as always I love the way you play down the mods you do to make the bird "yours." Upgrades are made with a lot of thought behind them, thanks for you videos!
Mine just arrived. Will do the mods for ailerons. To help rudder and elevator snakes, remove wire from case and spread a film of Vaseline or some such other lube before inserting in plane. Can't wait to have a go with this. Thanks for videos.
Got U-Glider for this Christmas from my wife. Inspected it and remembered "Hey, Andrew from Australia has it. And said on past plane episode, that it flyes awesome but after some mods.." So here I am! Somehow made tail pushrods to work well, but that single wing servo design - no good. I am replacing before maiden for separate servos.
it flew nicely on the maiden; it's the cheap servos and running gear that let you down :( i'd love one with just the appropriate motor fitted as a "short" kit, but i doubt the price would change much... but at least i wouldn't have to remove the crap bits so i could insert my own nice glider andrew; i'm a bit tempted but that niche in my squadron already has a few models spare
Any chance that the cockpit servos were intended to be mounted in an opposite directions (to the left and to the right)? It was probably reducing the mess... Another thing - in my understanding, if you cut through the wing, it makes more sense to put the push rod on the upper side. It will preserve the mechanics from hitting grass etc and also improve aerodynamics (air pressure is higher on a bottom side, so any irregularities have higher impact there).
Without the motor/prop, could this be flown/thrown as a DLG? I guess you'd have to extend the vertical stab below the plane. Are the wings strong enough as is, or would they need reinforcement?
Did you ever do that spring pull mod with this airplane? I just got this model from a flying buddy (already with separate aileron servos) but the rudder feels very sloppy and doesn't center well.
I picked one of these up on Banggood a few months ago, and had a few successful flights with it. However I'm trying to program the ESC for motor braking so the prop doesn't spin with the throttle at zero. The included ESC is unbranded so I'm not sure it's a Hobby King one. All I've managed to do so far is mess up the elevator servo as it keeps going full down and then grinding the servo gears. Anyone had any luck with this?
@@AndrewNewton Thanks for replying Andrew! Yeah, I'm about to give up on it as it seems to overheat and sometimes takes several jerky tries to get the prop to spin up. What's your source for this Plush brand ESC, I've never heard of them.
@@AlymerKiteboy it's Turnigy's brand of ESCs. Get a brand name one that has a programming card or programming manual, or get a BLHeli one and then you can program it with an Arduino.
Thanks for this very good class in building and flying gliders, this inspired me to buy and mod this kit. I havent flown gliders since I made and flew balsa gliders in the 1950s with my Grandad. I am now a grandad and wanna do this stuff with my grandson. It looks like a decent project for this summer I started to source the servos etc, I got lost on the bit about the folding prop, should I let myself get hung up about braking on off?
2 months on (holiday on my boat) and I have fitted the main wing servos, I am wondering did you connect one servo, one channel? (using two channels) or piggyback them as stock, I repeatedly inspected your testing on the video, I suspect you used two channels, I am new to RC flying and hope that I will master flaps AND ailerons, once again thanks for the time you use on these videos :)
2 months on (holiday on my boat).....jealous! What sort of boat and where do you go? I use 2 channels for ailerons if I can but really not needed with this glider. Flaps are only useful for big gliders that need lots of space for landing
here is a link to my blog its been a long time since I last updated it, I am at this time (August 2017) in Lake Vänern in Sweden I spent most of my time in the canals near Säffle these are some of the earliest canals in europe. baatplassen.no/i/topic/93671-prosjekt-canal-du-midi-or-bust/ I am not sure if I am allowed to post links I am sure you will not mind
Hi Andrew. Really enjoy your videos. On Covid lockdown and inspired by you I bought a U-Glider. I also did all of your upgrades. Flies like a dream! Only issue is that I it's broken 2 prop blades mid-flight. Fortunately I have a spare KIT version so had spares. The 2nd broken prop happened about an hour ago and is now repaired. Don't seem to be spares available online. What would you suggest as a replacement folding prop? Many thanks, Ben
I never got the tail feather control rods freed up so had to go to beefier servos. :[ Heard that you can free them up by backwards stroking the assembly until it flattens. Pull spring may be the answer.
Andrew, could you share the details to the motor you have used please. I Have purchased 3 of these kits, and now see that the recommended 2208 motor is too big to fit inside the nose area. Any advice would be most welcome.
Hi Andrew, thanks for all the info on this plane. Just got mine and I don't see any way for air flow to the esc. Do you recommend a mod for this, or is it not necessary?
Good job Andrew, I knew those crummy snakes were going to give trouble on the Ailerons....How long will this elevator servo last?....Hiding the elevator servo inside the Fuz?...What were they thinking? Look forward to a Re-Maiden, more control options now.
Hi Andrew - Thanks for great videos. My U-Glider arrived this week from Banggood. Didn't contain any servos, motor or ESC. I'm sure I'm correct in thinking it all should have been included? Banggood haven't replied to my emails via their customer services.
HI Andrew. I'm building my first U Glider and I'm relatively new at this. The rudder and elevator push rod wires are binding and don't seem to be the best for controlling the back end of the plane. Is there some other way to upgrade the wires and tubing. I don't don't what size or what the description would be to order upgraded parts. I did the wing servo mods but when I tried to use the wires that came with the U Glider they don't seem to efficiently move the elevator or rudder without springing back . I watched your build and mod videos and it seems like you didn't have much trouble at all. Very frustrating. Any help is appreciated
Check that the wires are sliding through the tubes OK, then check that the servos are not stripped (probably are, they are very weak) then check that the hinges are not too stiff. The push rods should be OK as long as they are not kinked or glued up somehow.
Hi Andrew, I know this is a quite old video, but I do have a question ; would it be possible to skip aileron control at all and only use rudder for steering, since the wing has some dihedral, or wouldn't that be enough dihedral? It would make things much easier and of course lower weight. Thx!
Hi Andrew, I have just ordered the U Glider from Banggood(my first buy from Banggood) not sure how long it will take for delivery to the UK but not quick enough lol Apart from the mods you have performed on this model is there anything else you would recommend? Should I cover the leading edges with document film or would you recommend the whole wing or not needed.. Regards Heath
Nice one Heath, I was flying mine yesterday, still a favourite. Covering just the leading edge is a good idea, I just used packing tape. It would be very difficult to do a nice job of covering the whole wing, it's quite a thin airfoil, and not needed.
Hi Andrew. Thanks for the reviews of the uglider. I have bought one from Banggood, my first effort with a glider, and had a pretty miserable time. The enclosed pushrods for the rudder/elevator were too short. Replaced with .6mm welding wire. The servos were shredded. Well, I decided I'd get better control by moving the servos to the tail, but this changed the balance of the plane. Now I'm new to all this and have tried to get the position of CG and balance right (using a 500mAh) battery - but I'm having trouble trying to get the glide out of the glider. Having to add loads of weight to the nose seems counter to the idea of a glider. I have watched several videos of people happily flying the uglider (straight from the box) and feel I'm missing something. Any ideas for getting balance right? Thanks in advance of a reply.
Thanks for the reply, Andrew. The weight on my small kitchen scales came in at 390-400gms. I have placed five 20c pieces in the nose and tried to balance at 50mm (40%) from leading edge of the wing. I still have servo extension leads to come in the post for connecting the rudder and elevator. I know, way too heavy for a glider. I haven't tested gliding/flying yet after changes. Ideas gratefully appreciated. Thanks!
Thanks for another great video Andrew! Tweaking and moding things until they are just the way I like them is one of my favourite things to do :) What varios do you use?
has anyone figured out how to remove the motor without cutting the nose off? i bought 2 and wanted to convert one to a pure DLG while saving the motor as a spare
1805 2200kv is just a guess, I dont know, mine came with the motor. Ask on RCGroups www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?2787342-Unique-Models-U-Glider-1500mm-Wingspan-EPO-Glider
That's what I first thought of, making it a pull/pull system, or with spring/pull. Either way, as long as it works - great! This plane is going on my list. Happy flying - soft landings.
I like the Phoenix too. If you had to choose for flat field thermaling, which one would you take? The ASW 28 the Phoenix Evo 2.6m or the Phoenix2000? Seems the Aeronaut Triple Speed is a nice glider too! It comes with 3 different wingspans.
Am new in this hobby. Why would you wrap tape around it? To better stick to the glue than the servo plastic? If so what sort of tape? Fantastic video by the way Andrew. Love your work.
as always I love the way you play down the mods you do to make the bird "yours." Upgrades are made with a lot of thought behind them, thanks for you videos!
My pleasure Robert. I do look at these foamy planes as raw materials rather than a finished design
Considering this glider, it looks like a real soarer, yet aerobatic if you want it to be.
Mine just arrived. Will do the mods for ailerons. To help rudder and elevator snakes, remove wire from case and spread a film of Vaseline or some such other lube before inserting in plane. Can't wait to have a go with this. Thanks for videos.
Excellent tip thanks Bob
I liked watching you work. No mucking about.
I hope the maker's of this glider have watched this video and hope fully they will update on there next model, brill video sir
Got U-Glider for this Christmas from my wife. Inspected it and remembered "Hey, Andrew from Australia has it. And said on past plane episode, that it flyes awesome but after some mods.."
So here I am! Somehow made tail pushrods to work well, but that single wing servo design - no good. I am replacing before maiden for separate servos.
Excellent Tomas. It's one of my favourites, once you get it working right.
I’ve watched many of your reviews and builds that’s helped me a lot in my own builds ,good work 🇬🇧
Glad you like them!
nicely done sir let's hope Unique see this and incorporates the upgrades on the production model in the future.
Hope so , but unlikely
Nice mods. The new aileron servos are snug as a bug in the wing chord.
Looking forward to the re-maiden.
Yes they did fit nicely
All those mods in order to get a model that fly`s properly, makes you wonder if these cheaper models are really value for money.
Nice work Andrew.
it flew nicely on the maiden; it's the cheap servos and running gear that let you down :(
i'd love one with just the appropriate motor fitted as a "short" kit, but i doubt the price would change much... but at least i wouldn't have to remove the crap bits so i could insert my own
nice glider andrew; i'm a bit tempted but that niche in my squadron already has a few models spare
The mods are really just what I wanted to do, it flies perfectly well as is, apart from the weak servos.
Any chance that the cockpit servos were intended to be mounted in an opposite directions (to the left and to the right)? It was probably reducing the mess...
Another thing - in my understanding, if you cut through the wing, it makes more sense to put the push rod on the upper side. It will preserve the mechanics from hitting grass etc and also improve aerodynamics (air pressure is higher on a bottom side, so any irregularities have higher impact there).
I think the top surface is more critical. If you tape a camera on the top surface it affects performance more than the bottom side.
Without the motor/prop, could this be flown/thrown as a DLG? I guess you'd have to extend the vertical stab below the plane. Are the wings strong enough as is, or would they need reinforcement?
Not strong enough for a decent throw
Awesome mod! Your videos on your mods are like an instruction video. 👍
Excellent, glad it comes across that way
Another great video Andrew! Thanks for what you do.
Did you ever do that spring pull mod with this airplane? I just got this model from a flying buddy (already with separate aileron servos) but the rudder feels very sloppy and doesn't center well.
Not with this one but it would be a good mod
I picked one of these up on Banggood a few months ago, and had a few successful flights with it. However I'm trying to program the ESC for motor braking so the prop doesn't spin with the throttle at zero. The included ESC is unbranded so I'm not sure it's a Hobby King one. All I've managed to do so far is mess up the elevator servo as it keeps going full down and then grinding the servo gears. Anyone had any luck with this?
That's why I swapped to a little Plush ESC
@@AndrewNewton Thanks for replying Andrew! Yeah, I'm about to give up on it as it seems to overheat and sometimes takes several jerky tries to get the prop to spin up. What's your source for this Plush brand ESC, I've never heard of them.
@@AlymerKiteboy it's Turnigy's brand of ESCs. Get a brand name one that has a programming card or programming manual, or get a BLHeli one and then you can program it with an Arduino.
Ailerons were stiff and wouldn't loosen, 3 two inch slices on the hinges took care of that!
Thanks for this very good class in building and flying gliders, this inspired me to buy and mod this kit. I havent flown gliders since I made and flew balsa gliders in the 1950s with my Grandad. I am now a grandad and wanna do this stuff with my grandson. It looks like a decent project for this summer
I started to source the servos etc, I got lost on the bit about the folding prop, should I let myself get hung up about braking on off?
Its not a big issue Neal. Flies nicely whether the prop spins or folds. You could source an ESC with motor baking later on if it bugs you.
thanks :)
2 months on (holiday on my boat) and I have fitted the main wing servos, I am wondering did you connect one servo, one channel? (using two channels) or piggyback them as stock, I repeatedly inspected your testing on the video, I suspect you used two channels, I am new to RC flying and hope that I will master flaps AND ailerons, once again thanks for the time you use on these videos :)
2 months on (holiday on my boat).....jealous! What sort of boat and where do you go? I use 2 channels for ailerons if I can but really not needed with this glider. Flaps are only useful for big gliders that need lots of space for landing
here is a link to my blog its been a long time since I last updated it, I am at this time (August 2017) in Lake Vänern in Sweden I spent most of my time in the canals near Säffle these are some of the earliest canals in europe.
baatplassen.no/i/topic/93671-prosjekt-canal-du-midi-or-bust/ I am not sure if I am allowed to post links I am sure you will not mind
Hi Andrew.
Really enjoy your videos. On Covid lockdown and inspired by you I bought a U-Glider. I also did all of your upgrades. Flies like a dream!
Only issue is that I it's broken 2 prop blades mid-flight. Fortunately I have a spare KIT version so had spares. The 2nd broken prop happened about an hour ago and is now repaired.
Don't seem to be spares available online. What would you suggest as a replacement folding prop?
Many thanks,
Ben
Finding small folding props for it is a problem unfortunately. I have tried a couple bought from HobbyKing but they dont fit directly
I never got the tail feather control rods freed up so had to go to beefier servos. :[ Heard that you can free them up by backwards stroking the assembly until it flattens. Pull spring may be the answer.
Agreed, I must try spring pull eventually
My bet is that you'll be grinning! ;]
Very nice and inspiring, as always. Keep up the great work!
Thank you! Will do!
Thank you again for your vids..
Thank you very much for posting the link. I'll take a look later today
Andrew, could you share the details to the motor you have used please. I Have purchased 3 of these kits, and now see that the recommended 2208 motor is too big to fit inside the nose area. Any advice would be most welcome.
Mine is the PNP. Check my other U Glider videos
Hi Andrew, thanks for all the info on this plane. Just got mine and I don't see any way for air flow to the esc. Do you recommend a mod for this, or is it not necessary?
I didn't think it was a problem. Low current and mostly gliding.
Good job Andrew, I knew those crummy snakes were going to give trouble on the Ailerons....How long will this elevator servo last?....Hiding the elevator servo inside the Fuz?...What were they thinking? Look forward to a Re-Maiden, more control options now.
A few strange design decisions but great overall
6:45 Siri Wakes up when you say serious. Gosh I freak so bad when she started doing its thing by its own.
Yes I reckon Siri is watching us
fantastic! can't wait to see the maiden
It would be the re-maiden, but yet I'm looking forward to it
Can the fuselage hold 9g servos? Or are they simply too big?
Tight fit but possible
Hi Andrew - Thanks for great videos. My U-Glider arrived this week from Banggood.
Didn't contain any servos, motor or ESC. I'm sure I'm correct in thinking it all should have been included? Banggood haven't replied to my emails via their customer services.
Which version did you order? PNP version should come with servos, motor and ESC. But there is also a KIT version that doesn't.
HI Andrew. I'm building my first U Glider and I'm relatively new at this. The rudder and elevator push rod wires are binding and don't seem to be the best for controlling the back end of the plane. Is there some other way to upgrade the wires and tubing. I don't don't what size or what the description would be to order upgraded parts. I did the wing servo mods but when I tried to use the wires that came with the U Glider they don't seem to efficiently move the elevator or rudder without springing back . I watched your build and mod videos and it seems like you didn't have much trouble at all. Very frustrating. Any help is appreciated
Check that the wires are sliding through the tubes OK, then check that the servos are not stripped (probably are, they are very weak) then check that the hinges are not too stiff. The push rods should be OK as long as they are not kinked or glued up somehow.
Hi Andrew, I know this is a quite old video, but I do have a question ; would it be possible to skip aileron control at all and only use rudder for steering, since the wing has some dihedral, or wouldn't that be enough dihedral? It would make things much easier and of course lower weight.
Thx!
Yes I think it would work without ailerons. I'll try it next decent flying day
@@AndrewNewtonoh that would be great, thanks a lot! Ps. I'm curious if the rudder is large enough currently
@@AndrewNewton do you might have any update already...?
can't wait for the test fly...
Andrew, I flew that bird this week end with wind gusty at 22 miles/h, fine.
Now, where can I find a spare wing?,, and cg is 40 from LE.
Oh no, wing damage? Hobby King may have spares. My CG is between 35 and 40mm
thanks.
Looking good! Moving the servos around change the center of gravity?
May have shifted it a little bit but battery positioning takes care of that.
Hi Andrew,
I have just ordered the U Glider from Banggood(my first buy from Banggood) not sure how long it will take for delivery to the UK but not quick enough lol
Apart from the mods you have performed on this model is there anything else you would recommend? Should I cover the leading edges with document film or would you recommend the whole wing or not needed.. Regards Heath
Nice one Heath, I was flying mine yesterday, still a favourite. Covering just the leading edge is a good idea, I just used packing tape. It would be very difficult to do a nice job of covering the whole wing, it's quite a thin airfoil, and not needed.
Hi Andrew. Thanks for the reviews of the uglider. I have bought one from Banggood, my first effort with a glider, and had a pretty miserable time. The enclosed pushrods for the rudder/elevator were too short. Replaced with .6mm welding wire. The servos were shredded. Well, I decided I'd get better control by moving the servos to the tail, but this changed the balance of the plane. Now I'm new to all this and have tried to get the position of CG and balance right (using a 500mAh) battery - but I'm having trouble trying to get the glide out of the glider. Having to add loads of weight to the nose seems counter to the idea of a glider. I have watched several videos of people happily flying the uglider (straight from the box) and feel I'm missing something. Any ideas for getting balance right? Thanks in advance of a reply.
Have to keep it light. Servos on the tail will not help. How heavy is yours when it's properly balanced for flight?
Thanks for the reply, Andrew. The weight on my small kitchen scales came in at 390-400gms. I have placed five 20c pieces in the nose and tried to balance at 50mm (40%) from leading edge of the wing. I still have servo extension leads to come in the post for connecting the rudder and elevator. I know, way too heavy for a glider. I haven't tested gliding/flying yet after changes. Ideas gratefully appreciated. Thanks!
Thanks for another great video Andrew! Tweaking and moding things until they are just the way I like them is one of my favourite things to do :) What varios do you use?
Same here, I love hacking and modding. FrSKY high precision vario
Hopefully they will take on board some of your mods- does Bang good reply to your feedback?
Unlikely, I don't think Banggood makes the products, apart from Eachine maybe.
Thank for your video .
Hi Andrew ,what servos die you use please
Secret, have to watch the video
Hi Andrew, Has that Turnigy Plush 12A ESC worked out? Not getting too warm?
Suits it perfectly
Nice work
15 grams well spent as you can now have flapperons and spoilerons - nice one Andrew
That's right
Ill keep my flying wing but love the content Andrew!
has anyone figured out how to remove the motor without cutting the nose off? i bought 2 and wanted to convert one to a pure DLG while saving the motor as a spare
No unfortunately. Have to cut the foam
You can remove it without cutting. I have done it with a small screwdriver
Tell me the name of the 1805 2200 kv motor model.
After I bought the airplane...
I don't have a motor.
I can't fly.
1805 2200kv is just a guess, I dont know, mine came with the motor. Ask on RCGroups www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?2787342-Unique-Models-U-Glider-1500mm-Wingspan-EPO-Glider
What kind of vario did you use Andrew?
FrSky high precision vario
Andrew, I got a U Glider but I can't find the location of the CG, anyone knows where it is? Thanks in advance.
I haven't accurately measured it but start with 40mm and see how you go
from the leading edge? thank you.
Yes
horns would last longer put on top of wing
Hi Andrew can you tell me which lipo sensor you use please
This one Frsky Mlvss Mini Lipo Voltage Sensor Smart port Enable without OLED Screen
www.banggood.com/Frsky-Mlvss-Mini-Lipo-Voltage-Sensor-Smart-port-Enable-without-OLED-Screen-p-1062354.html
Ok Thanks I'll see if I can find one, It looks quite light.
Really helpful Andew.
Paul Rose
no pull / string system for the elevator and rudder?
....yet
That's what I first thought of, making it a pull/pull system, or with spring/pull. Either way, as long as it works - great! This plane is going on my list. Happy flying - soft landings.
Suggestions for a similar, or bigger glider?
Sonic 185, Radian, Phoenix 2000
I like the Phoenix too. If you had to choose for flat field thermaling, which one would you take? The ASW 28 the Phoenix Evo 2.6m or the Phoenix2000?
Seems the Aeronaut Triple Speed is a nice glider too! It comes with 3 different wingspans.
Could you put a link to the vario please?
Thx!
www.banggood.com/FrSky-Variometer-Sensor-VarioHigh-Precision-p-930779.html
Andrew Newton thx ! Hope i will be able to connect it to the right receiver and than to programme my taranis ;-)
I have videos on how to do that. ua-cam.com/play/PLC8MdCMvxwBh_Pkp1EkLilgWcK8CQINd9.html
Is it too difficult to see when in the skiesß
Cheers
It can be hard to see. That's why my tail is pink now
Mine has a final flying weight of 340 grams, how did every one else do?
Same, with the mods
the next time you temporarily hotglue servos, wrap some clear tape around the servos, cut that.
I used to do that but too lazy these days
Andrew Newton it did come out quite easily..
Am new in this hobby. Why would you wrap tape around it? To better stick to the glue than the servo plastic? If so what sort of tape? Fantastic video by the way Andrew. Love your work.
It looks like a DLG
Yes and it sort of flies like one too
I really like this plane, but if I get another plane the wife is not going to like it lol
But this is such a sweet glider, Im sure she will like it too.
bonne vieomerci
Merci
Great that the manufacturers make a model that is actually pointless to buy if you have to change it so much.
Tut mir leid . Aber. Nach 55 Jahren modellbau und Modellflug kann ich nur sagen . " So ein Pfusch " .
Ok
I really need to stop watching your videos. You give me too many ideas.
Ha sorry bout that Chief
Hello,your video inspired me to buy one :) what is the best option for the battery??
I use 2S 950mAH Nanotech. Fairly low power but it's fine for a glider. Could use 3S 500