****Note that you are urged to work directly from the official 2008-09 SO students' or coaches' manual (from SO Store). The ideas offered here comprise only a very general supplementary guideline.****

WE NEED YOUR INPUT!!! 
If you used either Sorcerer or Cruiser in the past (or, even better, if you have flown BOTH models), PLEASE TELL US WHAT WAS GOOD AND BAD ABOUT BOTH KITS. 
Please email your comments and ideas to contact@turnertoys.com 



Flying Surfaces:

1.)  Review the newest rules and calculate the wing’s maximum dimensions.  You should have a rectangle.  Making the outline slightly smaller assures no problem at contest inspections.

 Wing:

1.)  Minimize the change in the wing tips by only reducing or increasing the chord length (leading edge to trailing edge). 

 2.)  With the wingtips length not changed (that is from rib to rib), draw the tips onto graph paper.

 3.)  Reduce or increase the center section to fit the new dimensions shown on the graph paper.  Be sure that the chord dimension (leading edge to trailing edge) has been adjusted also.

4.)  Do not install the triangular balsa gussets called for in the instructions. Too much weight! 
Instead, put an extra SMALL drop of Ambroid cement in the joint corners where the ribs are attached to the spars. Look out for similar weight savings throughout the plan. Same idea for fin and stab.

Motor stick and Tailboom:

   Some of the more sophisticated designs use motor sticks and tailbooms longer than specified in the Sorcerer kit. 
It is important to have the overall fuselage (motor stick and tail boom) longer than the wingspan, to extent permitted by rules. This increases effectiveness of the stabilizer relative to its surface area. 
   It also makes sense to use a heavier motor stick, as specified in Harlan and Banks designs. Larger sticks (.250" sq or .250 x 2/16") should be tapered at ends to reduce weight.  This reduces torque twist on initial release when motor torque is greatest, and makes adjusting for flight circle and climb much more predictable.  Balsa is available here.

Stabilizer:

1.)  Re-draw the stabilizer in the same way that the wing was re-drawn or use new printed plans.

 2.)  Using the latest rules, draw the maximum dimensions (should be shown as rectangle) on the graph paper.

 3.)  Overlay on to the Sorcerer plan and simply re-draw the stabilizer to fit the new dimensions.

 Fin:

1.)  The area can be increased or decreased depending on the percentage size change of the airplane design.  Try to not reduce the height as this will induce some instability in the roll and yaw axis. 
What would happen if you put the stab/rudder assembly on top side of motor stick? Try it! 

 NEW IDEAS

 Post and Socket attachments

 1.)  Collect coffee stirrer straws with single bores (openings).  The smaller the inside diameter, the better the socket.

 2.)  The straw will become the socket that will receive the wood post (usually 3/32” balsa strip). You can sand a heavier grade of 1/8" to get this. The Cruiser plans for '07-'08 called for .090" (1/8 is .125). 

 3.)  Roughen the straws surface with 400 grit sand paper.

 4.)  Cut sections about 15mm +/- long

 For Tail boom attachment (making an adjustable mount): 

Note - this is optional or less! This device can be rotated to adjust stab angle for flying circle, but may be unstable, and it may be hard to replicate precisely successful angle without some means of measuring your adjustments. 
 5.)  Remove the “lock” components if you have an existing Sorcerer motor stick.  

6.)  Attach a straw socket to the top of the motor stick with glue.  Be sure that the straw is located in absolute parallel with the motor stick.

 7.)  When dry, wrap with thread and glue.

8.)  A “stop” can be added so that the tailboom does not push through the socket. Or save weight by plugging the end with a glued scrap of balsa stick.

 9.)  If the tail boom feels loose in the socket, smear a little glue on the tail boom tip that is inserted into the socket.   Let the  glue dry first before inserting. 
Note: Ambroid cement or water-based wood glue may not adhere well to plastic. Test first on scrap. It may be better to use CA or epoxy.

 For Wing Attachment:

10.)  Do not install the saddle components.  All we need are the posts to be attached to the wing.  11.)  Assemble all the components, propeller, motor stick, rubber motor and tail boom/tail assembly together.  12.)  Find the point of balance on the motor stick.  Mark this spot.  This is the location for the rear post socket.

13.)  Glue and let dry.  Make sure that the socket is positioned straight up an down.  Bind with thread and glue.

14.)  Once dry, slide the rear post into place and mark the location for the front post on the motor stick.   Attach the straw socket as before.

 Advantages to Post and Socket Attachments

The new attachments save on weight and can add to the ability to make special flight adjustments.  These changes further enhance the performance whether for B or C division.

Tail boom/Tail Assembly-Being able to increase or decrease “stabilizer tilt” simply by rotating the tail boom and re-inserting it back into the socket allows finite adjustments for the flight orbit diameter.  This is a critical adjustment for any flying site especially on contest day.  Since the stabilizer tends to fly parallel with the ground, having it tilted with, say, the right tip down and the left tip up (in comparison to the wings) will induce a left turning orbit.  More tilt will tighten the orbit and the airplane will fly faster or reduce the tilt and the orbit increases and the airplane flies slower, closer to a stall attitude.  All adjustments should be made viewing the airplane from the tail forward.

 Wing Attachments-With the post and socket attachments, adjustments can be made for incidence.  Wing incidence where the leading edge flies higher than the trailing edge can simply be adjusted by how deep the posts are inserted into the sockets.  Too much positive incidence and the airplane stalls.  Too little incidence and the airplane does not climb and orbits faster.  Once the airplane flies slightly nose high while not entering a stall, then the adjustments should be marked on the post with a colored indelible marker.  In the future those marks make first adjustments a breeze.

 Propellers-

THROW AWAY THE PLASTIC PROPS IN THE KIT!
Turnertoys FLIGHT CENTRAL™ offers the new super-light Ikara propellers, which will assist in reducing weight. They can easily be trimmed with scizzors to the maximum permitted diameter and to achieve perfect balance, and re-pitched to adjust power and prop speed.The prop blade shafts can be twisted slightly to change the pitch but care must be made in not twisting too far damaging the shaft. We have provided mounting instructions for these props.

  Flight Log

 Using a flight log to record performance and changes is not only good science but it is also the rule.  Record such items as size of motor (cross section, ie-1/32”, 1/16”, .80”, .75”, etc.), number of winds on launch, number of winds left when it lands, prop rotations per second (PRS), flight time, approximate flying weight, approximate flight orbit diameter, site humidity, site temperature, etc. so that trim changes may be made based on past performance.  The judges are only looking for you to show a filled out log but it works best if you use for data gathering and dissemination.