Mantis – By Adam Butler
The Mantis is a 410mm (16”) Rubber Band Powered Rise off Ground Stick Model
 Click on any image to enlarge

Kit contains:
Pre-Printed Diecut parts, Pre-shaped Fuselage, Pre-assembled Undercarriage. Strip Rubber Motor.

Construction:
Assemble the prop, prop bearing and prop shaft. Keep the shaft as short as possible.

Fit to the front end (not tapered end) of the Fuselage Stick

Fit the Pre-assembled Undercarriage to the fuselage 25mm from the propeller, bind with cotton and glue in place.

Drill a hole through the back of the fuselage, approx. 70mm from the end, leaving enough space for the tail plane to fit.

Fit Pre-shaped Rear hook though the hole, bind with cotton and glue in place.

Lightly sand the leading and trailing edges of the Tail plane, Glue in place.

Lightly sand the leading and trailing edges of the Fin, Glue the Fin in place, on either side of the fuselage stick.

Lightly sand the leading and trailing edges of both wing halves, Tape the wings together with masking tape on the underside. Lift both wingtips 35mm. Glue together.

Glue wing cradle stick to underside of the joined wings fit the wing supports to each side of the cradle. Glue in place.

Cut a piece of 5mm wide balsa from a scrap of wood. Glue under the front of the wing cradle stick.

Tie the strip rubber into a loop and fit to underside of model. Place the wing onto the fuselage, approx. 80mm from front of model.

Finished model:

Try a few test flights, if the model dives down, slide the wing forward. If the Model climbs slide the wing backwards. Try a few test glides without winding the motor, then a few flights using the motor. When you are satisfied with the flight performance glue the wing in place.

For long flights wind the motor up 200 turns clockwise from the front of the model.