Carl Goldberg Shoestring elevator adequate?

I have scratch built a couple Shoestrings of the 42" original CG style. I used a formed trailing edge from the LHS which added a half inch to the chord. When I look at it now the elevator seems a bit scant. I have heard the elevators on this series or maybe just this model can be inadequate. I thought about adding a couple boost tabs to the TE of the elevator. Butt glued. Drilled through with bambo pins and overlayed with silkspan to reinforce the seam.

Will this be needed? For power I am using Fox .35 and a 1972 Fox .36X on another. The stock kit looks okay with a Fox .35 and I have flown these before as is. I made a couple more this time along with an old stock kit of the same.

Thanks for any suggestions, Bill

I've built two Shoestrings and a Buster from CG kits. Properly balanced I've found no need to increase the elevator size and they always performed well. They won't turn like a Voodoo, but tight enough for the pattern.

The elevator definitely will be fine as is.

Don't change a thing .... excecpt maybe that extra half-inch chord which may raise an eyebrow or two in competition events.

The original Goldberg Shoestring elevators are more than adequate for any maneuver you'd care to fly. "Way back when", I built and flew three of them - all of which were exceptionally maneuverable. In fact, one of them won a Beginner Stunt event when I came back from Free Flight in 1976. It did some really great Triangles (optional maneuver).

In answer to your question: elevator size is more than adequate.

Mike Keville

Thanks Gents. It was nagging at me. When I flew the CG Shoestring and Buster back in the '70's I thought they were adequate but just needed to know.