Spoiler:
The spoiler recommended for the 15 meter wings is very large, overlapping the wing roots. I elected to hide them with a buildup on the wings. The spoiler I am casting on a plaster mockup of the fuselage using the wings. I will use 2 layers of kintex fiberglass and one layer at 45 degrees and using a 1/4" foam core. This is all covered with a light fiberglass. This should hold. I also redesigned the hinge mechanism for the spoiler. All this is done with the new found vacuum bagging process.

This is the aft fuselage roughed out in plaster

The space for the spoiler is made. I built up the wings with micro and the fuselage in plaster

This is the first layer of glass cloth for the constuction of the spoiler being vacuum bagged. I have used cheese cloth here to absorb the excess resin, thin .05 mil plastic from the hardware that i puncture with a needle for the layer below the cheese cloth and on top I use .1 mil hardware drop cloths for the final vacuum cover. the edges are sealed with insulation putty (hardware) that I heat on radiator before placing around the perimeter to be vacuum bagged.

And here is the spoiler. I am very pleased with it!!

November 6/ 97-I havecompleted the spoiler. It was a great success.The foam core was a bit tricky. I cut the 1/4inch foam into strips at first 2 inches wide the 1 inch then to 1/2 inch for the area of most curve. There is a point where the foam does not lie in a straight line so small wedges are made to keep the lines straight. The final product is very stiff, but I will car test it. I will make a test rig for my truck and operate it through the sky light to test the forces at 60 mph. I has been suggested that the pushrods be located a little further from the placement in the plans to give more leverage.

Well here is our first color photo. This is the Plaster plug from which I will make the female mould. The wing area is not quite complete... it needs to be filled with plaster.

December 1,1997-With the spoiler complete I separated the wings form the fuselage. Unfortuately I cracked some of the carefully made fairing when I neglected to release the drag spar pins. Dumb@! but I RECOVERED! At this point the wings are off and the aft fuselage is ready for fitting the wings back on for a final check before I make my mold.

I have always considered that the gliders should have a ballistic chute. There is room for one if I cut a hole in the top of the boom where it connects to the fuselage. The area around should be strengthened and a blow out section should be made in the spoiler. I'll have to to wait and see if I can afford the necessary rocket deployed chute. I have one for my hang glider but I doubt that the hang glider chute would support the weight of the glider.

January 20, 1998 I have just finished castingthe top of my mold for the aft fuslage. Pictures will follow once I have them developed. The vacuum bagging is a real hit with me but the whole process of building a plug, then a mold and then casting the part is very time consuming. I will be able to produce others though if anyone is interested.

February 19, 1998 I have just finished the rear fuselage mold (the area whre the fuselage meets the wings). This was quite a process making the plug then casting the mold in three peices... photos to follow as soon as they are developed. I have been using a lot of polyester body filler adding some glass bubbles to finish up the mold. I have used a lot of door screening and polyester filler to extend the sides of the mold so i can comfortably put on my caulking for the vacuum molding. In making the mold I put the cloth on first and had a number of small holes to fill, so this next timecasting the actual part, I will paint on the epoxy first then lay on the coth... wetting it out very carefully to get out the bubbles. I will use a sandwich layer probably using some of the Kintex for the first layer... a few strips of foam in the large unsupported areas then cover with a layer of lighter fiberglass... but I will experiment first.

April 8, 1998 I have tested the spoiler at 60 mph at a 45degrees and the force maesured in the direction of my pushrods was 70 lbs. So I have designed a gas strut assist. At this point I am adding 40 lbs of assist.

Well the old truck all geared up to do some spoiler testing! I got to 50 mph with this arrangement, then later with the proper supports mounted I got to 60 mph. I will shoot for a airspeed of 70 later when everything is finalized. (drive into a headwind)

This is the basic hinge arrangement which seems to work well. The supports(shiny) are aluminum the dark angled part is iron weled to the bar which goes though the aluminum supports. The supports look a bit odd because on the fuselage they follow the contour of the fuselage just where the canopy starts. The iron pieces are then bolted to wood which is epoxied to the spoiler.

Well there is a view of the actual hinge mechanism made from 4130 iron, attached to wood and then fieberglassed in place.

The underside of the spoiler

	Well there it is fully operational... think it's enough drag???
Another shot of the spoiler! Its fully functional and feels quite good. there is about 40 lbs pushing that open with a gas strut. the Gas strut also helps to keep it closed.

A view of the undereneath of the spoiler, inside the fuselage with the pushrods and hinges showing. nov'98

OK here s the left side of thespoiler arm looking from the rear .The top lever is the arm going to the cockpit and below that is the gas strut (barely visible). One can also see the cables for the rudders and elevator adn the pushrods for the elevons. Nov 28,1998

	Here is view with the spoiler slightly deployed. It will be interesting to see what actually happens in flight. Note the ruder and elevator cables.