Bostonian Pacific Ace (oz15621)

About this Plan

Bostonian Pacific Ace. Rubber cabion model. Wingspan 16 in.

Note this is a later redrawn version of the plan in vectorPDF format (and much easier to read than the original MB print).

Quote: "The Pacific Ace Bostonian. Designed built and flown by Earle 'Foggy' Moorhead. Drawn and presented by Bob Stalick. Original weight: 10 grams. Power: 12 in loop of 3/32 FAI rubber."

See also post by Algy at: https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showpost.php?p=26763741&postcount=1152 for scan of the MB article pages.

Quote: "The Boston Ace, The PacificTonian, The Pacific Ace Bostonian, none of the names seemed to fit quite right as Foggy and I talked about the new 'secret weapon' for the Bostonian Event at our upcoming indoor contests. Usually, we think of a name first and then design the model to fit. This time, we both knew what we wanted - a Bostonian-sized Pacific Ace. But no name seemed right. So, here it is, the correct airplane with the temporary name: The Pacific Ace Bostonian. It's just waiting for the perfect name.

The model turned out just as expected - cute as a bug's ear, and still maintaining the Pacific Ace outlines and dimensions. The original came out a bit heavy for our contests, as we fly with the 7-gram rule, but a little judicious use of materials will serve to reduce the weight a couple of grams.

The photographs that accompany this article are those of Foggy's model, as mine has not been completed. This model is, in itself, a near miracle as Earle (or Foggy, as we like to call him) has a well-deserved reputation in the Northwest of talking about building this or that model, but never quite getting around to it. This fact has been well-chronicled by John Pond in his column over the past several years. Earle has a well-aged and 98% complete Red Zephyr Old Timer Ignition model that is now entering its second decade of being nearly finished. But, I digress.

The Pacific Ace Bostonian is an excel-
lent model for the event. It has that time-less beauty, it's now trendy to build Pacific Ace models, it's easily built, and it is com-petitive in the event. Just think, you could build this one for indoor use, and build the standard 30-inch version for outdoors. Trim them the same and pass them off as mother and daughter or father and son. The opportunities for experiementation in this vein are fun to think about.

Well, enough of this prattle. Let's get on with the building of the model. First off, you'll need to get some strips of stringy 1/16 balsa for the fuselage longerons. Lighter weight 1/16 will do for other parts. Good, light C-grain for the wing ribs and the prop should do the trick. The final important acquisitions should be a Peck-Polymers plastic nose button, and some lightweight Japanese tissue or superfine tissue for the covering.

THE WING: The wing is straightforward. Cut the ribs out of the 1/32 balsa sheet. Lay the 3/32 square leading edge in place on the plan. Sand a bit of taper into the 1/16 x 3/32 trailing edge. While you are at it, cut a piece of thick cardboard to the shape of the inside of the wing tips. Strip several pieces of 1/16 thick by 1/32 A-grain balsa and soak them in ammonia or warm water for a few minutes. Form the wing tips from 3 laminations of these strips. I still use a water soluble white glue to do this - you may have your own preferences. Once the laminations are thoroughly dry, you can glue them into place and connect the leading edge and the trailing edge together.

Next, glue in the ribs. The main rib will do at all locations except the tips. The main rib next to the tip will need to be shortened slightly. Cut the wing apart on either side of the center panel and prop up each tim 3/4-inch for dihedral. Glue to join the 3 panels. Install the spar, and shape the leading edge, tips, and other parts that need sanding. Set the wing aside..."

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