I tried to maiden my turbine glider yesterday. It's a 3.5M Reichard MDM Fox with a Wren 44 placed above and aft of the CG. It's a bit nose heavy, but I favor a forward CG until I sort it out. Upon accelerating for takeoff, the model would nose down and drag it's nose in the grass. Naturally, I could and did not takeoff. In my view, the turbine's incidence is wrong, (presently it's level with the airplane's centerline) but should I direct the thrust upward or downward to correct the nose down attitude?

Red, Lower the front of the turbine or in other words, raise the tailcone of it.

I see you got a little something on the vertical stab's LE for heat protection... do you think it's enough and will last over time?

Sorry, I know it's a bit off the subject.

Hook, thanks for the suggestion.
File, It's an old photo. I now have a stainless steel cover over the leading edge on the vertical stab. I blistered the rudder on a hot start and will be placing a diffuser. My next turbine glider will be much easier to build. I've learned loads from this project. But first, I've got to fly this baby.

Red, Just looking at the photo again and I'd start with about 5 to 8 Deg. and see what kind of lift-off you would get. Mabey Ali can chime in here. I know he's getting ready for Fl. jets so he may not even be Mon the forum. He flys a lot of turbine sail planes like this. I have a 3.2 but have not put a turbine on it. You did a nice job on that one. I like the lines on it. Hope you get some video of it the next time you take it out.

I made my turbine mount adjustable for incidence. I'm maxed out at the moment. I'll try to fly her and if its still not right I'll shim the rear of the turbine till I get it right. What make is your 3.2? I should have gone with a Salto, but I like the looks of the Fox better.

Red, My sailplane is not near the machine yours is. It's an old Robbe Diamant. In fact I can find very little info on the plane. I have not had this one that long. I have had power pods on smaller ones for some time. Yea-file you some more throw in that mount which shouldn't take much and see if that will get it going.

This is completely normal behaiour for self launching gliders, The high mounted engine produces a strong nose down couple. Ali's ASK 21 has a nosewheel which is a good choice for this kind of application. The Fox has no nosewheel but you could always add one.
Careful use of the throttle is necessary on take off. Try starting with the lowest possible throttle setting that will get the model rolling and hold in full up. as the model accelerates the elevator will begin to bite and then start to slowly add more throttle. The big danger is then having the model rotate with full up still applied so try to reduce it as you go. However, I have never had a powered Fox , just a pure glider version. I say this because every different type behaves a bit differently, so there is a bit of a learning curve.
If you are not familiar with the Fox, I would councel you to use the best possible servos, and top quality linkages on the back end. Make sure that the fin cannot twist. They are reknowned for elevator and rudder flutter. Sorry if I am teaching Grandma to suck eggs...
If you get it sorted you will have a truly super model. Love mine and it's just a glider I chuck off a big hill when it's blowing 35 mph +.

Could try a dolly as well. I saw Eric Myers Fox fly and his behaves quite well during takeoff. He has a much larger model and it's powered by a P70.
I'm using HS5645MG for both elevator and rudder. I don't like the control snakes running down the fuselage but this has been a learning project, on my next turbine sailplane, I'll place the servos close to the control surfaces and just add more weight at the nose.