weight of balsa was used for the wings of the Quest Flat Cat? I bought one and one of the wings had the leading edge chip out when it was cut. I would also like to know if I should replace both wings by cutting both out of the same piece of balsa? Or does that not make a difference?

Roy

Kit gliders don't always use the best balsa available. You are not likely to match the density with a new piece. The result will be that one wing will weigh more than the other and this will tend to make the model turn towards the heavier wing. You can simply add a little weight to the lighter wing tip when you are trimming the glide until it turns the amount you like. Your other option is to do as you suggested and build two new wing panels.

Yet another option could be to repair the chip by gluing a small piece of balsa back where the chip-out is and use the original panel. It would be best to use a light, sandable glue like Ambroids, but I wouldn't go out and buy some just for that.

You can go any of these ways, no big deal.

Don

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Don
SAM#513
NAR #11069

My kit was the same - very poorly die-crushed. If that lightweight balsa was laser-cut, they might have made for a very nice glider for lower-impulse motors.




I would consider a slight turn to be an advantage to prevent flyaways.


Bill

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G. Harry Stine wrote an article on the Flat Cat (his original, twin-tailed design) in the August 1969 issue of "The Model Rocketeer" (see: http://ninfinger.org/rockets/ModelR...elRocketry.html ). He may have listed suggested balsa weights for the model's various components in the article--it's been a while since I last read it. Also:

Since a turning glider is less likely to glide away in a thermal (provided that the glider turns in the correct direction), having wings of unequal weight can be an advantage. G. Harry Stine wrote in his "Handbook of Model Rocketry" that a glider which turns to the *left* circles out of thermals, which (viewed from below) rotate counter-clockwise in the northern hemisphere. He suggested adding "just a teeny pinch of clay to the left wing tip to cause the glider to turn slowly to the left as it glides." If your Flat Cat's left wing is already heavier than its right wing, you're well on your way!

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NAR #54895 SR

Thanks everyone! Quest is sending me new wings! Gotta love the service!

Good on them! Also, a thought:

Since boost-glider kits don't typically sell in as large volumes as other kits, maybe Quest could hire some of their "elves" (local, temporary help) to hand-select the proper balsa weights and grain types for the various parts of their Flat Cat kits, whenever they produce a batch of them.

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Black Shire--Draft horse in human form, model rocketeer, occasional mystic, and writer, see:
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NAR #54895 SR

I'm sad to say the Flat Cat has gone OOP! But your suggestion is a good one.

That's sad...but since Semroc Astronautics www.semroc.com has/makes the 20 mm tubing as well as the short balsa ogive nose cone that was used in the earlier variants of the Flat Cat, the kit's components (like the Centuri Mini-Dactyl boost-glider's parts) will remain available.

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Black Shire--Draft horse in human form, model rocketeer, occasional mystic, and writer, see:
http://www.lulu.com/content/paperba...an-form/8075185
http://www.lulu.com/product/cd/what...of-2%29/6122050
http://www.lulu.com/product/cd/what...of-2%29/6126511
All of my book proceeds go to the Northcote Heavy Horse Centre www.northcotehorses.com.
NAR #54895 SR

They do? I don't see 20 mm tubes on their website. I see the metric cones, but no body tubes.

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