E1 (oz16184)

About this Plan

E1. Radio control powered glider model, for electric. Wingspan 2188 mm.

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Quote: "G'Day Mary 'n Steve. Electric glider E1, developed by Helmut Schenk in competition with Graupner's Hi-Fly (oz5111), and with some input from Fred Militky, the designer of the Hi-Fly. A prototype was presented at the 1973 Nuremberg Toy Fair because of the Hi-Fly, but the production model did not appear at the fair until 1974 and hit the shops June/July. (The Hi-Fly in Sept. 1973.)

The original motor was a Mabuchi 360. The slightly longer 380/Speed 400 came a little later, and even later and even longer was the Speed 480. It was also available with a 2.3mm/3/32" shaft, but it was normally delivered with a 3.2mm/ 1/8" shaft. It won't fit with the small pinion. According to Helmut Schenk, the gearbox can handle this, even though he warns against it in the instructions! The original props can also handle this extra power. If you want to keep them for their original look, this still seems to me to be a very pragmatic solution in 2025. The props were available in solid black and clear. Both are still usable today (= not brittle or warped). The drive set was later used in the Scirocco (oz16192) and also for the Alpha H (oz8874) in wooden construction.

The elevator bearing is more of a cause for concern. Experience shows that it lasts longer than the stomach ache, but it's still not ideal ;-)

A smaller (and cheaper, as it only requires one drive) version with a remote shaft to the propeller at the end of the tail was also planned [see pic 011]. Only two prototypes of it were made by Helmut Schenk, one of which was displayed at the 1974 trade fair, and this one and only announcement. In fact, it was the Elektro-Baby that ended up in the shops instead.
LG
pikpak"

Supplementary file notes

Catalog page 1974.

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