July 25, 2010 in Articles, Model Showcase by Arjun
Nieuport 11c – a 13 inch Peanut-Scale FF Model
This model started out as a Nowlen Aero Peanut scale kit. I was pretty happy with some of the kit features, but wanted to correct some scale inaccuracies. So I altered the wing design and all strut assemblies. Nowlen calls for bamboo outlines for the rudder and stabilizer, but I have never tried that approach. Instead, I built the tail outlines from balsa laminates.
I wanted that classic clear-doped linen finish, so I tried some EasyBuilt linen tissue. I was pleasantly surprised by the wet strength, shrinkage and light weight. All the brown detail is EasyBuilt brown tissue. The metallic strut details are covered in Hallmark metallic tissue. I like this approach because there are no issues with raising wood grain like there are with paint.
The rose and numeric markings seen on the image to the right are just craft marker on tissue. The roundels are Japanese tissue composites.
My flying experience has taught me the importance of being able to make stabilizer adjustments, so I made a hinged stab on this model.
With the addition of the aluminum cowl, the model balanced perfectly. To my delight it trimmed out on the second flight (with about 5 degrees of down-elevator) and will do gentle left hand circles with only one loop of 3/32″ Tan II. For the record, I will never build a plane without hinged control surfaces again!
If you like the Nieuport 11c, please drop in the Small Flying Arts Discussion Forum and let us know. We would love to hear from you. You can also get in touch with me directly by emailing me.
- Todd McFarland
July 25, 2010 in Articles, Model Showcase by Arjun
Jiro Sugimoto’s Amethyst Falcon
Jiro Sugimoto is one of the true master craftsmen of Free Flight scale. His models have been featured in the famous (but now defunct) Model Builder magazine, several of Bill Hannan’s “Modellers and Models” series as well as several internet sites (do a Google search for Jiro’s name and you can see lots of examples of his craftsmanship). So when I had an e-mail from Jiro saying he was building my plan of the Amethyst Falcon, I was thrilled!
The full-scale Falcon is a single-place ultralight homebuilt, designed for low-cost fun aerobatics. As far as I’m aware, only one has been constructed, in Queensland, Australia. It’s constructed from welded tubular steel and covered with fabric. The cowling and wing-tips are fiberglass. The unique notched centre-section of the upper wing (with the inner trailing edges curling down to meet the fuselage) is a signature design trait of the Falcon’s designer, Bill Whitney.
The simplicity of the Falcon’s layout (with both wings attached to the fuselage and only a single inter-plane strut struck me as a great candidate for my first rubber-scale biplane, so I got to work with my CAD program and drafted a plan for Peanut scale model, as well as a larger 22” span version.
Working from a downloaded copy of my Peanut scale plan, Jiro initially asked a few questions regarding scale details and requested some more pictures of the full-size plane. I updated the plan to add the details and make it clearer. As he progressed with construction he forwarded several uncovered construction shots, which are included here. Not only is Jiro a magnificent builder, he is also a great photographer!
After several e-mail exchanges, I finally received the news that Jiro’s Falcon was in the air:
“I already finished Amethyst Falcon and took her to Ichinomiya gym for first flight. Put some weights into a nose socket and checked CG. She turned right with just circle. I did not check weigh of her and turns of rubber now, so I send a report again.”
In a departure from the plan, Jiro constructed the lower wings in 2 pieces and glued them to the sides of the fuselage. The plan shows the lower wing in 1 piece, then glued under the fuselage. It’s a minor difference, and most experienced builders will follow their preferences.
Jiro always builds a lot of lightness into his models, and he meticulously weighs the components. Here’s what is uncovered framework weighed:
Wings (both upper & lower): 1.5g
Tail plane, fin & rudder: 0.3g
Fuselage: 1.9g
Tyres: 0.4g
Un-covered total: 4.1g
Based on the weights measured at the pre-covered stage, Jiro predicted a final weight of his Amethyst of 8.5 to 9.5 grams. This was a good estimate, since the final weight of the model (including rubber) turned out to be 10.2 grams!
One of Jiro’s secrets is to use light weight Gampi tissue and airbrush his models with very light coats of paint. To achieve the silver doped finish, Jiro mixed 50% silver + 45% white + 5% black acrylic paint.
Jiro took 3rd place in the “Modern” class at the Nagoya Nuts peanut scale contest (held every 2 years) in August with his Falcon. 32 club members entered 76 models (in 6 different classes, both indoor and outdoor) at Ichinomiya Hall and Shonai Park in Nagoya. The Falcon scored 91.5 scale points and 76 flight points (with a longest flight of 59 seconds).
-by Derek Buckmaster
July 25, 2010 in Articles, Model Showcase by Arjun
Gee Bee Model D
Granville Brothers airplanes have always been among my favorites, and ever since my recent re-entry to the free flight hobby I have planned to build at least two or three. The Death Trap Squadron free plan site (www.deathtrapsquadron.com) offers many very well done plans, and among them is a 16.4″ wingspan scale Model D that I knew I had to build.
I built the airplane heavier than indicated by the plan because I didn’t think I could manage the smallish thickness without breaking and/or warping the frames during construction. 1/16” stock was used for most of the structural members rather than 1/32” and 1/20”, although 1/32” stock was used for the wing ribs.
The graphics for the tissue were done using a very basic CAD program: FastCad. (Note that any CAD program can be used for this – there is nothing special about FastCad). The detail and position of all the graphics for the airplane (including some discussion on possible alternates) are shown on the plan. The cat head was scanned directly from the plan, cleaned up very slightly in Photoshop, and imported into the fuse side drawing files.
The graphics were printed on the dull side of white SIG polyspan tissue, using an Epson printer with DuraBrite ink (I’ve had problems with smudging when printing on the shiny side of the tissue with large, dark colored areas).
The printed tissue was attached to the frame using a UHU glue stick and shrunk with 91% alcohol. Occasional areas of stubborn wrinkles were shrunk several times with the alcohol mixture; if the wrinkles persisted, pure water was used. Most of the wrinkles were removed. After each piece was covered, a light coat of clear dope, thinned 50%, was applied.
I have done some glide tests to date but not yet flown the airplane.
June 19, 2010 in Articles, Model Showcase by SFA
Bob Isaack’s Warbirds
In this issue of Spotlight we present the handsome free-flight models born of Bob Isaack’s talent. Here, Bob describes how he created his outstanding detail work. This P-51B was scratch-built from Mike Midkiff plans. The details were rendered with fairly simple techniques, as follows:
This model was covered with JCI tissue (olive drab) and doped with nitrate dope. The white letters were cut from Coverite “Coverlite” synthetic tissue, and applied with nitrate thinner. The thinner must be used very sparingly to prevent the dark color from shining thru the light colored tissue.
Control surface markings (white) were added using a Pentel “Milky” gel roller pen acquired from an art supply store. This was also the technique used to add panel markings; this system looks good on aircraft covered with “dark” tissue.
The windows to the rear of the cockpit are glued to the inside of a piece of 1/64 plywood wrapped over the front and rear formers. This gives a realistic “lip” or edge to those windows.
The inside rear of the cockpit was painted with Modelmaster zinc chromate green. The German “Kill” markings came off the internet – I simply printed the page, cut the markings out, and glued them on white glue. The antenna at the rear of the cabin was made with .006″ monofilament fishing line.
The Mustang does 90 seconds on 5 loops of 1/8” supersport, and will be flown in the FAC Scale event at Geneseo.
Here are a few more models Bob built, using the same detailing techniques:
This Swiss EKW-3603 WWII fighter was scratchbuilt from a Bill Henns plan. It regularly does 2 minutes on three loops of 1/8” supersport rubber, and is being saved for WWII mass launch at Geneseo this year.
This Bearcat is from a Dumas laser cut kit. It does a little over a minute on four loops of 1/8”supersport rubber, and is still being “tweaked.”
