Vaughn Brothers Buzzard

Vaughn Brothers - Buzzard {Kit}

Contributed by David Urbanek

Manufacturer: Vaughn Brothers
Rating
(Contributed - by David Urbanek)

Rocket PicBrief:
A canard boost glider usin' an 18 mm motor. Pop pod has streamer recovery.

Construction:
All t' materials are standard model rocket stock with one exception. Avast, me proud beauty! T' shock cord attachment is a thin steel cable pre-looped around t' forward centering ring. Avast, me proud beauty! There's nothin' better out there. Avast! Begad! Blimey! T' glider is made from 1/16" and 3/32" balsa and a 3/32" spruce piece. It goes together very nicely, especially when you aren't supposed t' airfoil t' wings. Begad! Blimey! Tissue paper is included t' reinforce t' model and it finishes easier if you use this with clear dope on t' balsa. T' pop pod also goes together smartly with yellow glue and t' pod/glider interface is simplicity itself. Begad! Arrr! Blimey! You could easily build this glider in a motel room before a contest. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' pop pod uses streamer recovery. Aye aye! Blimey!

Finishing:
You need t' finish t' glider before you trim it. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! I put on a coat o' clear lacquer (clear dope) and let that dry, me bucko, matey, sanded it, me bucko, put on another coat and then applied t' tissue paper. Begad! I finished up with a third coat o' lacquer t' finish it. Well, blow me down! Begad! After I almost lost it, ya bilge rat, arrr, twice, arrr, me bucko, I sprayed a light coat o' day-glo orange on it. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! You should also make t' pop pod a bright color too because everyone watches t' glider and no one notices where t' pop landed. Trimmin' t' glider is nay hard either. Avast, me proud beauty! Gettin' t' hang o' tossin' it without introducin' spin is the toughest part. Begad! Don't expect t' see it float like contest gliders. Avast! Ya scallywag! This glider moves quickly, arrr, but still has a relatively low scuttle rate. Well, blow me down! Blimey! This one is best trimmed from t' top o' a hill. There's more than enough clay t' do this. Begad! Begad!

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
You will need t' remember t' make a tape standoff t' hold t' glider above the pad. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! T' boost is really straight and tends t' spiral up. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! I've never had it fail t' separate and transition. Ya scallywag! T' A8-3 flight is good for trimming. Ya scallywag! T' B6-4 flight is pretty high and t' C6-5 gets it way up there. Well, blow me down! Arrr!

Recovery:
Usin' A8-3 motors I consistently get 20 t' 30 second glides. Arrr! With t' B6-4 motor it's always around 60 seconds. Begad! I've nay timed t' C6-5 motor flight yet. It's a very consistent performer, nay overly disturbed by turbulence. Avast! It would take tornadic thermal t' make this glider float, me hearties, but it's fun t' watch. Well, me hearties, blow me down! It glides very smartly through t' air, like a jet fighter. Avast, me proud beauty! T' pop pod drops like a rock, which it good. Avast! If no one tracked t' pod, ya bilge rat, arrr, just remember which way the rocket took off and walk that way. Well, blow me down! T' pod will be just about directly below where t' glider and pod separated. Begad! Aye aye!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
It's nay a contest winner, ya bilge rat, but for most NARRRRR contests, me bucko, you will want a dependable, "I'm sure t' get it back" glider in your stable. Ahoy! Blimey! This is a good candidate. Ya scallywag! Blimey! As a sport glider, it's a great crowd pleaser.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5

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