Free Cinema 4D Model - 1913 Hang Glider

1913 Hang Glider in Flight
2013 chase canadé

Created in Cinema 4D R13, it's the basic start model of the 1913 Glider I was doing all the dynamic experimenting with. It's a good start point and one you can modify and  experiment with dynamics with.

It's to scale as best I could get it from Popular Mechanics The Boy Mechanic vol 1.
Imperial Scale btw.

I added the download link to a new page entitled "Download Page" over on the Google site.

Now before I go let me give you a few pointers or spur your imagination if interested.

This is directly from the writings of Carl Bates in The Boy Mechanics vol 1 and may help you with what you want to do with this glider.

All wiring is done with No. 16 piano wire.

Cambric or bleached Muslin should be used for the covering, which is tacked to the front edge,
stretched tightly over the bent ribs and fastened securely with tacks to the rear ends of
the ribs. The cloth should also be glued to the ribs for safety.

          To make a glide, take the glider to the top of a hill,get in between the arm sticks and lift the machine up until the arm sticks are under the arms as shown run a few steps against the wind and leap from the ground.You will find that the machine has a surprising amount of lift,and if the weight of the body is in the right place you will go shooting down the hillside in free flight.

The landing is made by pushing the weight of the body backwards. This will cause the glider to tip up in front, slacken speed and settle. The operator can then land safely and gently on his feet.Of course,the beginner should learn by taking short jumps, gradually increasing the distance as he gains skill and experience in balancing and landing.

 The proper position of the body is slightly ahead of the center of the planes, but this must be found by experience. The machine should not be used in winds blowing faster than 15 miles an hour.Glides are always made against the wind, and the balancing is done by moving the legs. The higher the starting point the farther one may fly. Great care should be exercised in making landings;otherwise the operator might suffer a sprained ankle or perhaps a broken limb.

About the wires. In my final I made things to attach them too. How you do yours is entirely up to you. But it does add to the realism of the final Glider render.

Here are a couple quick renders I made up for you, just as an example of how you may want to attach the guy and diagonal wires.

Twisting the wire is one option.

Crimping the wire another option

These are both fairly easy to do in Cinema 4D using Splines and the Sweep Nurbs. You can add Bolts or Screws to hold what ever you use to tie them too. Whether a D-Ring or some type of welded loop or hook again it is entirely up to you. I do remember in the 1916 Boys Mechanic they recommended Stove Bolts to be used to hold the frame and the wires together.

Remember - This was meant for a "boy" to actually build and fly in 1913... What they would use back then... you have to look things up and see what was used and available back then. IF you are going for realism of 1913. If not... just do what ever comes to mind.

Well that's all
- have fun with it and

Happy Rendering

- chase -

PS: I'd like to add a note of thanx to Joren over at PixelLab for including my 1913 Glider model in his collection of free models and the kind words he said. Thanks Joren!

Be sure to run over to the PixelLab and sign up to their Newsletter for news and access to a bunch more free Cinema 4D models created by a variety of artists.