Tipsy Nipper (oz14161)

About this Plan

Tipsy Nipper. Radio control fun fly model, based on the popular homebuilt.

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Update 31/10/2022: Added article, thanks to RFJ.

Quote: "Designed by Peter Miller, prototype built by Graham Smith, a round of applause for the Tipsy Nipper.

There is a Tipsy Nipper based at one of the strips that we fly from, it frequently comes over to where I live and I get a free aerobatic display. It's at times like this when the mind starts to wander! I have often thought about building a model of this aircraft, but have put it off for various reasons. Not least because the small wheels and trike U/C do not go well on rough grass.

Recently I had been reviewing some of the Profile Fun Fly models and realised that the Tipsy Nipper was an ideal subject for this treatment, however, I really did not want yet another fun fly type at the time.

Then friend and fellow club member Graham Smith expressed a desire for a profile fun fly, and when Ed, Peter Dawson, asked for a plan my problem was solved.

The Tipsy Nipper was designed by a Belgian in the early 60's, it was a fully aerobatic design. The rights were bought by a British company in 1966 who marketed the aircraft in complete or kit form. My model is very loosely based on the full size. The fuselage has been slimmed down as it would have ended up over 12 deep and the wing span has been reduced. In other words it is a caricature, but one that is not too far out even when standing beside the full size, even the owner of the full size thought that it was very convincing.

The model is designed for .20 to .25 engines, if you use bigger engines you can't use the extra power because the model may flutter and self destruct.

Fuselage: Build the fuselage first, it is used to set the centre rib spacing accurately. Start off by joining the 3/8 sheet balsa and marking out the front of the fuselage. Adjust the bearer spacing for the engine that you will be using. Cut out the part and then mark and cut out the 1/32 ply doublers, note that they are about 1/8 shorter than the 3/8 part and go over the engine bearers. Do not glue them onto the nose yet.

Laminate three layers of liteply using epoxy and cut out the U/C mounts, glue these and the bearers into place. Sandpaper the whole thing smooth. Pin the nose part down over the plan and build the rest of the fuselage up with 3/8 x 1/4 and 3/8 x 1/8. Note how the centre longeron fits against the rear of the cockpit and then a small triangle is fitted on top as a gusset. Do not glue on the canopy frame parts, though the main part can be laminated now if you like.

When the fuselage is dry sandpaper smooth and glue on the ply doublers and the 1/32 sheet to the lower rear fuselage. Drill all the holes for the U/C clamps and engine mounting. The fuselage is now complete.

Wing: The plan shows the bottom view of the wing as this allows the hatches and radio to be shown more clearly, it is in fact symmetrical until the centre section sheeting is fitted, and so the instructions describe the wing being built the right way up..."

Supplementary file notes

Article.

Corrections?

Did we get something wrong with these details about this plan (especially the datafile)? That happens sometimes. You can help us fix it.
Add a correction