WingBAT (oz15898)

About this Plan

WingBAT. Radio control aerobatic slope soarer model. Wingspan 1125 mm.

Quote: "WingBAT Ref: SM0023: The Wingbat is a bit of a hooligan models may look similar but their performance is not but both are very stable’ yet responsive and highly aerobatic. They can perform outside loops and fly inverted with ease. The Wingbat is very quick and devours strong winds. The WingBAT has been flown, un-ballasted, in winds gusting up to 60mph (100kph!). An electronic control mixer / computerised transmitter is required to fly the Wingbat.

Specification:
Type: Sport Aerobatic
Span: 1125mm
Controls: Aileron/Elevator
Av Wt. 740gms
Section: NACA 2R2"

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Note this plan appears here on Outerzone thanks to the kind courtesy of the designer himself, Stan Yeo of Phoenix Model Products in Devon, UK. For more info and background, see the PMP website: www.phoenixmp.com

Update 27/5/2026: Added kit review from R/C Model World, August 1994, thanks to RFJ.

Quote: "Wingbat. Steve Vine, pilot extraordinaire of the White Sheet Club, builds the new flying wing from Phoenix Models.

Back in the Marc winds, Stan Yeo of Phoenix Models paid a visit to our slopes, the White Sheet Downs. Over the past years Stan has been a regular visitor to our slopes so we often get to try out his models and in return he gets our opinion on their flying characteristics. On this occasion I was practising for one of our competitions called the Woodstock Trophy. This is a competition for flying wings and consists of a set of manoeuvres followed by a landing in as short a time as possible.

It just so happened that Stan had brought with him a new flying wing called the Wingbat. Stan, seeing I was having so much fun with my flying wing, offered me a flight with his prototype. He's always so keen to let others fly his models that on finding a tranny in my hands I had to ask where's the model?

I soon found that Stan's reactions must be faster than mine because as soon as I started to 'control' the Wingbat I discovered a roll rate of three per second which made me concentrate (amongst other things). After a short while I landed the model to have a cup of coffee (and calm dOwn). A little later when I was telling one of my flying chums how lively the Wingbat was, Stan approached me and asked if I would like another go. He did quickly add that I was not to worry as he had altered the aileron rates. Why not, I said (I'm a devil for adrenaline).

This time was completely different - still lively but well witin my control. During the next half hour I overheard various comments coming from behind me like He's acting like it's his his aircraft, and He's really getting to grips with it now, which made me feel really good - not that I didn't already. Then I heard Stan muttering something about checking the battery so I thought I'd better land. I enjoyed flying the Wingbat so much that I told Stan that I would have one as soon as production started and I was sure it would help me onto better things in the Woodstock Trophy. About four o'clock, Stan declared that he was going home. That was a pity as I was going to ask him for another go - I believe I made him late for tea that day, sorry Mrs Yeo!

Imagine my delight then, when a coupl weeks later, I received a call from the Editor of Radio Control Model World asking if I would like to do a kit review of the Wingbat. After a suitable pause (about a half second) I told him I would gladly accept. He told me he would post it that day and I should receive the kit by the weekend. In fact the Post Office delivered the very next day .

The Kit: I opened the parcel to find a plain brown box. This is good in my book as I don't see any need to increase the cost of a kit which is supplied direct from the manufacturer by advertising on the box, so plus one point there. On opening the box I saw that there were lots more points to be had. Firstly, an excellent rolled plan, then a first class set of foam and veneer wings followed by all the strip wood, which was of very good quality and lightwhich is just what you want for a small model. There were die cut fuselage sides made from plywood - very good - and other parts sawn out. Even the wing fairing is partly cut to fit. The smaller parts were all neatly bagged (see photo) including even a wing bandage, in fact everything was there except glue and covering. Maximum points so far, well done Stan.

Building the Wingbat: About the only negative point which I have found - it really is only minor - is the lack of comprehensive building instructions. To be fair, there are building notes on the plan but these are only brief. Stan also supplies separate notes but these are concerned with building and flying all of his models and as such are still classed as general notes. You see I am really a very lazy person and when I build a kit, as opposed to building from a plan, I want all the brainwork done for me (how selfish of me!). Having said that, this is the second Phoenix Models kit I have built and they were both so simple to put together that I didn't have any trouble building either, except I had to use my brain a little (shame!). Anyway on to the building notes. Firstly add the glue to the box and proceed to shake... no seriously though there isn't much to do so this will be brief.

The Wing: Although the wing is built flat, I joined the foam covers from the wing cores together with tape and used that as 6 jig for the lower surface of the wing. this worked very well and gives the wing a right way up but it is still basically flat. I found the trailing edge centre section rather difficult to fit in the one piece as supplied in the kit, so I cut it in half in linw ith the wing join...Wingbat. Steve Vine, pilot extraordinaire of the White Sheet Club, builds the new flying wing from Phoenix Models.

Back in the Marc winds, Stan Yeo of Phoenix Models paid a visit to our slopes, the White Sheet Downs. Over the past years Stan has been a regular visitor to our slopes so we often get to try out his models and in return he gets our opinion on their flying characteristics. On this occasion I was practising for one of our competitions called the Woodstock Trophy. This is a competition for flying wings and consists of a set of manoeuvres followed by a landing in as short a time as possible.

It just so happened that Stan had brought with him a new flying wing called the Wingbat. Stan, seeing I was having so much fun with my flying wing, offered me a flight with his prototype. He's always so keen to let others fly his models that on finding a tranny in my hands I had to ask where's the model?

I soon found that Stan's reactions must be faster than mine because as soon as I started to 'control' the Wingbat I discovered a roll rate of three per second which made me concentrate (amongst other things). After a short while I landed the model to have a cup of coffee (and calm down). A little later when I was telling one of my flying chums how lively the Wingbat was, Stan approached me and asked if I would like another go. He did quickly add that I was not to worry as he had altered the aileron rates. Why not, I said (I'm a devil for adrenaline).

This time was completely different - still lively but well witin my control. During the next half hour I overheard various comments coming from behind me like He's acting like it's his his aircraft, and He's really getting to grips with it now, which made me feel really good - not that I didn't already. Then I heard Stan muttering something about checking the battery so I thought I'd better land. I enjoyed flying the Wingbat so much that I told Stan that I would have one as soon as production started and I was sure it would help me onto better things in the Woodstock Trophy. About four o'clock, Stan declared that he was going home. That was a pity as I was going to ask him for another go - I believe I made him late for tea that day, sorry Mrs Yeo!

Imagine my delight then, when a coupl weeks later, I received a call from the Editor of Radio Control Model World asking if I would like to do a kit review of the Wingbat. After a suitable pause (about a half second) I told him I would gladly accept. He told me he would post it that day and I should receive the kit by the weekend. In fact the Post Office delivered the very next day .

The Kit: I opened the parcel to find a plain brown box. This is good in my book as I don't see any need to increase the cost of a kit which is supplied direct from the manufacturer by advertising on the box, so plus one point there. On opening the box I saw that there were lots more points to be had. Firstly, an excellent rolled plan, then a first class set of foam and veneer wings followed by all the strip wood, which was of very good quality and lightwhich is just what you want for a small model. There were die cut fuselage sides made from plywood - very good - and other parts sawn out. Even the wing fairing is partly cut to fit. The smaller parts were all neatly bagged (see photo) including even a wing bandage, in fact everything was there except glue and covering. Maximum points so far, well done Stan.

Building the Wingbat: About the only negative point which I have found - it really is only minor - is the lack of comprehensive building instructions. To be fair, there are building notes on the plan but these are only brief. Stan also supplies separate notes but these are concerned with building and flying all of his models and as such are still classed as general notes. You see I am really a very lazy person and when I build a kit, as opposed to building from a plan, I want all the brainwork done for me (how selfish of me!). Having said that, this is the second Phoenix Models kit I have built and they were both so simple to put together that I didn't have any trouble building either, except I had to use my brain a little (shame!). Anyway on to the building notes. Firstly add the glue to the box and proceed to shake... no seriously though there isn't much to do so this will be brief.

The Wing: Although the wing is built flat, I joined the foam covers from the wing cores together with tape and used that as 6 jig for the lower surface of the wing. this worked very well and gives the wing a right way up but it is still basically flat. I found the trailing edge centre section rather difficult to fit in the one piece as supplied in the kit, so I cut it in half in linw ith the wing join..."

Supplementary file notes

Review.

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