Quadruplane (oz14668)

About this Plan

Quadruplane. Semi-scale rubber model.

Originally published in Flying Models, Sep 1959. This here is a reprint from RCMW-FSP, Jan 2016. As hosted on the mac34.fr site [see datafile].

Note this plan is stamped as Archive #003739 from the Cooperative Plans Service. See their website at www.co-op-plans.com

Update 9/7/2023: Added article, thanks to theshadow.

Quote: "Here's a challenge, a sorta-scale model of the Quadruplane build by Matthew Seller a long time ago and which is reported to have actually flown using a five horsepower engine. Very little else is known about the original aircraft but this free flight model is sure to draw comments wherever it appears. Designed by Normand Charlebois and published in the September 1959 issue of Flying models, the author says it’s really not all that hard to build but will never win any endurance contests.

The benign air of old ladies, added to the charm of a lifetime spent in rearing a family is enough to soften the heart of the hardest man. This reasoning may also explain why old ancestral flying crates still attract modern modellers drowned by the sound of ultrasonic jets flying overhead.

Whether the term 'benign' applies to Matthew Seller's nearly unknown creation of 190? has been lost in the fog of the dawn of aviation. From the sheer looks of this package of bailing wire, spruce struts, and canvas, the modern pilot would certainly think twice before trusting his carcass in this quadruplane!

However complex and brutally incongruous the layout of this monstrosity is, its unusualness was enough to tempt this modeller into attempting a scale glider model of it: that was in 1942. Now, nearly 17 years later, it crept back from the past, like a nightmare, and although there was very little info available, the author attempted to make a flying model of it.

One of the sorest points to the pride of the dedicated modeller occurs when all the work and endeavor put into the balsa framework (the painstakingly built innards of the model) are going to be concealed forever, (oh! yeah?) under a sheet of Silkspan and a few coats of dope. This model provides a remedy against this unfortunate occurance in most models.

Here it is, a tailless, body-less, naked quadruplane. The layout was obtained from a one inch square picture in a 27 year old magazine, underneath which was this caption: Matthew Seller's FLEW with 5 hp!

Obviously, from so meager a source, exact scale is impossible to achieve and some confused areas of the picture were obviously thought up. However, we have endeavoured, as much as was feasible under the circumstances, to stick to the 'charm' and the flavor of the original, if not to actual scale design.

We would be extremely grateful to anyone for providing additional information on this strange craft from the past, in the event any record of it has survived the years. In the meantime, let us go on to the construction.

Fin and Rudder: Since this crate breaks all other rules of design, let us begin our model in an off-beat fashion. Match plate 1 and 2 at the splice line, cover with waxed paper, and let us build the fin first, directly on the board. Once this is dry, we proceed to the rudder.

No instruction required here. Everything is simple and straightforward. Just sand to a rounded edge all around. You will find it convenient, since there are so many struts and braces, to cover, these items now. Use white Silkspan, with grain running lengthwise, applied wet; let it act as the hinge by covering alternate sides of fin and rudder with same piece.

The maze of struts and wires, while at first glance scary, does not mean that the construction of this model is difficult. It is actually even simpler than more conventional models, and the only part requiring advance preparation is the bent bamboo guard No.27.

So bravely, let us now tackle the wings. For these and the fin and rudder we recommend cement equal to Testor's Formula A. However for all other items, we found it was much safer to use Formula B, as the extra strength will be greatly needed.

Remember this: the four wings and the tail-pieces are the ONLY covered parts, and the only parts to gain strength in this fashion. All other parts must rely on their own fibers. This is the reason why pine and bamboo were used and are suggested, wherever tension or compression stresses are present..."

Supplementary file notes

Article.

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