Bellanca Columbia (oz13204)

About this Plan

Bellanca Columbia. Radio control scale model.

Quote: "After studying my old blueprints, I decided to build the Columbia to Schoolyard Scale proportions. Using the size and area of the Cessna C-37 as a starting point, with the help of a calculator I worked out the numbers for the scale presented in this article. The wealth of markings and details guaranteed a good-looking and somewhat unusual model. And with any luck, it would fly RC. If not, at least I'd have an attractive new Free Flight ship for the flying field.

Construction: As with all building projects, time is well spent studying the accompanying plans and pictures. The Columbia is a very simple model with only a few new twists.

The fuselage: This is basically of old-fashioned stick-and-tissue construction, with the addition of a few formers at the nose to produce the rounded cowl section. Begin by cutting out the cabin top sides from medium-to-hard Y16 balsa sheet. Match up the sides, and carefully locate and drill the holes for the wing wires and rubberbands.

Pin the sides to the plans, and pin down the upper and lower longerons. Pin down the short strip under the cabin windows, and then the remaining uprights. If you did a good job of fitting these pieces, glue them in with CyA (cyanoacrylate) and allow to cure.

Once the first side is finished, cover it with a sheet of wax paper and build the second side over it. Make sure the wing wire holes line up before you start gluing; the sides must match up to ensure proper alignment later.

After the glue has set, lift the sides from the plans and join them with the crossmembers. Begin by beveling and applying CyA to the tail posts. Draw the sides together, CyA the crossmember at station D, then pull the nose together and add all the remaining crossmembers. Check as you proceed to make sure that the fuselage is square and evenly tapering when viewed from the top.

Cut out and install the formers at section B. Cut out and install the firewall. Bend the landing gear wires, and sew them to the proper crossmembers. Gather these units at the axle, bind them with fine copper wire, and solder them together. Don't forget to sew in the wing strut joiners with the landing gear struts. Cut a pile of gussets, and install them wherever you think they'll help. Plank the nose, extending the 1/32 sheet from the firewall to the front landing gear strut and then to the top, sides, and bottom. l found that soaking the outside of the sheeting with hot water in a spray bottle helped curve the sheet around the corners.

Add the 1/16 sheet for the rear windows, pushrods, and stabilizer mounts. The cowl may be formed either from four trapezoid-shaped sheets of 1/2-in balsa with triangle blocks in the corners, or from a single block of balsa. Carve and fit the cowl: Tack glue it to the firewall with model cement, and have at it. When the shape is approximately right, pop the cowl off and hollow it to clear the engine..."

Bellanca Columbia, Model Aviation, March 1990.

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Supplementary file notes

Article pages, thanks to RFJ.

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