Phase 6 Glider KIt

After seeing Big Dave's Phase 6 on the slope last weekend and saw what a nice plane it really is I got home and surfed around on the Net. Difficult to find any instock but found a Sport version at T9HobbySport strangely. It turned up today.

This is a big jump for me, to build from a pile of balsa and foam. At least the wings are pre-veneered.

So, what am I about to undertake? Assembly might not be too bad but a new thing to me is glassing.

I won't start the kit for a week or two as other items are in still progress but will be asking a lot of questions, especially from those who know of the model well.

When building mine (about 20yrs ago) i made a small mod to the wing mounting which fellow Ivinghoe Beacon flyers had incorporated which helps minimise damage if the wing catches on landing. The separate wing cover enables you to add lead on the C go G and the wing nut securing plate allows you to remove the T prong nut and replace with a spare on the slope (then extract the sheared nylon bolt at home)

Kevin mentions

The separate wing cover enables you to add lead on the C go G

It looks as if Kevin's Phase 6 has the flat-bottomed wing. Mine has the semi-symmetrical wing section and I have never felt the need for ballast (maybe Yorkshiremen venture out in stronger winds than us soft Southerners) and my the wing cover is permanently attached to the wing. If Phil's has the flat bottomed wing then the void in the cover may come in useful as a ballast box, otherwise I wouldn't bother.
The break out wing securing plate is a good idea and has saved me a few broken wings. I only have two screws to secure mine and slotted out the holes to make it even easier for the wing to "escape."

Thanks for tips on the wing security screw. There are two versions, a sport version has semi symmetrical E 205 wing profile for all round flying. The Pro version is fully symmetrical and performance is supposedly excellent but needs a very good blow to warrant the Pro label.

DavidTappin wrote: Kevin mentions

The separate wing cover enables you to add lead on the C go G

It looks as if Kevin's Phase 6 has the flat-bottomed wing. Mine has the semi-symmetrical wing section and I have never felt the need for ballast (maybe Yorkshiremen venture out in stronger winds than us soft Southerners) and my the wing cover is permanently attached to the wing. If Phil's has the flat bottomed wing then the void in the cover may come in useful as a ballast box, otherwise I wouldn't bother.
The break out wing securing plate is a good idea and has saved me a few broken wings. I only have two screws to secure mine and slotted out the holes to make it even easier for the wing to "escape."

Dave Rogers wrote:
In fact Dave it is your fault that I now have had to purchase another plane after watching your bargain basement Phase 6 on Sunday perform. Ilooked for used ones but none about so have to make one instead. This could mean having to sell another model to compensate. :silly:

Hi Phil,

I've been doing a lot of reading up on the various Phases and the consensus seems to be to strengthen the area behind the wing where the two halves of the fuselage join.

Can you post some pics of the kit, I'm curious to know if it's laser cut, and if the wings have cut outs for servos or if it's still designed around torque rods.

To be truthful Chris, I have sort of opened the box, rummaged through the contents, a quick look at the "manual". Did not want to get diverted from the projects in hand at present. However, I will shortly take a good look and report back.

I did read somewhere just recently that some have laid the fuselage sides in position and copied and cut out one piece sides in ply. I do know about the weak point at the rear of the wing seat which has already come up on the thread.

I plan to fit twin servos rather than a torque rod for ease of trimming/differential.

Chris001 wrote: Hi Phil,

I've been doing a lot of reading up on the various Phases and the consensus seems to be to strengthen the area behind the wing where the two halves of the fuselage join.

Can you post some pics of the kit, I'm curious to know if it's laser cut, and if the wings have cut outs for servos or if it's still designed around torque rods.

Chris - The modified break away wing nut plate reduces the stress on this part of the fuselage if the wing gets a knock.
If i remember correctly my servo boxes were bonded into the foam with epoxy. You have to install wing servos as there is no space in the fuselage for a single aileron servo with torque rods

Kevin comments that

You have to install wing servos as there is no space in the fuselage for a single aileron servo with torque rods[/quote
There is space for a single servo if you sacrifice the void in the wing cover for use as a ballast receptor. Having just taken the attached photos I now realise that my Phase 6 does have the symmetrical wing section but I have to challenge Phil's statement that

The Pro version is fully symmetrical and performance is supposedly excellent but needs a very good blow.

I've flown successfully it in quite light winds. It is quite "slippery" though which probably explains why I haven't, so far anyway, felt the need for ballast .
Maybe putting the ballast in the wing isn't such a good idea, making the wing so heavy won't help the model stay in one piece unless you land absolutely flat and even if the shear plate allows the wing to detach, with all that weight in the centre section when the wing separates there's a good chance of it breaking.