smcouch77

This winter I'm in the mood for a new stunter. I've been playing around with the idea for a twin engine, twin boom plane, similar to a P-38 for several years now. I've just about finished with the working plans, and should start cutting balsa after New Year.
The plane will be .60 size powered by two OS .35 MAX-S engines. I have a 60 size foam core wing I bought at a swap meet and a small collection of OS engines, so why not? Here are some drawings. Of course, any comments and help will be appreciated.
Steve

cutaway

Looks like it might turn out very nose heavy

smcouch77

Hi cutaway. I was thinking that too. But a couple of years ago I re-covered a Mosquito Bomber for Jack Sheeks. I took the measurements of his plane and used them to layout the moments for this one. His plane flies great. I'll ask him if he added any tail weight.
Steve

cutaway

I had a twin Mustang years ago with a pair of McCoy 35's. The line tension was beastly. Had to be at least 15lb @65mph or so. Its wing wasn't too fat so it was moving pretty quick. Might fatten up the section to something like that in the Strega just to slow it down some.

smcouch77

The foam core I have was cut for a Genesis (at least that's what I was told) It's 2 1/4" thick. Looking at the plan view, it's easier to see just how much of the plane is behind the C.G. It's 7 1/4" from the thrust washer to the leading edge, which is pretty close for a stunter. My Nobler is 9" and my Banshee was 10" before I shortened the nose.
Steve

cutaway

Banshee's nose was just flat out too long for any reasonable sized engine ;->

In reality the only reason for nose length is to get the CG close without needing too much weight in the tail or to fit a tank in. The shorter the better.

I think if you went with light booms (like a silk covered rolled balsa tube) and a built up rather than plank tail, the tail is going to come out very light. Probably in the 5oz or less range after paint.

gcb

If it's going to look similar to the P-38, why not use a primarily white paint scheme and call it "White Lightning".

George

smcouch77

That's a good idea, but I don't think the wing is long enough for that many letters
Steve

build light

I like your drawings and I think it would be awsome!

As for the issue of nose heavy I was thinking the Grumman Skyrocket would be a great one to make a twin. No booms, short "nose" moment.
There are those (a majority I think) who think of this design as ugly! Granted it does not look as sleek and sexy as your twin and the P-38 has been a long time favorite of most modelers for ages.

Still I think the Skyrocket design has potential.

Robert

gcb

Moonshine?

George

colingw

If you want a nice looking, but unusual prototype that has a nice short nose, how about the Fokker G-I "Jachtkruiser"? Its a very commonly overlooked WW-2 era plane that IMHO really has the looks. Nice thick wing on the original too - should be possible to make it stuntable without losing the scale appearance.





For me, something based on the G-1 powered by a couple of .15s would be a great twin.

cheers,
Colin

smcouch77

Thanks for all the suggestions. George, we'll have to get together at the local pub and discuss the name. You sound thirsty!
I'm really not trying for any kind of scale look. It just happens that a twin engine, twin boom plane looks a little like the P-38. Actually, I stretched the nose to get the moments right. There seems to be a "sweet spot" for nose length on stunters. Too long and it's sluggish, Too short and it's jumpy (like a combat ship). I'm not an engineer, so I'm sticking to moments that work well on a host of other stunt planes.
Steve

Jim Thomerson

Jack Sheeks published a Grumman Skyrocket stunter in Flying Models, back in the 60's i think. Don Hutchinson has plans for an OD profile P-38 stunter.