Das Super Slupen Thing (oz13420)

About this Plan

Das Super Slupen Thing. Radio control slope soarer model. Wingspan 108 in, wing area 957 sq in.

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Quote: "Das Super Slupen Thing sailplane. 100 inch wingspan, sold by Hobby Shack (Hobby People). 2 sheets."

Update 12/11/2021: Added kit review from RCM, September 1978, thanks to RFJ.

Quote: "RCM Product Test: Hobby Shack DAS SUPER SLUPEN THING.

Das Super Slupen Thing is a sport sailplane designed by Bob McVickar, and sold by Hobby Shack. Das Super Slupen Thing (will you forgive us if we shorten this to Das SST?) - anyhow, Das SST is a nicely proportioned, polyhedraled big brother to (what else?) Das Slupen Thing, and boasts a 108 in span with a generous 957 square inches of wing area. With credentials like this, you can see right off that this is a bird to reckon with.

Digging into the kit, we came across what seemed to be at least a cord of balsa wood, a plastic envelope full of accessories, a beautiful clear plastic canopy, a set of wing wires, and two sheets of full sized plans. Since the plans were so good, we might as well tell you that they were done by Vince Micchia, and approved by Paul Bender.

The first sheet of plans covered fuselage and tail section construction, and included no less than four perspective sketches of the fuselage in various stages of assembly; one sketch of canopy installation; and two of these fine helpful little drawings were of the elevator and rudder. Also included on the first sheet was printed instructions for building the fuselage. There were no instructions or notes for the vertical or horizontal stabilizer construction, but then, none was needed so well done were the drawings.

Sheet 2 of the plans contained full size drawings of both wings, plus perspective sketches showing various details of rib, spar, and wing tube placement. As with the sketches on Sheet 1, these little drawings are very well done, and proved to be an excellent aid in building. No written instructions were included on Sheet 2, however, for the most part, none were needed. More comments regarding this later.

All things considered, this kit was found to be well planned and put together, with the sole exception of the lack of written instructions for building the wings.

Balsa wood quality was very good, and die-cutting ranged from excellent to fair. The die-cut balsa parts, for the most part, separated cleanly, and no problems were encountered here. The 1/8 ply fuselage sides and doublers were examples of what excellent die-cutting was all about. Not some of the 1/16 ribs, however. These were, in some instances, not die-cut deeply enough to allow for the easy, clean separation we had come to enjoy when we were working with the 1/8 ply, or the balsa. In fairness, all die-cutting was quite acceptable and, as we said, ranged from excellent to the minor bit of problems we just mentioned when we got to the 1/16 ply ribs - some of those rascals just didn't want to let go without a fair amount of persuasion on our part.

Das SST was not what we would call difficult to build, but at the same time, it is NOT the one to start out with if you've never built from a kit before. As we mentioned, instructions are on Sheet 1 of the plans, and are confined to assembly of the fuselage only. For the tail section, and the wings, you are on your own. We feel a first-time builder could use a bit of a guiding hand in these important areas, even though perspective sketches are excellent.

The fuselage is all balsa - no plastics here! Running down the bottom, center of the forward portion of the fuselage is a 1/8 ply keel that gives the thing a slight look of a boat hull (from the bottom angle), and adds immensely to its strength. The tow hook is anchored through the ply keel and, needless to say, we haven't pulled it out yet ... and don't expect to. The fuselage is built of 1/8 ply sides with the same material serving as doublers in the forward third. Formers are also 1/8 ply, so an idea of the strength of this beauty can be realized. Lest you think it is too heavy, the bottom 'vee' of the fuselage is covered with die-cut to shape 1/8" sheet balsa. The remaining top and bottom of the fuselage is covered with 1/16 sheet balsa. It all adds up to a very, very strong, lightweight fuselage that furnishes plenty of room in the radio compartment, is attractive, and goes together not badly at all..."

Supplementary file notes

Review.

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