Miller "Little Gem" build for FAC Goodyear mass launch

[MKelly]

I've finally got the Little Gem flying in a fairly repeatable manner - as has been suggested here, it really likes to fly right-right.  I put a small wedge for right turn on the rudder, and ended up with a fairly long wedge under the right wing to keep that side up in the turn. What really turned the corner was adding some 2" x 5/16" extensions on the aft end of each side of the stab - this seems to have pretty much cured the pitch stability issues.

I took the Gem to WESTFAC and entered it in FAC Peanut Scale.  I didn't get around to flying it until the last day of the contest, didn't really have a good feel for the motor I had in the model and didn't have a blast tube that would fit through the nose, so the best time I got was 40 seconds.  It sure looked nice doing lazy floating right circles downwind, and I think with some power optimization it will be a competitive model.

The stab picked up a bit of a warp due to the temperature and humidity changes going from Texas to Arizona and back again.  I flew the model yesterday as-is, but I think I'll make a new stab with increased span/area so I can get rid of the extensions and not have to worry about the warp coming back.

Video of yesterday's flights:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUIGMi6-FkY&feature=youtu.be

Mike

[Russ Lister]

The climbing right turn suits the model .... nice flights 

[OZPAF]

That rudder wedge is powerful Mike. It certainly looks like you are on the right path now.

John

[MKelly]

Had some good weather today and got in some flying.  Pulled out the Little Gem, put about 1300 turns into the tired two-loop 16"x1/16" motor and got a nice 1:05 flight.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ln60FcCZ2Yk&feature=youtu.be

[FLYACE1946]

Mike I was happy you filmed the Big Cat so I know which way I need to shim the nose in order to open up the turn. I thought the video showed a real good flight.

[OZPAF]

That's a magic flying model now Mike. The WACO SRE is amazing - even with a slight stall.

John

[MKelly]

A quick follow-up on the "Little Gem".  It has been flying well - 1x24" loop 1/16 plus 1x24" loop 3/32" wound to around 1500 turns gives a quick climb at launch and a nice transition to a climbing right turn.  Glide is still a mixed bag, but not terrible for a peanut.  I took it to the FAC Outdoor Champs in Muncie last fall and won a fly-off for third place.  This summer I took it to the FAC Non-Nats at Geneseo, had a great time meeting and flying with some amazing modelers and through a combination of luck and the misfortunes of others was fortunate to have it win the Goodyear mass launch - the cherry on top of a wonderful four days of flying and camaraderie.

Mike

[OZPAF]

Good one Mike. Well deserved.
John