Miss America (oz10280)

About this Plan

Miss America. Radio control sport model. Wingspan 84 in.

The Miss America (oz5645) design was first published in 1936. This here is a later version from MA in 1978, still at full size with 84 in span, but modified for R/C with 3 channels.

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Update 1/3/2022: Added article.

Quote: "One of the most famous designs ever kitted was the Scientific Miss America. In the Antique Class, it is the ideal project for fliers who can appreciate long, leisurely flights with a truly beautiful, classic airplane. Cover story. Miss America, by Emil Agosta.

ACCORDING to the Society of Antique Modelers rulebook, Old Timer and Antique categories are defined as: model aircraft which have been designed, kitted, or plans published prior to December 31, 1942 or December 31, 1938 respectively. The Miss America falls in the Antique class. The Scientific Model Airplane Company kitted and copyrighted its drawings in 1936.

The rulebook further states that the model may be modified in minor ways, such as changes in thrust line, strengthening of structure, and provision for control surfaces. Areas and moments may not be changed and all changes must be in the character of the original plane. One must not substitute sheet balsa fuselages for built-up structures or change airfoil sections. However, it is permissible to scale up or down an approved design.

An Old-Timer may also be a young boy in knicker trousers back in 1936 watching the hand cranking of Baby Cyclones and Brown Junior engines with hand-carved propellers at Van Courtlandt Park, New York, with wonderment and desire to graduate from rubber-powered kits to an honest to goodness 'gas job.' To the boy, the gas job fliers were grown men, and it seemed like a millenium before he too could participate. Actually, the 'grown men' were only in their late teens or early twenties!

Well, 40 years later a boy who never grew up builds the Miss America, a truly majestic ship! He incorporated a few minor modifications for radio control and, luckily, he didn't have to carve his own propellers, or ride the then five-cent subway with the usual entourage, carrying wing, tail, fuselage and toolbox! Yes, that is exactly how they did it! Footpower! Those fliers had no homes in the suburbs with basement workshops. The shop was the bedroom, living room, window sill, floor, fire escape and tenement roofs. It was also a time of economic depression, and getting your hands on any kind of a kit was indeed a luxury.

My Miss America has completed its third year of flying. It is really armchair flying at its best, and a good change of pace when you do not feel like zipping around with your pattern ship. If you are not quite ready for sailplanes, this may be the answer.

According to Scientific's original kit drawings, the ship weighed in at 4-1/2 lb, with an 84-in wing span. An 18-to-1 glide ratio was claimed with a 22-minute flight on 2 ounces of gasoline-and-oil fuel mixture with an ignition engine.

This RC version weighs in at 5 lb 13 oz. The original kitted Miss America was covered with bamboo paper. Colored dope was not recommended. Additional coats of clear dope were advised only if the more powerful Brown Junior engine was to be used!

Construction: Fuselage: Begin by laying out the fuselage sides with 3/8 sq medium-hard balsa. Longeron splices are scarfed at least one inch on each piece to be joined, backed up by 1/8 x 3/8 balsa doubler. Use an X-acto razor saw for cutting. Wet the front bottom longeron for bending. Extend the bottom longerons about 2 inches beyond the firewall to facilitate making the bend. Trim them after installation, and upper longe-rons flush with firewall.

I used Ambroid glue. Wipe off excess glue from joints where there will be transparent silk covering. After gluing in uprights, cement in the diagonals, and the tail blocks marked 'U'. After both sides are completely dry, jig the sides up over the top view, and cement in all the 3/8 sq cross pieces, starting at the cabin area and working towards the tail. Do not crack bend the longerons to install cross pieces at the nose. Soak with hot water, and the side will bend to a natural taper. Glue and clamp the 3/8 sq cross pieces with epoxy and let set overnight..."

Supplementary file notes

Article.

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