Kolb Stick Model (oz16280)

About this Plan

Jerry Kolb Stick Model (Championship Stick Model). Rubber duration model. WIngspan 42 in.

Quote: "Jerry Kolb Stick Model. 1937 Junior Aviator Contest Winner. Wingspan 42 in, wing area 193 sq in."

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Vector format plan.

Update 19/9/2025: Added article, thanks to Pit.

Quote: "Championship Stick Model. Detailed plans and directions for duplicating a high-performance contest ship - a Scripps-Howard champion. By Jerry Kolb.

THE Junior Aviators held their 1937 national meet at Akron late last summer. This annual competition brings together some of the country's most outstanding builders. Invariably records are made. 1937 was no exception. The model described in this article turned in the longest flight of the meet which included gas-powered as well as other rubber-powered events.

This stick model has many design features in common with the Korda World Record Holder (oz10835) fuselage model, another championship model. These models are representative of the designs which Richard Korda, myself, and other Clevelanders have flown with such telling results in recent contests.

Simplicity of construction and flying are the outstanding design features. In the hands of an experienced flyer, consistent results are assured. Typical case is the slightly modified version of this model built for the 1938 contest season. Shortly after we posed for the photo showing us winding the model, I launched the model for an out-of-sight flight of 18 minutes. This happened during January when thermal currents are mighty few.

Only one fundamental change was made in the design when preparing it for the present contest season. The fuselage was turned on edge and the wing was mounted on a bamboo-wire saddle instead of resting flat atop the fuselage. These changes are not included in this article, however. Plans included in this article show the model exactly as it was on its winning flight last year.

Construction: Bend the 1/8 square longerons to the outline - which can be drawn up full size using the dimensions given in the reduced size drawing. The dimensions given in the side view of the fuselage extend from the outside edge of the longeron to the reference line. Build up two identical side-panels. Cut the fuselage upright braces and insert them between the longerons.

In joining the two side-panels, note that the width is given at only four points (top view). Hold these dimensions but allow the panels to take a natural curve between these stations - filling in the cross-braces to fit.

After the cement joints are firm, round off the outside edges of the fuselage with sandpaper. Fill in the front and rear ends of the fuselage with 1/8" sheet balsa - as shown by the shaded portions in the drawing.

The tail boom joins the fuselage with a plug which fits inside the fuselage. The plug is cemented inside the longerons of the tail boom. The other end of the plug fits inside the rear of the fuselage. The boom is kept in place with strips of Scotch tape.

The nosing is cut from a block 1-1/8 x 1-1/4 x 1-3/4 in. It fits inside the fuselage in pluglike fashion. It is held in place with a rubber band which fits through a notch in the nosing and is fastened to wire hooks on each side of the fuselage at the third upright brace.

Propeller bearings are made of sheet brass. The ends are pointed and bent to a U-shape. Bearings are pressed into both the outside and the inside faces of the nose plug. These bearings should be set to hold the propeller shaft at 2 degrees negative thrust and 1 degree right.

Wing: The wing is made in three 14 inch sections. Each section is completed ready for covering before joining. The center section is flat. The two outboard sections are raised 4-1/2 in at the tips. Note in the drawing the outer section has been shortened to meet space requirements. Dimensions supply all the necessary information, however. 1/32 ribs are used throughout with the exception of the end ribs of each section - where the extra strength of 1/16 ribs is necessary for joining the wing sections. For additional strength, balsa triangles of 1/8 sheet are cemented inside the end rib. Note that the 1/16 square spars are curved back at the tips. This strengthens the tip and makes covering easier..."

Update 19/9/2025: Added alternate plan. This is a scan of the drawings as published in the magazine pages back in 1938, thanks to GTHunter from his Plan Page site at http://theplanpage.com/Months/2106/kolb.htm

Supplementary file notes

Alternate plan.
Article.

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