EzFly Trainer Wing Leading-Edge

thingiverse

Motivation: ======== My trusty Foam EzFly Trainer took to the skies with a bit too much hesitation, leaving me wondering what was going on beneath its wings. A hunch formed in my mind: could it be that the blunt leading-edge of its wing wasn't doing justice to the airflow over it? I decided to put this theory to the test by giving my trainer an air-foil makeover. I opted for the NACA 2414 section, a tried-and-true choice for model planes. To get the coordinates just right, I headed over to http://chaaawa.com/airfoils/export.cgi?f=n2414 and downloaded them in OpenSCAD format. The new leading-edge made all the difference! My trainer now soars with ease, climbing higher and faster than before at a lower throttle setting. It's clear that this upgrade was just what it needed. Slicing: ====== You may need to tweak those perimeter settings in your slicer to get rid of any gaps along the exterior edges. I've uploaded my Cura profile for reference – unfortunately, Slic3r wasn't cooperating with me for some reason. Installation: ======== To attach these new leading-edge sections, start by trimming the top surface of the wing's foam about 6mm from the bottom and back around 19mm on the top. Then, create a 45-degree angle cut along the lower leading edge where the top trim ends. Don't narrow the wing in the process. Next, near the wing root, cut a slot into the foam about 19mm deep. Mark the outside of this slot with your leading-edge piece and cut another slot in line. Slide the first leading-edge piece onto the foam; you may need to expand those slots for it to fit snugly all the way back. Repeat this process for the two outboard sections, making sure to align them so that the "point" of each section is about 4-6mm above the wing's bottom surface.