I Got Cheated!

batjac Tue Oct 01, 2024 12:37 am

I got a Carl Goldberg Swordsman 18 at the Reeves Memorial Stunt Contest this weekend. I just opened it up and measured the wing. IT’S NOT 18 INCHES!!!! The wingspan is only 17 5/8”! I was robbed!!!

The Precise Mark

GallopingGhostler Tue Oct 01, 2024 2:24 am

Mark, 17.625 inches (448 mm) is 18 inches rounded up. Is your kit the Goldberg original or is a retro by another?

I'm away so can't measure, but when I am able to, will check my Goldberg original.

gkamysz Tue Oct 01, 2024 8:25 am

Actually, I worry distortion in about scanned plans. Not that it's enough to matter in most cases. I was recently working with the BeeTween plans from outerzone and found some discrepancies, I think the elevator was 1/16" or 1/8" asymmetric or the like, but this must have been a drawing error. Anyway when you're crazy like me and work in .0001" often, this stuff bothers me a bit.

Why was I playing with Bee Tween plans? I think I need a WeeTween at about 80% of original with, you guessed it, PeeWee power.. Maybe even a VeeTween with a V tail? I'll probably go with a stick fuselage and control surfaces.

I Got Cheated! WEETWEEN

batjac Tue Oct 01, 2024 6:53 pm

GallopingGhostler wrote: Is your kit the Goldberg original or is a retro by another?

It was a still sealed-in-plastic Carl Goldberg kit.

The Fantastic Mark

GallopingGhostler Tue Oct 01, 2024 9:25 pm

batjac wrote:It was a still sealed-in-plastic Carl Goldberg kit. The Fantastic Mark

I think you found your answer, Mark. Cool

Makes sense. Die cutting a wing with tips from half a sheet of 36" standard stock balsa sheet to give 2 wings would need a little left over overhang for clean tips. So, 3/16" for clamping the balsa edge for the die gives a slightly shorter wing.

That would be my best guess from the manufacturing process.

The Fudgemeister Jorge. Eyebrows

batjac Wed Oct 02, 2024 10:35 pm

Well, that might be a good surmise for an older kit. But this is one of the later kits that were laser cut. Should be no errors if the laser settings were correct. So I'm going with the Goldberg company having a personal vendetta against me....

The M for Mark

roddie Fri Oct 04, 2024 11:27 am

You weren't cheated Mark..

The Ruler Roddie..

GallopingGhostler Mon Oct 07, 2024 2:06 pm

Roddie, ditto. Wink

Compared with an old 18 inch square:

Wingtip up close:

Mark, fact confirmed by 2 witnesses, Your measurement of 17.625 inches is correct. I Love This Forum!

batjac Sat Oct 12, 2024 9:10 pm

No! No! No! Don’t try to mollify me when I’m working up a good outrage!

*AHEM*

Swordsman 18! 18!!! EIGHTEEN!!! Even the front of the box and the instructions say 18” wingspan:

I Got Cheated! 20241011-235547

I’ve had enough! I’m going to do it right and fix the design to the way it should have been done in the first place:

I Got Cheated! Swordsman-18-parts

The upper fuselage is the one that it comes with for a Bee engine. The lower one is for a .020 engine so I wouldn't need to wrap lead around the PeWee crankcase.

The Outrageous Mark

roddie Sat Oct 12, 2024 9:29 pm

I LIKE that Mark!!! Will you be sharing a build log here with us?

GallopingGhostler Sat Oct 12, 2024 10:54 pm

batjac wrote:No! No! No! Don’t try to mollify me when I’m working up a good outrage!

*AHEM*

Swordsman 18! 18!!! EIGHTEEN!!! Even the front of the box and the instructions say 18” wingspan:

Um, measurements are subject to roundoff. Once I'm settled down from a move, I'd be tempted to do a Swordsman 23 (22.625 inch wingspan). Very Happy

But, I like your idea of improvements with a built up wing. Thumbs Up

rsv1cox Sun Oct 13, 2024 7:03 am

Go for it Mark. A little outrage sweetens the pot!!!!!!!!

I have fond memories of your beautiful Cox TD-4 clone/build and you were not even upset. Smile