Privateer (oz16269)
About this Plan
Privateer. Free flight power model. Wingspan 87 in.
Note the Privateer (oz4922) first appeared in MAN, Sept 1938. This here is a later redrawn plan by Al Patterson published in MB, March 1979.
Quote: "Privateer. Old Timer Model of the Month. Designed byThracy Petrides. Drawn by Al Patterson. Text by Phil Bernhardt.
Thracy Petrides' Privateer is one of those Old Timers that, in spite of having pleasing lines, good design proportions. simple construction, and a well-known designer to its credit, rarely (if ever) appears on the modern OT scene. We've had our eye on the Privateer for some time, with the intent of using it as the OT model of the month; now that more people know what it looks like, maybe these ships will start showing up at the field.
The Privateer's construction is conventional in every respect, and for the most part, looks pretty good. The only change we'd recommend is to continue the stab leading edge and spar through the rear fuselage block, as the present stab construction looks too weak to be practical. Also, keep the tail end as light as you can. The Privateer has a longer-than-normal tail moment, and any excess weight in the tail will require gobs of nose weight to balance. With this in mind, you might want to consider omitting that hard (also spelled h-e-a-v-y) 1/4-inch sheet under the rear tail block, and maybe even hollowing out the block itself.
The Privateer is about the easiest of all Old Timers to convert to R/C; use the present fin and stab spars for the hinge lines. We'd also suggest using 1/8 x 3/8 hard balsa, or even spruce, for the forward wing spars and webbing these with 1/16 sheet balsa, to withstand the occasional just-for-fun loop..."
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Supplementary file notes
Article.
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(oz16269)
Privateer
by Thracy Petrides
from Model Builder
March 1979
87in span
IC F/F Cabin
clean :)
all formers complete :)
got article :) -
Submitted: 11/08/2025
Filesize: 972KB
Format: • PDFbitmap
Credit*: TomRyan
Downloads: 232
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User comments
A very nice flying antique model and one of very few from the 1930s designed by a Greek!One problem if you’re going to install a radio. The wing’s central dihedral is supported by rails above the cabin. This leaves an opening for exhaust residue to enter the model. Keep the area between the top longerons filled in and put your hatches on the bottom. If you want to do the unthinkable and add an electric motor, ignore the advice above.
Start with your CG at about 35 percent and move back gradually until it no longer recovers unaided from a shallow dive test.
Stelios - 14/09/2025
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- Privateer (oz16269)
- Plan File Filesize: 972KB Filename: Privateer_oz16269.pdf
- Supplement Filesize: 876KB Filename: Privateer_oz16269_article.pdf
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Notes
* Credit field
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Scaling
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