Gonzales (oz16257)

About this Plan

Gonzales. Radio control sport aerobatic model, for electric power with brushless motor. Wingspan 36 in. All-sheet design.

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Quote: "Hello Steve and Mary. Going back nearly 20 years, I had several designs and plans published in the now-defunct QEFI magazine. I've dug out a couple from the attic, and thought I'd send you one to begin with - the Gonzalez.

Published in 2007, Gonzalez is a 36 inch, all sheet sports model using an S400-size inrunner on a 3S 2200 li-po. The original was certainly fast and responsive. I'm currently building a new version, featuring the addition of a carbon fibre wing spar.

Tim Hooper"

Update 8/9/2025: Added article text, thanks to Tim.

Quote: "Gonzalez. A fast 36 inch aerobat, by Tim Hooper.

Although it’s true to say that my favourite form of model flying normally involves watching a lightly–built scale model pottering around a windless sky, there are still those times when the hooligan element trips in, and I feel the need to blast up and down to strip with something a little livelier!

To this end I’ve always carried a couple of sport models in my armoury. Over the last few years I’ve campaigned not only a couple of the Steve Griffith designed Minibat, but I’ve also enjoyed Ron Laden’s Pushy Cat too. Grossly overpowered, both of these small models have performance envelopes that belie their small size, will fly in just about any wind, and won’t break the bank in terms of material costs either.

Following with this design ethos, it seemed reasonable to have a bash at taking the best features of both of these designs, and cobbling up my own model from scratch. So from the Minibat comes the inspiration for the fuselage and tail, whilst the Pushy Cat loaned its power train and flat-plate wing construction. The wing planform itself loosely owes its heritage to the F5B glider fraternity, complete with those upswept wing tips that look so swish on the real thing.

The end result is the Gonzalez. I hope you like this model; it’s small, cheap and tough. On the other hand, despite it’s simplicity of construction, this is most definitely not a beginner’s model that will amble around the local park; rather it’s what I term a ‘big sky’ model. Anyone who’s flown a small, but fast, model will know exactly what I mean by that!

So, enough of the rationale - let’s buy a few sheets of straight-grained, medium balsa sheet and see if we can make something useful here!

Building: For all that the purists may decry the use of flat-plate wings, there’s no doubt in my mind that, at this size of model at least, the flat-plate wing can indeed be a viable alternative to the more traditional built-up structure that the traditionalists know and love. Now, don’t get me wrong; there’s nothing I love better than a wingful of ribs n spars for the majority of my models, but in a model such as this, what’s the point?

The wing on the Gonzalez is based on two sheets of medium 1/4 in sheet – one 3 in wide, and the other 4 in wide. These should be edge-joined (after trueing up the mating faces) and then weighted down flat until the glue dries. I used PVA for the entire airframe construction, but CA will do just as well if you’re a quick worker.

Taking your measurements from the plan, draw and cut your balsa blank to shape, not forgetting to fit the crossgrain tip pieces, and then mark the areas on the upper surface that will be removed to create the aerofoil section. Sanding a flat plate wing to an acceptable section can be a laborious process, it’s true, but the entire operation can be accelerated by using either a razor plane or (my favourite) an random orbital sander. Whichever method you choose, leave the leading edge about 1/8 thick and take the trailing edge down to around 1/16, after which the ailerons can be cut free and have their front edges bevelled to allow for top hinging later on..."

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