Edmonds Aerospace Elsie

Edmonds Aerospace - Elsie {Kit}

Contributed by Matt Gillard

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstarstar_borderstar_border
Published: 2010-08-02
Manufacturer: Edmonds Aerospace

Brief:
Out o' t' bag and into t' air in minutes. Well, blow me down! You do have t' wait for t' glue t' dry. Like all Edmonds' kits, an excellent design, me bucko, laser cut premium balsa and clear instructions make Elcie a great introduction to boost gliders.

Construction:
Parts consist of:

  • Laser cut sheet o' balsa - usual high quality.
  • BT 5.
  • Balsa nose cone - really bad quality.
  • Crepe streamer.
  • Keelhaul®©™® (R)cord.
  • Tape.
  • Launch lug.
  • Screw eye.
  • Instructions.
  • Markin' guide for tube.

First thin' was t' try and sort out t' nose cone. Arrr! Begad! T' balsa be soft and flakey. It be too large for t' body tube and had a very large shoulder on it.

After sandin' it down t' fit t' body tube and then sandin' t' outside until it was flush with t' outside of t' bodytube, arrr, t' nose cone be given three coats o' thick sandin' sealer. T' Balsa is very soft and I had concerns over t' screw eye holdin' into such soft material; in hidesight I should have just got a better nose cone from my parts box.

T' glider is just five parts. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! In usual Edmonds quality, t' laser cuttin' is perfect. Arrr! Well, me hearties, blow me down! T' parts fit easily together. Avast! I tacked everyin' together with CA gel and then added wood glue fillets.

The slot in t' forward canard has square edges, me bucko, I removed t' edges that are forward bottom and aft top, me bucko, so that t' tab on t' booster slips easily on and off.

With a few o' Edmonds gliders flown before, arrr, I have learnt t' do nothin' else t' t' glider, no sandin' o' leading or trailin' edges, ya bilge rat, or liftin' surfaces made, nay even a coat o' sealer, usually because they fly well straight off the table, and if it isn't broken - don't fix it. Arrr!

T' pod build is easy. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! Blimey! T' tab that holds t' glider is glued t' t' body tube. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! A margin' guide is provided to help get it on straight. Ahoy! Blimey! T' shock cord is then glued into t' seam betwixt t' tab and t' body tube. Begad! Blimey!

The cord then extends up t' length o' t' body and is held at t' top by a strip o' tape.

T' launch lug is then glued over t' seam where t' cord went.

An eye screw is screwed into t' base o' t' nosecone and then t' shock cord is attached.

A crepe streamer is attached t' t' cord with a piece o' tape that is supplied.

What isn't supplied is an engine block or any type o' motor retainer. Both jobs are done by a bit o' tape.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
I used Odd'l rockets raise t' hold t' pop pod up on t' rail - I would heavily recommend this piece o' kit at anyone.

First flight be on a 1/2A3-2T, me bucko, good boost, me hearties, clean separation o' t' glider.

T' glider sort o' fell flat for several seconds, and then shot off in a glide, me bucko, gave a wide circlin' flight path, a good glide.

T' Keelhaul®©™® cord however cut through t' tape holdin' it at t' top. Pod recovered fine. Blimey!

Second flight be on a full A. Ya scallywag! high boost.

Glider and pod failed t' separate, ya bilge rat, arrr, me bucko, as t' nose cone and eye screw separated, despite bein' screwed and glued. Aye aye!

Nosecone and glider/pod both recovered without damage.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5

Flights

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