MODEL AEROPLANE NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 226, 20 June 1936, Page 19

MODEL AEROPLANE NOTES.

BY

'AILERON'

This week’s model is the "Bee,” a tiny indoor stick model, which may be flown in any large room, and which is practically crash-proof. It is so small (Bin. wing span), and light, that it occasionally gets caught up in spider-webs, and so great care must be used in the construction.

Draw the plans out full size. The prop, is from a block 31in. by Jin. by Jiu. balsa. The motor stick is a piece of 1-Sin. by l-16in, hard balsa; the wing spars are l-16in. by 3iin., as is also the elevator spar. The wing ribs (the wing has no camber), elevator cross-pieces and rudder, are l-32in. square. The wing tips are semicircular pieces of l-32in. balsh sheet, sanded smooth. The wire used is very thin, about 27 gauge. The prop, bearing is a thin, flat strip of aluminium, with the hole pierced by a needle. Do not use too much cement to glueing the parts together. The wing is a simple framework. The rudder may be made by cracking one long piece of balsa at the correct point# and glueing to hold the framework rigid. The elevator is simply the spar with two cross-pieces cemented,

as shown. It has no outline; the paper is cut to shape and stuck in place before the elevator is glued on. The rudder and wing are covered, and the wing tips are glued in place at the correct angle. The propeller is carved as usual; keep it very thin and light. Bend the prop, shaft and use a bead on the bearing. The undercarriage is a single piece of wire with an inverted U-shape bent in the top to grip the motor stick, to which it is also glued. The wheels may be l-16in. balsa, or better, 3-64 in. 3-ply. The wing clips are bent as shown; fhe front one (f) is l-10in. taller than the rear one (r). Glue them in position is opposite senses, so that the rubber will run between them- The rubber motor is one strand of l-16in. by l-30in. rubber, with plenty of slack. This should be enough power. Do not tie the ends, just jag them on to the prop, and tail hooks. If the wing has to be warped to stop spiralling, bend a clip slightly, which will give the same effect more easily.’ If you build the model carefully, you will find it one of the most fascinating you have ever flown.