The Prodij - a French made 60-inch racer
Posted by Greg Smith on Sep 8, 2002, 19:54
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Prodij
Specs
Airfoil:MG 06
Span: 60.0
Area:
Surface loading:
Weight: 22oz
Control: Aileron, Flaps, Rudder and Elevator
Radio: Hitec Super Slim, HS-85MG servos for the ailerons and CS-25's for the Rudder/Elevator, 600ae pack.
Purchased from Composite Specialities www.f3x.com
Review of Composite Specialities Service
The Prodij is a sailplane intended for high performance slope flight and racing in the 60” class and for use with the catapults. Its small size makes it very handy without conceding performance.
Here is the bird out of its shipping shell. The packing from Composite Specialities protected the model well, all parts arrived undamaged.
My inital impression of the kit is positive.
The wing looks very well made and strong. It is not quite as pretty as a fully molded wing, but it seems more durable. The ailerons go all the way to the tip and are 30 % of the chord at the root. All the servos reside in the fuse and the wing sits on a pylon. This lets the ailerons meet in the middle with no interference from the fuse. This setup should allow for very effective use of the wing over a variety of conditions.
The fuse is a lighter lay-up but it seems reasonably durable. The slip on nose cone also adds some strength up front. The fuse has fairly prominent seam. Some guys will want to take some time to finish the fuse and repaint it. It does not bother me so I will not be wasting the time right now. I assume from my past experience that I will be repairing it at some time, so maybe I will do it then.
The tail is a sandwich of balsa fiberglass and balsa with the glass acting as the hinge.
The servos mount to a board and are screwed to the side of the fuse.
A building note: The recommended silicone hinges for the ailerons are cool,but watch out for a reaction between the silicone you use and the tape that holds the ailerons in place while the silicone is drying. My combo of GE Silicone II and 3M blue painters masking tape was not the hot setup. so I had to redo it. Lay a bead on the proposed masking tape and wait a day to see if the silicone cures properly.
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