Skimmer 400 (oz15248)

About this Plan

Skimmer 400. Radio control powered sailplane model. For electric power swith Speed 400 motor.

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Note see also Low Wing Skimmer 400 (oz6479) which uses the same wing, and has a supplement file with rib tracings.

Update 15/6/2024: Replaced the instructions file with a complete version, 6 pages in total, thanks to dcy and Jay Burkart.

Quote: "Skimmer 400 Building Sequence & Parts List:

FUSELAGE SIDE PREPARATION : NOTE: Be sure to make a left and right fuselage side! 1. Using the plan as a reference, mark and drill 3/16" holes in the saddle doublers to accommodate the wing hold dowels. 2. Cement the saddle doublers to the fuselage sides. 3. Cement the 3/8" x 2" triangular filler pieces to the sides. 4. Mark locations for the 3/16" sq. vertical stiffeners on the sides. 5. Cement the top and bottom 3/16" sq. longerons to the sides. 6. Cement the 3/16" vertical stiffeners to the sides. 7. Drill the 3/16" dia. Holes to accommodate the wing hold dowels working through the holes in the doublers. 8. Cut the 1/16" balsa tail doublers from 1/16" x 3" x 18" stock and cement to the sides. IMPORTANT — Grain direction is up and down.

JOINING THE SIDES 1. Cement F-2 and F-3 to one side. The formers should be square to the side and perpendicular to the bottom edge of the saddle doubler. 2. Cement the opposite fuselage side to the formers. 3. Cement the lite ply floor to the assembly. 4. Cement F-1 to F-1A. Drill 1/8" motor mount holes at the locations indicated by punch marks. 5. Join the fuselage sides at the nose with the F-1 / F1A assembly. 6. Trim the 3/16" sq. longerons at the tail then join the sides over the fuselage top view to insure a straight assembly.

COMPLETING THE FUSELAGE 1. Cement the nose block to the fuselage. 2. Cement the plywood hatch hold to the fuselage. 3. Sheet the fuselage bottom with 1/16" x 3" balsa sheet applied with the grain side to side. (cross grain) . 4. Sheet the fuselage top between the wing and stabilizer saddles with 1/16" x 3" balsa sheet. (cross grain) 5. Fit the top hatch to the fuselage. Secure the hatch using the supplied #4 sheet metal screw. 6. Carve and sand the nose to a shape matching F-1. 7. Fit the wing hold dowels to the fuselage. Do not cement the dowels until after the fuselage has been covered.

WING PANEL CONSTRUCTION 1. Mark the rib locations on the trailing edge. Use a razor back saw to notch the trailing edge to receive the ribs. 2. Pin the trailing edge in place over the protected plan sheet. 3. Identify the wing ribs in their die-cut sheets using the Die-cut parts identification page. Remove the ribs from the sheets by completing the turbulator spar notches. 4. Pin the bottom main spar to the plan. Use several ribs temporarily installed to exactly position the spar. 5. Cement ribs #3 through #15 in place. 6. Pin the 1/4" x 3/8" leading edge in place using 1/16" thick balsa shims spaced about every two inches along the leading edge to elevate it above the plan. Cement the ribs to the leading edge..."

Supplementary file notes

Instructions.

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