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Glider News from Aloft
- Thread starter Wayne
- Start date
I think that would be a hard market for Multiplex to tap into. These days they only seem to offer EPO foam planes, and that does not lend itself well to DLG. There are a lot of really GREAT DLGs on the market already. We have a number of really completive DLGs on order right now. We have never offered a top quality DLG before, and now we will have 5 different airframes to pick from. 
Doc James Hammond
Very Strong User
The guys here bought a job lot of Sonets; 7 I think, about 2 years ago as I remember.
They are ok quality wise, and good for the very heavy winds we get here.
Doc.
They are ok quality wise, and good for the very heavy winds we get here.
Doc.
thenated0g
Moderator
any word on the new blejzyk arf's ?
Konrad
Very Strong User
I saw a Spin ARF, very nicely done. I noticed that the wings were not covered in Oracover, but were rather naked (by the looks of it). I assume you are expected to finish the model in WBPU. This isn't a bad thing as it would allow you to customize the model rather easily. I will say that I wouldn't want to pay for the shipping on that one piece 1.5 meter wing.
No updates on the NYX DS replacement, but we did a custom order of Sonet DS Acros recently and the guys have been very pleased with those. Will post up some pics as I get them in. Should be some good video too. These are a very current F3F design with a few changes for DS Acro, not just a bunch of carbon.
Diceman
Moderator
Any updates with this statement?
"We have a large number of new airframes coming in from South Africa & Japan.
Some really cool ships that we are eager to share with you. We should have the South African planes pretty soon as they were nearing completion on our initial order. We are really looking forward to checking out the quality and flight dynamics of these planes. We have read great things from owners in South Africa. The Japanese planes are a little more hush hush for now, but will be able to say more very soon."
"We have a large number of new airframes coming in from South Africa & Japan.
Some really cool ships that we are eager to share with you. We should have the South African planes pretty soon as they were nearing completion on our initial order. We are really looking forward to checking out the quality and flight dynamics of these planes. We have read great things from owners in South Africa. The Japanese planes are a little more hush hush for now, but will be able to say more very soon.
"
The Japanese planes are here and have been for a while. That would be the Cassiopeia line and the Pilot (OK Model) lines. The quality on these kits is really nice, and the flight from the samples I have flown have all been impressive. You pay a little more for them, but they are well worth it IMHO.
The South African company has decided to go into the boating world..
The South African company has decided to go into the boating world..
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Doc James Hammond
Very Strong User
Wayne - is that Coudbase Composites?
Doc.
Doc.
Doc James Hammond
Very Strong User
I did hear the same thing from Nigel - my buddy in SA.
Good to hear it worked out OK.
Doc.
Good to hear it worked out OK.
Doc.
Doc James Hammond
Very Strong User
Hi guys – a bit of an update on the latest news:
We are getting there! Our new stuff is coming along slowly but very surely and frontside and backside (WMD) flying samples of two new models, Stormbird Forza 100, and Firebird 60 will be going to the USA and to UK next week.
Also, I have almost finished an electric version of the Schwing Corsa fuselage which I hope will be available sometime this year. Nothing like the previous unsuccessful attempt, this new airframe has the backing and support of a whole, very knowledgeable team. (I need all the help I can get!) It will be able to handle very powerful motors and provides a pretty large “cargo hold” for super quick changing of those big batteries. Servos will be either in the front or in the fin area with a special injection moulded double servo mounting tray for the latter.
Meanwhile the Aresti 80 has been updated with new airfoils and some other changes to make the all-new (Or nearly!) Aresti Giro. The little Gremlin 60 will also be given a facelift soon and will now have a permanent motor mounting for flying anywhere, anytime.
In less encouraging news, Zhou continues to sell a few bootleg models to unscrupulous buyers, but not enough to survive for long. The quality of the models he is producing apparently continues to fall, which makes me sad as they are, after all, my designs.
I am told that he is working on an electro version of one of my designs, but as he knows nothing about aerodynamics, aviation, or even simple mechanical engineering I don’t think it’s likely to be very successful.
We have also heard that recently Zhou has obtained new supplies of glass, but instead of the S-Glass which I always insisted on, he has opted for the much cheaper but heavier and weaker E-Glass. E-Glass effectively cuts 35% off the strength of the models for the same weight of S-Glass. Think of all the money he is saving (!)
Also, I am sure he has been duped. For a long time there have been people selling what they claim to be “lightweight Kevlar” in China. In fact, this is yellow Rayon or some such fibre that has been purposely dyed or simply has a very similar yellow colour to real Kevlar. The bogus material is nowhere near as strong as Kevlar and also has not been treated to bond with an epoxy matrix. Sure, it’s cheap! – but frankly its dangerous.
Anyway, whatever Zhou does I am sure that all of my friends here, and probably 99% of others support me, so please let me say a very heartfelt thanks to all of you for your fantastic encouragement – I really appreciate this.
Doc James Hammond. Oct 11, 2019
We are getting there! Our new stuff is coming along slowly but very surely and frontside and backside (WMD) flying samples of two new models, Stormbird Forza 100, and Firebird 60 will be going to the USA and to UK next week.
Also, I have almost finished an electric version of the Schwing Corsa fuselage which I hope will be available sometime this year. Nothing like the previous unsuccessful attempt, this new airframe has the backing and support of a whole, very knowledgeable team. (I need all the help I can get!) It will be able to handle very powerful motors and provides a pretty large “cargo hold” for super quick changing of those big batteries. Servos will be either in the front or in the fin area with a special injection moulded double servo mounting tray for the latter.
Meanwhile the Aresti 80 has been updated with new airfoils and some other changes to make the all-new (Or nearly!) Aresti Giro. The little Gremlin 60 will also be given a facelift soon and will now have a permanent motor mounting for flying anywhere, anytime.
In less encouraging news, Zhou continues to sell a few bootleg models to unscrupulous buyers, but not enough to survive for long. The quality of the models he is producing apparently continues to fall, which makes me sad as they are, after all, my designs.
I am told that he is working on an electro version of one of my designs, but as he knows nothing about aerodynamics, aviation, or even simple mechanical engineering I don’t think it’s likely to be very successful.
We have also heard that recently Zhou has obtained new supplies of glass, but instead of the S-Glass which I always insisted on, he has opted for the much cheaper but heavier and weaker E-Glass. E-Glass effectively cuts 35% off the strength of the models for the same weight of S-Glass. Think of all the money he is saving (!)
Also, I am sure he has been duped. For a long time there have been people selling what they claim to be “lightweight Kevlar” in China. In fact, this is yellow Rayon or some such fibre that has been purposely dyed or simply has a very similar yellow colour to real Kevlar. The bogus material is nowhere near as strong as Kevlar and also has not been treated to bond with an epoxy matrix. Sure, it’s cheap! – but frankly its dangerous.
Anyway, whatever Zhou does I am sure that all of my friends here, and probably 99% of others support me, so please let me say a very heartfelt thanks to all of you for your fantastic encouragement – I really appreciate this.
Doc James Hammond. Oct 11, 2019
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jvaliensi
Active User
Ooh - I want an electric Schwing!
I recently built an electric Shinto. What a pain it was because the fuselage is so narrow. I seen that the Germans are able to get 3s batteries in it. I couldn't find any that would fit. So, I upped my motor KV and use 2s. I'm swinging an 18 x 10 at 45amp. Ecalc indicates 1.7 thrust to weight ratio. I have not flown it yet.
I recently built an electric Shinto. What a pain it was because the fuselage is so narrow. I seen that the Germans are able to get 3s batteries in it. I couldn't find any that would fit. So, I upped my motor KV and use 2s. I'm swinging an 18 x 10 at 45amp. Ecalc indicates 1.7 thrust to weight ratio. I have not flown it yet.
