Matador (oz14025)

About this Plan

Midwest Matador. Control line combat model. Wingspan 42 in, wing area 320 sq in, for .35 engine.

Planfile includes build notes.

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Note the Matador design was also published in Flying Models. This here is the Matador plan as it appeared when kitted by Midwest.

Update 24/8/2022: Added article (from Flying Models, July 1975), thanks to RFJ.

Quote: "Fast Combat is its game, and that's no bull! Super Tigre or Fox Combat .35 engine will do it. Matador, by Rich 'von' Lopez.

The name 'Matador' has its origin in Spain and is used to describe the fellow who goes into an arena to kill a bull. It literally means 'The Killer'. This is an appropriate name for the machine to which this name has been given. The Matador is designed for Fast Combat.

This design was developed in December of 1974 and January of 1975 by myself and my team-mate Herman Yue. We tried several different boom lengths, 4-1/4, 4-1/2, 4-3/4, 5 in and 5-1/2 in, and finally decided to use the 5 inch length after extensive testing with various engines. The flying characteristics are exceptional and in my opinion are better than the best design of Combat aircraft on the market to date.

The weight of a Combat aircraft is critical; a few extra ounces can slow down the aircraft by several miles per hour and hinder the maneuverability. We have built several Matadors at a weight of exactly 18 ounces, complete with a Super Tigre G21-.35. You can save an ounce by using the Super Tigre Combat .35. This engine has a great deal of potential that is seldom realized by flyers. The C .35 has to be reworked carefully and properly fit, however, before you will have a real screamer. This motor requires a great deal more break-in than the G21, but once it is brok-en in, it will run well for many years.

Everyone that flies Combat is concerned with speed and how to get more of it. The top speed we have reached with the Matador is 111.07 or 16.2 seconds for 7 laps on .018-t30' lines using very mild 20% nitro fuel. The engine was a Super Tigre G21-.35 with no modifications other than dismantling it when new and carefully refitting the parts. We were using a balanced Top Flite 8-8 wooden prop and reached a speed of 104.61 or 17.2 seconds for 7 laps using the Super Tigre Combat .35 and a balanced Tornado 8-8 nylon prop on the same 20% fuel.

Construction Method: Proper selection of balsa wood is important in the final weight and strength of an aircraft. Keep this in mind when you go to the hobby shop to select your wood. Try to select straight pieces to begin with. Warped wood is more likely to produce a warped structure than straight wood. To build Matadors from scratch, you will need access to a Dremel Moto-Shop jig saw and a drill press, plus all the other standard tools, files, X-Acto knife, sandpaper, pins, long nose pliers, wire cutters, screwdrivers, etc.

Begin construction by building the motor-mounts. The Matador motor-mounts use a 3/32 plywood doubler on the engine side of the mounts. I use Titebond glue for this assembly. Lay the 3/32 plywood doubler flat on a board, then glue the filler block and hardwood engine bearers to it. Remember that the hardwood engine bearers should be 1/4 in forward of the rear of the filler block. Study the plans carefully to pick this up.

Let this assembly dry overnight or, if you are in a hurry, use 5 minute epoxy. You now have a very crude looking set of mounts that have to be cut, drilled, trimmed and sanded to the shape shown on the plans..."

Supplementary file notes

Article (FM).

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