Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star (oz16719)

About this Plan

Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star. Scale model for whip-control. Scale is 1/16.

Quote: "We'll bet there's hardly a model fan living who hasn't cast an admiring eye on the beautiful streamlining of Lockheed's new P-80 in the recently released pictures that have been appearing widely. Very aptly named the Shooting Star, this fastest of all jet propelled fighters actually looks the part. Its design shows power with a purpose - and the whole thing is combined with some of the sleekest lines ever to come off an engineer's drawing board. When the P-80's designer, CL 'Kelly' Johnson, found himself toying with speeds of what the Army calls 'well over 500 mph' he came upon that rare occurrence where hardheaded engineering gets together with art - and the result is definitely a thing of beauty.

Quite naturally the model fan's first reaction is to want a model P-80. And since a lot of us like to see our ships sailing around in the sky instead of gracing a shelf the matter of power for a Shooting Star presents something of an obstacle. Model jet propulsion is definitely on its way, but as it isn't here yet for the majority of model builders the answer can be 'Swing Control' as discussed in previous issues of MAN. Simply, we can let centrifugal force provide the power by fastening the ship to a control or whip line and swinging in a large circle.

With this simple and mighty interesting flying technique, and a model such as we have suggested here, you won't have to wait to see a real P-80 on the wing. You can put one up over your own backyard or the neighbor's vacant lot and have the fun of listening to it whistle around in the sky as you actually fly it yourself.

Basically, a flying model of this ship is simple. Like all models, the more time, care and patience you give it the more beautiful will be the result. The accompanying condensed plan shows the fundamental construction and patterns necessary in building a 3/4 in to 1 ft scale model. The one we built flew well and fast, landing handily on a smooth strip; however we believe a ship built on about a 1 inch to 1 ft scale would do even better - and whistle even louder.

The first step in construction is to either scale up the drawing shown here or have a photostat enlargement made of the various parts. Next, lay in a supply of medium and soft balsa sheets in a variety of thicknesses ranging from 1/32 to 1/4 in - and you'll need some blocks of soft light balsa for filleting and forming the nose as well as the two wing fuel tanks.

As beautifully streamlined as the Shooting Star is, we just couldn't help making the wheels retractable, hence a method is suggested in the plan. However, it does take more time and necessitates extra strengthening, not to mention some careful detail work on wheel well covers. But it adds speed and maneuverability that will make your model literally flash in circles above you, (For details on remote controlled retraction refer to MAN June 1945). Study the plan carefully be fore beginning and decide on permanent or retractable wheels before you begin building.

Start with the tail surfaces, cutting patterns from 1/4 in soft balsa sheet and gluing as indicated. Watch the direction of grain, fitting at right angles for additional strength. Make both stabilizer and vertical fin in complete units, carve and sand to shape - then carefully cut rudder and elevators free. Glue both elevators to a pine shaft, rounded where it meets the stabilizer; a horn is affixed with lines glued in and long enough to reach the nose of the ship. Hinge with double tissue, doped on..."

Direct submission to Outerzone.

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