Cessna Airmaster C-145 (oz14315)

About this Plan

Cessna Airmaster C-145. Scale model for rubber power.

Quote: "Cessna C145 Airmaster, by Jerry Paisley.

When our fearless editor put the bite on me for these plans I suddenly had a whole new appreciation for what Bert Phillips was saying in his article on The Boston Blinger (MAX-FAX July-August 1988). Like Bert, I didn't have a No.3 pencil, so I asked if I could borrow his. He didn't even answer me! Bert is too nice of a person to ignore someone so I assume that he didn't hear me. Bert said that Boston Blinger is euphonious (agreeable in sound). I agree with you Bert, but the word euphonious sounds like something we would call a clump of red leaves that was found in top of the wrong tree while looking for an errant plane. (You Phonies's)

Conventional construction methods were used in building this model, however the following comments may be of interest to some.

The landing gear fairing is carved from foam. Slice the leading edge of the fairing with a knife and slide over the landing gear wire and attach with white glue. Fill the gash with 'Red Devil Onetime Spackling super-light' (Tom Schmitt MAX-FAX 7,8 1983). The fairing can be covered with tissue attached with white glue if you are good at this sort of thing on compound curves. I tried but couldn't make it, so I painted the foam fairing with thinned white glue to give it resistance to floquil paint and lacquer spray. If the paint finds a thin spot in the white glue and softens the foam, merely repair the spot with 'Red Devil' and do it again.

The wheels are vacu-formed. Cement a 1/32 balsa bulkhead to the inside half of the wheel at the seam where the two halves join. Attach a 1/16 OD aluminum tubing to the inside wheel half and the bulkhead to form an axle bearing. Place this on the landing gear axle and secure with a washer and solder or glue. Cut the excess wire off. Cement the outside half of the wheel to the inside half and trim. Bingo! You have a completed wheel on the airplane with no axle showing on the outside. Painting a wheel after it is on the airplane can be difficult. I used a permanent black felt writer. The black wears off fairly fast where the wheels touch down but it is very easy to repair.

The thrust adjustment is from Rolf Gregory's article MAX-FAX 1,2 1983.

No ballast was used, although the model tends to be a little nose heavy. The rubber will usually bunch up in the tail on most flights which compensates for the nose weight and the result is a fair glide (provided 'HUNG' is agreeable).

The airplane finished third in Golden Age at the recent FAC Nats in July. This proves that there are two kinds of luck! My son Scott, (He has 4 Kanones. I have none.) was mechanic and the airplane might have placed higher, had we reversed roles. He yelled at me, that was a bad launch Dad! I complained that I didn't launch it. The wind took it out of my hand! (Smart aleck kids.) Going to the FAC Nats was an enjoyable experience. I recommend it to everyone. "

Supplementary file notes

Article.

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