Wight Crusader (oz15128)

About this Plan

Wight Crusader. Radio control sport model. Wingspan 52 in. For 45-60 four-stroke engine and four function RC.

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Quote: "Hi Steve, The Wight Crusader is missing from your Wight series by Keith Humber. It’s a 52 in sports model. Attached a picture and the plan. Originally it’s a 2-colour print (blue/red). It was published in Radio Modeller November 1988. Best regards,"

Update 23/2/2024: Added article, thanks to RFJ.

Quote: "Wight Crusader, by Keith Humber. Having recently purchased a Saito 45 four-stroke and not having a suitable model to try it in I thought I had better reach for the pencil and the back of an envelope pretty smartly!

So what did I want? Something simple but reasonable to look at with a performance, hopefully, to be aerobatic but also easy to fly. Well, this seemed to add up to parallel chord wings with reasonably thick semi-symmetrical section for lift and aerobatic performance. Now for the looks. Could be a bit like a semi-scale Cassutt racer and that simple canopy saves moulding. Fuselage is pretty deep which helps the model to fly on its side (without looking like a goldfish) I hope!

The Saito is a bit bulky so I've inverted it and cowled it with an in line cowling (different to apple cheeks) which, I think, looks quite attractive. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, or shall I say the designer, after all is said and done. Well it sure as hell looks different!

What about the last bit, the flying? You've guessed it. It is really quite viceless with a super aerobatic performance; loops, bunts, rolls, spins, flicks, and even quite elaborate chain manoeuvres are all possible on the Saito 45 and 'Wight Crusader' would certainly go well with a 60 four-stroke -quite scintillating or very satisfying to say the least. Seriously, it is a darned good model for sport flying and a very useful model to have in the car. It goes into a small hatchback ready assembled for those modellers who are impatient to sweep the bits up quicker than the rest of the club. Enough of the flannel; on to the construction!

Wing: I usually start with the wing, so here goes. Cut out ribs from 1/16in sheet (centre half-rib is 1/4 in), frame up over plan on 1/2 x 1/8 in spruce lower spar glueing ribs to same. Cut the leading and tailing edges from 3/8in soft sheet cut oversize. Glue into position, fit and glue in top 1/2 x 1/8 in spruce spar then plane off the t.e. to fair with ribs. Sheet the top wing before removing it from the plan. Allow to dry then remove from the plan; now web spar with 1/8 webbing, 1/4in at centre section. Sheet the lower side of wing with 1/16, top and bottom; there is no dihedral.

The spars are spliced from 36 in wood (splices are alternated); the ailerons are razor planed from 3 x 3/8 in sheet cut down through the middle, ie 1-1/2 in chord, hinged with mylar tape using commercial aileron horns.

The rear section of the wing root trailing edge is shaped from 3/8 sheet and reinforced with a 1/16 ply gusset plate (the wing mount bolt goes through this ply plate). Shape the leading edge with razor plane and sand to section. The tips are built up from 1/8 sheet outline glued into position with rectangular diagonal ribs and razor planed to fair section when dry. And that's the wing finished!

Fuselage: Cut the basic fuselage sides from 4 x 1/8 in sheet and the doublers from 1/16 ply. Sand and glue to the sides. Cut out ply formers from 1/8 ply and glue up engine bearer assembly with F2-F3. Make up balsa formers from 1/8 sheet using cyano on the lap joints.

Frame up the fuselage on formers with epoxy or similar; check the right side thrust and pull the sides in at the tail fitting the tail wheel support at this time..."

Supplementary file notes

Article.

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