Model Aeroplane Notes

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 563, 17 September 1932, Page 18 (Supplement)

Model Aeroplane Notes

SQUADRON COMPETITION

RESULTS. The squadron competition final was flown off during the week-end. It resulted in a win for No. 2, by a margin of 20 points. T. secured 30 points for his squadron, and B. Wisely 15 for No. 3. The following was the final position of the squadrons:—No. 2, 347 points, 1; No. 3, 327, 2; No. 1, 306, 3. An r.o.g. fuselage competition for an Arrow kit-set presented by Captain F. C. Macdonald (“ Propeller ”) will be flown next week-end.

Aunt Hilda ha? been made an honorary member of the Hokitika Boys’

THE FIVE-MINUTE MODEL. To boys who are taking up model aeroplane flyifig, nothing better can be recommended than the model to be described in this article. It weighs less than one ounce, and its designers, two American boys, easily got it to remain in the air for five minutes—whence its name. In New Zealand, air conditions are much less favourable and, at a first attempt, half a minute would be a satisfactory performance. With the exception of bamboo in the stabiliser (or tail) and the vertical fin (or rudder), balsa wood is used throughout. Some builders may find it more convenient and lighter on their pockets to use clear pine or Canadian redwood or spruce for the motor stick, or white pine or kawhaka for the propeller. These woods are both heavier and stronger than balsa. The materials needed are:— Motor stick—Jin square, 20Jin long, balsa. On© foot of other wood, 3-161 n square. Wing—iin square balsa, two spars 24Jn long, two outsldte ribs 3jin long, and three inside ribs 3Jin long. Covered with Japanese tissue paper on the upper side. Tail—Cross-spar Jin bamboo, BJln long. Frame of rudder, split bamboo l-161n square, 9in or lOin long.

Club. The enrolment card is very attractive, a white card with a flying eagle in the upper left corner and a diagonal band of red, white and blue. Thank you, Hokitika lads. Display in Barracks.

On Friday, September 30, between 6.30 and 7.30 p.m., a display of model plane flying will be given in the Barracks in connection with “ Come-to-Christchurch" Week. Members of the club will welcome this opportunity both for experience in indoor flying and for demonstrating the sport to those who do not know it. Only light and slow-flying models will be flown, and they will have to be under good control, because much of the space in the Barracks will be taken up by stalls | and sideshows.

Propeller—Cut from block of wood lilt long, l|in wide and lin thick. Motor hooks, landing gear and pro< peller shaft—No. 18 or 20 sayfre stAeel wire (as thick as a stout hair, pin). Piano wire is good. Ambroid cement for cementing the part a together; glue or seccotlne for sticking the tissue. Figure 1 gives the general dimen' sions of the model. Begin construe tion with the motor stick. First fia in place on the motor stick the tail ring for the S-hook that will hold ont end of the rubber-strip motor. A pan of small-nosed pliers is handy for bend ing the wire. The propeller-shaft bearing is made “from a brad or a piec< cf heavy wire ljin long. Hammer i‘ flat, drill a fine hole through one enc and turn up iin of that end at a righ angle. Better still: Spend a few penc< on a ready-made hearing. Set th< complete bearing on the front end oi the motor stick and extending |in pa? the end of the stick. Cover liberal!) with ambroid and bind tightly witl thread. Half-way along the moto stick, mount a guide-ring sin it diameter, made of fine steel wire. Th( rubber is to pass through this ring so that, when wound up, it will no pull the motor stick out of shape. Another diagram and further instruc tions will be given next week. Keej this for reference.