Introduction by a DLG bandit...

[lowrentsteve]

Hi

I'm Steve from Manchester. Middle-aged dad of 3.

Whilst at Uni 25-ish years ago, I flew a wonky Gentle Lady (that I built in student accomodation an offcut of chipboard) with Chester Model Flying Club. I let the interest wane, with a few half hearted enquiries to the BATS club in Stockport and threats to rebuild a GL that never went anywhere.

5 or 6 years back I heard about DLG and bought a ViCK and a BigViCK from Hyperflight, built the Vick, failed to fly it with any real success, and it's hung in the loo as a decoration.

Then a couple of years ago I happened upon this series on YT:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL24KP2KUegsftITg3KMzxQJV8Cpb7AgRi&si=GikMLJkouwufNL9Z

I used the clothes bag technique to bag the Big ViCK wings in preference to tape covering and flew that glider in various states of repair for a summer and haven't looked back since.

I've made a couple of scratch models using the techniques in the above video series, using simple AG03 airfoils from hotwire cut from ebay-sourced XPS,  and also a couple of these balsa models from Germany:

https://modellbau-thiele.de/artikeldetails.php?z=3&kat=Modelle~DLG%2FF3K&bez=Falke+V2+Bausatz

I've been a constant loiterer and fairly regular contributor to this thread over on RCGroups:

https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?3749159-Scratch-Built-DLG-on-the-cheap

I've been flying solo in suitable spaces (my models have all been 1m RE and the heaviest, at 175g, well under the 250g 'drone' registration requirements and somewhat relaxed flying regs) and my best duration so far is 4:38 - it's possible I could have done better but; because I'm using budget gear, and because 1M planes get small very quickly, I tend to bottle it before I get too much altitude or range. I have a few vids documenting some of my efforts (sadly no getaways  )on my YT: 

 

 

 

I own a Hobbyzone Champ and a couple of Amazon-special toy quads but sailplanes are the only aspect of RC/model aviation that really appeal to me.

So I've joined the forum here because I'm hoping to find out a bit more about organised soaring in the UK. I'm hoping to attend the DLG taster/fly-in in Buckminster on Good Friday - I could probably do with a bit of input into my flying, trim etc - although that will depend on me sorting a working model or two by then.

Ramble over...

Steve

 

[lowrentsteve]

Just realised there is a more appropriate forum for this post... If an admin wants/needs to move this thread to the New Members forum, please feel free.