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All Forums >> Radios, Batteries, Clubhouse and more >> Unusual R/C >> R/C Sky Diving >> Questions on the Gitchel parachute
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Questions on the Gitchel parachute - 5/1/2008 4:06:55 AM   
FlyBy8


 

Posts: 31
Joined: 8/8/2004
From: , OH, USA
Status: offline 		Ok guys, I am looking for some guidance here on putting together a jumper/parachute from scratch.

I have downloaded the Gitchel plans from John and Bob's RC Skydiving web page. http://www.mindspring.com/~sanyo1/ Thanks John and Bob. Nice web site.

Couple of questions.

1) These plans make a 49 inch wide chute. What was the origional span for the Gitchel plans?

2) Is the modified Gitchel plans at 49 inches a good match for a 18" Juan built jumper? Santa was kind to me this year and delivered one to my supirse.

3) What is a good source for the line material? I have read where people have used planer board line, catfish fishing line, trotline, etc. What seems to work best for the combination I have outlined above?

4) Is there a better way to connect the lines to the chute? The plan calls for sewing the lines directly to the rib/bottom pannels.


At this point I have:

Drafted out the plans for the rib and bottom panel onto paper. Cut the paper pattern out and transfered it to aluminum and cut the rib template out.

Purchased three yards of rip stop nylon material.

Ordered and waiting on the hot knife to arrive from Tower.

Taken my first sewing class from my dear mother. Don't laugh, I think I can do this. We cut a few ribs, a canopy and bottom panels out of some scrap material and practiced a little last weekend.

Any help and guidenance you can provide will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Paul
       Post #: 1

RE: Questions on the Gitchel parachute - 5/2/2008 4:44:09 AM   
GaryV


 

Posts: 200
Joined: 2/3/2002
From: Stuarts Draft, VA, USA
Status: offline

1) These plans make a 49 inch wide chute. What was the origional span for the Gitchel plans?
Same, I got my plans from Wally himself
2) Is the modified Gitchel plans at 49 inches a good match for a 18" Juan built jumper? Santa was kind to me this year and delivered one to my supirse.
Depends on weight, needs to be 2.5 to 3 Lbs. If to light add weight, lead
3) What is a good source for the line material? I have read where people have used planer board line, catfish fishing line, trotline, etc. What seems to work best for the combination I have outlined above?
Paragear.com - fabric, braided kite line for rigging, Dacron ( I found some that works good for no knot loops, but I can't recall the vendor right now.)
4) Is there a better way to connect the lines to the chute? The plan calls for sewing the lines directly to the rib/bottom pannels.
Yes, but I need to go to bed, I'll get back with you on this.

GaryV

(in reply to FlyBy8)
       Post #: 2

RE: Questions on the Gitchel parachute - 5/2/2008 12:24:41 PM   
goldenknight1



Posts: 158
Joined: 2/14/2003
From: cedar hill, MO, USA
Status: offline 		flyby8:

If you go on line to www.intothewind.com they have a kite line called ashway woven dacron use the use the 50 pound line it is very strong and will not kink or bind when it gets a loop in it. I use to make gitchell and what I did was sew small loops on canopy where lines attached and this worked very well for me. If anyone else had a way of doing it they will let you know. I hope this will help you in getting your chute up and flying.



BOB[)][)]

(in reply to FlyBy8)
       Post #: 3

RE: Questions on the Gitchel parachute - 5/2/2008 11:48:33 PM   
FlyBy8


 

Posts: 31
Joined: 8/8/2004
From: , OH, USA
Status: offline 		Thanks Bob and Gary.

After reading many posts on this forum, I figured you guys would be able to help.

Bob, what material did you use for the loops? Same rip stop Nylon as the chute or something different. Then did you tie the lines directly to the loops?


(in reply to goldenknight1)
       Post #: 4

RE: Questions on the Gitchel parachute - 5/3/2008 12:48:54 AM   
goldenknight1



Posts: 158
Joined: 2/14/2003
From: cedar hill, MO, USA
Status: offline 		Flyby8

yes I used the left overs from the material that I cut the chute from, I would mark the dividers for the cells so that when I started sewing I would sew the loops in where the marks were . Make your loops a 1/4 of a inch wide and they should be a 1 1/2 long fold the material in half so that you have a loop 3/4 of a inch long to sew on the chute, sew a 1/4 of a inch of the loop in the chute. and yes all I did was put the line thru the loop and tie a square knot in the line.


BOB

(in reply to FlyBy8)
       Post #: 5

RE: Questions on the Gitchel parachute - 5/3/2008 12:56:51 AM   
FlyBy8


 

Posts: 31
Joined: 8/8/2004
From: , OH, USA
Status: offline 		Great info Bob,

That should make it a lot easier than trying to keep all the lines untangled while sewing and also help if I need to re-rig a line.

Found the ashway woven dacron 50 pound line and ordered a 1000 ft. spool. That ought to do it...


Got the hot knife in yesterday, so tonight I should be cutting out some parts.

Do you usually leave enought material to hem the leading edge of both the canopy and bottom pannels?


Thanks for all your help.

Paul

(in reply to goldenknight1)
       Post #: 6

RE: Questions on the Gitchel parachute - 5/3/2008 2:29:42 AM   
goldenknight1



Posts: 158
Joined: 2/14/2003
From: cedar hill, MO, USA
Status: offline 		fLYBY8
I FOUND THAT YOU GET A GOOD CLEAN CUT WITH THE HOT KNIFE THAT I DID NOT HAVE TO HEM THE OPENING ON THE GITCHELL AND FOUND THAT YOU WOULD HAVE A GOOD CLEAN OPENING WHEN DEPLOYING THE CHUTE. NEXT DO NOT MAKE A 8 INCH PILOT CHUTE MAKE IT 10 INCHES AND WHEN YOU PUT PILOT CHUTE ON CANOPY MEASURE BACK FROM THE LEADING EDGE OF THE TO OF CHUTE AND ATTACH THE PILOT CHUTE 10 INCHES BACK ON THE VERY CENTER OF CHUTE. ALSO PUT 8 LINE ON PILOT CHUTE , THE LINES SHOULD BE 14 INCHES LONG, PULL ALL THE LINE ON THE BOTTOM OF PILOT CHUTE SO THAT THEY ARE ALL THE SAME LENGTH NOW YOU WILL CUT A SINGLE LINE ABOUT 20 INCHES LONG YOU WANT TO TAKE THIS LINE AND AND TIE IT WITH THE LINE ON PILOT CHUTE AT AT ABOUT TEN INCHES DOWN FROM PILOT CHUTE. WHEN ATTACHING PILOT CHUTE TO CANOPY YOU WANT THE PILOT CHUTR COME PAST THE TRAILING EDGE OF MAIN CANOPY AT LEAST 2 INCHES. WHEN YOU HAVE READY TO TIE TIE IT ON MAIN AND CUT OFF EXCESS LINE , IF YO HAVE ANYMORE QUESTION LET ME KNOW .

BOB [)]

(in reply to FlyBy8)
       Post #: 7

RE: Questions on the Gitchel parachute - 5/3/2008 3:06:08 PM   
FlyBy8


 

Posts: 31
Joined: 8/8/2004
From: , OH, USA
Status: offline 		Goldenknight1,

I will keep all of this in mind when I get closer to the end of assemble. I am still in the process of cutting out the parts. Those 1.5 inch circles in the ribs are kind of hard to get cut out.

Anyone got any tips on cutting them?

Paul

(in reply to goldenknight1)
       Post #: 8

RE: Questions on the Gitchel parachute - 5/4/2008 5:07:39 AM   
FlyBy8


 

Posts: 31
Joined: 8/8/2004
From: , OH, USA
Status: offline 		Ok, I learned a few things today.

The hot knife works better when used with a cutting matt and the knife blade must be a sharp fresh one.
Also discovered the the problem I was having related to the rate of speed at which the knife was being pulled.
I slowed down and let the hot knife have more time to do it's job and problem solved.

I am using three colors for this chute and have the two outside sets of cells cut out. Tomorrow, I will tackle the middle section.



(in reply to FlyBy8)
       Post #: 9

RE: Questions on the Gitchel parachute - 5/4/2008 4:08:32 PM   
Lightfoot



Posts: 3150
Status: offline 		What is the purpose of the holes between the cells? It is simply to equalize the pressure between the cells?

_____________________________

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(in reply to FlyBy8)
       Post #: 10

RE: Questions on the Gitchel parachute - 5/4/2008 5:16:22 PM   
RLR


 

Posts: 20
Joined: 1/13/2008
From: , SOUTH AFRICA
Status: offline 		Hi

Yes it is there for airflow threw the cells.

I use a 60w soldering iron to cut and its works for me. It is small and light, the tip is not sharp, round becuase the material is being cut with the heat. I cut on normal presboard or chipboard.

Riaan

(in reply to Lightfoot)
       Post #: 11

RE: Questions on the Gitchel parachute - 5/5/2008 3:12:29 AM   
GaryV


 

Posts: 200
Joined: 2/3/2002
From: Stuarts Draft, VA, USA
Status: offline 		I have been using 80# braided Dacron kite string from windstarkites.com. It works good for making no tie loops. It was $11.00 for 500ft the last time I ordered it.
I have been trying to post pics, but it hasn't worked out yet.
GaryV

(in reply to RLR)
       Post #: 12

RE: Questions on the Gitchel parachute - 5/5/2008 3:14:03 AM   
GaryV


 

Posts: 200
Joined: 2/3/2002
From: Stuarts Draft, VA, USA
Status: offline 		Hi Bob, I see your logged on, Gary

(in reply to GaryV)
       Post #: 13

RE: Questions on the Gitchel parachute - 5/5/2008 3:17:43 AM   
GaryV


 

Posts: 200
Joined: 2/3/2002
From: Stuarts Draft, VA, USA
Status: offline 		[image][/image]

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< Message edited by GaryV -- 5/5/2008 3:21:53 AM >

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       Post #: 14

RE: Questions on the Gitchel parachute - 5/5/2008 3:26:14 AM   
GaryV


 

Posts: 200
Joined: 2/3/2002
From: Stuarts Draft, VA, USA
Status: offline 		[image][/image]

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