Streamliner (oz1458)

About this Plan

Streamliner. Rubber contest model. Class D fuselage model. Full article text and pics are included.

Quote: "THE two most important characteristics of a contest model are its climb, and gliding ability. For after all, you have to get up high to catch thermals, but what good is a thermal to a model which sinks through one like a hot knife through butter? Of course, there is always stability, but as far as stability is concerned one need say only this - no model can long endure without it.

It was with these thoughts in mind that this streamlined ship was designed. As you can see, every conceivable thing has been done to 'clean-up' the model and reduce drag. Round monocoque fuselage, one wheel landing gear, folding propeller, taper wing, streamlined wing mount, lifting tail and twin rudders all help to give a high lift to drag ratio. A fault common to most streamline models, excess weight, has been carefully avoided and no frivolous, impractical streamlining, such as using wheel pants or propeller spinner, has been done.

After the original ship was built, it performed even better than expected. Although it was never entered in any large contests such as the NatfOnals, it has won many local contests, one of which was the Cabin event of a New York University Model Airplane Championships.

Unlike most streamline ships, this model is a remarkably consistent performer and will fly in almost any kind of weather. To give it an extremely high, powerful climb, a long heavy motor strung all the way to the tail of the model is used. The motor (16 strands of 1/4 x 1/30 brown rubber, 30 in long) weighs 2.1 oz, and constitutes 40% of the model's weight. It is an established fact that, other things being equal, the greater the percentage of weight contained in the rubber the greater will be the model's climb. Though 40% is an extremely high weight ratio, compared to other fuselage models, this combined with its low drag qualities, accounts for its spectacular climb.

In case you find it difficult to build the ship as light as specified, you're still safe because at 6 oz you will have 35% rubber (which is still quite high), and even at 7 oz the ship will have 30% rubber, just normal for fuselage models. However, it is quite easy to build the ship light as long as you use light quarter-grained balsa; such wood is stronger than other cuts of heavier balsa. Now that we are on the subject of wood, let's start the construction.

Although this is not considered a beginner's model, plans and instructions are so explicit that even the tyro should have little difficulty in building this ship. Study the plans carefully before you start to build anything. The entire model (except spars and blocks) is constructed of quarter-grained balsa..."

Supplementary file notes

Planfile includes article.

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