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| Heinrich Stork |
My new 1999 USA version of the Heinrich Stork. This model is similar to the 1998 European Stork I also own featured below, but the USA version sports bottom hinged flaps for a full 90 degree deflection and several other smaller modifications that make this Stork, even better! I'll be adding a full review of this model on this web page as well in the near future. Photo by Weylan Wang.
The Heinrich Stork, a beautiful all molded F3J sailplane with a 3.4m wingspan, SD7037 airfoil with an elliptical leading edge and unique upswept crescent tips. I love the lines of this ship, and the quality of the model is superb. The color of my model is white over teal, and I have left the finish clean, the lines of this ship speak for themselves. I have six digital Multiplex Micro mc/V2 servos installed throughout, and for the radio system I'm using a JR 8103 PCM with a JR NER-649s "credit card" rx. The battery pack is a Sanyo 600AE pack, custom built so it could be mounted as far forward as possible. Currently I have the C.G. at 4 1/8" behind the L.E. and the tow hook shaft is centered 3 5/8" behind the L.E. All up flying weight is 80.08oz., and the Stork also contains an internal ballast tube system, easily allowing up to 16oz. of brass slugs to be inserted. I currently have over 16 hours of air time on this model, this review speaks to my experience of this model to this point.
Pictured above is the underside of the Stork, notice the tubular fuselage and how the crescent shape design in the wings is carried through to the V tail. V tail area is generous for a model of this size, as it should be. Below shows the how the wing mounts to the fuselage on a pylon, the shape of the fuselage with it's long nose and wing pylon makes it look like a nuclear submarine to me. 8-)
Pictured above is the wing tip detail on the Stork. The crescent upswept tips really look good and make for the unique lines of this sailplane.
Shown above is a close up on one of the wing panel joiners. A square carbon rod and two steel pins join the panels together with strength and precision. Note the internally flush mounted Deans connector, connection is made when the wing panels are connected. Also, when the center panel is mounted to the fuse, an internally mounted connector plugs in for all the servo connections. That's one of my favorite things about this model, how it plugs together so easily at the field needing only one Allen wrench and two pieces of tape.
Pictured above is the radio installation in the nose of the Stork. Basically its lead and the battery pack in the tip of the nose, the rx is mounted next on its side with easy access to the crystal. Behind the rx is a plywood tray with a switch and two servos mounted in line, tight but manageable. Shown below is a close up of the servo installation.
The Stork has been a very trouble free model for me, but two things have broke on my model.
Recently, I was letting Jim McCarthy fly my ship and he thought he got a radio hit, I thought that was strange because my radio setup has PCM with fail hold enabled.
He brought it in for a landing and it did a weird jiggle when he threw in full landing crow (another hint).
When I got it home I reassembled it and started playing with it with the radio on.
I noticed one of the ruddervators was sticking sometimes.
What happened was that the control arm shaft was sliding freely in its glue mount.
I dripped in some foam safe CA on both arms and kicked it, I have been checking it but no problems since.
Earlier in it's history after about 20 flights the adjustable tow hook broke on my Stork, the broken tow hook is pictured above.
It did not break from launch stress, but landing stress as its the lowest part of the airframe.
Murphy's law added to my frustration of this fracture, as it occurred just before a contest and it is internally molded into the fuselage at the factory.
What I did to fix it when I got home was to order a traditional competition tow hook from Sal at Northeast Sailplane Products, and then cut a small access hole in the top of the fuse at the wing joiner.
I removed the adjustable tow hook unit and mounted a shaped piece of plywood in the fuse and glassed it to the bottom.
I used the two existing mounting screw holes to additionally screw the plywood tow hook mount to the fuse, shown in the picture below.
At least I was able to find the optimal tow hook position with the adjustable unit before it broke, the new hook is permanently mounted, and much stronger and more integral with the fuse.
The Stork flies big, like a big sailplane should, and that is good. The launches are incredible, it easily out launches any model in my quiver due to its large strong molded wing and it's quick rotation on launch. Full pedal launches on a long shaft with mono are gobbled up by the Stork, a monster zoom finale with the right flick of the sticks. Although the model does move out, everything happens with a deliberate pace because of its size. The L/D on the Stork is very nice, allowing one to range out and search wide for thermals. It flies a nice flat dish in a thermal that is very predictable, or can pivot on a wing tip, it seems to groove at particular stick settings that you can just hold still and watch it screw up into the sky. Landings take practice and setting up, the wings are long and the model is deceiving at speed due to its size. My landing setup took awhile to get dialed in, but proves to be fairly docile yet maneuverable once you get the proper approach timing down. The long narrow nose makes for easy hand catching when I'm messing around a bit... 8-)
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