Howard Ike (oz16599)

About this Plan

Howard Ike. Control line scale model racer. Wingspan 42 in, for K&B 35 engine.

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Update 26/2/2026: Added article, thanks to RFJ.

Quote: "Created by a leading midwestem CL Scale designer. King-Size Copy of Benny Howard's Ike Racer.

With the money that Benny Howard won racing his famous 'Pete,' he built two slick racers called 'Ike' and 'Mike.' These were nearly identical, all-white, wire-braced, low-wing monoplanes, the only visible difference being the way the wheels and pants were installed. Ike was equipped with a novel tandem wheel arrangement that consisted of two small wheels covered by a single fairing or pant. Though this gear was later changed to a more conventional single wheel-pant layout, it was that original unique four-wheel version that captured the writer's fancy.

The tiny twenty foot racer has been modeled to a 2 inch equals 1 foot scale, resulting in a 41-1/4 inch control line model weighing 55 ounces. Though considered a bit heavy, Ike balanced perfectly without ballast and flies smooth and fast with a K&B 35 up front. There was some concern about how the wheel trucks would withstand the stresses imposed on them but happily, the spring loaded tandem gear does seem to have shock absorbing qualities. J. Roberts flight equipment operates a combination exhaust slide and Brarnco throttle for additional contest points and all round flying enjoyment.

Ike is not duplicated overnight, but will delight the experienced builder who revels in spending a winter working on a project with real meat on its bones. Proper sequence of construction of any model, be it simple or difficult, will usually simplify its building. Read the instructions carefully then, and let's get to work.

Construction will start with the wing. Saw out spars and ribs. Bind 1/16 dia brass tubing rigging wire guides to 1/8 plywood rib 'C,' then slip all ribs onto spars. Pin this assembly over plans, add leading and trailing edges and tips. It will be easier to mate ailerons to wing if they are built into the wing now, and separated later, after wing has been sanded to shape. Join the two wing panels with plywood spar joiners; sheet cover center section top and bottom. After wing is sanded to shape, ailerons can be cut free. Lead weight is installed in starboard tip. Wing is silk covered; add plywood line guide.

Stabilizer and elevator frames come next. Add Veco control horn; install tubing and wire hinges. Cement short tubing into stabilizer rear spar as bracing wire guide, then sand all parts to shape. Entire assembly is silk covered.

Start the fuselage. Saw out all bulkheads, crutch members, bellcrank platform and supports. Cement bulkheads and bellcrank platform supports between crutch members, square up assembly, allow to dry well. Bolt Roberts bellcrank with its leadouts to 1/8 plywood platform; cement these parts into fuselage... "

Supplementary file notes

Article.

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