O/T Plans; Kerswap, Megow Chief, Atomizer. more

[Sky Sharkster]

More Old Timer plans, these from Modelairtech;
http://www.modelairtech.com/
Plan sets for the Kerswap, Megow Chief, Atomizer (great name!), MG-2, Senior Playboy, Foote Westerner, Alert, Little Diamond, Stardust Special (3 sizes, 67.87", 78.0", 91.0"), StratoStreak.
Most models are drawn to a 60" -80" wingspan. Wing areas 450 square inches to 630 square inches (the 91" Stardust is 900 square inches), weights 35-45 ounces. Plans are $12.00 to $14.00 each.
It's building season, grab some balsa!
Ron
P.S. I've added this link to the sticky.

[Tailspin Ken]

Sky Sharkster,
I saw your link and went to the site. I had some questions, so I gave them call. What nice people! I ended up ordering athe Slomowatt. I can't wait for it to get here. If that goes well, I think the Miss Stick will be next.
Ken

[Sky Sharkster]

Hello Ken, it's good to hear you got a positive response from Modelairtech, hope you enjoy the "Slowmowatt". I've seen the "Miss Stick" fly, it's a fine O/T'er type model. There's nothing quite like seeing a bunch of "sticks" you've assembled, flying!
Good Luck!
Ron

[Tailspin Ken]

Ron,
This will be my first attempt at a scratch build. I have also ordered a Curtis Robin from Eastman models. Talked to Al through E mail. He has been very helpful. Also, have you seen the pull out plan in Nov. issue of Fly RC? It is a Randolph Observer. Looks like a neat old timer design.
I am really looking forward to building these planes. i have wanted an old Timer for a long time.
Ken

[Sky Sharkster]

Hi Ken, good luck with the scratch build, it's really not hard if you've built a few kits. One of the important things is wood selection, try to balance the strength/stiffness of "pairs" of wood. Like upper and lower spars should be as equal in torsional rigidity as possible, otherwise the wing will have an unequal bending moment. Same for fuselage stringers, the right and left side pieces should be the same strength. Wood weight is important too, but with strip wood the main concern is the "hardness" or stiffness.
Typically it takes me 1/2 hour or more to select $10.00 worth of strip wood, I'll pull a bundle of 1/8" x 1/4" strips out of the rack and test each piece for flex, hardness, straight grain, warps, weight. Then I'll buy 4! But they'll be the right 4. It helps to have a very patient hobby shop owner or one who's a "builder" himself.
I haven't seen the issue of Fly RC you mentioned, have to pick up a copy. I think it's great they have pull-out plans, wish more mags would do this.
Have fun with the builds and keep us posted!
Ron

[TeamTEOR]

I wish that there were a few pictures of how people mated the outer wing panels to the center. I have everything else finished on my slowmowatt but the outer panels. maybe once they are built I will understand.

[mred]

I am just finishing up the Miss Stick Sr now. I still have to cover the fuse after I get all the radio in the right place and the pushrods in. Nice little plane and fun to build. Just got my wire bender in too, so now I can do the LG right. I love old planes.
Ed

[john38]

teamteor,

at least 3 ways joining tip panels to centre sections

1. if spars are in line then conventional thin ply (1/16") dihedral joiners either side of spar and also on inside of L/edge and T/edges. They dont need to be too long as forces are a lot less than at centre of wing.

2. if spars are offset by spar thickness, then spars are extended into each section and glued together. I would also add the thin ply braces at L and T/edges.

3. sometimes for convenience/transport etc, it is easier / stronger to build the centre wing as one piece and use plug-in dowels to join tips on. this needs fairly deep ribs to accommodate- altho for say 72" span with tip diehdral, 1/8" carbon rod into paper tube does not take up much room and is very light/strong. I think this type of wing gives the lightest weight as the centre one piece wing is very strong without the beefing up for joining 2 half wings at point of greatest strain.

I could show you pics of all 3 but I would have to tear off coverings to show - so I hope the above words will be of some help

john

[john38]

reference the forces at the wing tip joint - I was referring to flying forces. landing forces and hanger rash were not factored in ;-)