Cloud Elf (oz15304)

 

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The Cloud Elf was known, but the plans were thought lost. However it seems that Peter Fisher became aware of an original model built by Stan Ford, that he acquired and from which he recreated the plans, probably with modifications that he saw fit. The model passed to John Kemp (less wings and tailplane) and is now part of the BMFA collection. Original power was probably intended to be the Cloud 3 ignition engine, and several replicas have been built and flown successfully (including my own) using replica Cloud 3 engines made by Derek Collin. The most common power unit these days is the Mills 1.3.
David Hill - 21/05/2024
Interesting background. Any chance of a model photo we can add to this page?
SteveWMD - 21/05/2024
Please find attached photo [main pic]. Cloud Elf built by John Kemp for FF.
David Hill - 21/05/2024
Aha. Excellent pic. Many thanks.
SteveWMD - 21/05/2024
RC conversions usually require the nose to be extended up to 50mm, rather spoiling the lines of the model. This might be avoided if extreme care is taken to maintain the CofG position by moving the RC gear and battery as far forwards as possible, and minimising tail weight.
David Hil - 21/05/2024
info and photos on http://www.vintagemodelworks.co.uk/?page_id=707 and https://peterboroughmfc.org/members…
Pit - 21/05/2024
I am a 1939 model myself and have always been keen on model aircraft of that year . I think my first awareness of the 'CLOUD ELF 'was from Peter Fisher's 1977 book on model engines . Images of the model appeared on pages 126 and 127...photos 233 and 239 . The latter was everything I look for in a free flight sport model especially if it's Vintage ! I wrote to Peter (from Canada) to obtain a copy of the plan .
In 1980 while on business in the UK I met David Baker who gave me a copy of an Aeromodeller article on 'ELF' from June 1939 . Page 106 describes the kit and other pertinent details while page 107 shows the initial advertisement for the model and spark engine also produced by the CLOUD model aircraft company . I had never seen an actual model .
Stan Ford was pictured in an early SAM 35 monthly publication and again in their annual year book # 4 (page 85) . I would be in the UK in June 1989 and wrote to Stan Ford whom I was able to visit and have a hands on acquaintance with the model . He had refurbished it covering it in nylon . A Mills 1.3 engine was mounted inverted so I cannot say what marque it was. Right away I noticed some design differences from Peter's plan and drew up outlines for the Grant X8 airfoil and slightly different cowling profile .
The American AMA has the original plan on offer . Peter's cowl seems to match That plan ! He appears to have got the landing gear correct also as it is very different from those designed by Peter himself .
The revised wing structure is pure Peter with balanced spars top and bottom . The original has a 1/2 X 1/4 forward of the CG on the bottom with a 1/4 square on the airfoil top well toward the trailing edge , again a balanced spar situation. There is no PLAN view but the maximum widths at each cross piece station are shown. Draw a centre line and build a ladder like structure 3/16 square that same distance inside the widths specified and you can be sure of having a NO BANANA like finished fuselage! The ladder should be removed ! I think if an early Mills 1.3 engine is used there would not be a tail heavy situation as these were heavier .
An excellent colour photo of the 'ELF' can be viewed by a search for 'Vintage Model Works' , a UK site , and scroll down to a double bar of offerings to select 'Aircraft History' . About 2/3rds down the page is a thumbnail of the 'ELF' which if clicked on shows a near full screen presentation where much detail can be discerned ! There used to be a video of the 'ELF' being flown , free flight, of course, on the Raynes Park Model Aircraft Club site . The free flight leanings of this club seem to have been erased from memory by the apparent R/C adherents now running the web site !Pity !
Allen Wale - 22/05/2024
Allan Wale, thank you very much for the really interesting information about the Cloud Elf. I didn't know about the article in the 1939 Aero Modeller. I have copied the article and submitted it to Outerzone, as it adds to the rich and interesting history of this model. Regards,
Mark Robinson - 24/05/2024
I think we could usefully split this entry into two listings, if anyone out there has a scan of the earlier design. Then we'd have a page for the 1939 original by Stan Ford, and this page for the 1974 Pete Fisher version. Anyone?
SteveWMD - 24/05/2024
I have found the wing and tailplane (less fin) for the Stan Ford built Cloud Elf. These will be handed over to the BMFA in addition to the fuselage handed over previously. The wing had details of when built (1939), recovered, and additional information on the underside of the centre section. Structure is hidden by the covering, but it is apparent that there are some differences from modern plans. The tailplane is uncovered and has a very different structure. Attached photos of both [003, 004].
David Hill - 11/06/2024
More good news - the fin was with the fuselage, so the model is now complete and in the collection at BMFA Buckminster. One of the members of the Bucky Power Strugglers Whats App group even found a photo of it with Stan Ford. I'll ask him to submit it.
David Hill - 14/06/2024
Hi, Here’s my photo of Stan Ford with his Cloud Elf, taken at Chobham Common in 1978 [pic 005]. Stan built it from a kit in 1939 and rebuilt it at some stage after it flew into a hangar at Wroughton. This original model was apparently used as the basis of at least one, perhaps 2 recreations of the plan including the OFW (Peter) Fisher version.
Stan indicated in February 1992 [pic 008] that he was somewhat embarrassed by controversy over the authenticity of his model; or at least a drawing made from it and used by Tony Penhall, whose model [pic 006] was seemingly criticised [pic 007] by Alex Imrie in Oct ‘91 AeroModeller: “I see my Cloud Elf is still causing controversy over various points. Some have doubted its authenticity but as my drawing sent to Alan Wicks was drawn up from my 1939 model…”
Best regards,
Charlie Jeffreys - 17/06/2024
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