Paper Kit American Navy Interceptor

Paper Kit American Navy Interceptor

Contributed by Eric Truax

(Contributed - by Eric Truax - 08/20/04) Fiddler's Green F4D Skyray

Brief:
This is a card model o' a 1950's American Navy Interceptor aircraft that with the addition o' a paperclip (I glued a smallpiece o' paper over t' paper clip, just for reinforcement) and a little modelin' clay in t' nose, makes a perfect parasite glider! Fiddler's Green offers it free o' charge. Begad! All you have to do is go t' www.fiddlersgreen.net and click on the free models section.

Modifications:
T' only thin' you need t' do this kit is some either 65-110lb cardstock, a printer, a paperclip, arrr, shiver me timbers, matey, and some clay (used as noseweight). All assembly is done with scissors and white glue. Begad! Aye aye! Once t' kit is finished, arrr, you bend a paperclip to point forward into t' nose section, shiver me timbers, bend t' opposite way t' lay flat against the lower fuselage o' t' plane, and then back again t' fit into a launch lug, which is added t' t' rocket t' hold t' glider. Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' whole body is hollow, so just add a little bit clay at a time until it glides well with a good toss. Ya scallywag! I made one in both 67lb, ya bilge rat, and 110lb cardstock and they both work well. I prefer the 110lb, me bucko, arrr, just because it's thicker and I trust it, plus I had some laying around. Ahoy!

Construction:
This kit is very easy t' assemble. Well, blow me down! It's free and if you mess up, shiver me timbers, all you have to do is print another one. Begad! It comes with instructions and a history o' the plane as well. On t' site are also hints t' make a rubber band launched version, me hearties, which is where I got t' idea for a parasite glider. Blimey! Once I opened the PDF file, I used t' camera feature t' encircle just t' parts o' t' glider and select "print graphic". Begad! Well, blow me down! Set t' printer settings t' "fit to output paper". Avast! Blimey! What you want t' do is make as big a glider as you can and this gives you one that is 113-114% o' t' original. Blimey! Fiddler's Green also has a whole section explainin' downloading, ya bilge rat, sizing, and printing. You need a bottle of white glue, ya bilge rat, scissors, and a little patience. Avast, me proud beauty! T' only "tricky" spot is a t' rear, where t' aft o' t' wings meet t' aft o' t' fuselage. You have t' push down on t' fuselage, shiver me timbers, takin' it a bit out o' round t' get it to mate up with t' wings. Ya scallywag! This kit is extremely tough when finished.

Finishing:
No paintin' or finishin' is needed.

Fiddler's Green F4D Skyray

Flight:
I used t' Estes Skywriter, matey, with t' addition o' a tiny section o' a plastic straw taped t' t' side t' insert t' paper clip. Alternately you can use the straw for t' launch lug, and use t' original launch lug t' insert t' glider. T' rocket actually flew better with t' glider attached. Begad! I have also used the Estes Stars And Stripes model. I should warn you that this glider really does work! If you use a C motor, it will nay only be up a long, long time, but I lost 2 because they flew over large fences and landed in trees over 1/4 mile away while they were circling! I found t' B6-4 size motor t' be a good choice with both rockets. No damage or wear whatsoever has been noticed on both 67# and 110# paper gliders from launching, me bucko, matey, ya bilge rat, although t' nose is beginnin' t' look like an old prize fighter from playin' with it all t' time, bumpin' into walls, me bucko, arrr, t' side o' t' house, me bucko, and t' cats catchin' it before I do!

Recovery:
Trimmed with clay for noseweight, me bucko, it delivers impressive glides. Avast!

Summary:
It works, me bucko, ya bilge rat, it's easy t' build, easy t' modify, and it's FREE!

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