COMPLETED: 1/32 Revell glider Duo Discus

That's out of the box?!?! You must have some mad modeling skills. I have a handful of RC sailplanes in the stable, but not a Discus. Nice job!!!

Sweet builds!  I am also a glider pilot and have the 1/32nd ASK-21 in my stash.  So far, I'm checked out in eight different type gliders...

All the best

Ray

That's a nice build and not something we see very often. Whats the wingspan on this.

Wow!  That is one beautiful glider, mate!  Love the lines - and your build quality is superb.  Lovely.

Thanks for sharing, man.  I bet your instructor loved the model.

Thanks for the feedback, Gents.  The wingspan is about 30 inches.  The ASK-21 was about 24 inches.  Both of my instructors really liked their gifts.  They were really fun to build.  I also quick-built the Revell LS-8 with my young son a few month ago.  That one is neat because the canopy can open and close really well.  The Duo Discus kit doesn't have that option, and the ASK-21 canopy didn't fit the fuselage well enough to pursue that option.  I'm going to fine-build an LS-8 soon and hopefully I'll get a kit that fits just as well.

Ray, I'll probably go fly an ASK-21 in the Spring.  They are wonderful to fly, I'm told.  I'm very excited.  I got to fly the Duo Discus a little bit in the Fall for some wave flights.  What a terrific bird.  The cockpit is really tight, but she responds so well.  You just think "turn" and she goes.  And the instrumentation is out-of-this-world.  Maybe someday I'll own a ship like that :)

Yup!  Flying a "glass slipper" is more about thought and pressures rather than actual movements

on the controls.   The ASK-21 is a forgiving, easy to fly ship.  Treat it right and it will do almost anything

an airplane can do...

Ray

"Glass Slipper" huh?  That's a new one for me!  Does that term apply to all gliders?

How long have you been soaring Ray?  And where do you typically fly?  I take lessons in Morgan, Utah.  I did one flight at a soaring event in Nephi, Utah.

I learned at Dillingham Field on the North Side of Oahu.  I flew at Lagoon Valley near Vacaville, Ca.  I rarely fly now but, when I do it's at Moriarty, NM.  People started calling composite sailplanes "Glass Slippers" when they were still new and novel.  They do fit you like a slipper, too.

That's really interesting, Ray.  I almost took a drive to Moriarty, NM about 6 weeks ago.  One of my club's Grob 103's needs repair work and I volunteered to drive it.  The airplane ended up going to Williams Soaring in CA for the repairs instead.  An equally long drive for me :)

How's the soaring in Hawaii?  Are the thermals stable, or does the wind break them up?  I don't know much about that operation in Dillingham but I've visited the website.  I figured that big slope near the field is probably good on most days, given the prevailing wind direction there in Oahu.  A recent trip to Hawaii actually was a big part of why I ended up in the sport.  It's too long of a story... but short version: I'm hoping to retire down there someday, but only if the soaring is good!

There wasn't as much soaring at Dillingham as there was ridge soaring.  The prevailing wind is the trade wind and it hits the runway at 90 degrees.  You quickly learn to deal with STRONG crosswind landings and takeoffs.  We used to stay in the hangar's wind shadow until airborne.  We would make a right turn on tow and head straight for the ridge.  You could drop off tow at 500' AGL and be in 1500' per minute ridge lift.

You could soar over the "pineapple bowl" or, the center of the island.  I started there in 1985...

Ray

The last sailplane I flew was a self launching Glaser-Dirks DG-505 with 22 meter wing.  That was at Moriarty earlier this year.  My Brother, also retired, flies the tow plane there.

Great stories, Ray.  Thanks for describing more in detail.  We have a DG-505 that flies out of Morgan, though I've never flown in it.  It's a non-powered version.

Quick Update: I built a stand for this model.

That is one fine sailplane!  Great build.......Rich

That is a beautiful build. I have looked at that kit a number of times and given your post  I think it is time for me to get it. I have done single engine land with tricycle gear and tail draggers, as well as sea plane, but no sailplane, yet. It is on my bucket list. A 90 degree crosswind landing in a glider? WOW, that would be a "but pucker" ride. A "go around" is not an option.

Those are pretty birds.

FOD- Haven't heard that since Schweizer closed. :( Nice builds. Bob

Thanks for the compliments, gents. I highly recommend the kits: they are fun builds. I've built quite a few of them now, some as quick builds for use by my instructors for training, some for my kiddos.

Ranger, crosswinds aren't that scary in a glider.  Lean the wing into the wing, step on a little downwind rudder, then the plane lands nice and straight.  Don't let it spook you from trying the sport.  It's just something you learn to deal with.  I personally like landing with a little bit of slip because you can finesse the glide slope nicely by playing the ailerons vs the rudder vs the spoilers.

I passed my checkride a few weeks ago, by the way :)