Junior 60 (oz1398)
About this Plan
KK Junior 60 (later revised kit plan, 1955). Classic free flight gas model.
The original Keil Kraft Junior 60 (oz9995) was from 1946. This here is the later 1955 version, with a wide-body for RC. Escapement with rudder-only control is shown.
Quote: "When looking for a plane in which to install his gear, the radio modeller turned naturally to a model which had proved itself in the free flight field and the Junior 60 seemed an obvious choice. This choice was well justified and the Junior 60 soon became the standard radio model, just as years before it had been the standard power model. In 1955, the model was re-kitted, to bring the plans up to date. An E.D. Racer was shown on the plans and also the installation of radio equipment. Apart from widening the fuselage a little to allow more room for radio gear and showing a suitable rudder, little change was made to the model itself."
For more detail on this design process, see RCLibrary page at http://www.rclibrary.co.uk/title_details.asp?ID=1069 for free download of the complete book 'Radio Control Big Four' from 1964, which contains a section of several pages written by Ernie Webster detailing the design changes between the original KK Junior 60 and the later KK Super 60 (oz552).
Note the actual wingspan of the Junior 60 is (rather confusingly) 63 inches. For reasons unknown, Keil Kraft continually referred to it and advertised it as being 60 inches in wingspan. Many thanks to Brian Cox for help with this.
Update 14/10/2017: Added sheet #2, build notes, thanks to DaveH. Quote: "Hello Steve... Thanks for all the work you've done, I've built a couple of models from Outerzone sourced plans (Smeed Courtesan and Super Scorpion), and I enjoy browsing the site. I also have another sheet of the KK Junior 60 plan which, amongst other things, details the wing tip sheeting and the flat bottom of the centre section ribs. These being two of the more common mistakes (or different choices) I see made. Is this of any use to you? Cheers, Dave"
Update 14/08/2018: added kit review from Model Aircraft, October 1955, thanks to RFJ.
Quote: "The Keil Kraft Junior 60. Over The Counter Kit Review (Oct 1955).
The Junior '60' is a time-honoured sports design which was adopted in the early days of R/C flying as a standard machine, appearing in a variety of forms, such as extended wings for greater area, ply-sheeted fuselage back to the rear of the cabin position, and sometimes overloaded up to 6 or 7 lb flying weight. Whatever the modifications adopted, these models flew, and flew well, but the original layout would still more than hold its own with any for R/C work.
Right up to the present time, in fact, most people experienced in radio flying would be the first to recommend the Junior 60 to anyone starting this branch of the hobby. The size was right, the design was right, and its payload capacity well within any standards of workmanship, plus as much radio gear as could be accommodated within the fuselage. Above all else it was a really stable aeroplane which, on being left alone, would quickly sort itself out from any trouble which it had got into through real-operation of the control button. And all through, remember, this kit model was produced as a sports type F/F design.
Now the Junior 60 has reappeared, somewhat modified in detail design, and expressly intended for R/C work. The fuselage is rather more capacious, especially in the cabin area, whilst complete details are given for the installation of the radio gear, batteries, etc, together with a pivoted rudder and the necessary intermediate linkage.
The kit itself is most attractive, with 'integral' strip lengths die-cut, clearly printed sheet, etc. The structural design is quite orthodox and the kit itself straightforward in contents. All the ply parts are ready cut to shape (including that especially tricky job of making dihedral braces without notching vital bends), the set of finished wing ribs are more accurate than the majority of amateur builders could produce, whilst the balsa quality is uniformly excellent, although tending a little to the soft side. Four giant tubes of cement and four tubes of tissue paste are also included, as well as shaped blocks for the cowling, wire, dowel and really tough (beech) motor bearer stock.
We know from experience that the structure is more than rugged enough for R/C work, and also that it is quite straightforward for building. Not even a beginner should get into any real trouble with assembly.
Design-wise, the Junior 60 is an orthodox cabin layout with a low wing height, generous dihedral coupled with relatively large fin area, and a certain amount of sub-fin area which could be expected to improve stability in turns. Both the tailplane and fin are flat plate sections. Were we asked to recommend R/C design features most likely to be foolproof, our experience in this field would say wing height above thrust line fairly small, flat plate tail and fin sec-tions, generous wing dihedral to make fin area non-critical and balancing with CG well forward. Just the layout, in fact, that the Junior 60 employs. The only design feature we would criticise is the undercarriage position. The track is rather too wide and the wheels too far forward for good straight take-offs an roughish ground, but such a layout does give better ground stability on landing. You cannot have it both ways and since a model always has to land, but can be hand-launched, this is quite a logical solution for a kit designed for general consumption.
Modification of the undercarriage could, in any case, upset the balance of the finished model. The nose is extremely short for an RC design and so it is rather important to keep the tail end light and the nose end relatively heavy to balance on the wing front spar."
Update 09/03/2020: Added article by Mike Goulette covering electric conversion of the Junior 60 (Ben Buckle kit) from R/C Model Flyer, January/February 1997, thanks to RFJ.
Supplementary file notes
Article (electric conversion)
Review.
Sheet #2, build notes.
Corrections?
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(oz1398)
Junior 60
by Albert E Hatfull
from Keil Kraft
1955
63in span
IC F/F R/C Kit
clean :)
all formers complete :)
got article :) -
Found online 08/07/2011 at:
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=126587...
Filesize: 297KB
Format: • PDFbitmap
Credit*: stickman, DaveH
Downloads: 10861
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User comments
Hi Steve excellent service you are offering. I built a Jr. 60 using this plan, converted to 3 channel radio with a turnigy l3840motor 60 amp esc and zippy compact 4s 3700 mah. Flies beautifully, flight times are in the region of 20mins plus. I did however modernise the construction somewhat using carbon fibre for the main spars in the wing and tailplane and iron on covering. I also used carbon fibre to build the battery mount and re-inforce the centre section of the fuselage. I also made an aluminium sprung undercarriage for it. All in all it looks the part and flies nicely. Thanks again for doing what you are doing and keep up the good work. As far as I'm concerned the plan quality was excellent.cathkeld - 25/11/2013
Hi Steve. I have just completed a Junior 60 from a plan downloaded and printed from Outerzone. The plan is scaled perfect and printed on to an A0 sheet at my local print shop. Made a kitset up and all parts fit together nicely. Mine is to be powered by an OS Max 25 fp. Thank you for keeping all these hard to get plans on Outerzone, I am a scratch builder and have no intention of buying ARF planes so these plans are invaluable to me and I'd imagine many other modellers around the world.
dfmunro - 22/01/2014
I agree with the foregoing. I have built a number of oldtimers from your site and intend to do more. They all fly great and are a link to the past when I flew them with my dad in the 50s.
jamiegillis - 29/06/2014
Hello, I am an Italian builder and I use your plans. I have built a Simplex, a PB-2, and a Powerhouse from Outerzone free plans. I notice you are missing Majestic Major plans. I have built one from Junior 60 plans, enlarged to 90, plus sketched drawings on internet [see more pics 004 & 005]. Today I had my first flight - it flew like a butterfly..... Mine is electric, wingspan about 90 inch, weights 2500 gr. ready to fly included lipo battery. I painted BEN BUCKLE on the wing in respect of father Ben!
LuigiCarlucci - 28/12/2015
I noticed you have included Majestic Major photos with the Junior 60 plan. Since the Majestic Major is just a Junior 60 on steroids, I would like to contribute with another two, if I may [more pics 006, 007]. The model was built by the chap holding it, Elias Silva, a dear, unfortunately departed, friend. It was built from a Ben Buckle kit, brought from UK in 1991 (at some personal discomfort, I might add! LARGE box...) by the chap on the right of the group photo, Mendes dos Santos. I am the chap on the left in overalls, btw... 25 years and 20Kg ago... I am now the proud owner of that model as Elias' son very kindly gave it to me, along with all his father's modelling stuff, simply saying I had been the 'aeromodelling son his father never had'! A very kind gesture to say the least. Although I fly mainly Indoor RC electric models these days, the Majestic Major still gets aired and flown every now and then, not only because it is such a wonderful model, but also as a homage to that friend that left us all too soon. Elias Silva was also the original builder of the Comet 'Sparky' kit oz85 I sent you some photos of a few weeks ago.
ArnaldoCorreia - 15/04/2016
Hi! Here come some images of my new JUNIOR 60, built from Outerzone plan [model photo & more pics 009, 010]. Very nice OT-model. It is electric driven but has an IC -atrapp to look OT.
OweCarlson - 14/10/2016
The Junior 60 has just spent 36 hours in the top of a tree [more pics 011]. I went for a fly Monday evening and had one great flight. Should have gone home because it was getting late and I was tired. She went down in the trees to the north of the flying site, but due to the dense undergrowth I was not able to spot her. I hunted around until 16:30 hoping that I would get a rough indication of where she was when the battery alarm went off. I could not hear any noises operating the rudder and elevator. Unfortunately I could not remain to hear the alarm as I had to be home by 16:35. My wife came the next morning with me to help search and we spotted the red fin and rudder sticking out of the top of a tree about 30 yards into the undergrowth. I had a pair of cutters and it took me about one and a half hours to punch through the brambles etc to the base of the tree where the Junior 60 was resting. It was an effort to get the ladder through and I finally ran out of steam and decided to go back this morning to finish getting her back. Daylight was 07:19, and it was a beautiful morning with the moon shining and the birds singing. It only took 20 minutes or so to release the Junior 60, and only had a couple of small punctures in the under wing surface. The battery was obviously a write off, and the battery alarm needs drying out. Good thing about Depron and modern coverings is you don't have to worry to much about rain if your model is lost out in the weather. She is all working OK now, and the weather looks flyable Saturday. I have ordered up 10 lost model piezo buzzers for £13 from Hong Kong. And the reason for losing the model in the first place? No one would be stupid enough to knowingly fly a model with a outrunner motor lead screw connection loose would they? Now replaced the terminal block with soldered bullet connectors. Hope you like the photograph. Very happy to have the Junior 60 back home again.
MalcolmJ - 25/11/2016
We too were very much addicted to this design. Some of my friends learned flying with this Junior 60. I built this from scratch using locally available wood. No balsa.
Dr Subhash Mashal - 22/01/2019
Hi Steve, hi Mary - My old MAJESTIC MAJOR (as for Junior 60, oz1398) has flown majestically as electric for many years. On Outerzone there are old photos of my model. Now I have modified it for MVVS 61 diesel engine. It is ready for his first flight with the new engine. Here are some new photos of its second life [see morepics 012-014]. It is intended for the Texaco events.
Luigi Carlucci, Italy - 04/09/2019
Is the MM an enlargement of the 1946 Junior 60 or the 1955 Junior 60?
Cesare D. Lanzo - 02/12/2019
The MM is an enlargement of the original 1946 J60 plan.
Brian Cox - 02/12/2019
Hello Mary, I've attached a few pictures of my Junior 60 [pics 015, 016]. I modified it from a free flight to a 3 channel RC. It's powered by an OS .25FP, and controlled by Hitec servos. It's covered with silkspan and finished with Randolph butyrate dope. I downloaded the plans, (oz 1398), from your website. You provide an excellent service to those who like visiting old modeling memories, and for those who still enjoy building models by plans. Thank you,
Dan Owen - 18/05/2024
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- Junior 60 (oz1398)
- Plan File Filesize: 297KB Filename: Junior_60_KK_oz1398.pdf
- Supplement Filesize: 2707KB Filename: Junior_60_KK_oz1398_article_electric.pdf
- Supplement Filesize: 412KB Filename: Junior_60_KK_oz1398_review.pdf
- Supplement Filesize: 371KB Filename: Junior_60_KK_oz1398_sheet_2.pdf
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Notes
* Credit field
The Credit field in the Outerzone database is designed to recognise and credit the hard work done in scanning and digitally cleaning these vintage and old timer model aircraft plans to get them into a usable format. Currently, it is also used to credit people simply for uploading the plan to a forum on the internet. Which is not quite the same thing. This will change soon. Probably.
Scaling
This model plan (like all plans on Outerzone) is supposedly scaled correctly and supposedly will print out nicely at the right size. But that doesn't always happen. If you are about to start building a model plane using this free plan, you are strongly advised to check the scaling very, very carefully before cutting any balsa wood.
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