Aeronca C2 (oz14771)

About this Plan

Aeronca C2. Radio control scale model.

Quote: "My first radio controlled Aeronca was a C3 Master, built from the Dennis Bryant Elite plan. This model served me well for several enjoyable flying seasons before being sold on. During the time that I owned the model it was used for competitions, but suffered from a poor static score. This failing was remedied when I managed to obtain a copy of the Historical Aviation Album that contained the three view drawing that had been used by Dennis when he designed the model. From further information that was within the album I designed a very successful model of the 'one-off' Aeronca C-1 Scout (oz7681). A quarter scale model of this design followed, and then the model featured here, the Aeronca C2.

The Aeronca C2 was the first commercial design marketed by The Aeronautical Corporation of America in 1929. The model is based on an aircraft that was imported into the United Kingdom in the early thirties and is one that used the updated rigid fixed tripod landing gear with fat balloon air wheels. G-ABHE was the subject of a book called 'Flying for Fun, An Affair with an Aeroplane', by its owner Jack Parham. Copies might still be available from the Popular Flying Association and some of you may remember the delightful film of the same name that was on television some years ago.

The model was designed around the smaller capacity OS four stroke engines but builder Derek Haviour opted to use a Saito 45 in the prototype. Construction is not difficult but care needs to be taken with the silver soldered wing fittings. A single servo in the fuselage operated the ailerons originally but a servo in each wing has now been fitted. This is a much better arrangement as differential movement can be incorporated into the aileron movement by way of the transmitter. Differential movement, more up than down, is, in my opinion a desirable feature on a model like the Aeronca.

The model is non-aerobatic but it will loop and do very nice stall turns. It will I am sure do much more but this is a model that looks its best when making low level passes along the flight line. If you would like a model that has a lot of character but one that is not difficult to build, read on.

The construction follows typical model aeroplane building techniques and most modellers who have one or two built up models under their belts should have few problems with the Aeronca.

Fuselage: I like to build the fuselage first so this is where we will start. Construction is different in that a front and rear portion are built and then joined together.

First cut the fuselage bottom to shape and pin it down over the plan. The length as drawn on the plan is correct and allows for the upward slope of the fuselage bottom. Glue in the formers, use the template to fix them at the correct angle. The fuselage sides are fitted next, with the structure still on the board followed by the 3/16 square pieces between the formers. Next build a sub-assembly using formers F1 F2 and F3 and the engine bearers.

This unit can be added to the partly assembled fuselage while it is still on the board. Use epoxy as the adhesive, holding the components in place with pins and masking tape. The wing mount is fabricated from piano wire with silver soldered joints. The brass mounts for the wing wires should also be silver soldered in place. The wing wires can be soft soldered in place. The wing mount needs to be sewn onto the former F4T before the balsa laminate is glued in place. Fit the former in place, securing the front part to the bearers with small plastic or brass brackets. The hard balsa spine can now be added to the rear fuselage. Build up the centre section using plywood ribs, the centre rib is made up of three 1/16 plywood laminations.

The undercarriage is wire bound and soft soldered together, note how the ply box encloses the main legs. The upper part of the tripod gear is not attached to the main unit but has a tube end that allows the undercarriage to move upwards under load. The tank compartment should be completed before the nose area is sheeted. The tailplane mount and aft of the wing mount is reinforced with 1/16 sheet balsa. The cowl formers are from plywood.

The cowl is in two parts, a top from balsa block and the bottom from litho plate. The top cowl is quite tight around the engine crankcase and care should be taken when carving the top. To hide the engine away it is necessary to use a 1/2 in long extension on the crankshaft. If the engine is side mounted, as on the prototype, a plastic mount will be needed and an extra former fitted. The model would be ideal for the small capacity Saito flat twin too. Note that the engine mounts above the bearers and that the bearers have to be trimmed to allow the engine to slide in from the front.

Wings: As the wing construction does not call for capping strips it is important that the ribs are accurately cut to shape. Use light stiff balsa for the ribs and hard balsa for the spars and trailing edges. Pin down the trailing edge the front and rear spar and aileron sub spar directly over the plan. Fit all the ribs and then add the front upper spar and false leading edge. Fill between the front spars with scrap 3/16 sheet out as far as the plywood rib that carries the bracing wire brackets. Laminate the tips from strip balsa. After fitting the sheet tips and the lamination the leading edge sheeting can be added. Note the shape of the spars at the tip. The ailerons can be built directly over the plan, note the curve at the tip. The corrugations were made from strip balsa sanded to shape..."

Aeronca C-2 from R/C Scale International, March 1998.

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Supplementary file notes

Article pages, thanks to RFJ.

Corrections?

Did we get something wrong with these details about this plan (especially the datafile)? That happens sometimes. You can help us fix it.
Add a correction