BW Special (oz14528)

About this Plan

BW Special. Radio control sport aerobatic model. Wingspan 58 in, wing area 682 sq in, for OS FS 70 Surpass engine.

Note the 'original' drawing here is the CAD zip download (in dwg format). That's the file that Giuseppe sent us, and that is his design, his work. The PDF file you see here is really just a taster, a PDF file in this slot for Oz users who don't have a CAD viewer.

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Quote: "Hi Mary, a RC model based on the Junar (oz7404) UC stunter by Bill Werwage, hence its name. Ciao"

Quote (google-translated from the Italian): "An aerobatic model in UC, transformed into RC. The BW Special, by Giuseppe Ghisleri.

I have been building models for almost forty years without interruption! (There's even worse...). I began when I was not yet ten years old with a free flight model. That's how it was then. I switched to tethered flying as soon as I learned about this form of model aircraft and managed to get from my father the amount necessary to buy a 1.5 cc Diesel Supertiger. If my memory serves me right it was the G 31. I learned to fly by myself, without the help of other modellres and this cost me a lot of money. I still have clearly in my mind the scene of the first flight attempt, followed by the inevitable and terrible impact against the concrete of the farmhouse where I lived at the time.

But the passion was such as to allow me to overcome these 'inconveniences' and start building something more advanced again. The 'vertical', the 'looping', the terrible 'inverted flight'", how many models and how many repairs did these simple figures cost me, essential for learning aerobatics.

Meanwhile, one day, browsing through the magazines displayed in a newsstand, I discovered Model Airplane News. A whole new world opened up before me. Other than tablet models, covered with modelspan paper and without varnishing. Tapered fuselages, with elliptical sections, very shiny varnishing, with complicated designs and finishes that I still try to reproduce today, but always with poor results. The line of aerobatic models became synonymous with 'beauty' for me.

Of course over time I too bought a radio control and so I hung up my latest acrobatic, an Ares (oz4884), which still survives in the attic of a friend of mine, and I relegated the drawings of those models I had never built in a box; these also survive in my cellar.

A few years ago, after a long time, I found in my hands 'Flying Models' which dedicates a monthly column to many of the very many aspects of aeromodelling, both in the field of free flight and tethered flight. As once my eye was drawn to those streamlined lines and I found myself reading with interest about the problems of modern aerobatics. Nothing more, until one day, not long ago, I was struck by the observation of a young aeromodeller in the group.

These, who certainly have never seen a UC model and never savored the pleasure of direct contact between a pilot and model, as only two thin steel cables are able to ensure, he pointed out to me how pleasant the U-control acrobatic line was. My mind skimmed over and I immediately remembered seeing tethered flight models converted into RCs, the Nobler (oz6212) for example. I also remembered that the success was decidedly low. But now the seed was planted, and it slowly sprouted.

On the cover of Flying Models a photo appeared one day of a splendid acrobatic with classic 60s lines, designed by Bill Werwage, one of the idols of my youth. Bill appeared 30 years ago on the pages of American magazines holding his highly polished, highly varnished, highly finished model as I witnessed in the advertising, I think it says so, for a firm of adhesives, the Ambroid. Does anyone remember it? The model was his workhorse at the time and was called, guess what, 'Ares'.

Seeing again after a long time the photo of that young man so aged (did you notice how the others age?) but still successfully dedicated to tethered aerobatics (he was world champion a few years ago) almost moved me. I decided that the model presented on those pages would become my new project. It is clear that some modifications were necessary, but the lever arms and surfaces are those of the original called 'Junar'. Speaking of names, I'm sure by now you understand what 'BW Special' means.

Construction: The wing is styrofoam with 1.5 mm balsa wrap. Since the thickness of the profile is considerable, it is convenient to core the cores for the purpose of containing the weights. Before doing this it is better to coat the wing. The weights necessary to ensure good bonding between the polystyrene and the covering could in fact cause deformation of the already lightened cores..."

Update 1/5/2023: Doh. Have uploaded the missing CAD file now. Thanks to Geoff Goodworth.

Supplementary file notes

Article.

CAD file

This plan is available for download in CAD format.

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