Complete Le Fish build

Complete Le Fish build
Le Fish aerobatic slope soarer detailed build video. Flying weight 650g with battery and balanced CG. Full flying stab. Depron tail and ailerons. Swiss Fish layout.
Even more detail in my build log here
newtonairlines....
US$140 from Leading Edge Gliders
leadingedgeglid...
US$65 for just the fuse and wing cores from Flying Foam
www.flyingfoam...

[@BrianPhillipsRC]

I like your idea to use tape around each servo, then CA...great idea!

[@brianthird4173]

Now this is how I want to see a build presented! no annoying music, clear commentary (with tips and mistakes explained) and a great finished product. Well done.

[@AndrewNewton]

Thanks for the great feedback.

[@christheother9088]

I find your builds very meditative. Might inspire me to pick up the hobby again. Watching you loop this bird is interesting. Looks like the main wing stalls and the all flying tail pushes it around in a controlled tumble.

[@AndrewNewton]

Thanks Chris, yes I find the whole process of planning designing and building quite meditative too. Those mad flips are what first got me interested in this glider, couldn't believe what I was seeing. You must have a look at videos by Steve Lange, Dawson Henderson and Justin Gafford to see how the experts can perform…mind blowing.

[@marc_frank]

@@AndrewNewton Robert Shaver is great, too

[@davidr5343]

Thanks for another great build video Andrew, you really know how to shot and edit well. I just finished building one myself. I would have liked to have seen this before I started, but I am pleased I took a very similar approach.

[@AndrewNewton]

Good to hear yours is similar Davo. Really didn't know if I was stuffing it up but it turned out well. You Longbeach site looks epic!

[@teretz571]

love your videos andrew i have been flying for40 years and i always learn something well done

[@AndrewNewton]

Thanks Alex, bet you could teach me a fair bit

[@ПавеЛСемашкО-ы5ц]

Thank you very much for your videos. I just a newbie in glider's production and have a lot of questions. your videos is a real video encyclopedia. Good job. Real pro.

[@alasdairmccarter764]

Hi Andrew, another inspiring video. I always seem to get more great ideas and tips with your video's. Good job.

[@AndrewNewton]

Thanks Alasdair, I like sharing as I learn myself

[@goodboi6540]

ℒℯ 𝒻𝒾𝓈𝒽ℯ

[@plumpychump1165]

Oui oui

[@plemo]

One of my very very ALL TIME FAVORITES !

[@AndrewNewton]

Thanks Plemo, Do you mean the video or Le Fish? I'm going to check out your music - very talented.

[@AndrewNewton]

Ronaldus, laminate came from an RC hobby shop initially then I bought full rolls from an office supplies outlet. All the info here newtonairlines.blogspot.com.au/search/label/covering

[@livinggood5545]

Hey Andrew very nice build. You really do a awesome job building all your planes. You really are a inspiration and all these videos you produce I am thankful for. Thanks for sharing, I am learning a lot from you.. Terry

[@AndrewNewton]

Excellent

[@helomike7000]

Excellent build video. I always learn something and you do it at just the right pace! Thanks, I am a very happy subscriber.

[@AndrewNewton]

Thanks Mike. Very encouraging

[@fljugamaur5668]

what an amazing work!

[@triathlonSDhsp]

Hello Andrew! so was this a super-light build for small slopes? looks like it. great video. thank you!

[@AndrewNewton]

Greetings. I think this would be considered a mid weight all-rounder these days. I have an even lighter one for light wind.

[@amirariakish7397]

realy profesional

[@onteigening]

Thanks for sharing! Where do you buy this laminade transparent plastic?

[@JamesAnderson-fe8yu]

1) Was you LF a kit? I believe that they use EPP for that- I'm not sure where I can sourceit, so I thought of using blue close grained flooring polystyrene, (but would that make the model too heavy?) 2 ) I saw that you use tubular reinforced carbon fibre rods on the fuselage and wing. Do you have the O/D sizes for them?Thanks in advance if you see this. (I picked up that the trailing edge spar is a 7mm x 0.8mm carbon spar)

[@AndrewNewton]

Links in the description

[@gpracer270]

You sound exactly like Mick Doohan. Cheers !!

[@AndrewNewton]

Ha, we all do mate. Love your riding vids.

[@gpracer270]

Thanks Andrew.

[@ChuckPlains]

Good build vid. But did you get a touch of wind shear in your garden, ;¬) as it did a good impression of a dying swan when you chucked it.

[@AndrewNewton]

Well spotted, vertical turbulence coming over the fence I reckon. Once it was balanced correctly the turbulence went away.

[@ChuckPlains]

Adjusting natural phenomena is a true skill.

[@dovydasgrigas441]

Well thank you very much for this video i now know how to make my le fish have aerodinamic properties and not just be two EPP boards stuck together

[@AndrewNewton]

Excellent, glad it helped. Good luck with the build.

[@dovydasgrigas441]

Thanks hopefully LeFish Mk1 will at least glide gently

[@28th_St_Air]

very nice. did you have to add any weight to tail or nose for cg balance? how much?

[@AndrewNewton]

The dry weight is 550g. It needs about 100g (made up of battery, BEC and extra lead) to balance correctly. 5 x AA was too nose heavy. 500mAh 3S LiPo with BEC needs 40g extra.

[@alittlekittycat7472]

Le Fishé

[@mikewhite4628]

Nice one, Andrew. What Gorilla Glue are you using here?

[@AndrewNewton]

Standard brown. It's all we can get here

[@mikewhite4628]

Thanks, Andrew.

[@ziffa27]

Hey Andrew very nice build. Well done! Kindly can i ask you a question please. I have also saw the other video which ED did on his channel and i notice that it is very windy there like here in Malta. What is the min wind speed when you fly a scratch build please. Thank you again :)

[@AndrewNewton]

Thanks Ziffa. It depends very much on the shape of the slope. With a big steep cliff that gives vertical lift I can fly in 5kn with a light scratch built. For more gentle slopes like sand dunes I need more like 8-10kn to fly.

[@ziffa27]

Okay but if you have a motor plan like the AXON ion which min wind did you fly it?

[@AndrewNewton]

ziffa27 Do you mean max wind? Maybe 10kn was the most but you could fly in up to 15kn with some practice, any more and it's not much fun.

[@ziffa27]

Yes that what i mean max wind, thank you a lot :)

[@JohnFHendry]

2:12... wow wait a second, after all that work how do you get to the servo after you strip a gear and need to replace it? 4:32 good design... will keep the hinge line straight so you have good response from the center neutral position unlike so many foamies that's wings bend and ruin the aileron's response especially when using any computer radio mixing like elevons or flapperons. No wonder it's reputation is so good... smart. 4:57 Well... you needed to sand the wing and it's shape is more important than cosmetics... but I cap EPP edges using .16mm or thicker carbon tape to create a stiff (but flexible if need be) exoskeleton and sand it on a flat surface to the varying thickness of the EPP and often with a nice paint job I want left intact. So before sanding the carbon I get the EPP wet and then use bar soap melted (that gooey stuff soap turns into when left wet and the cheaper the brand the harder it is... Ivory and cosmetic soaps are soft when a bar and are the worst for this) and *barely* rub it in gently to not damage the paint and then let it dry hard and this prevents the carbon dust from getting in the pores of the foam. I don't let the carbon dust build up and use a small vacuum that vents outside to keep it under control and when done sanding I just use cold water to wash out the soap and remove the carbon dust on top that was unable to penetrate the foam with the soap barrier. You need to sand carbon fiber added to foam and there's really no way around it so that's what I do. BTW: This works so well I learned to clean the carbon fiber first with Acetone as when using flexible CA any carbon dust on it will bleed into the edge and not wash out... not as bad as sanding without protecting the foam does but sometimes it leaves small stains inside the white foam you can see and I like a clean edge with good contrast just because it looks good;-) BTW you can still remove the carbon stain if it's not glued in by using water and soap with heat to expand the cells, start out with really cold water with almost *no pressure applying the soap* and hold the foam close to the water outlet let the water pressure and soap do the work and increase the heat of the water with each soap application and when you get to using hot water that should take out the last deep stains... it's time consuming.... but it works. Looks like it turned out good... have to watch how it flies. Have fun....

[@AndrewNewton]

+John F Hendry Great comment John. I have metal gear servos so have not had to replace any yet, but I would just have to yank them out.

[@JohnFHendry]

Andrew Newton I grew up using large 40g+ servos and never had one fail so I guess I'm still stuck in the past and on a 3D glider I expect to kiss the ground or some other object once in while unlike a normal glider. Looks like you are getting a handle on flying the Le Fish. I wouldn't say it's an easy build and much rather sand balsa and use Monokote time wise. I'm looking at the Hacker Vagabond ARF but I like the longer moment arm for the tail on the Le Fish and it's fuselage design as well as the carbon in the trailing edge. Be nice if HK or someone came out with a molded EPP version with the carbon molded in the wing and fuselage and the servo bays molded on the bottom with control rods coming through the top like on the Wicked Wing, not easy to do yourself but a CAD program changes all that. I think I'm getting spoiled. You sure are in a beautiful location to go flying. Hard to beat the clean on shore air coming off the ocean. Have fun....

[@osvaldopeter4657]

me gusta y lo practicare pero el CG no sabemos y el largo del fuselaje, un saludo.-

[@AndrewNewton]

Greetings. All the information is here lefish.wikia.com/wiki/Le_Fishipedia

[@Farukon666]

I guess Finfoam would be stronger material and pretty light too

[@AndrewNewton]

Is that surfboard core foam?

[@Farukon666]

I don't know what is in the surfboards, but I am sure it is used as heat insulation in houses.

[@kiazzamassaequipe199]

Hello friend! My name is vinicius and I wonder if you could sell me the plan of that model airplane? If there is a possibility given the project to achieve measures? Would you assist me? Thank you

[@AndrewNewton]

Vinicius, There are no plans for this plane. It's a kit from Leading Edge Gliders. Search on RC Groups for all the information.

[@benjien2007]

What dremel bit did you use?

[@AndrewNewton]

It was the milling bit, looks like a 3mm drill bit but can cut sideways

[@benjien2007]

great build

[@jameshole7325]

How much is the kit to buy

[@AndrewNewton]

Added links to the video description.

[@jameshole7325]

Andrew Newton k thanks

[@Heathfloors]

Hi Again Andrew, why did you remove 6 inches from the wing length?

[@AndrewNewton]

Steve Lange's original design was 60" but LEG made the kit 66", don't know why. I followed the designer's advice. A bit easier to transport.

[@Ampersful]

Nice

[@grumpyjohntxredneckrc6346]

Very C@@L! Thanks...

[@JamesAnderson-fe8yu]

Andrew, sorry, I missed the more info bit! That's a whole lot more info! I'll have to read through it, and I'll give you a call back when I'm done, to let you know if there's anything else! Thanks for that. Jim

[@XqisitDeluxe]

Le fishe

[@pyrogaming7021]

Le fishe

[@XqisitDeluxe]

@@pyrogaming7021 nòn

[@MrCrossbiker]

Fantastic work !

[@photonthief]

I really enjoy watching your builds Andrew! Thank you for sharing :)

[@AndrewNewton]

Thanks Jake, hope I have improved a bit since this one

[@Thalarctos.]

💖

[@thenatedog]

i watched LEG's dvd build clinic. I noticed he recommends light weight Spackle before laminate. What do you think about that step?

[@AndrewNewton]

Back in the olden days (maybe 5 years ago) they used to do that but it's unnecessary in my view. They used to build them twice as heavy but the trend these days is to go as light as possible. The laminate covers any bumps and voids anyway.

[@thenatedog]

Andrew Newton I think the pss guys like to do it for a glassy finish and paint job.

[@thenatedog]

www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2762969

Andrew greeting. My friend video in 5:32 while you are using a film and then passes the hot iron without melting the film. What material is it?

[@AndrewNewton]

Greetings, that is document laminating film. Some RC builders call it "New Stuff" but it comes in rolls for fitting into laminating machines

OK! Here in Brazil we call plastic B.O.P.P. is widely used in the graphical industry, I believe that should be the same. Thank you

[@parkflyer68]

Hi Andrew, Really enjoyed watching your build video, I am inspired to build my own now! I have alot of EPS (for wings maybe) and XPS (fuselage) at home so I might give it a go!

[@AndrewNewton]

Thanks parkflyer, really appreciate the feedback. it's a great design if you have the right slope nearby.

[@LA6UOA]

Inspirering! Thanks :-)

[@harindrawisnu]

I've seen people painting their plane before laminating them. can I paint them after laminating? I got one plane already laminated and I want to put some color on it. Any idea?

[@AndrewNewton]

+Harindra W Pradhana I have only ever used coloured tape

[@harindrawisnu]

+Andrew Newton got it, will try it soon

[@DB4MV]

Hi Andrew, building Le Fish myself now, using your video as an instruction. I try to figure out whether you mounted the wing spar on the top side or the bottom side of the wing. Judging from the video, I think you mounted the spar on the top side. Right?

[@AndrewNewton]

That's right, TOP for this version.

[@DB4MV]

@@AndrewNewton Your answer "TOP for this version" makes me curious. I plan to build my Le Fish as light as possible, including "Swiss" holes, 5mm Carbon wing spar, etc. Sub 600g is my goal. Does your "Super light weight" version have the spar on the bottom side?

[@AndrewNewton]

My ultralight has 6 x 1mm CF strip in the top, but I have seen FG rods top and bottom.

[@bulentongun5674]

Are you fully specify the name and nature of the coating material, There are many materials to choose very difficult

[@AndrewNewton]

+Bülent Ongun This is what I use - www.neopostonline.com.au/lamination/ez-load-roll-film 45mic for wings and 75mic for leading edge and fuselage

[@bulentongun5674]

Thanks understand, Site is Still Blocked

[@andrewrussell6558]

Fantastic videos. You make it look so easy!

[@AndrewNewton]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@alexhawkins2694]

can you buy these gliders ready made

[@AndrewNewton]

+Alex Hawkins No it's only sold as raw wing and fuselage foam cores. Very much a scratch build really. Second hand might be an option.

[@alexhawkins2694]

is le fish one of the best gliders around then

[@AndrewNewton]

+Alex Hawkins It is one of the best VTPR gliders. (VTPR - French acronym for aerobatics close to the ground) and great as a rugged general slope soarer.

[@paxijohn]

wing airfoil ??

[@AndrewNewton]

LEG kit. Look it up

[@paxijohn]

ok thanks .