Coccinelle (oz11283)

About this Plan

Coccinelle. Radio control sport model. Wingspan 42-1/4 in, for .19 to .25 motors.

Quote: "Build this neat sweet sport model with the 'light aircraft' look! Coconelle, by J Di Giorgio.

HAVING DECIDED to design a new model, I wanted something which would look 'like the real thing', be economical to run, and accommodate my radio equipment comfortably. I like to think that the result - the Coccinelle - is a success on all these counts, and I believe its performance should satisfy most people.

The Coccinelle is a small, easily constructed model, but rugged enough to withstand the rough landings I have put it through. It is aerobatic and, when properly trimmed, flies as well inverted as it does right-side-up.

CONSTRUCTION: The wings: To make the wings, cut two templates, W1 and W12, as shown on the plan, from aluminium sheet (or ply if preferred) and sandwich 11 pieces of 1/16 sheet and 1 x 1/8 sheet balsa between them, (the 1/8 piece being for rib W1. After shaping the sandwich, dismantle it and remove the sharp chamfer on each individual rib, taking care not to degrade the actual aerofoil section shape of the ribs. By placing the ribs over the plan, work up the locations of the spars, undercarriage rail and ply braces, and then trim them to size before adding the trailing edge.

After cutting the ailerons from the wings, be sure to leave enough play, at each end, for movement. Control linkages are a matter of choice, since one. may use either a straight rod across the wing, with bellcranks and pushrods, or else flexible cable linkages.

When the wings have been joined, with the ply braces, and covered all over with 1/16 sheet, a piece of scrap block is added on the lower centre section leading edge, to fair it in with the fuselage, as will be seen in the side view on the plan. It need hardly be added that care should be taken, when sheeting the wings, to ensure that no warps are built-in. Check, and re-check, for these while building - and again before flying.

Fuselage: Cut the two fuselage sides from 1/16 sheet, add they 1/16 ply doublers at the front and the 1/8 sheet balsa wing seat doublers. Then build up the rest with 3/16 sq and 1/8 x 3/16 as shown on the plan. Glue the engine bearers in place with epoxy, and, to complete the sides, add the 1/16 sheet tail doublers.

Make up formers F1 and F2 as per plan. When the two fuselage sides are dry, make sure that they match, and then glue former F2 between them as the prime joining former. Next add the 3/16 sq spacers across the top and bottom of the fuselage, at the rear of the cockpit area. When this is secure, join the two rear ends together, and fit former F1 at the front..."

Coccinelle, Radio Modeller, November 1975.

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Supplementary file notes

Article pages, thanks to RFJ.

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