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Old 10-06-2020, 12:49 AM
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Ez2cDave Ez2cDave is offline
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Location: Raleigh, NC Area
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Quote:
Originally Posted by georgegassaway
Well, actually, something better has been invented. One drawback to the Apogee universal hook, and true of any "Xerclod" glider hook, is that the glider can pry off due to wind, usually on the pad.

When I started flying 2-channel R/C B/G's in summer 1980, I used very long pop-pods, and the pods sometime pried off during boost when I made an elecator correction. I came up with what I called "L" hooks, a pair of interlocking hooks that could not pry off, at all. The hook had to move backawards aobut 1/4" or so to become detached. But those were made out of plywood, a bit of a hassle ot build, and some other issues, so I only did those for some early 1980's R/C B/G's. before I moved on to R/C R/G's. The drawings below do not show the 1980 plywood design, but the 1990's and onwards cast version.


But once I got into casting parts for scale models like Little Joe-II, I looked at casting other kinds of parts. The Apogee universal hook was the first cast hook I did. And it worked pretty well. But had the same sort of prying issue.

And in 1996, I was working up some B pwoered gliders for the world championships, to use 10mm B2 motors. I wanted to do a hook design that was lighter, smaller, and would not pry off. So I dusted off the 1980 "L Hook" idea, and made some prototypes. They worked well, and I shared them with US team members who wanted ot use them. Thru the years, I've sold them on and off. Currnetly not for sale, as the RTV molds are torn (only last a few dozen castings).

Also, I did an R&D report for my team , about the L Hooks and Spooler Pop-Pods, which combined solve all sorts of problems with pop-pods for B/G's. Here's a link on my website aobut the R&D report, various photos and drawings, and a link to a PDF of the actual report: http://georgesrockets.com/GRP/RandD/Spooler.htm




George,

Would your "L-Hook" design lend itself to 3-D printing, or would it be "fragile", due to the materials in use ?

Dave F.
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