Scratch building a Control Line bipe for a newb.
04-15-2005 | 02:42 PM
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From: Derbyshire, UNITED KINGDOM
Scratch building a Control Line bipe for a newb.
Hi,
I am a self-confessed car RCer and am hoping to get into RC planes/helis. I have an old 0.049 Nitro Cox engine lying around and would like to build a control line plane with it, preferably a bipe. I really like the Sopwith Camel and some of the WWI/WWII bipes. Do you know of any free plans for one? Thans alot for any information/tips/advice regarding my plan or just about Control Lines in general.
I am a self-confessed car RCer and am hoping to get into RC planes/helis. I have an old 0.049 Nitro Cox engine lying around and would like to build a control line plane with it, preferably a bipe. I really like the Sopwith Camel and some of the WWI/WWII bipes. Do you know of any free plans for one? Thans alot for any information/tips/advice regarding my plan or just about Control Lines in general.
04-15-2005 | 05:52 PM
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RE: Scratch building a Control Line bipe for a newb.
I've tried Cox 1/2A powered bipes a time or two, and overall, they weren't really a success. Too much drag, I think, is the trouble.
How about going over to the Aeromanics site:
http://www.aeromaniacs.com/ and doing a platter to get your feet wet. Larger CL models can actually be easier to fly than the little ones, much as I like the Cox and Norvel motors.
There are a ton of easy designs out there for 1/2A, some free, many for just a few bucks. Flying Models plans service probably has the most. And ask over at the Stuka Stunt Works forum. I bet the guys over there will help you out. I have plans for the Baby Flite Streak I'll send you if you want them.
Kelvin
How about going over to the Aeromanics site:
http://www.aeromaniacs.com/ and doing a platter to get your feet wet. Larger CL models can actually be easier to fly than the little ones, much as I like the Cox and Norvel motors.
There are a ton of easy designs out there for 1/2A, some free, many for just a few bucks. Flying Models plans service probably has the most. And ask over at the Stuka Stunt Works forum. I bet the guys over there will help you out. I have plans for the Baby Flite Streak I'll send you if you want them.
Kelvin
04-16-2005 | 02:34 AM
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From: Derbyshire, UNITED KINGDOM
RE: Scratch building a Control Line bipe for a newb.
Cheers, when you said you'll send them if you want them, did you mean e-mail or post? If you meant e-mail then yes please, as I'm building up a collection of plans which I'm gonna try and work through eventually. Thanks for that link I never realised you could do so much stunt work with them! Sorry to sound stupid but, what is this 1/2A you keep on mentioning? Is it a type of plane? I'm still learning everything about RC Planes/Helis.
04-16-2005 | 06:48 AM
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RE: Scratch building a Control Line bipe for a newb.
Hi, I read your message and maybe I can also help. Why scratch build your first plane, why not buy a complete kit? Here is a link that will be very helpful in getting started. They have everything needed to build a control line plane and they give a lot of good tips of the do's and don't's. It's worth getting their catalog. They also have a couple of 1/2A control line planes available to build. If you want a military plane, change the markings on any one of them.
By the way, you don't sound stupid by asking about 1/2A. I've been flying for many years and still to this day I haven't the slightest idea why they call a plane with a 049 engine a 1/2A. Maybe someone call give both of us the answer. You did get some good advice, I would forget the 049 engine for now and go with something that uses a .35. I fly both sizes of planes and believe me, the larger ones fly easier. Larry
www.brodak.com
By the way, you don't sound stupid by asking about 1/2A. I've been flying for many years and still to this day I haven't the slightest idea why they call a plane with a 049 engine a 1/2A. Maybe someone call give both of us the answer. You did get some good advice, I would forget the 049 engine for now and go with something that uses a .35. I fly both sizes of planes and believe me, the larger ones fly easier. Larry
www.brodak.com
04-16-2005 | 07:32 AM
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From: Derbyshire, UNITED KINGDOM
RE: Scratch building a Control Line bipe for a newb.
Thanks alot for that link. I am asking about scratch building because I don't really want to spend much money as all my money is being poured into my heli/glider/car addiction. Thanks alot. If I upgrade my engine on my RC car then I will have a spare .15 which I could use for a control line if I just lock the carb on WOT or something.
Chris
Chris
04-16-2005 | 09:26 AM
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RE: Scratch building a Control Line bipe for a newb.
I think the answer on 1/2A is that at the time the small engines came out there were competition classes: A, B, C, D, based on engine size. In the USA 1/2 is generally (not always) thought of as .049 or smaller. Abroad, 1/2A is .09 (1.5 cc).
On scratchbuilding a 1/2A CL bipe, you will need to have a fairly long nose on it to get it to balance. An airplane like that needs to balance no further back than say 1/2 in from the leading edge of the top wing. Else it will be so sensitive to control that you will have trouble flying it.
I recall an old American Modeler which had plans for three different 1/2A bipes of the WWI type. I'll see if I can find my copy.
Jim
On scratchbuilding a 1/2A CL bipe, you will need to have a fairly long nose on it to get it to balance. An airplane like that needs to balance no further back than say 1/2 in from the leading edge of the top wing. Else it will be so sensitive to control that you will have trouble flying it.
I recall an old American Modeler which had plans for three different 1/2A bipes of the WWI type. I'll see if I can find my copy.
Jim
04-16-2005 | 05:19 PM
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RE: Scratch building a Control Line bipe for a newb.
ORIGINAL: Cummins
Cheers, when you said you'll send them if you want them, did you mean e-mail or post? If you meant e-mail then yes please, as I'm building up a collection of plans which I'm gonna try and work through eventually. Thanks for that link I never realised you could do so much stunt work with them! Sorry to sound stupid but, what is this 1/2A you keep on mentioning? Is it a type of plane? I'm still learning everything about RC Planes/Helis.
Cheers, when you said you'll send them if you want them, did you mean e-mail or post? If you meant e-mail then yes please, as I'm building up a collection of plans which I'm gonna try and work through eventually. Thanks for that link I never realised you could do so much stunt work with them! Sorry to sound stupid but, what is this 1/2A you keep on mentioning? Is it a type of plane? I'm still learning everything about RC Planes/Helis.
Lessee, 1/2A is the .049 sizes, A is .051-.19, B about .20-.30, C the .35-.40 sizes, D .60 and larger. I can't recall the exact numbers, but something like that. The letter designations aren't used much anymore except for the 1/2A one. Cox used to make a TeeDee.049 and an .051, so that free flight contestants could fly the same model in 1/2A and A class by swapping motors. Same for the Fox .19 and .201 for A and B. With apologies to Jim T, this is kind of ancient history in modeling now....
04-17-2005 | 03:17 AM
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From: Bucks, UNITED KINGDOM
RE: Scratch building a Control Line bipe for a newb.
There are quite a few 1/2a bipe full size plans on my site!
In general:
http://uk.geocities.com/[email protected]/
In particular:
Not a bipe but....
Tony
In general:
http://uk.geocities.com/[email protected]/
In particular:
Not a bipe but....
Tony
04-17-2005 | 03:35 AM
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From: Derbyshire, UNITED KINGDOM
RE: Scratch building a Control Line bipe for a newb.
ORIGINAL: kdheath
I don't have an easy way to scan them for you, be glad to fold them up and mail 'em. Reason I thought of it, this is a really good flying small model with a built-up wing and profile fuselage. Could be built for only a little money and give you good enough results to make it worthwhile. You can look it up on the Brodak web site. Find the Baby Flite Streak. If you're still interested, PM me your address and I'll send them to you.
Lessee, 1/2A is the .049 sizes, A is .051-.19, B about .20-.30, C the .35-.40 sizes, D .60 and larger. I can't recall the exact numbers, but something like that. The letter designations aren't used much anymore except for the 1/2A one. Cox used to make a TeeDee.049 and an .051, so that free flight contestants could fly the same model in 1/2A and A class by swapping motors. Same for the Fox .19 and .201 for A and B. With apologies to Jim T, this is kind of ancient history in modeling now....
ORIGINAL: Cummins
Cheers, when you said you'll send them if you want them, did you mean e-mail or post? If you meant e-mail then yes please, as I'm building up a collection of plans which I'm gonna try and work through eventually. Thanks for that link I never realised you could do so much stunt work with them! Sorry to sound stupid but, what is this 1/2A you keep on mentioning? Is it a type of plane? I'm still learning everything about RC Planes/Helis.
Cheers, when you said you'll send them if you want them, did you mean e-mail or post? If you meant e-mail then yes please, as I'm building up a collection of plans which I'm gonna try and work through eventually. Thanks for that link I never realised you could do so much stunt work with them! Sorry to sound stupid but, what is this 1/2A you keep on mentioning? Is it a type of plane? I'm still learning everything about RC Planes/Helis.
Lessee, 1/2A is the .049 sizes, A is .051-.19, B about .20-.30, C the .35-.40 sizes, D .60 and larger. I can't recall the exact numbers, but something like that. The letter designations aren't used much anymore except for the 1/2A one. Cox used to make a TeeDee.049 and an .051, so that free flight contestants could fly the same model in 1/2A and A class by swapping motors. Same for the Fox .19 and .201 for A and B. With apologies to Jim T, this is kind of ancient history in modeling now....
I didn't realise they were proper plans. I would want you to post them as it would cost you too much to post from America to England like that. But thanks alot for the offer! I think I might try and build up "chubby" from the Tony Elmore website. I did have an idea though, would it be possible to fit a tiny RC unit in there - blaspheme I know but with some of the micro Rc out there I could make a simple 2 channel rudder and elevator system which ways less than 100g or so!
Thanks,
Chris
04-17-2005 | 01:20 PM
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From: Bucks, UNITED KINGDOM
RE: Scratch building a Control Line bipe for a newb.
Make sure you save the files to disk (rather than print from the net) and make sure when you print them that your jpeg viewer doesn't autmatically resize.
Good idea to check some datums if you can find any!
Tony
Good idea to check some datums if you can find any!
Tony
04-17-2005 | 02:28 PM
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From: Derbyshire, UNITED KINGDOM
RE: Scratch building a Control Line bipe for a newb.
Yeah, thanks. I was thinking whether I could do an RC version using a simple 2 channel radio system. If (or when) I build it, I'll keep you posted. I'll probably start a "Chubby" thread.
Chris
Chris
