----- Original Message ----- From: Pat Bruce <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Saturday, September 04, 1999 10:42 PM Subject: Re: [RCSE] WACO Magic plans or feedback? > > > > OK, I'm smitten. > > > > Frank Weston reportedly published plans to scratch build the Magic. Would > > Would any of you current or ex-Magic pilots strongly recommend to spend > the > > effort on a more modern design? > > Yes he did publish the plans and many of us built them. The plane is a very > good one, in many ways as good or better than any current design, in my > opinion. On this vein, there are actually many different iterations of the > basic design, as well as at least three different sizes: 2M (or Waco Two), > 120" (Merlin), and the 138" Magic. The design(s) evolved from a using a > moderately thin (9%) Wortman FX-60 airfoil to a very thin(6%) version of the > same foil. Frank's designs apparantly preceeded the current trend toward > faster airfoils. > > Waco designs were far ahead of the pack in many other ways too: exclusive > use of composites, rolled kevlar tailbooms, v-tails with integral servos, > you name it, Waco probably marketed it first. And he shared the knowledge > of the technology with everyone for twenty bucks or less. I have flown a > bunch of these variants, and I find the old 9% Magic to be one of the best. > The shorter wingspan variants use the same wing chords at each taper break, > so they have a fairly acute taper, especially the two meter, and can tip > stall easilly. The Magic handles beautifully, though, so don't be afraid of > it. > > I reccomend using a little bit of carbon fibre to stiffen up the tail boom, > as it can buckle on a hard landing. I would also suggest a dowel be placed > in the fuse as a crush brace between the wing roots at the leading edge. > > Frank Weston has earned a place in Everymans RC Glider Hall of Fame along > with Bob Multichannel Dodson and Mark Allen of Falcon/Eagle fame. I don't > think the fourth recipient has yet emerged. > > He's not in business anymore though, I suspect because, like many visionary > genius types he suffered terribly from the indignity of marketing to the > likes of us. I found him very abrasive and judgemental when trying to > discuss things with him so I just gave up. > > Should you build it? Yes. If you want to get educated on composite > building techniques. If you venture down this road, you will never be the > same again. It will take some time. It will fly as well as anything in > that size range, if you want a glider that launches, floats, and lands well. > Penetration is surprisingly good too; about like your average 7037 plane. > This improves, obviously, at the expense of float and landing qualities with > the newer 6% thick models. > > Good luck > RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
