Blackburn B-2 (oz12639)

About this Plan

Blackburn B-2. Free flight scale biplane model, for 1 - 1.5 cc engines.

Quote: "DEVELOPED from the record-breaking 'Bluebird IV', the Blackburn B2 is a two-seat, side by side training aircraft of all-metal construction. Originally built in 1932 and the construction was quite unique for the period, the fuselage being metal-covered and immensely strong. As a training aircraft it was quite popular, being very stable. The last survivor is in very good condition and is sometimes seen flying locally and at the Shuttleworth open days. It is G-AEBJ, first used as a trainer in 1936, and very much a shining example of the pre-war products of Blackburn Aircraft. It makes an excellent scale subject and has been sized to suit 1-1.5 cc.

Construction: Commence the fuselage by laying down the 1/8 x 1/4 in spruce crutch. Joining with balsa crosspieces - also those at F1a, F2, F3, glue all formers in position except F3. Cut blocks F8, 9, 10 to basic shape, but leave enough wood proud to butt sheet planking. Glue F8 in position and when putting F9 and F10 in place add F3 to obtain correct angle of this former. Next bend cabane struts as per plan and bind and epoxy into position, splay feet of struts to obtain correct position on crutch as shown on plan, but maintain correct width. Bind tail skid to stem post and glue in place as planking is cemented. Plank whole of fuselage except top front and trim front end flush with F1a.

The cowling is unusual and the best approach to building is as follows: place F1 on scrap 1/4 in sheet and pin down, glue C6 in place making sure it is at 90 degrees to F1. When dry, lay C6 flat on board with F1 hanging over edge and glue C3 to F1, adding 1/8 sq front pieces to obtain correct angle of this item. When dry, glue to fuselage then add C5 and block under C6. Glue 1/32 side pieces in place and noseblock. Place C1, C2 and 1/8 x 1/4 in side pieces in position on C3, making sure that parts of cowl don't stick to adjacent pieces. Now plank top front of fuselage.

Use good, hard 3/32 sheet for the wing spars and medium hard for the trailing and leading edges. The upper wing is a straightforward structure with no ailerons.

Lower wing is built with ailerons using hard 1/16 sheet for the leading edge of the aileron and shroud. Sanding of the root shape is best done after ply root rib is added. These ply root ribs are made by pinning the ply blanks together and then drilling and shaping in one block to make sure they are identical.

Tips are now sanded to blend into LE and TE, strut hooks and root dowels are fitted last.

Build Centre Section but leave off 3/16 x 5/16 TE. When dry, place in position on cabane struts and bind front strut to front spar but don't glue it. Make sure that correct angle of incidence is maintained by cutting away rear spar. When satisfied, bind strut to rear spar and glue, also secure the front binding. Add 1/32 ply between ribs at rear and 3/32 sheet at front. Next, slide tube through and make up with wings to obtain correct position. When this is done bind and glue tubes in place and add TE. Sheet Centre Section and add WI to each end and sand down to section shown.

The lower wing tubes are fitted in a similar way. Offer up wings to obtain correct position and glue in place, add rigging hooks and then glue WI end plates in position. Now carve and sand fuselage to final shape.

Pin five laminations of 1/8 x 1/32 for rudder round a 1/8 former to make the profile of the rudder, then pack up off the plan and add ribs. The fin is made out of one piece of soft sheet and glued between two ribs on the top of the tailplane.

A basic sheet cove is cut to the tailplane profile and the structure glued on the top, sanded to shape. This is then turned over and repeated on the other side. Simple enough?

Flying: Aim for a left circle under power, giving a good engine run so the model has enough height to settle into a glide. The glide is quite fast and under power the model has the same tail-up 'sit' of the full size aircraft. It looks just like the real thing in all respects and will reward the constructor with many, happy hours of pleasurable scale model flying."

Blackburn B2, Aeromodeller, May 1969.

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Supplementary file notes

Article pages, thanks to RFJ.

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