Just to let you know, I completed my winch per your videos this week. I don't have a towline glider model built at this time. But the local hobby shop had a foamy chuck-it glider by Rage RC for $7 with a wingspan of 19 inches and weight of 40 grams. I added some tow hooks to the bottom of the foamy. I'm hoping this will get me through a learning curve while I build a towline model. Thank you again! I'm trying to see if I attach a photo, but I don't think I can. Also, you were absolutely right about tangles! I had assembled the handle extension onto the winder. Then, while rotating the wooden handle to put on the friction tape, I did not notice that the weight of the handle extension caused the spool of line to rock back and forth unspooling the line. Once I was done with the friction tape, I realized I had "grandma's knitting" all wound around the hub between the spool and the wooden handle. I put a Velcro strap "keeper" around the winding handle and the wooden stick to keep the winding handle/spool from inadvertently moving when not in use! Lesson 1, I guess, ha, ha.
Thanks for this very well explained video. Has given me one more thing to do in my free flight adventures. Have a Gnome towline kit bought 20 years ago to make. Your videos have given me very valuable inputs to make and fly towline gliders.
Thanks for this - been a big fan of your work for a while. Just put together an interesting (glider) build. A (Walt Mooney) Phoebus. Just had its maiden flight and it flies great! It’s a very interesting design and I’m planning on adapting the method to some more modern gliders like the ASW 20. Would love to see some more gliders on here! Keep it up!
Always enjoy watching your free flight videos. You all are masters at this sport and create some of the most jubilant flying models I have ever seen. Keep up the good work! Your flying facility is second to none! Jealous in Kansas
These Schweizers really are superb. The newer one I love for its fabulous looks.. Red/Yellow is my thing, most indubitably.. The shot of this one sweeping in to land is breathtaking. But the blue/yellow one really does leap up into the blue stuff like nobody's business, we recall seeing some wonderful flights by this bird. Seeing the new winder in action I was most impressed with the control available in the ascent. It really looks like you can maximise the potential of the forces and air - a very clever design. Absolute mastery in free flight aeromodeling, once again! Thanks so much Tom for another awesome film, and Happy New Year to you and everyone! 🌟❤️👍
I always dreamed of flying a glider like this, it really is my desire to do it, thank you, your videos are very motivating, when love and dedication in each job
Excellent video. I'm looking at a wall with completed Muskoka Soarer, Thermic Trooper, Thermic C, Thermic 50, and Thermic 72 planes hanging on nails. None have been flown with a towline. Just test glides. I'm going to have to try building your machine. Then I just have to find a field.
Have you built and flown any of the Sterling Models sailplanes? The Cirrus, Diamant etc? I came here to learn about towline. Very nice channel. I grew up building all of the old Comet models. Love tissue and dope
My last FF glider was a Thermic Trooper in the mid 60s. I merely sent her on a few test glides. I don't remember trying towline. Now I can't get enough. I'll take a look at the Sterling designs.
Tom, I believe in other towline videos of yours I’ve seen you back reeling during launch in swirling gusty winds. Almost like you’re playing a fish. What’s the learning curve like in this towline business?
Thx for the comment, Lane. It's hard for me to realize that I've been flying towline for less than a year. It has been a wild learning curve, which I've fully enjoyed after 35 years of rubber FF. Some of the films uv mentioned were with the kite reel, which has very little pull per rotation, compared to these 10:1 winders. But it also happened with my larger 10:1 winder when it was a bit windy. It all became intuitive, when yes, the wind was blowing and affecting the model's direction during the pull. Part of the issue can be that the model is out of trim, or that the tow hook is slightly out of place. That is a narrow window, but once there sweet spot is found, it's gold...which is why I would let the line back out, or at least slow down the pull, allowing the model to center itself again on the pull...then I'd reel in more. It became a game that I was finding so enjoyable, yet challenging. Great fun. That's why I see using a winch for towline is the best way to start out with a new model. With Hi-Start, u don't have any chance to correct the pull. U get what u get, so it's primo that the model pulls consistently straight, as with these two flights in the film above. If u haven't yet, give it a try.
I was awestruck by how this works and I am gathering materials to make on. Thank you for sharing your creative talents! I have a question, not having used high-start type winches at all before. I understand this hand winch is for models up to 36-inch wingspan. I purchased 10lb test braded fishing line that is 150 yards long. You used 500 yards. Is 150 yards, ok? I can't imagine using even 100 yards to launch a small model. Help me out with some perspective on this. Do I really need 500 yards? Thanks so much in advance for any help!
Thx for the comments, Dave. I need to clarify the length of the line. The spools come with quite a bit of line which is great. But for my towlines, the length used is only between 150-165 feet...not yards. Should the line get tangled...and it will...it's easy to simply cut if off, then make a new line, so having all of that yardage will probably come in handily. 500 yards is about 1/4 of a mile...so I can't imagine trying that...but I'm sure someone will. Haha. In fact, at the sod farm in Wawayanda....that's about 1/2 mile of smooth sod, so it'd be fun trying.
this glider is pretty popular so i'm guessing there's not a lot of calculating to do. some 1970s British kits - Keilkraft Caprice for example - had the tow hook bolted to the keel plate, and adjustment made by loosening the bolts, and sliding the hook.
My only real question about free flight (or any type of model flying that requires a large space) is where can I affordably obtain a huge plot of land to fly? I don't have that and probably can't come even close to affording to buy it.
I'll clarify. The slot is for the winder wire & hook, which needs to be imbedded. The fill then helps secure the wire & hook in place, so there's no chance of it moving about. It's locked in place. In the end, the spool needs to remain centered as u reel in the line.
Finally I've been waiting for a video like this thank you
Just to let you know, I completed my winch per your videos this week. I don't have a towline glider model built at this time. But the local hobby shop had a foamy chuck-it glider by Rage RC for $7 with a wingspan of 19 inches and weight of 40 grams. I added some tow hooks to the bottom of the foamy. I'm hoping this will get me through a learning curve while I build a towline model. Thank you again! I'm trying to see if I attach a photo, but I don't think I can. Also, you were absolutely right about tangles! I had assembled the handle extension onto the winder. Then, while rotating the wooden handle to put on the friction tape, I did not notice that the weight of the handle extension caused the spool of line to rock back and forth unspooling the line. Once I was done with the friction tape, I realized I had "grandma's knitting" all wound around the hub between the spool and the wooden handle. I put a Velcro strap "keeper" around the winding handle and the wooden stick to keep the winding handle/spool from inadvertently moving when not in use! Lesson 1, I guess, ha, ha.
Yes, a superbly made video- many thanks!.
Thanks for this very well explained video. Has given me one more thing to do in my free flight adventures.
Have a Gnome towline kit bought 20 years ago to make. Your videos have given me very valuable inputs to make and fly towline gliders.
Good idea. Have fun with the Gnome!
Thanks for this - been a big fan of your work for a while. Just put together an interesting (glider) build. A (Walt Mooney) Phoebus. Just had its maiden flight and it flies great! It’s a very interesting design and I’m planning on adapting the method to some more modern gliders like the ASW 20. Would love to see some more gliders on here! Keep it up!
Your ingenuity never ceases to amaze me!
Tom, you have some very good ideas. A smart head and skillful hands is a great combination...
wow max, you have out done your self! you make the best models ever and inspired me to start free flight to.
Another great video Tom thank you for sharing.
Always enjoy watching your free flight videos. You all are masters at this sport and create some of the most jubilant flying models I have ever seen. Keep up the good work! Your flying facility is second to none! Jealous in Kansas
These Schweizers really are superb. The newer one I love for its fabulous looks.. Red/Yellow is my thing, most indubitably.. The shot of this one sweeping in to land is breathtaking. But the blue/yellow one really does leap up into the blue stuff like nobody's business, we recall seeing some wonderful flights by this bird. Seeing the new winder in action I was most impressed with the control available in the ascent. It really looks like you can maximise the potential of the forces and air - a very clever design. Absolute mastery in free flight aeromodeling, once again! Thanks so much Tom for another awesome film, and Happy New Year to you and everyone! 🌟❤️👍
Thx, William. I've been enjoying this shift to a different area of FF. Cheers to the new year.
I always dreamed of flying a glider like this, it really is my desire to do it, thank you, your videos are very motivating, when love and dedication in each job
What can I say? Simply brilliant!
Thank you for a great video.
Great videos sir.
Thank you for posting. Great build video. I’ll have to revive my older gliders and go out with the grandkids.
Thx, Alfred. Enjoy!! Your grandkids are going to be amazed!
Excellent video. I'm looking at a wall with completed Muskoka Soarer, Thermic Trooper, Thermic C, Thermic 50, and Thermic 72 planes hanging on nails. None have been flown with a towline. Just test glides. I'm going to have to try building your machine. Then I just have to find a field.
Those kits really take me back...Thermic Trooper was my first stick n tissue build. Hope u get them off the wall and into the blue!
Neat video looks like a blast
Great!
Have you built and flown any of the Sterling Models sailplanes? The Cirrus, Diamant etc? I came here to learn about towline. Very nice channel. I grew up building all of the old Comet models. Love tissue and dope
My last FF glider was a Thermic Trooper in the mid 60s. I merely sent her on a few test glides. I don't remember trying towline. Now I can't get enough. I'll take a look at the Sterling designs.
Tom, I believe in other towline videos of yours I’ve seen you back reeling during launch in swirling gusty winds. Almost like you’re playing a fish. What’s the learning curve like in this towline business?
Thx for the comment, Lane. It's hard for me to realize that I've been flying towline for less than a year. It has been a wild learning curve, which I've fully enjoyed after 35 years of rubber FF. Some of the films uv mentioned were with the kite reel, which has very little pull per rotation, compared to these 10:1 winders. But it also happened with my larger 10:1 winder when it was a bit windy. It all became intuitive, when yes, the wind was blowing and affecting the model's direction during the pull. Part of the issue can be that the model is out of trim, or that the tow hook is slightly out of place. That is a narrow window, but once there sweet spot is found, it's gold...which is why I would let the line back out, or at least slow down the pull, allowing the model to center itself again on the pull...then I'd reel in more. It became a game that I was finding so enjoyable, yet challenging. Great fun.
That's why I see using a winch for towline is the best way to start out with a new model. With Hi-Start, u don't have any chance to correct the pull. U get what u get, so it's primo that the model pulls consistently straight, as with these two flights in the film above. If u haven't yet, give it a try.
Super 🤙nice
I was awestruck by how this works and I am gathering materials to make on. Thank you for sharing your creative talents! I have a question, not having used high-start type winches at all before. I understand this hand winch is for models up to 36-inch wingspan. I purchased 10lb test braded fishing line that is 150 yards long. You used 500 yards. Is 150 yards, ok? I can't imagine using even 100 yards to launch a small model. Help me out with some perspective on this. Do I really need 500 yards? Thanks so much in advance for any help!
Thx for the comments, Dave. I need to clarify the length of the line. The spools come with quite a bit of line which is great. But for my towlines, the length used is only between 150-165 feet...not yards. Should the line get tangled...and it will...it's easy to simply cut if off, then make a new line, so having all of that yardage will probably come in handily. 500 yards is about 1/4 of a mile...so I can't imagine trying that...but I'm sure someone will. Haha. In fact, at the sod farm in Wawayanda....that's about 1/2 mile of smooth sod, so it'd be fun trying.
That helps clarify things! Thanks! Dave
Nice and what about to use fishing rod?
I've never tried it, but I'm sure it has potential. Give it a shot.
❤
Fantastic video, Thank you. If I may ask? How do you determine how far fore or aft to locate the hook on the airplane?
this glider is pretty popular so i'm guessing there's not a lot of calculating to do. some 1970s British kits - Keilkraft Caprice for example - had the tow hook bolted to the keel plate, and adjustment made by loosening the bolts, and sliding the hook.
Thx, David. I've started at 30º in front of the CG, which seems to be close to the sweet spot for both of these birds.
My only real question about free flight (or any type of model flying that requires a large space) is where can I affordably obtain a huge plot of land to fly? I don't have that and probably can't come even close to affording to buy it.
Yes, it's a problem for many of us around the world. Some choose to fly indoors instead.
my only question is, were you SERIOUS.? lol
Just had a thought, do you put markers on the towline so you how much line is out?
Yes, I coat the line a few inches long with a black marker at the 164 foot mark.
I've watched twice and still don't understand why you made such a large slot in the dowel just to go back and fill it. What am I missing?
I'll clarify. The slot is for the winder wire & hook, which needs to be imbedded. The fill then helps secure the wire & hook in place, so there's no chance of it moving about. It's locked in place. In the end, the spool needs to remain centered as u reel in the line.
@@maxfliart Thank you.
25 grams !!!
I built a Thermic 36 that I dropped on my toe and the nail fell off.