Foam toy glider from store changed to sailplane?
 

Has anyone ever taken one of those foam gliders from like walmart or someting and put a small engine (electric would probably work best) and servos on it.

RE: Foam toy glider from store changed to sailplane?
 

It's been done... And it works well!!!

RE: Foam toy glider from store changed to sailplane?
 

I haven't done that, but one of my friends converted one to electric power. I never actually saw it fly, but he said it did pretty well.

RE: Foam toy glider from store changed to sailplane?
 

[link=http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&q=wally+wing&btnG=Search]search[/link] on the internet for 'wally wing'

RE: Foam toy glider from store changed to sailplane?
 

The Aug 2004 issue of Fly RC has an article on conversion in the how-to's

RE: Foam toy glider from store changed to sailplane?
 

Put three together in one day for me and friends. They took an hour or so each, then we flew the ** out of them.

We used Cox engines, and two channel radios. First time I did it was in 1990. I believe I read an article in M.A.N. or RCM. The only changes I made (and most important) were to straighten out the sweep in the wing.
Some make better planes than others, the best I have used is a Lanier U-2, which I still have. (I know this is not exactly the kind you are talking about, but a glorified version)

Comet used to make one with a lot of wing area too, don't know if it's still available.
The easy way is to tape or lay you equipment on the plane to get it close to balanced, then cut all the pockets out.
Use a piece of ply for the M/M.
I used balsa for the control surfaces, some cut the elevator/rudder out and use the original foam, I just cut the tail surfaces off straight, and hinged the balsa.
Cheap, easy, and simple!
We used Black Baron low temp film, but I suppose you could use the "Zagi tape method" too. Or make them without any covering- weak though.

Have fun!!

RE: Foam toy glider from store changed to sailplane?
 

The "wally wing" is a flying wing, not a sailplane. I think he was talking about a simple easy to fly powered sailplane.

RE: Foam toy glider from store changed to sailplane?
 

Where's JHHuber when you need him? ;)

He's been advocating this as an inexpensive way to get started in RC for a while now.
Dennis-