FT Wea$el Soarer

Updated 1 Sep 2014 - Wea$el - The Movie :)

Apologies for the dodgy editing :)

Updated 10 May 2014 - fixed error in indicated CG position :-))

FT Wea$el v5.0 plan here

As the outstanding Dreamflight Weasel Evo is now no longer available (at least here in the UK), I lashed one up from UK foamboard. UK foamboard in general is slightly different from the dollartree/readiboard variety. It's still 5mm thick and has the same polystyrene core, but the paper covering is a 120gsm clay based paper which is essentially impossible to peel off. The paper is much stronger and gives a nice flat finish - but it's a tad heavier.

Because the board is different, you need to take a slightly different approach to the build if using readiboard.

The build instructions assume that you have a functional brain cell available for the build duration :-)

All full cuts are to the black outlines - blue outlines are bevelled and the red lines are 50% 'ish cuts. Dollartree builders can use their own favourite build/cut methods.

To bend the leading edge (LE), you need to make 6 cuts along the LE, squish down with the back of a felt tip pen  then fold over gently - but first (:-), relieve some of the foam from the area marked with the red diamond or the covering paper will split. The trailing edge (TE) is 15mm bevelled to about 1mm. The tip areas are bevelled 5mm to zero. Centre your servo and fit in the allotted space with hotmelt glue. Glue the bottom of the root rib to the lower half of a wing root, glue along the TE and root rib top - put a dab on the servo top too then fold over and hold until the adhesive sets. Roll over the tips using a clean implement - something plastic or stainless - the idea being to give a rounded tip shape. When done, join with hotmelt and wipe clean. 

The top of the final wing is flat to give a wee bit of dihedral - just turn the wing over so the top surface is on the bench then sand the root to 90 deg using the edge of the bench. Hotmelt the two roots together and wipe clean - make sure they're straight of course :-) No spar has been necessary so far - YMMV as they say :-)

Fold up the fuselage, run the nose cover around the front to give a nice curve - gut rolling or making 50% cuts across will help. Cut off to give some kind of hatch area. Glue the fuselage top edges to the wing under surface - hotmelt again - all nice and square of course ! Line up the fin and make a slot in the top of the wing joint to accept the fin tab - glue it all in with hotmelt.

Elevons need a 45 deg bevel before attaching with diamond or blenderm tape - regular plastic horns or some of the nice FT laser cut ply variety :-) (UK folks can get them from me for a small fee :-)

You can neatly cover joint misteaks and errirs  by pasting over with some nice matching white inkjet paper.

Add radio, battery, shake, set the elevons to the values on the plans, ditto the CG - find a slope and go fly.

Please DON'T use more than the suggested elevator movement - you will end up with a Wea$el embedded in the back of your neck :-)

Test flights up to 30 MPH windspeed have indicated that this Wea$el flies just as well as the original - however, it is absolutely NOWHERE near as impervious to battle damage as the real thing!

Plan updated (v4.0) to include barbecue skewer 'splints'. This reduces issues with the fin breaking in a hard landing - ditto the nose. Using foam doublers at the nose would also help.

Cheers

Neil