ORIGINAL: qldviking
ahhh, that lighter is better argument again [:'(] I get a laufgh when I see these you beaut super light planes fold up in the air or sustain major damage on a less than perfect landing. I have build several 100'' plus planes, some very light and some a bit heavier, and to be honest, if you arent right into 3D I dont see that much gained, I fly imac, and I prefer to have a heavier than light plane, I find I get better lines and the wind doesnt push the plane around as easily. I also like the fact I know its NOT going to fold up from just behind the canopy if my landing isnt perfect. Noit so long ago I built 2 100'' laser 200's from plans, one I built light as per plans and the other I beefed a bit, with ply doublers from fire wall to well into the turtle deck, heavier landibng gear blocks etc. I fitted boith with BME 102cc motors, all hitec servo's etc, both set up with identical fit outs. guess which one i still have? the heavier beast, the light one folded up doing a waterfall, snapped right at the front turtledeck former.
In a previous post someone mentioned that f/g was weak? what material for covering do we use that isnt on its own? I work a lot with f/g and composites, I bvuild and refit boats for a living, and yes I can tear layed up f/g 1/4 fairly easily when I can start at the edge too, but try to tear f/g from somewhere in the middle? eg when you f/g a wing joint, you lay a strip of glass all the way around, and when bonded to the wing properly it increases and stiffens that wing joint a great deal for not much weight, same when f/g a whole airframe, you dont just bung on a patch here and there, you lay your f/g all round, and fair it all in together if you do it right, whether in 1 or multiple steps, and you use a minimum of resin well rolled in to bond it to the wing/fuse etc. the strength isnt from the resin itself, but the f/g fibres being bonded. As has been said before tho, later applications of resins will be for finishing with micro ballons, talc or whatever.
As in any aspect of our hobby, or anything else for that matter, there will always be differences of opinion. These are just my thoughts and observations
cheers
If you are folding up wings, and fuses in flight on your light airplanes, then your design and, or consruction methods need a little help. A properly designed and constructed lightweight airfarme will last hundreds, even thousands of hard flights. There are just too many builders using many of my lightweight construction methods these days, that are having 0 structural issues, so there is no argument, I been doing, and documenting it for years. Now knocking out gears is another story, all I can say is practice, practice, practice...