Petrel (oz15991)

About this Plan

Petrel. Free flight sport model for rubber power. Wingspan 610 mm.

Quote: "KIT D102. Andercraft Petrel. Building Instructions:

The Petrel (Afrikaans: Stormvoel) is named for a species of gull which is found from the Antarctic to right around our coast. There are several distinct types but all are sea birds, with gull type wings. Sub types range from the Northern Giant Petrel to the Whitechinned Petrel, the latter most popular over the Western Cape. While most are drab coloured, the same does not have to apply to this model! Accordingly, the model may be coloured as bright as can be!

Like its namesake, you will find this model an excellent flyer, suitable for the beginner and expert alike. Please follow the instructions and you should encounter few problems, even if this is your first model. Before sptarting to build the kit, read the instructions, identifying the parts as described.

To build this model, you will require a FLAT building board, at least as large as the plan, able to have pins driven into the surface or have sufficient, suitable weights to hold the parts in place while they are being glued together. Cover the plan with plastic wrap to prevent the parts sticking to it.

To assemble the kit, use either balsa cement, pre-cementing all joints first, or alaphatic resin glue. Pre-cementing means that the glue is first applied to all end grain surfaces, allowed to dry, penetrating the grain, then applying a second coat before glueing in place. This is essential on all vertical and cross spacers. Cyano, while the fastest and lightest is not recommended for beginners. Whichever glue is used, always use the minimum needed for a good join, to keep weight down. To avoid loss of parts only cut out those as required, except for the wing ribs, which will be dealt with later.

FUSELAGE:- Select four 1.5 x 1.5 strips of equal stiffness for the four longerons which form the basic structure. It is advisable to soak both front and rear upper longerons, together with forward section of lower longeron, helping them to curve easier and stay in this position without 'pulling' against each other, being held in position on plan until dry enough to accept gluing. Pin the upper and lower longerons down on plan with pins on either side of the strips NOT THROUGH THEM. For the accurate placing of pins along the straight lines, a hacksaw blade may be placed over plan, with pins placed against the straight side, ensuring they are accurately placed.

Glue FS and motor peg mount in place, then add all vertical spacers from 1.5 x 1.5 strip, the rearmost being cut from 3 x 1.5. Cut these vertical and diagonal spacers Slightly overlength, then sand down to a perfect fit, an emery fingernail board being ideal for this purpose. Add gussets where shown. When completely dry, remove pins from upper section, drawing plastic wrap over the built section and replace pins in holes already formed, putting longeron in place. Remove pins in lower section, then draw plastic wrap over complete fuselage side, replacing lower pins in previous holes in plan, add lower longeron.

Build second side directly over the first, the wrap preventing them from sticking together. Set aside to dry completely, preferably overnight. Remove structure from plan. Cut all the same sized cross braces to the same length as FT. Support the fuselage frames over the plan view, ensuring they are square to the building board and glue FB and bottom cross braces in place..."

Direct submission to Outerzone.

D102 Petrel, 610mm (24in), August 1998
20cm prop
1/8in rubber
Printwood 1.5mm

Supplementary file notes

Instructions.
Printwood.

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