Fliar Phils Fliar (oz16489)

About this Plan

Fliar Phil's Fliar. Free flight rubber sport model. Wingspan 17 in.

Quote: "This rubber powered FF model was designed by the late Ray Malmstrom for AeroModeller but only now has it been published here thanks to Bryan Gostlow, with help from John Valiant and John Copsey.

Anyone who is a long term reader of Aeromodeller will need no introduction to Ray Malmstrom as he was an active contributor over 50 years from the mid-1940s. His skill as a caricaturist meant that his model designs were often quirky in their shape and layout, but would definitely fly. A recurring cartoon character in the early years was Fliar Phil, according to early AeroModeller employee George Cull, Fliar Phil was based on another employee Colin Norton-Smith.

Ray produced this month's Free Plan with the intention of it appearing in Aeromodeller, but for whatever reason it didn't happen at the time - it has now. Due to the difficulties of scanning such an old drawing you may find that the odd line is not as straight as a modern CAD plan, but we hope you will understand and build for 'straightness'.

Impington Village College MAC: Ray MalmstrOm was also the founder of the model club at Impington Village College in 1946, so this year is their 70th Birthday. The date chosen for the celebration was Saturday June 11, with plans laid for a multi-disciplined, low key flying day. Invited guests included surviving members from the 1946 intake as well as friends and families from home & abroad.

All that was needed was a sturdy barbeque and some decent weather and despite the ominous forecasts, and with a huge slice of luck, they got both. The event was also a celebration of the club's late founder who may be known to readers as a consummate aeromodeller, but to the college Ray was the wacky art master. This was marked by a request that as many people as possible sported his signature bow tie, with many barmy interpretations being seen.

Building the Wing: There is nothing tricky about building a Flier. Begin by cutting out formers F1 to F7 (maybe from a photocopy to save the magazine) and gluing to some med/hard 1/16 sheet balsa. Do the same for the wing rib, but make two templates and glue to thin plywood (1/16). Using a sharp blade and a 6 inch steel ruler, clean up the edges of the formers and finish off with a sanding stick. Cut the notches for the stringers.

Taking the two rib templates made of plywood. pin together and cut notches for the spars and adjust for fit with a flat needle file. Make up a sandwich of rectangles from 1/16" balsa which are just larger than the ribs with the plywood templates at the end, and shape to a smooth outline before cutting notches for the spars.

Make two photocopies of the wing plan and line up the spars (you will build both wing panels together in one continuous piece - see accompanying photo), cover the plan with cling film and dry assemble the wing over the plan between the leading and trailing edges. Remove one rib at a time and glue into place with PVA applied with a chisel like scrap of 1/16 strip..."

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Supplementary file notes

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