Vekktor (oz11635)

About this Plan

Vekktor. Radio control slope soarer model, for 2 functions.

Quote: "Vekktor, by John Goodyear.

Vekktor is the latest development in a line of two function, 'fun', aerobatic soarers refined over the last five years. She represents my current ideas concerning style and performance which is really a fancy way of saying that she looks great and flies beautifully. I hope you will agree with me.

So much for the pedigree and R&D side of things. How do we go about building one? Well, Vekktor is marginally more complicated than the average box but should certainly present no more than a minor challenge to the modeller with a couple of previous trips to the building board under his or her belt. Tempted? I hope so because you will really enjoy fly-ing this one. Get the cheque book out for a plan and the bits and let's go.

Wings: normally suggest building the fuselage first because this always acts as a spur to me to get on and complete the lift generator. With Vekktor, however, I decided to build the wings right away because I was experimenting with a section new to me in respect of slope soaring. The section employed is the NACA 23012 which represents something of a departure for me from my 'standard' E374. Why the change? Well, I argued that the slightly thicker section of the NACA wing, coupled with a significantly blunter leading edge, would provide superior light wind performance, albeit perhaps with reduced inverted capability. Believe it or not it seems to work just as predicted. Isn't serendipity truly wonderful?

My Vekktor is equipped with a conventional white foam wing with hard balsa leading/trailing edges and obechi veneer covering. They weigh a bit more than a 'high-tech' balsa covered set but have two saving graces: they are cheap and work very well. My recommendation to all would be builders would be to get a pair cut and save yourself some time at the building board.

Still reading? Ah well; get the knife out and the sheets of Ecuador gold and commence whittling. Start by constructing the ribs using templates of ply and the sandwich method. When shaped, pair the ribs off and sand away the top/bottom camber to give a good surface for glueing the sheeting and cap-strips in place.

To start building proper, get the plan pinned down and protected, and position the lower spars. Pop the ribs in place, ensuring they are vertical, and glue. When set, add the top spars, leading edge, and false trailing edge. Unless you are using cyano glue, leave to set for at least twelve hours. Add the top sheeting and cap-strips next and leave to dry again. Remove from board, reverse, pin down and add the lower sheeting. When set, add the tips from laminations of ply and balsa and stick in place..."

Vekktor, R/C Model World, July 1987.

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Supplementary file notes

Article pages, thanks to RFJ.

Corrections?

Did we get something wrong with these details about this plan (especially the datafile)? That happens sometimes. You can help us fix it.
Add a correction