Mini GHQ Sportster (oz13039)

About this Plan

Mini GHQ Sportster. Free flight model for electric power, with Kenway KR-1 Direct Drive.

Quote: "Mini GHQ Sportster, by Dave Stott. With a direct drive Kenway motor and two 50 mAh cells, this pint-sized replica is a potent FAC competitor.

Electric powered replicas of old time gassier have become a large part of today's freeflight modeling. They are an official event of the Flying Aces Club. The Mini GHQ Sportster is a pint-size version of a true pioneer of freeflight gas-powered models. Whether you fly it in competition or not, this nostalgic nimbus-nudger will be a worthy edition to your hangar of ships.

The original Sportster (oz412) was designed by Julius Unrath for Louis Loutrel as a test bed for the Loutrel engine. Both were marketed by the GHQ Model Airplane Co in the mid-thirties and early forties.

Our miniature Sportster is powered with the tiny direct drive Kenway motor and fueled by two 50 mAh batteries. This little imitation can turn in some astounding flights. Beware of the thermals!

The wings are straightforward in construction. If you don't care to form the tips from bamboo, use your favorite method. The diagonal line in each first bay is simply a brace of thread to help hold things together in case you scuff a wing tip. Use the rib pattern shown on the side view drawing. All parts are of 1/16 x 3/32 strip and 1/16 sheet balsa. Tail surfaces are flat and built of 1/16 square and 1/16 sheet balsa.

The fuselage sides are built of 1/16 square balsa, and joined with cross members as shown on the top view. Add the formers of ills sheet balsa as indicated on the plan. Fill in the bays on the belly where the batteries, charging jack, and switch are mounted with 1/32 sheet balsa. Also, fill in where the windshield and tail skid attach as shown on the top view.

Two small foam blocks are attached as indicated on the side view to streamline the nose of the fuselage. Add two cut toothpicks to act as anchors for the hold-down elastics that secure the motor. A cap of 1/32 sheet balsa and two 1/32 square bamboo or bass wood stringers are used to fair the cockpit as shown.

The landing gear is made of three pieces of .020 piano wire - an old term for music wire. Bend the front legs and spreader wires sized to the front view drawing, and solder them together. Bend the rear legs according to the true view drawing. Glue one side of the 1/16 sheet balsa landing gear sandwich in place..."

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Quote: "Steve, Mary find attached article and plans for a scaled down (14 inch wingspan) GHQ Sporster for electric power designed by Dave Stott and published in Flying Models in November 2002. It would make a great flier electric with a capacitor and small electric motor system."

Supplementary file notes

Article.

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