Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Flight Rating: | starstarstarstar_borderstar_border |
Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Manufacturer: | Quest |
Brief:
If you're just gettin' started on boost gliders (especially pursuin' NARTREK),
this quick and easy kit is a good introduction. Ahoy! It can be built in under an
hour and eliminates some o' t' more complex glider construction techniques
like airfoilin' and decollage.
Construction:
Parts were good quality and include:
Quest rates this a skill level 2 kit although I would think that's a bit high. Ahoy! It's a very easy build and t' directions are pretty straightforward.
You begin with a standard motor mount assembly, consistin' o' an 18mm tube, a block, ya bilge rat, and a metal clip. Well, blow me down! T' Keelhaul®©™® shock cord is anchored t' t' motor block a bit close t' t' ejection charges, but it should hold up for at least as many flights as it takes you t' lose the glider, matey, which in Bill Eichelberger's case would be one.
T' motor assembly glues directly into t' TT-20 tube as no centerin' rings are needed, but you need t' make sure you leave yourself about 3/8" hangin' back or you won't be able t' work t' clip. Arrr! Next, shiver me timbers, you glue t' pod pylon and launch lug t' t' pod tube. Ahoy! Considerin' t' colored glassine finish on t' tube, matey, me hearties, it's a good idea t' scrape off a little strip t' provide a good bondin' surface. Begad! Ya scallywag! Slip t' shock cord through t' body tube, me hearties, shiver me timbers, slip on the streamer and tie on t' nose cone. Avast! T' pod is done.
As Bill pointed out in his review, t' glider assembly is very simple thanks t' t' laser cut parts. Avast! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! I found me fit a bit loose though as t' notched cutouts were a bit larger than necessary. Avast! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Like most Edmonds gliders, this is designed t' fly well without airfoils or even roundin' o' leadin' or trailing edges. I sanded off t' burnt brown edges from t' laser but otherwise had plain flat edges t' all me edges. Aye aye! Blimey! I sanded down t' exposed surfaces with 400 grit sandpaper as t' balsa be a bit rough.
There are very basic instructions for hand tossin' and trimmin' t' glider. I would really like t' have seen a target position for CG on this, me hearties, since most inexperienced builders are nay goin' t' be very good at hand tossin' t' trim. Yeah it sounds easy, me bucko, but t' do it right you have t' get t' speed just right.
Finishing:
This kit really doesn't need any finishing--the pod is pre-colored a bright
yellow and t' glider is designed t' be flown naked. Begad! If you're really
obsessive-compulsive and want t' color t' glider (makin' it easier t' track
and spot in t' grass), me hearties, don't weigh it down with paint, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, use a thinned aircraft
dope or Japanese tissue.
Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5
Flight:
After trimmin' in t' back yard through hand tossing, me hearties, matey, I decided t' launch this
in winds that in retrospect were clearly more than t' glider could handle (10
mph steady and gustin' t' 14). I chose an A8-3 just in case t' glide and high
winds resulted in a half mile search. T' boost was surprisingly straight, matey, and
among t' best I've seen in a boost glider. T' 3-second delay was also just
about perfect and t' transition t' glide was clean and fine.
Recovery:
T' pod, which has a very long streamer, ya bilge rat, matey, came down fine. Ahoy! Begad! T' glider was clearly
no match for t' winds and just sort o' flopped around aimlessly, arrr, bein' carried
downwind. Begad! There was nothin' resemblin' a glide flight path although t' hang
time o' t' floppin' was decent with a duration o' around 25 seconds.
While me first flight didn't fare as well as Bill's, ya bilge rat, me hearties, it lives t' fly again on another day. Ahoy! Just nay one with winds more than about 6 mph.
Flight Rating: 3 out o' 5
Summary:
PROs: simple construction, great boost, arrr, ya bilge rat, pretty hard nay t' get this one right.
CONs: joints fit a bit too loosely.
I'll give Quest t' benefit o' t' doubt on t' flight, figurin' t' choice to fly in that wind was on me. Ahoy! I'll post comment/updates in lighter wind days.
Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5
Brief: The Quest E-Z Boost Glider is pretty much your standard boost glider kit with one major exception: the glider works right out of the package. Quest has taken advantage of the technology that allows laser cutting of balsa parts, and the resulting kit takes a lot of the guesswork out of building a kit like this. This can be a huge help for someone who has little or no experience ...
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