question re 500 series..

[stx44]

I have noticed from my browsing one common feature of the 500 series kits- that is a very long moulded plastic nose section.

Any ideas why it is so long?

I would have thought extending the balsa further forward, as in the 900s, would have been stronger, more secure and given better balance...

[strongeagle]

I think there are three reasons.

1. It's a simple and easy way to mount the nose button/thrust mechanism without a built-up structure.

2. It contains engine/cowl detail that would otherwise have to be added with more parts.

3. It saves balsa......plastic costs less than balsa?

Just a guess.

[davidchoate]

It's because they used to be, maybe still are, popular control line planes. I get what you'r saying. If you look at how Mitch constucts a forward section you know it's for rubber power. I never did it, but think with a little patience it can be modified to use no plastic, and on some models, even give a better scale appearance.

[squirlye]

Yes David is correct. The models were designed to be powered by a rubber band or a 0.10 cox engine. So if you are going to install a cox engine you will need the extra room. You can see it on the plans.

[David Lewis]

Dry 1/16" stringers can take only so much bending so it makes the build easier when small radius 3D curved surfaces are molded out of plastic, not to mention carving and sanding nosebowl/air intakes is eliminated. Guillow designs often stop the fuselage at the firewall and the engine cowling is a separate piece. I think more than anything because that's how the full scale prototype being modeled does it.

[BillParker]

This is the P-40, and the F6F 500 series plan blown up. As they don't make plastics in this size, we have to build up the nose cowls... It's doable in balsa, even on a 16 inch plane, and to be honest with practice it'd probably be easier to do than trimming and fitting those danged plastic things, anyway. It would most certainly be a better nose block than using just the plastic. Many of the old pros always build a nose assembly inside of the plastic thing anyway.



All ours have to do is give us something the screw the prop assembly to.

bp