p-47 razorback pilot

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anyone have a scale molded windshield for the rcm 1/3 scale aeronca champ there would sell me??? desp need 2 i moved and now can not find them i HAD 3 somewhere i need these bad!!!!! thanks

classicair

i am building the same plane. i contacted the person that used to make the windsheid and cowling. he said ,he sold the molds back to rcm. i called rcm, they do not know what happened to the molds. does anybody out there know? otherwise i quess will have to make my own.

ScaleRCpilot

My Feedback: (1)

Thats no good! I was just about to order those plans.

Question- Is there not a wind screen pattern on the plans to make your own?

Thanks and good luck!
Doug

themadmax

My Feedback: (70)

I got my tail-dragger ticket in an Aeronca Champ and I'm quite familiar with the aircraft. The windscreen can be easily made out of almost any clear material. Take a piece of paper, bend it over the forward fuse back to the uprights and mark the sides. Note the upright angle, compared to photos or the plans. Tape the sides of the piece after cutting to the fuse sides and bend it over the wing. Mark the sides at the wing and cut it out as a template. There's really nothing to it.

As to the cowl, only the nose bowl has compound curves. Look at full scale photos to see where the nose bowl ends on its rear-most edge. From there back its flat stock bent to a simple curve. The nose bowl plug can be fabricated from any foam and sealed with Elmer's glue prior to making the glass mold on it. (Resin has no effect on alphatic glue.)

Good luck.

ScaleRCpilot

My Feedback: (1)

Thanks Madmax,

I went ahead and ordered my plans on monday 11-19 and hope it will be here this week.

I was told be the nice lady at RCM Plans that the cowl and wind shield were not available.

Happy Holidays to all! SR/CP

ScaleRCpilot

My Feedback: (1)

Hey Classicair,

Any luck on that windshield? Question- Was R.C. Sweitzer Enterprises of Hillsboro, Oregon the folks you talked to first? I received my plans WOW! this is going to be nice!

Any pics of completed Landing struts out there? Here is a pic I captured off of the www all photo credits to the original photog.

SR/CP

ScaleRCpilot

My Feedback: (1)

OK

7ECflyer

The Champ is probably my favorite airplane. I've owned two full-scale Champs and one quarter-scale Bud Nosen Champ. You can use themadmax's method above to make a perfectly nice windshield (that's what I had on my Nosen Champ), but it won't be exactly scale, if that matters to you. What you'll get is more like a Citabria windshield (picture #1), which is pretty close to flat wrapped. All Aeronca and Champion-built Champs had more of a bubble-shaped windshield like my 1956 7EC (picture #2). To make one like this requires a mold. Of course, you could always build your model to represent the new American Champion Champ (picture #3) which uses the windshield, the much simpler spring-steel main gear, and the rear side windows from the Citabria. Again, it only matters if you're going for true scale.

By the way, if anyone needs a closeup picture of anything on a Champ, let me know!

ScaleRCpilot

My Feedback: (1)

7ECflyer,

Thanks for the info and great picture examples. I knew that the Aeronca champs had that bulge to the windshield but was probably going to settle for the Citabria style straight WS.

I may try to carve a plug to try and heat the plastic over it to achieve the bulge look.

On the LG I may go head with the Oleo as opposed to the spring steel type. I just like a challenge I guess! lol!
SR/CP

7ECflyer

You're welcome ScaleRCpilot. I really doubt many people would even recognize the difference in windshields. I also think a scale version with a scale oleo is MUCH more of a challenge and could really make the model!

It's funny. I've been a Champ fan for all of my adult life, but I've never seen the RCM plans version. From what I've seen, they produce a beautiful scale model, unlike some of the older kits (I won't name names).

By the way, I'm thinking about building Pat Tritle's electric Champ ([link]http://www.patscustom-models.com/champ.htm[/link]). What a gorgeous model, and the scale details are amazing for such a small model! What I'd really like to find is that kind of detail in a 1/5th scale model.

ScaleRCpilot

My Feedback: (1)

7ECflyer,

You might check out this one http://www.aero-sports.com/whplans/champion.html
There are even folks whom will cut out all the parts to help speed up the build.
You could add lots of detail and not have to deal with an oleo strut LG.

The 1/3 scale Champ is BIG 144" WS. I have built and flew a 1/3 scale Balsa USA Cub and loved it!
This will be a bigger indever but will be unlike anything else at the Gonzales Tx airport where I (and other locales) fly.
SR/CP

7ECflyer

ScaleRCpilot,

I found that second photo after discovering this thread the other day. That is one beautiful model. The detail, especially the oleo, is fantastic. I'd love to see that in person. I considered Hostetler's Champ once, but the lines remind me ALOT of the old Nosen Champ. That was a fun airplane, but more of a standoff scale version than the one you're building. I'm interested more in something along the lines of a 1/5th scale with a 4-stroke 0.80-0.90. I've considered drawing up my own, but time constraints don't permit that right now, or possibly modifying a Midwest Citabria to create a stand-off scale Champ.

But the more I look at Pat's Champ, the more I like it. And talk about cheap to operate!

I fly my 7EC down to Dallas occasionally for fly-ins, and I've been threatening to make a trip to San Antonio for some time. Maybe I'll drop in on you one of these days and swap you a ride for a look at your Champ when you get it flying!

Jay

ScaleRCpilot

My Feedback: (1)

7ECFlyer,

Jay that sounds like a deal! Unfortunatly I have not started construction as of yet.
I have the plans and am tracing the LG oleo strut detail to see if I can get a local machine shop to make some fittings (top and bottom) and other parts for the plane.

Next I will begin estimating how much wood I will need to order as there are no local balsa supplies out here. I,m about 70mi SE of San Antoinio.
The wing plan shows detail of building each rib by cutting little strips and gluing them in place-I plan on cutting ribs from ply (same as the BUSA Cub) to speed up construction.

I may start a construction tread here when it begins to come together. So stay tuned!
Doug
SR/CP

7ECflyer

ScaleRCpilot,

I'll look forward to that construction article. The next best thing to building one yourself is watching someone else do it! I'm getting ready to order the electric Champ kit right now. Not sure when I'll find the time to build it, but I'm gonna have it on hand just in case.

Good luck with that oleo. And if you need any closeup or detail pictures of the real thing, let me know - I'd be glad to snap a few pictures for you.

Jay

classicair

for a 1/3 scale aeronca windsheild go to [email protected]

ScaleRCpilot

My Feedback: (1)

Thanks! 7ECFlyer,

Good luck with both planes! You never know I just might need a special look at something during construction.

classicair,

Thanks for the email link! Are they releasing the WS now? It seems I emailed them a while back and they said to hang tight. Have you ordered one from them?
Thanks again! SR/CP

classicair

i was lucky enough to get one of the originals. as soon as he starts pulling the new ones, i will purchase one of those also. how is your plane going?

ScaleRCpilot

My Feedback: (1)

Classicair,

I am about to order the chromemoly tubing for the LG and talk to a local machinist about making the oleo strut ends. Then I will start making all the hardware componants for the champ.

I am still drawing the "special drawings" for the individual parts so he will know the tolerances to make.

As for the airframe I am making some wingrib templetes to cut ribs from liteply instead of building up each rib as per the plans. This is the same method as Balsausa 1/3 cub
construction.
SR/CP Doug

[email protected]

Hi,

I'm a fellow flyer from "down under" , and have recently bought second hand a build 1/4 scale Bud Nosen Aeronca champ, which I intend to set up for aerotowing, and for sky diver transport.

Could anyone give me a idea about the deflections setup for the control surfaces, and where the balance point is.

cheers.

AJ Sun

This is an old post I know but I’ve been following all the posts I can find on the 1/3rd scale Aeronca Champ. I built the AA Industries version of the 1/4 scale Champ wrecked it a few times in the process of restoring the 120 OS Gemni II it needed a good cleaning and restoration after my Champ was hit by a quad copter on short final. I am looking for the scale 1/4 Windshield.it was busted in this mishap,it was the Citabria Windscreen and I never liked it. Just did not look right on my Champ. Also decided to remove the fabric and inspect for other damage. It did break several glue joints. I’ve always wanted to invest and do a build on the 1/3rd scale and got the RCM plan set. They offered a Windscreen and fiber glass cowl. Had more plan sets than the Winshield and Cowl. So I lost out. Been gathering material and hardware for this build. AJ

AJ Sun

I will answer your questions the balance point is from four to six inches from the leading edge of the wing.
The aileron throw I rigged it to deflect more on the upper throw than bottom. Never mixed the ailerons and rudder it had a tendency to stall in a steep 720 Kinda sauirrly it you applied the aileron first in a turn then added the rudder. The reverse was much better the wing washout. Put one degree diahedal in the wing. Seem to be more controllable. Watch your balance mine was nose heavy. Placed my ignition battery behind the rear seat position.AJ