beginner`s questions

[slopetrash]

I`m in the process of building the BAE Hawk from Andy conways plan and having read the artical on fitting flaps as well as ailerones would this be suitable on a plane this size? second question where do you get the torque rods to control the flaps and ailerones; as you can tell i`ve never built from a plan and not having the difficult work done for you ie as in a kit the process can be a bit daunting many thanks Harvey

[Phil Cooke]

Hi slopetrash!
Congrats on choosing the Conway Hawk - it is a real winner, I have built many now and have always enjoyed them, particularly if built lightly!

I have read the article regarding the flaps too on this model. The designer in question fitted them to improve the models soaring capabilities in light lift and also to help slow things up a little on landing. Both useful extensions to the flight envelope, but certainly not an essential requirement!! The choice is yours, you have to balance the increased complexity in build (and weight) against the benefits of flaps in flight - I would say "no, don't bother to add flaps, she is good enough as she is" - but that is just my opinion. Thinking about it - I would not like to land out with that model with flaps deployed, with the low flat bottomed wing they may well get ripped off, even with the greasiest of landings!

They certainly would increase the models 'stooging' capability, but built lightly the Hawk flies in light lift fairly well already, and landing speed is never a problem in my experience.

Torque rods are available in any model shop, they normally come pre bent with a threaded end and a plastic aileron horn. You need to cut them to length and add the final 90º bend into the aileron. Dont forget to fit any bearing tube before you make the bend, and take care to make a left and a right one too!! Ive made BOTH these mistakes before now!

Keep asking the questions - look forward to seeing another stunning Hawk on the slopes soon!

regards

Phil Cooke

[slopetrash]

Here we are again ;with regards to wings i under stand the sheeting will give added strength but it seems they will break with anything other than an 100% landing which i`ve not yet mastered i am toying with the idea of some carbon under the sheeting,you advice will be helpfull, Harvey

[flyboy47]

Hi :-) you mean you dont get 100% landings,,, mine always land every time, its keeping them up the problem. but joking aside if you do have rough landing area's on your site, perhaps you could glass the underside of the wooden sheeted wings for some strenght, a few of us have used carbon leading edges to save thoughs little dings you can get from the odd bush jumping out lol, and i have been glassing the lower nose area,s for a few years, thats seems to work fine, hope this helps
cheers steve :-)

[slopetrash]

Thanks Steve,100% landings no problem there mine certainly land, orientation may be the issue LOL, with regards to glassing i`ve some 6oz clothe is this too heavy? and how`s it done(or any links to site showing how), thanks Harvey

[rc-pilot]

Hi,

Just read your posts, and have some comments.

1. Re flaps on Hawk. On one of mine I set the ailerons to pop up about 40 degrees to act as brakes and lift-dumpers, something that I had done often on non-scale, usually high-wing, models. On the Hawk deployment of the brakes caused sudden and unpredictable rolls, the last thing you want near the ground. I put this down to cross-currents causing one wing to be partly blanketed by the fuselage - it being a low-wing model - and promptly dispensed with the idea on this aircraft. You may have the same problem with flaps, although with them going down and not up it may be altogether different. If you fit them, be warned - try them out at a great height first just in case.....
On the good side, if you fit the wing fences and fly with both of them in place, the Hawk will fly very slowly without any nasty stall behaviour - given that the wings are straight and true - so you can slow it right down for landings, and shouldn't need brakes. Of course, if you build a very heavy model that may not be the case, most of them turn out in the 28-34 oz range and that should be your target - the lower end if possible.

Don't ever fly with just one wing fence on - if you lose one, take the other off, or you will receive a nasty surprise from some very strange assymmetric behaviour.


2. Re wing strength; the Hawk wing is quite strong enough to withstand all but the worst landing. I had a radio glitch and mine dived straight in to rocks at high speed - the nose broke off the fuselage but the wings suffered only trivial damage. Obviously it depends on how you strike the ground, but if they're built well you should have no problems on landing, however you count the percentage.

BTW emails this week to you are being returned marked "undeliverable"

[slopetrash]

Thanks for you comments rc, one thing that puzzles me is the wing fences do they make that much difference ? i have already been told to fit them but from my limited knowledge don`t under stand the reason ,cannot understand the e-mail situation but am looking in to it,many thanks Harvey