tweedy

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Just thought i'd share some photos of a scratch built Berkeley Privateer Super 15 I have under construction I have an old kit and plans in very poor condition am working on converting the plans into Cad format this has been one of my most challenging builds. I am building ailerons and will go with a brush-less out-runner for power it will be covered with colored eski silk. the construction is very light weight.

Lake Flyer

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Nice looking Privateer. I saw one of these fly at a float fly a couple years back. I was impressed enough to track down a plan for an all sheet fuselage version. I doubled it and hope to get started on it in about a week.

seaplane

I also saw one fly a couple years ago and it was beautiful, but on the second flight, the wing folded in half. This was a large plane with a wing span of around 10 ft. - 12 ft. If yours is this large, you may want to beef up the wing a bit.
Seaplane

tweedy

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The one you saw was a Custom Privateer it used an old Fox 59 and had a span of 118!QUOT! I think I have a set of plans for it the one I am currently building is the Privateer Super 15 it has a span of 60!QUOT!and calls for a .09 to 15 for power I am going to try an e-flite park 380 outrunner first I know it will fly it just not sure it will ROW I also have a 1/2 A privateer kit that has an all sheet fuselage this might be the one Lakeflyer has the plans to' it uses sponsons at the bottom of the fuselage instead of wing tip floats I still have not made a final desicion as to power it is turning out very light I think it will fly somewhat like a powered glider in fact the airfoil has a slight under camber.

Lake Flyer

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Tweedy, I did not realize there were different sizes of Privateer's. 60" sounds like a nice size. You are correct the plan I have is for the 1/2 A version. I might try the sponsons but I think I will put mounts in the wing for tip floats, just in case. The 1/2A one I saw flying had open areas on the fuselage the same as yours.

tweedy

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more photos

digitalimage4u

I would like to get plans for a large privateer [ 80-90 sze electric ] any info ?

DM

Lake Flyer

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Diget, Well you could go here http://www.freeflightmodels.com/index.html and order the plans for the Berkeley Privateer and scale them up to what you want at Kinko's. I will warn you there are no bulkheads shown on the plan and only the root rib. It's enough if you don't mind figuring things out.
I noticed on this site http://www.klarichkits.com/ That he had a couple larger Privateer kits listed. I don't know if they are the same Privateer or not. I sent him an email about them last winter and never got an answer back[].
I to would like an even larger Privateer. Good luck

andersos

Looks like a very nice seaplane model. I want one. But that site http://www.klarichkits.com/ seems dead?

fmichaelb

Try this place: http://www.myunclewillies.com/about2.html2.html The Berkely Custom Privateer is the same as the McGovern's Monster. (this is the 114" version) A digitial version of the plans cost $15.00--then you can take them to Kinkos or print them yourself and paste them together.

old git

I have bought a number of Uncle Willies plans when he used to print and mail them in a card tube. They were very comprehensive with both halves of the mainplane shown and a sheet for ribs etc. He also included a variety of extra information. I would wholeheartedly recommend plans from that source.




old git - - - - - -aka John L.

pweisser

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What is the wing span and area of the Super 15?
Do you have plans for sale? If yes, how much for a set?
To your knowledge, is anyone making a short kit for the Super15?

Have you finished and flown the bird yet? If so, did the ailerons help? I think that is a good mod.

Take care and Thanks,
Phil

DaveP

Phil-

Glad to see this thread open up again. I'd hoped Tweedy would make copies of his plan and/or CAD file available, but haven't heard from him.

I did get a copy of the Privateer Super 15 plan a few years ago from John Pond, whose plans now are handled by AMA, http://www.modelaircraft.org/ , which lists it as plan #29905 for $15. My copy seems to be pretty distortion-free, but VERY "dirty". I've scanned and cleaned up a LOT of plans in my day, but this one would take weeks of work. The fuselage formers are shown, but only the root rib of the tapered wing and stab, so the rest would have to be generated. I don't know of any kit available.

The kit was advertised (first ad I find is July 1959 MAN) as 60" span, for .09 to .15 engines. My plans measure 59" span and I calculate 442 sq.in. area.

I built the original Privateer, the 36" one, back around 1953/54 and another from parts I had lasercut in 2004. It flies great on a Norvel .061 once it gets off the water - with the added weight of RC gear, the sponsons tend to dig in. Neither the 60" Privateer Super 15 nor the 114" Custom Privateer have sponsons, so shouldn't be a problem if you're careful about weight.

Tweedy, if you're listening, please make your plans available!

-Dave

sledge_78

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To all Berkeley Privateer super 15 enthusiats. I have the complete kit. I bought it back in the 60's and was fasinated by it. There was a lake across the street from my house and I was going to fly it there. Good thing I didn't, I had no experience. I bought a fox 15 R/C which I also never used. I still have the kit, and would sell it if anyone is interested. Email [email protected]

Sledge_78

pweisser

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Do you still have the kit? Email me at [email protected]
Regards,
Phil

planeman40

I know there are a number of you out there who would love to build the Privateer Super 15 if plans were available. I have restored many of the old "Privateer" plans and have high resolution digitized plans in .PDF file format of each. I would like to make them available at no charge to you builders. Just send me an e-mail at [email protected] and be sure to note in your e-mail what plan(s) you want (I have over 4,500) and I will send the plan(s) back by return e-mail. All of these are from my private collection. No plan is for sale.

The "Privateer" plans plus others of possible interest I have are:

Privateer Super 15 - 60 in span gas RC amphibian (retractable tricycle gear) by Don McGovern, kitted by Berkeley in 1960

Privateer - 36 in span half-A gas flying boat by Don McGovern kitted by Berkeley in 1953

Custom Privateer (McGovern's Monster) - 1955 114 in span RC, was kitted by Berkeley

Sea Cat - 68 in span gas seaplane by Henry Struck from 1950s MAN

Navigator - seaplane, 52in span, Jun63FM (Don McGovern)

Jetco Navigator - Seaplane - kitted in 1950's

Piranha - 74in RC Sport .50, seaplane, Don McGovern, Dec1966Jan1967FM

Piper J-3 Cub - 70 in span RC Scale with floats designed by Chuck Hollinger, kitted by Berkeley, Jan 1955 Air Trails

Piper Super Cruiser (with floats) - 35.5 in span scale rubber by Bill Effinger, kitted by Berkeley 1955

"Planeman"

vlupis1

Hi folks
Need help, i have plans and would like to build this super nice aircraft but i am missing some material spec's. That is i know that sheets are made of balsa but i don't know if it's hard balsa or regular, then , for example, spars-hard balsa or something else, plywood too-what material??
If someone can help me with that i'd appreciate it.

JimCasey

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The klarich kts website is back up, if you still want to try it.