Parts and Supplies

Hobby Knife, Sand Paper (220 grit), me hearties, me hearties, me hearties, Glue (I used Thick CA), me bucko, Ruler, arrr, Pen or Pencil, shiver me timbers, Desired paint etc..

Assembly

Compare t' parts in t' box with t' parts list in t' instructions. Blimey! Ahoy! Separate all balsa parts from balsa stock and sand trim as needed. Begad! Assemble wings, thar are two and make sure you make a left and right for each win' set. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty! You will use t' included template t' get proper dihedral on t' outer wings. Important for t' center dihedral: read ahead in t' instructions before gluin' especially if you use CA glue!

Attach dowel rods t' aft o' each glider body (BT-5's). Ya scallywag! Be careful, me markin' guide was nay large enough for t' tubes and so t' dowel lines and win' line did nay line up properly! 

Attach vertical stabilizers and win' panels t' body tubes and attach win' panels t' body tubes and you have t' finished gliders. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! Make measurement, and cut for engine hook. Blimey! Blimey! Install slide adapter in place.   Glue and slide engine block into place and glue as well. Well, blow me down! Blimey!  

Glue nose cone base into nose cone for main body tube. Avast! Ahoy! Smear glue inside body tube and slide engine mount smartly into place so aft o' motor mount tube is flush with aft o' main body tube. Tie shock cord t' nose cone. Arrr! Ya scallywag! Glue nose cone into place after slidin' shock cord down longer tube. Ahoy! Arrr! Be careful t' minimize t' amount o' glue you get on t' shock cord. Begad!  

I made me modification here. Aye aye! Blimey! I installed t' shock cord through t' tube adapter and then glued adapter in place (much stronger). Glue adapter into bottom (shorter) tube. DO NOT GLUE into top (longer) tube because it needs t' separate here!

Usin' t' markin' guide, mark t' main body tube. Begad! Cut out and carefully trim plastic parts for glider retention. Begad! Test fit these and trim as needed. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! Glue plastic components into place carefully . Blimey! . Ya scallywag! . Blimey! alignment is critical. Avast! Glue launch lugs into place as well.   Attach streamer t' shock cord now.  

Finishing

Since I wanted t' maintain some performance I used one coat o' glossy white paint and no primer and sealer t' save weight. Ya scallywag! I choose t' use Glossy White Spray paint (Testor's) although I would have preferred a slight Pearl Gray White. This color be handy and close enough.

Personal Notes

It is definitely a level 2 kit. Aye aye! I would make it a level 3 kit.  I had no problem assemblin' but t' average level 2 person may experience problems.

T' portion o' t' directions on t' win' panel assembly needs t' be updated. Avast! Well, blow me down!   Although I be aware o' it, me bucko, no one reads t' booklet first and then builds and t' part on win' dihedral came too late especially if you use a fast glue like CA. If you assemble t' wings by placin' them on flat surface, matey, like directions say, ya bilge rat, me bucko, and then read t' part about placin' a tube under one win' for correct dihedral, it is probably too late since t' glue is now dry! 

Otherwise, good directions and good parts. Well, blow me down! I had trouble with old balsa and old decals. I attribute this t' t' fact that t' kit sat in me basement for over 3 years. I have no doubt it would
be fine if I went out right now and bought one. Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty!  

As illustrated above I was nay satisfied with shock cord installation so I modified this from what t' direction with t' model suggested. Ya scallywag!  

Be sure t' note that t' markin' guide for t' small glider tube on me kit did nay fit right. Ya scallywag! Be sure t' note this and make appropriate changes as needed on your model.  

Dowel rod placement is critical for this determines how tight t' glider is held by t' booster and therefore how easily t' booster will release t' glider in flight. Arrr!  

Decals are water transfer and a pain. Aye aye! I ripped a lot o' them. Ya scallywag! Either they were way too thin (I like pressure sensitive and ones I don't have t' cut out) or t' fact that this model be rather old (sat in me room downstairs for about 3 years since I bought it still sealed in plastic . Blimey! . Begad! . Begad! I bought two since I liked it so much . Begad! Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! . Arrr! . Avast! I never finished t' first and lost many parts so I built this one).

Flight Report

I had a tough time trimmin' for flight since I goofed on main win' dihedral (not enough). Blimey! Well, blow me down! Be careful on this part. Ahoy! Flight trimmin' is important and I advise you t' trim and beat it up before paintin' so that when you paint it you cover up any repairs from test flyin' t' gliders. Ahoy! They will usually need a little tail weight and every one I have made OR saw fly has always been left win' heavy, therefore, me bucko, you may need t' add a little weight t' right wing. Avast! Also when you trim fly, don't just toss it . . . really heave them, like baseballs, me hearties, straight up. Ahoy! Ahoy! You may prang it until you balance it but it is worth it once you get it goin' right.

Straight up boost and release and "Man, me hearties, it is COOOL . Begad! . Aye aye! . Blimey! " t' watch these things fly and properly trimmed they land within 50 feet o' each other as they circle each other. Word o' advise: they really glide well when trimmed properly. Avast, me proud beauty! Do nay fly on a "C" motor unless you have a lot o' field t' fly it in. Avast, me proud beauty! You may nay get a glider or 2 back! 

We plan t' do a 3-way Drag race next time with 2 others who have this kit and have 6 gliders in t' air at once.

This kit is also beggin' t' be upscaled t' RC size with two radio systems and two pilots for double t' fun!

Overall ratin' is 4 out o' 5, only because o' t' pain o' trimmin' that plastic and t' direction's "blind spot" (at least have t' two steps on t' same page).