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#1 - 23/09/2026
Lidl super market often has free flight gliders for sale for sub £10 (£6.99 this time) and I know there is a whole dedicated culture to converting these as which I'm also a member lol. Welcome to our servers first RC project!
This glider comes in a standard tail configuration, a 86cm (near 3ft) wingspan which is moulded with dihedral towards the end of the winds (they lift up to offer better self correction during free flight). Its all foam and has a big 8.8mm bolt up front for weight balance ( COG ). Nothing special hence the price, however for RC they're perfect for all sorts of conversations including powered flight and even jet ( and no I didn't mean just EDF! ) 🫡
Lidl super market often has free flight gliders for sale for sub £10 (£6.99 this time) and I know there is a whole dedicated culture to converting these as which I'm also a member lol. Welcome to our servers first RC project!
This glider comes in a standard tail configuration, a 86cm (near 3ft) wingspan which is moulded with dihedral towards the end of the winds (they lift up to offer better self correction during free flight). Its all foam and has a big 8.8mm bolt up front for weight balance ( COG ). Nothing special hence the price, however for RC they're perfect for all sorts of conversations including powered flight and even jet ( and no I didn't mean just EDF! ) 🫡
#2 - 23/09/2026
In the box as standard
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In the box as standard
20260609_211553.jpg20260609_211624.jpg20260609_211731.jpg20260913_213017.jpg#3 - 23/09/2026
For a fast slope soarer with plenty of acrobatic capability I need to straighten the wing out. A very old school method is to use boiling water ( being careful! ) to deform and cool in a new position. As a side note, impacts in foam that crumple up etc can be restored using boiling water in the same way as the air inside of the foam itself heats and expands back into shape (kinda).
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For a fast slope soarer with plenty of acrobatic capability I need to straighten the wing out. A very old school method is to use boiling water ( being careful! ) to deform and cool in a new position. As a side note, impacts in foam that crumple up etc can be restored using boiling water in the same way as the air inside of the foam itself heats and expands back into shape (kinda).
20260916_183745.jpg20260916_184753.jpg20260916_185617.jpg20260916_185922.jpg#4 - 23/09/2026
Standard COG on these 86cm gliders is 65mm down from the leading edge (front of the wing) so anything built should be around maintaining that COG spot. This is why it's best to even try tape electronics roughly in place and move them about until you can use all your components to balance COG and add very little extra weight at the end.
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Standard COG on these 86cm gliders is 65mm down from the leading edge (front of the wing) so anything built should be around maintaining that COG spot. This is why it's best to even try tape electronics roughly in place and move them about until you can use all your components to balance COG and add very little extra weight at the end.
20260916_194328.jpg#5 - 23/09/2026
While steaming the wing into shape works it will want to deform back to shape over time in the sun and such. A 3mm carbon fibre rod (not tube) will give the wing very high rigidity, strength and prevent the wing changing shape later in time too much. I cut two lines 3mm deep 3mm apart on the COG line, it will neutralize the weight of the rod (9g) from effecting COG but also when checking COG at anytime I simply place a finger on each hand on each wing side - directly on that rod, the model should always balance there, if it doesn't then it's not right. A quick test in the field stops crashes from happening.
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While steaming the wing into shape works it will want to deform back to shape over time in the sun and such. A 3mm carbon fibre rod (not tube) will give the wing very high rigidity, strength and prevent the wing changing shape later in time too much. I cut two lines 3mm deep 3mm apart on the COG line, it will neutralize the weight of the rod (9g) from effecting COG but also when checking COG at anytime I simply place a finger on each hand on each wing side - directly on that rod, the model should always balance there, if it doesn't then it's not right. A quick test in the field stops crashes from happening.
20260916_204819.jpg20260916_194333.jpg20260916_195156.jpg20260916_195945.jpg20260916_202322.jpg#6 - 23/09/2026
Straight onto wing mounting so I keep a removeable wing for easy storage/transport. I cut away the top portion of fuselage and bonded it to the wing. I left the front 40mm in place. The idea is a front peg for the wing to slot into, on the back a nylon bolt pinning the wing down. The tail I've chopped down so it looks nice to be honest, the only criteria is - it's strong and doesn't snap. So the tail vertical stabiliser got hacked off lol and the remainder of the tail sliced in two to become the new V tail with equal shape and size all ready to go.
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Straight onto wing mounting so I keep a removeable wing for easy storage/transport. I cut away the top portion of fuselage and bonded it to the wing. I left the front 40mm in place. The idea is a front peg for the wing to slot into, on the back a nylon bolt pinning the wing down. The tail I've chopped down so it looks nice to be honest, the only criteria is - it's strong and doesn't snap. So the tail vertical stabiliser got hacked off lol and the remainder of the tail sliced in two to become the new V tail with equal shape and size all ready to go.
20260917_001619.jpg#7 - 23/09/2026
control surfaces on my V tail are 110 x 40mm, which is fairly sizeable but I want to do tip stalls and other such things so I will need high authority control surfaces to really throw it around.
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control surfaces on my V tail are 110 x 40mm, which is fairly sizeable but I want to do tip stalls and other such things so I will need high authority control surfaces to really throw it around.
20260917_025723.jpg#8 - 23/09/2026
The fuselage will not tolerate me and my flying until I strengthen it - a lot. Also any flex in the tail will mean the distance between tail and servos changes - changing the control surface positions! so then your input is more a recommendation than control lol. To fix that I'm using a fibre glass 3mm rod weighing in at 6.3g 1 meter long. I cut it in half and running it from the tail up the fuselage basically as far as it'll go .. 500mm obviously lol. That then gets glued in place with CA foam safe Zap super thin. Once dry I can smack the fuselage off the table top and it doesn't care.. so yea.. strong now 🙂
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The fuselage will not tolerate me and my flying until I strengthen it - a lot. Also any flex in the tail will mean the distance between tail and servos changes - changing the control surface positions! so then your input is more a recommendation than control lol. To fix that I'm using a fibre glass 3mm rod weighing in at 6.3g 1 meter long. I cut it in half and running it from the tail up the fuselage basically as far as it'll go .. 500mm obviously lol. That then gets glued in place with CA foam safe Zap super thin. Once dry I can smack the fuselage off the table top and it doesn't care.. so yea.. strong now 🙂
20260917_182053.jpg20260917_175502.jpg20260917_185503.jpg#9 - 23/09/2026
The only real good advice for a V-tail to be effective is simply maintain a good 45 degree angle / 90 degrees apart. I've made V tails out of bar mats and Sellotape and still flew over the years so really anything goes. But for best performance - this is it.
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The only real good advice for a V-tail to be effective is simply maintain a good 45 degree angle / 90 degrees apart. I've made V tails out of bar mats and Sellotape and still flew over the years so really anything goes. But for best performance - this is it.
20260920_212921.jpg20260917_200452.jpg20260917_210036.jpg20260917_214108.jpg20260919_163229.jpg20260920_000013.jpg#10 - 23/09/2026
Ailerons run on a single Metal Gear servo with a high response rate for agility. Two direct made to size push rods using 1.5mm diameter steel wire ( or piano wire if you know it that way ). I had to gut out space in the fuselage for it to sit in - with cut outs for the control lines to come through to the wing surface. After an 8mm wood Dowling peg was installed with a plate on the fuselage side. Inside the back of the wing fuselage area sits the nut for the nylon bolt, I printed a part which is included here but otherwise ply wood is a good 2nd choice or thick plastic to anchor it and the front peg plate 🙂
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Ailerons run on a single Metal Gear servo with a high response rate for agility. Two direct made to size push rods using 1.5mm diameter steel wire ( or piano wire if you know it that way ). I had to gut out space in the fuselage for it to sit in - with cut outs for the control lines to come through to the wing surface. After an 8mm wood Dowling peg was installed with a plate on the fuselage side. Inside the back of the wing fuselage area sits the nut for the nylon bolt, I printed a part which is included here but otherwise ply wood is a good 2nd choice or thick plastic to anchor it and the front peg plate 🙂
20260920_211648.jpg20260918_183800.jpg20260920_155639.jpg20260920_155710.jpg20260920_173257.jpg20260920_192753.jpg#11 - 23/09/2026
Up front goes my 4 channel receiver with a 2 cell (2S) 650mAh lipo and 5A buck converter to feed power at 5v to the RX.
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Up front goes my 4 channel receiver with a 2 cell (2S) 650mAh lipo and 5A buck converter to feed power at 5v to the RX.
20260919_182326.jpg#12 - 23/09/2026
Configuring your radio for V tail will vary per radio, check instructions or google online. Either way this is now ready for its maiden flight and weighs in at 215g AUW ( All Up Weight (Inc battery) ) and is structurally rock solid stiff so should be good. Video will come when the weather allows!
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Configuring your radio for V tail will vary per radio, check instructions or google online. Either way this is now ready for its maiden flight and weighs in at 215g AUW ( All Up Weight (Inc battery) ) and is structurally rock solid stiff so should be good. Video will come when the weather allows!
20260920_213005.jpg20260921_150912.jpgSuggested Projects
