Saab Viggen (oz11488)

About this Plan

Saab Viggen. Rubber pusher-jet model.

Quote: "Project Section: The Saab A37 Viggen. Exclusive MM design by Ray Malmstrom.

BUILDING an unusual type of model aeroplane is always an exciting business, and when the model flies as well as this one, then you really can be assured of flying thrills ahead. The new SAAB 37 VIGGEN (Swedish for Thunderbolt) is without doubt one of the most deadly and advanced fighters in the world today, and is destined to go into squadron service with the Swedish Royal Air Force. The design is a delta-canard type and appears to fly backwards with its tail-plane in front. Contrary to what you may expect, this lay-out flies exceptionally well (two big advantages of tail-first or canard types are their stability and freedom from stalling). Construction too in our model, is simple and straightforward - so what are we waiting for!

These constructional notes will con-centrate on the more important building points. Generally speaking if you follow the 'easi-build' sketches, work slowly and accurately, construction will not present any problems. Build two identical fuselage side frames and add the sheet top, bottom and side pieces as shown in the sketches. Check that the forward elevator and wing cut-outs are accurate. A set-square is useful, for checking the 'squareness' of the fuselage. Add elevator and wing dowel rods. Both elevator and wing are held in place with rubber bands. This allows for slight changes in the incidence angles - but this should not be necessary. Note the slight slope of the rear end of the fuselage. This slope is important so check that you have built it in correctly. Build tailblock from plan and sandpaper to shape. Make it a good push-fit into the fuse-lage. Get the 20 swg brass bush from your model shop. The propeller is a KeilKraft 5 in diameter plastic prop, also obtainable at your hobby or model shop. Carefully cut off the spinner portion with a small tenon or hack saw, holding the prop hub in the end of a vice. Take care to mount it on the driving shaft with the smaller face of the prop hub towards the tailblock.

Remember this model is a pusher! Sandpaper the fuselage frame with very tine sandpaper, cover with lightweight Modelspan tissue paper, water-shrink and give one thin coat of clear dope. Build the upper main fin over the plan, lightly sandpaper and cover with tissue, shrink and dope as for fuselage. Fin and wing frames should be pinned down (using small balsa blocks, under the edges to stop the undersurfaces from sticking to building board) at all stages of shrinking and doping. This will avoid warps. Cement fin in position. Build elevator, referring to the 'easi-build' sketches. Make sure that you add the tissue strips over the centre section score-lines, and that you have the correct dihedral. Use blocks of the correct height as indi-cated. Give elevator one coat of thin clear dope. Cut underfin from sheet, then dope and cement very firmly in place.

The delta (or triangular) shaped wing is built in three sections. Two wing panels and a centre section. Leave the 1/32 sheet covering over the wing centre section until the whole wing assembly has been completed. Build the port wing panel over the plan. You will need a reversed tracing for the starboard panel. Before covering, cement the wing panels to the centre section. Note the end or root-rib on each panel is sloped slightly inwards. Use the template provided to obtain the correct angle of slope. See also that the tips are raised the right amount. See 'easi-build' sketches. Cover wing panels with lightweight tissue then shrink and dope as for fuselage and fin. Now add the 1/32 sheet centre-section covering. Cut out the sheet elevators and fix to the wing trailing edges with thin aluminium hinges. These hinges are best glued in place with an impact adhesive like Evo-Stick or Bostik 1. Balsa cement is not satisfactory for bonding metal to balsa..."

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