Topteen (oz14427)

About this Plan

Topteen. Fre flight glider model, for beginners.

Quote: "Topteen was originally designed as a model capable of being built by a class of school children (girls and boys) between the ages of 9 and 13 years. It had to be cheap, simple, rugged and have a good flying performance.

A class of children at a Miles Platting school started building Topteen and, as the time available was not very great, the designer, helped by clubmates John Done and Dave Millachip, produced the models in 'kit' form. Although not all the class completed their models, some very creditable examples were produced for a first attempt at aeromodelling.

In instructing boys in aeromodelling at the Port Sunlight Boys' Club, Topteen was chosen as the subject. The boys aged 12-15 produced some excellent models. In fact, it produced sufficient enthusiasm among the boys to spur them on to more advanced models and the Wallasey club are that much richer, having new blood showing the old hands the way.

Construction: Most essential constructional notes appear on the plan, but the following hints should be helpful to beginners.

First obtain some tracing paper, and also some waxed paper (collect the waxed paper from cereal packets - very useful!). Now trace a fuselage side, to the inside lines except for the vertical nose one. Apart from the nose they are all straight lines, so you only need mark the ends of these. You can use carbon paper to transfer the nose shape, or pin-prick it through, either from a tracing or direct from the plan, onto your 1/16 sheet balsa. This, by the way, should first be sanded smooth, removing any trace of circular saw marks. When one side is cut out, you will find that by reversing it and using it as a template, you can comfortably get the other side, plus the bottom, from a 3 in wide sheet.

Wing ribs are all in two pieces, owing to the full-depth spar. Trace the shapes on to a piece of scrap ply and use this as a template for cutting the 1/16 balsa ribs. You will find it easier to pre-cut several strips from a 3 in wide sheet, to the length of the half-rib, rather than manoeuvring the whole 3 ft sheet..."

Top Teen, Model Aircraft, November 1965.

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Supplementary file notes

Article pages, thanks to RFJ.

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