Boston Bullet (oz14930)

About this Plan

Boston Bullet. Rubber powered, free flight. West Coast Bostonian.

Quote: "Boston Bullet, by Frank Allen. This Bostonian class model was designed by a youngster who wants to show the world that Juniors can build and fly with the best. If you are looking for a project for yourself or a young flier, try this simple, lightweight bird!

AUTHOR AND DESIGNER My name is Frank H Allen IV, I am 12 years old, and I have been building models for about six years. I enjoy building rubber power models because it is a rewarding and constructive hobby. I am a member of the Scale Staffel and fly in Junior Class. I designed and built this model and wrote this article because I wanted to show adult model builders that Juniors could design models also.

MODEL if you are looking for a lightweight, easy to construct, well-flying model, then you might want to make this your next model. This is a clean, straightforward model that is easy to trim. On a calm day it does an average of 40-45 seconds. indoors it does an average of 50-70 seconds with a wood prop. If you want it to last a long time, you better keep it out of the hot sun. Now on to construction.

CONSTRUCTION The model is constructed from 1/16 square sticks. When constructing the fuselage, make sure that it is straight and not bent over and [rooked. The wing's leading edge should be made out of 1/8 square stick and the trailing edge should be made out of two 1/16 square sticks laminated together. This will help prevent warping when it is being covered. The tail and rudder should be constructed out of hard 1/16 square stick. For the nose block, use 1/8 sheet laminated together, and for the nose button I used a plastic Peck-Polymers nose button.

FINISHING My model was covered with blue Japanese tissue. I applied the tissue with white glue thinned 50% with water. After the tissue was applied to the model, I shrunk the tissue by spraying it with a mist of alcohol. After shrinking, I applied two coats of dope thinned 50% with thinner, then the model was assembled, and ready for flight testing.

FLYING The first thing you want to do before flying is to make sure there are no warps in the model. Next, balance the model by adding clay to the nose or tail so that the model balances on the points shown on the plans. Now you are ready to give your model a test glide. I think the most important part of trimming a model is to trim it in calm weather. Add or remove clay as needed to get a glide that is straight ahead.

When satisfied with the glide, install a short loop of 3/32 rubber, about 10 inches long. Put in about 100 turns and then launch the model straight ahead. To get a left turn, I use a small piece of 1/32 sheet wood as a drag plate on the left wing set at 90° to the bottom of the wing at the trailing edge.

FLYING Now back to flying. If the model has any kind of stall under power, add a piece of scrap wood to the top of the nose plug for down thrust. If the model dives under power, place the wood at the bottom of the nose block."

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Quote: "Hi Mary & Steve, Please find attached plan and article for the Boston Bullet by Frank Allen. Rubber powered, free flight, West Coast Bostonian. Model Builder, Volume 14, Issue 154, November 1984. Published when the designer was 12 years old!"

Supplementary file notes

Article.

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