Swampy (oz15173)

About this Plan

Swampy. Free flight contest model, for 1/2A power.

Quote: "Swampy. 1/2A F/F contest model from the '50s, down under. Designed by N Elphick. Written and built by B Abell.

Back in 1953 Neville Elphick designed a small F/F pylon model for the 1/2A class competition, and although he didn't have a performance engine to fit in it, with a Mills 75 up front, it flew successfully in power scramble events.

Like the rest of us, time and other distractions intervened and Neville found other things to do - until after a long break, he was once again bitten by the balsa bug and so dug out all his old plans and mags - and started building model aircraft again.

One of the models he built was based on his original pylon 049 design - but this time he fitted a Cox TeeDee 049 to it! The model took very little adjustment to trim and, with the motor on full song, the climb was a vertical spiral, which levelled out into a flat glide - and promptly headed out over the local swamp! Subsequent flights in other areas resulted in the model landing in yet another swamp and a dam! It certainly seemed to be attracted to water - hence the appropriateness of its name!

Construction: The plan is mostly self-explanatory, the main variation being to insert a pair of hardwood bearers instead of the radial mount, is so desired. Also, a fuel shut-off could be fitted, instead of the simple fuel tank shown, in order to get a more precisely timed engine run for competition work.

Cut out all the parts for the fuselage, after studying the grain direction on the plan. The boom and pylon centre sections are joined first and then the 1/16 overlays cemented in place - allow the first side to completely dry out before removing the fuse from the board (you could end up with a banana if you don't!). The wing platform can then be glued in place, ensuring that it is square with the pylon. Note that the grain runs crosswise. The tailplane platform is fitted with a 3° tilt, with the starboard side high (right side when viewed from the rear).

The engine mount is epoxied in place with 2-3° downthrust - no sidethrust was needed on the TD powered prototype.

Construction of the wing is straightforward with the four panels built flat on the building board and joined last of all. The starboard wing panel has 1/8 washin (LE up) at the polyhedral joint and both tips have 1/8 washout (TE up) built in. To prevent the wing retaining bands damaging the covering, fit a cross grain strip of 1/16 balsa, 3/4' wide, over the top of the centre rib.

The fin is a plain 3/32 sheet unit, which fits in between the two centre ribs of the conventional tailplane, after covering. The DT system (essential) has not been shown - fit one of your choice (the photos show Bruce's method).

The model should be trimmed to fly in a righthand climbing spiral, achieved in stages, starting with low revs and steadily increasing the revs after each adjustment, until satisfied with the full power trim. Swampy has shown no vicious tendencies, proving very easy to trim - one warning only, in closing - DON'T FLY SWAMPY NEAR WATER!"

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Swampy from R/C Model Flyer, June 2002.

Supplementary file notes

Article pages, thanks to RFJ.

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