Specifications.
Span: 1.8 m
AR 10:1
Weight: 1300 ballasted to 1500 grams, I never remove ballast now.
Foil: RG 15
Construction.
Fuse - Glass using lost foam method.
Wing - One layer 6oz, one layer 1.5 oz bagged over blue foam. Centre section has full depth spruce and ply spar with carbon spar caps.
Comments.
This was my first attempt at vacuum bagging and I had a few problems. Consequently the end result isn't as good as it should be. Also, I had to cut a piece out of the middle of the centre section to install reinforcement for the wing mount. I took the opportunity to check the peice against a print out of the wing section and it was way out. Near the templates the airfoil is as accurate as you can get it but not in the middle. My hot wire cutting bow was way too loose and the middle part was lagging behind. I purchased a stronger spring but this just snapped the nichrome wire. I have now upgradded to 0.5mm fishing stainless steel. Its very tight now so next wing should be a lot more accurate.
Anyway, the result of these inaccuracies and the finish not being so smooth in places is that the energy retention is not great. It picks up some pretty decent speed out of a high dive but it soon looses it and you then have to search for lift to get you back up again. From what I have seen of good planes you should be able to dive and regain 90% of your initial height.