Laser 200A (oz12621)

About this Plan

Laser 200A. Control line semi-scale aerobatic model, for .46 power.

Quote: "The '86 Polish Nats Champ is back again, this time with an aerobatic control line ship with a .46 for power. This semi-scale stunt model won all the marbles for Piotr. It's a good flyer.

For a few years I have thought about a control line full-scale model. Of course, it should be a model of a real aerobatic airplane, because I am a control line acrobatic pilot, and I do not like to fly with heavy bombers. Unfortunately, I cannot find good documentation; if I have a good drawing, I have not good photos; or if I have good photos, the drawing of this plane is not so good for me and for judges, of course. I have a book by Robert C. Morrison, Acrobatic Airplanes with a number of plans of aerobatic planes. Some of them were very interesting for me; ie Laser 200, Stephens Acro, and Super Star.

Fortunately, I have a nice friend, Claus Maikis, who lives in West Germany; and he is a competitive acrobatic flyer. He wrote to me two years ago that he is an enthusiast of Laser's semi-scale competitive stunt models and sent me a photograph of his model. If I cannot do a full-scale model, I decided to make semi-scale stunt model. Realistic control line acrobatic ships turn me on. This is a way I made up my mind the Laser 200 is my stunt ship for the 1985 season.

Many good acrobatic pilots do 'flying cigars' with wing and tailplane for aerobatic program only. They look like jet airplanes to me. I did it too, of course! Look at my Voyager (oz12619) published in Model Builder February 1986. They fly well, but look bad in the air. Aerobatic models should look like really aerobatic planes. My Laser 200 looks like a really aerobatic airplane and flies well too. I won first place at Polish Nats in 1986 and got second place at the famous Nograd Cup F2B-85 with this model. Also I took many prizes at less important contests in F2B class (CL aerobatic in FAL rules).

In England at Europa Championships '85 I did not do well with my Laser 200. I have had much problems with my ST46 engine, so I did not do a full aerobatic program there. But everyone was impressed with my Laser. It was the most beautiful stunt model at these Europa Champs and you can read about it in Aeromodeller, October '85 or Modelar 10/85 (Czechoslovakian model magazine). Mr Otskar Safek put a photograph of my Laser 200 on the cover of this magazine.

LAZER DESIGN: Of course, my Laser 200 is not a full-scale model. Thus the wing and tailplane proportions and dimensions are done like my older stunt ships with not too much difference to the scale model. But fuselage side view and, of course, painting scheme is almost the same as in real Laser planes. Thus, everyone thinks it is semi-scale Laser 200. Yes, it looks like it.

The control system is made like in Voyager with 1:1 ratio as the best. The pushrod is made from light 1/4-inch hard aluminium tube and horns from 1/16 brass plate soldered to hard 3/32 steel wire. All control systems must move easily without any slop in the bellcrank and flap horn with a little slop in elevator horn. This control system is not adjustable. I had many experiences with other ratios and found the 1:1 ratio is the best in aerobatic model.

The wing is detachable for easy shipping and transporting to contests. The model with detachable wing is, of course, a bit heavier - about two to three ounces, because the fuselage in this case must be made stronger with long pay doubler. Thus, if someone will do this model in one piece it should be better, as the model will be lighter and easier to do. Weight of my Laser is about 59 ozs, so it is a bit too heavy for ST46, but, as I told you above, it flies as well as looks.

The fuselage-wing mounting system must be done strong and exact without any gaps. It did mean the fuselage was almost ready with bottom sheet. The wing was ready for painting. Then I glued the mounting system..."

Direct submission to Outerzone.

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