Hangar Rat (oz10107)

About this Plan

Hangar Rat. Classic simple indoor rubber sport model. Design by Harry Barr.

The original 1979 Hanger Rat plan is available as a free download from several sites online. We grabbed this version of the plan from http://www.theplanpage.com/st.htm. The article text of course is from MB Aug 1979.

Quote: "Hangar Rat owes its existence to the 'Sig Parasol,' a simple, easy-to-fly, tissue-covered profile model. Having built one of these with a cambered wing, I proceeded to fly it every lunch hour in the hangar, where I worked, until it was so tattered it was retired to a place of honor above my bench. Needing another fun machine that could be built in a hurry, Hangar Rat evolved, using the same airfoil I had used on the Parasol.

It has been a success right from the first flight, with average flight times under a 20 foot ceiling of 50 sec, with a best flight to date of 1:08 and many flights over a minute. It is easy to adjust and build and will bring pleasure to both the beginner and the jaded R/C nut (like me). It brings back memories of simpler times when modeling was less complex and expensive.

If you are a beginner, follow the plans closely and you will be rewarded with a fun flying machine. If you're an old hand at the game you probably have your own ideas about a lighter airframe, better prop, etc. Regardless, have fun!

Construction. Let's start with the wing and get that miserable so-and-so out of the way. Using the side view of the fuselage, cut a template from 1/32 plywood of the rib profile. Reinforce the edges of this template with a Cyanoacrylate type glue to toughen them against knife knicks. Using this template, slice out ten ribs 3/32 deep from 1/20 sheet and two full depth ribs from 1/16 sheet.

Protect your drawings with Saran Wrap or something similar and pin the wing frame to your building board. Use the dihedral jig to set the root rib angle accurately and glue the root rib (the full-depth rib) in place. Add the gussets at the root and allow to dry thoroughly. Since the wing is bilaterally symmetrical, the same wing drawing can be used to build the second panel merely by moving the root rib to the opposite end.

Once both panels are framed up, gently sand the leading edge to a rounded contour and re-glue all joints. Do not join the wing panels at this time! Set them aside for now..."

Supplementary file notes

Article.

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