Aeronca Old Kit

[David Lewis]

Possibly a factory employee inadvertently fed 3/32" sheet balsa into the die cutting press instead of 1/16".

[davidchoate]

No, even on the printed plan it tells you the sizes. As best I can tell, It's from the 1980's. I dont know if the newer kits use thicker wood, but I dont remember as much 3/32" wood on the other 300 series planes. I plan on doing some scalloping of the formers, and maybe drill holes in the massive stack of wing ribs, they really use ALOT of them. I cant see this thing flying on rubber. I keep saying i'm done with these micro conversions, but I can't help myself. I got all the parts ,and I know i'm not gonna quit til I get one to fly.

[davidchoate]

Anyone ever heard of this Kit from Guillows?. I wish they would introduce more RC plans, and larger planes.Can I still obtain the Full size plan you think?

[davidchoate]

Lightened up the tail as much as I dare. My first attemp at scalloping.

[davidchoate]

Ok. I took some ideas from Mitch, and you can see them obviously. I never scalloped before, but I think in addition to saving weight, it will alsi keep the B former vertical lines from showing through the tissue. If the wood wasnt so thick I would have been more conservative on how much I removed. I'm leaving the stringers off the cowl area til I fit the radio gear. In the past this has given me grief. Having to run controls on the finished model. I also am using the nice thick wingtip to add 1/8" washout to the wingtips. I want to try and make this a one piece removeable wing, and if I can't I'm going 3 channel. Rudder, Elev., and throttle.I have been looking at that old Guillows Cessna 46" Rc plan, and how they have the removeable wing may be possible on this plane.

[davidchoate]

I am going to use the yellow tissue that came in the kit. If it looks funny, I'll give it a paint job.

[davidchoate]

Next I will fit the controls and electronics. I'm just goin with 3 channel. I've had off all week so I made good progress, but Monday I go back. So I'm goin to Try and get it done this weekend.

[davidchoate]

Tail is straight

[davidchoate]

Making good progress. I am installing motor, Rx ,etc. I finished the wing panels, and chose to put a 1/32" x 1/8" basswood srrip on the leading edge, and a 1/32" balsa sheet to the 1st stringer. I got plenty of power,and The wings always get banged up. I cant get Spruce. LHS says discontinued, and even on Midwest site whats left is it. Is there a Spruce shortage?

[Bill Gaylord]

Anyone ever heard of this Kit from Guillows?. I wish they would introduce more RC plans, and larger planes.Can I still obtain the Full size plan you think?

outerzone.uk has the plans, although I imagine you may have found them there. I've done the old fashioned scale/print/trim sheets/tape sheets together thing a number of times, using outerzone plans. Worth the effort for something you really want to build.
http://www.outerzone.co.uk/search/resul ... &Submit=Go

I see these kits on Ebay from time to time, but they get a lot for them. Some of them look like nice rc designs.

Making good progress. I am installing motor, Rx ,etc. I finished the wing panels, and chose to put a 1/32" x 1/8" basswood srrip on the leading edge, and a 1/32" balsa sheet to the 1st stringer. I got plenty of power,and The wings always get banged up. I cant get Spruce. LHS says discontinued, and even on Midwest site whats left is it. Is there a Spruce shortage?

That makes sense, with fewer and fewer builders, as well as hobby shops. I'd try to find one that has a bunch and buy it up, like the one I used to go to. There's always good old basswood, as you mentioned. Then again sometimes they have ironwood balsa stock, that's darn near like spruce.

BTW, I'm now building an old Guillows Curtiss Robin, that has the heavy 3/32" wood. Definitely an rc job, and not rubber. I'll have to get some pics.

[davidchoate]

I'm not going to make a one piece wing yet, but I will study that old Guillows 48"Rc cessna plan, and see how they did it. I want Guillows to offer thse kits again. When they did in the late 70's early 80's; the Rc gear was crude, and expensive. Not geared toward the typical Guillows customer. Mostly young kids with a small budget, and big dreams. I was that kid in 1983, and I was introduced to hobby by Guillows kits, and could not afford RC stuff till I was like 15 and got a job. But things are different now. The stuff is inexpensive, and easy to work. I just hate to see some of,or all of their RC kits out of production. I want the Aeronca Rc Plan if available. It looks more like a Glider. Saw it once in a old catalog. and if I wasnt lookin through the free plan site for a jumpin bean I'd a never stumbled across the Cessna plans. I cant get them full size cause Staples only can enlarge to 36"

[Bill Gaylord]

That C170 probably would be a nice rc model. I'd break down and to the home printing job for the plans. Places like Staples are known to goof them up sometimes. The other benefit of printing/trimming/taping the plan together at home, is that after putting an evening of effort into the project, then you HAVE TO build it. I have the little Guillows C150 as an rc 3 channel conversion, and it's a really easy to fly model that I would train a first time flyer one. Does well, especially given the added weight of tri-gear and 1/32" fuse sheeting.

[davidchoate]

I downloaded the plan sheets from that UK link, but dont know how to print them out full size. Does anyone know? I weighed stuff just to get an idea. My AUW with all but some infil, and tissue.is 80g's. Not bad with a brushless, larger than avg batt, and the extra strong wings. I know this one will fly. As long as I get the dihedral, and balance right. I worry about keeping the wings straight as they have no real mid section, and depend on the side window formers for alignment.Also I am going to attempt to make a woodon cowl. Any ideas or advice. I was thinkin a built up with former or 2, several srtingers, and infill,or shet. And a solid piece in the very front.

[davidchoate]

Ok. So on to sanding the wings, and assembly.

[davidchoate]

linkage is set.