Fairey Albacore (oz1223)

About this Plan

Fairey Albacore. Scale rubber powered model. Three seater Torpedo bomber/observation plane. Wingspan 50 in, for rubber power, with or without gearing.

Quote: "MOST readers of the Aero-Modeller are well acquainted with the Fairey Albacore, which made history at the Battle of Matap.n. They will remember that it is a biplane without stagger, a span of 50 ft, and length of 39 ft 10 in, and is chiefly in use with the Fleet Air Arm's TSR squadrons on the aircraft carriers, hence the wings are made to fold back neatly to form a very compact unit to stow away in the hangars between decks. It is also used as a seaplane, when the wheels are replaced with floats.

The flying scale model of the Albacore is built to a scale of 1 in to the foot, giving a span of 50 in and a total all-up weight of 20 oz. This weight is achieved by the use of hard balsa wood. However, during construction it was realised that anyone contemplating building the model might not be able to procure sufficient balsa, or only a very poor quality balsa at the best. With this in mind, it was decided to load the model to approximate to the probable weight should harder woods, and therefore heavier woods, be used.

The model was therefore covered with a heavy bamboo paper, fully doped, in place of the lighter type papers usually used for rubber-driven jobs. The reader may query whether this would be sufficient extra weight, but by the judicious use of a good quality hardwood of the bass variety, now obtainable at some of the best-known model aircraft stores, it will be found that the difference in weight is very small. To accomplish this, however, the main dimensions and depth of wood will be the same as that used for balsa, but the thickness will be less. For instance, longerons shown as 1/8 by 1/16 for balsa will be 1/8 by 1/32 for bass. Thus, by halving the width or thickness, the strength and rigidity will be maintained and very little extra weight added to the structure. Where, however, the structure is visible from the outside, such as the four main pillars which support the top centre section, this should be kept to the original dimensions. Should a certain amount of balsa be available, then let this be used on the tail-unit, which is detachable, and thus help the trim.

Balsa, too, can be used to plank the front part of the fuselage, and a poor quality here will not matter, as it will all be sanded down to shape. In any case, a certain amount of weight will probably have to be added to the nose, and it is suggested that plasticine or putty with some bits of scrap lead mixed up in it is formed into a rectangular shape and pinned to the inside bottom of the cowl, where it. is out of harm's way and easily adjustable.

Another method of obtaining trim is by the use of two separate rear motor anchorages, one forward of the other, so that weight can be taken off the rear by bringing the motor forward. This is accomplished by using two short paper tubes, one in the bottom of the fuselage and one in the top to receive a birch dowel pushed through from under-neath. Between these two short tubes is inserted another paper tube—through which the dowel also passes—on the outside of which the four rubber motors are looped and rubber bands slipped on to keep them in position.

A long handle is attached to this last tube, so that the complete tube, with motors, can be inserted from the rear, and the dowel pushed up into place.

Naturally, by using the rearmost fixing which also locates the tail-unit, a longer motor can be used, but as more weight will probably have to be added to the nose, an extra loop or so of rubber per motor will have to be used to speed the airscrew up. This in turn will reduce the number of turns available, but the builder will find out which suits his particular model and flight characteristics best..."

Supplementary file notes

Scanned article pages from Aeromodeller Dec 1941. Note this article describes (in great detail) a model at 1/12th scale with wingspan of 50in, not 43in as stated on the plan above, so there is some disparity between the two. Thanks to Derick Scott.

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