Chipmunk (oz1670)

About this Plan

DHC-1 Chipmunk. Free flight scale power model from May 1948 Aeromodeller. Scale is 1/8.

Quote: "The idea of building this flying scale Chipmunk was suggested to me in 1947 by Mr Pat Fillingham who kindly provided me with the drawings and data, etc. Having toyed with the idea for nearly a year, I finally decided to build it to 1-1/2 in to 1 ft scale and fit a diesel engine. The factors governing the choice of engine were that it should start easily, since it is totally enclosed, should drive a 9-10 in propeller and that it should not be too powerful, since the Chipmunk is in the light trainer class. For a model of 4 ft 3 in span the 1.3 cc Mills diesel fulfilled all these requirements admirably, but any other engine of approximately the same capacity should fly it equally as well.

Fuselage. The fuselage is built up in the monocoque fashion of balsa planking. Commence by cutting out the keel from 1/16 sheet, pin it to the plan and add the half formers 1/2 in x 1/16 balsa planking. When dry turn over and add the other halves of the formers and the rest of the planking. Sand smooth and cut out the cockpit recesses.

Next build the tailplane (its construction is clear on the plan) and carve the tail unit fairing blocks to shape, cut a slot in these blocks to take the tailplane mainspars. Glue the block on and fit the tailplane into place, lining it up at 0° incidence with the datum and thrust lines of the fuselage. Sheet cover the tailplane where shown and fair it into the fuselage with 1/32 sheet, plastic wood, etc.

Fin and Rudder. The fin is fixed to the fuselage and faired into it with balsa blocks, the rudder is movable being hinged on pins. To make the rudder hinge properly the hinge-pins should be at the centre formed by the semi-circular recesses in the back of the fin ribs...."

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