MODEL AEROPLANE NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 38, 14 February 1931, Page 2 (Supplement)

MODEL AEROPLANE NOTES.

(By PROPELLER.)

You have had some idea of working in balsa wood if.you liave sent for the•latest kit set. A full description with plans was given in. last week's column. There are a few remarks I would make here with regard to this model. With a little skill one can cover the bottom side of the main wing as well and make it into a double surface wing, which is a little more efficient and certainly looks a whole heap better. It would also be worth experimenting' with, to try covering the top of the : tail plane, or stabiliser. A number of boys liave fceen surprised to see that the rib sections in the stabiliser had the convex camber downwards or opposite to thb usual practice*~in a wing. This reverse camber is absolutely meant and it forms a very efficient tail unit. You will find that this machine will fly very well in a large room or hall., You are able to set the rudder, and it is amazing to see how flights can be regulated. A friend of mine who tried his hand at a very .small model, measuring about lOin spar by 'Bin long and j carrying a Sin propeller, showed me his aerodrome. This is the billiard room in his home. ' The .game is to stand at one end, fly; the model around the si* hanging lights and make it settle in a three-point landing on tho billiard table. And ho can do it, too, quite regularly. i J. McKenzie, of Te Kuiti, writes mc i regarding a Pterodactyl, or tailless | 'plane, which a friend of his recently | made. He notes that in spite of a mini-, ber of obvious crudities' the machine was reasonably successful. I had, as a matter of fact, intended saying something about this type, so this correspondence was opportune. I thank J. McK. for his letter. I have just finished a model of the Northrop flying wing, which is nearly a Pterodactyl, and I can say tliat it glides all right; but I have not yet finished the motor tube and propeller so I cannot say much about it. CLUB NOTES. At the recent meeting of the New Zealand-Model Aero, and Gliding Club tho attendance has been good aiid the flying very much improved. An outstanding flight of 65J. seconds made by' N. Taylor also gained him the record duration for the club. W. Mackly has, a seaplane that flies but is rather tricky to handle. Bob Foster showed up one Wednesday evening at the Domain with his model neatly packed in a light wooden box. This is an idea which should bo copied, for tho usual place across the handle bars of a bicycle does uot appear very safe to me. A number of kit .sets of the balsa model, containing all the necessary parts and materials, are still obtainable by sending a postal note for 2/6 to Propeller, care of "Star" Office, Auckland. P. Garnlen, Pulioi: Your letter was not accompanied by a stamped addressed envelope for reply. Let me know which plans you Want and I will sec what I can do for you.