Pitts Special (oz12054)

About this Plan

Pitts Special (Pitts S-1). Free flight scale model.

Quote: "Hello, Attached is a zip file containing the plans, instructions and printwood scans for the Harry Butler Pitts Special RTP model. This is a 17 inch span stick and tissue model for electric RTP or free flight with rubber, glow or CO2. Not quite sure what the vintage is but I'm guessing late 70's / early 80's. The rubber prop supplied was a 6 in Guillow's item and the wheels 1 in Guillows slimline. Hope you like it, Kind regards,"

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Quote: "BUILDING INSTRUCTIONS PITTS SPECIAL MODEL KIT

The model is suitable for rubber, glo-engine, CO2 motor or electric Round-The-Pole flying but fuselage nose construction must be arranged to suit intended power plant. Main plan detail shows rubber installation with alternative general arrangement for glo and electric motors.

DIE CUT BALSA PARTS: Balsa parts require 'easing' from pre-cut sheets and for this purpose a sharp modelling knife should be used. Balsa is a 'live' material and therefore subject to movement, consequently pre-cut parts may require slight trimming to ensure an accurate match to the plan.

BEFORE STARTING CONSTRUCTION CAREFULLY STUDY THE PLAN, PARTS AND PHOTOGRAPHS IN ORDER TO FAMILIARISE YOURSELF WITH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND CONSTRUCTION METHOD. NOTE THAT THE MODEL IS ASSEMBLED INTO SIX MAIN PARTS WHICH ARE THEN TISSUE COVERED AND DOPED BEFORE FINAL ASSEMBLY. COVER THE PLAN WITH A SHEET OF THIN POLYTHENE TO AVOID PARTS STICKING.

FUSELAGE CONSTRUCTION: Pin basic fuselage crutch to plan with modelling pins. Cement well at all joints. Add fuselage formers F5 to F7 (omitting at this stage F5A and F5B). Cut a 'spine' strip of 3 x 1.5mm balsa and fit between top slot in F5 and rear tip of fuselage crutch. Fit a further strip of 3 x 1.5mm balsa vertically between rear tip of crutch and previously added 'spine'. Take sizes for these parts from fuselage side view.Note that the spine member is recessed to top edge and fitted with a strip of 3 x 1.5mm balsa as a platform to which the fin and rudder are located.

Add parts F1 to F4 and then fit 1.5mm square balsa stringers as shown. Add parts F10 and F5A. Note that the strut locating slots in F10 parts must face inward toward the fuselage centre.

Assemble undercarriage wire to parts F3L - U1 and U2 as shown, cementing well.

Remove fuselage structure from plan. For rubber version only cut away centre of crutch cross-members to provide clearance for rubber. Add formers Fl L to F7L. Cut tall post from 3 x 1.5mm strip and cement in position with part F9.

Add parts F8 followed by all 1.5mm square stringers and part F5B. Sheet in underside of fuselage between formers F3L and F5L leaving centre section uncovered. Access will later be required at this point when lower wings are being cemented into position.

Make up noseblock from parts N1-2-3 and 4 cutting away as necessary to accommodate the type of power plant to be installed. Lightly cement noseblock to fuselage and carve and sand to shape. For rubber power noseblock assembly should be removable and fitted to fuselage via the central square hole in part F1, into which part N4 locates.

For electric RTP the noseblock should be firmly cemented into position and part El positioned to accept rear bearing flange of electric motor, which must be a firm sliding fit through noseblock. The pre-cut noseblock parts are printed with a suitable cut out for our (Cat. No.) M.4. motor but where an alternative motor is to be fitted cut out must be re-arranged to suit. The electric motor is retained by a rubber band pulled across the front of the motor and hooked to two short pins fitted to each side of noseblock.

For CO2 or glo motor power noseblock and frontal fuselage layout must be arranged and recessed to suit type of motor. A thin plywood bulkhead (not supplied) must be glued to the front face of former F2 during the course of fuselage construction and motor installation carried out in line with motor manufacturers instructions.

Add scrap balsa filletts to the rear corners of the cockpit opening and then carefully sandpaper the fuselage smooth. For the RTP version, mount a tether hook through FS using soft wire provided. Cement wire tail skid in position.

FIN AND RUDDER: Assemble and cement fin and rudder parts directly over plan using the appropriate 'Fr parts. First pin the outline in position packing parts up slightly from plan (use strips of postcard) in order to centralise the 2mm thick parts with the 3mm thick vertical and cross members. Note that for R.T.P. version only, fin and rudder must be built separately and then hinged together. With all other versions the fin and rudder may be constructed as one unit..."

Supplementary file notes

Decals.
Instructions.
Printwood (zipfile, 7 sheets).
Undercarriage template.

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