Marquess 33 (oz16769)

About this Plan

Marquess 33. Radio control sport aerobatic model. Wingspan 33 in, for .15 engine.

Quote: "Marquess 33. Derek Benstead has enlarged this 1950's classic control-liner for full-house R/C and great aerobatic potential with a .15-size engine.

Introduction: One of my favourite columns in RCMW is Gray's Sport Channel. He covers a wide range of aeromodelling topics, any of which could give inspiration for the next project. A while back, the Keil Kraft Marquis (oz707) stunt model was featured as the mystery model. I grew up in aeromodelling the traditional way. Everything I built was from Keil Kraft kits. Getting serious I wanted to try control line. The Skystreak 26 (oz1376) is what I was given as a present, a stunt model. I think my parents were thinking of giving me more of a building challenge than a typical all sheet profile trainer, but of course a stunt model for my first control liner proved to be a flying challenge too. A DC Spitfire 1 cc diesel engine was chosen for it. Next up came the HALO (oz738), a 42 inch span polyhedral free flight model, which I still have stored away in the workshop. Somewhere along the way, a friend and I dabbled with electric round the pole. From the KK Flying Scale series, he built a WWI biplane and I built an 18 inch span Piper Super Cruiser (oz739), both converted to RTP. Bizarrely, we flew combat with them!

The KK Marquis was always going to be my next control-line model simply because I liked the look of it, but I never got round to it. By now, I was a teenager and from two summers of labouring on a Norfolk farm I earned enough money to buy my first radio control set. Since starting on R/C I have not dabbled in other aeromodelling pursuits.

So, Gray published a picture of the Marquis and an old flame is rekindled. Why not fulfill the desire for a Marquis by making a radio control version? Browsing on the Internet soon tracked down a source for a reprint of the plan from Terry McDonald's Vintage and Classic Control Line Plans Service.

The Marquess 33 Concept: Studying the plan, I decided that this would be an 'inspired by the Marquis' design, not an exact copy. The control-line model proportions of the Marquis are not well suited to R/C, the fuselage and tail moment are very small relative to the wing. Also, the fuselage is basically a box, with as much rounding off as can be achieved from making the top sheet 1/4 in thick. I decided on a wing 10% bigger than the plan, with a proper symmetrical section. The fuselage was initially drawn 25% bigger, though it has since been lengthened further, with a properly rounded top deck. The outlines are per the Marquis, but the proportions are different. The outcome is a seriously cute little model, one that has gained many complimentary comments on its appearances at the flying field.

This is the first model I have made for a while just for the sheer look of it. Yet despite the curvy good looks, it is a very straightfor-ward build.

Before starting to build, put a spirit level on your building board to check it is true in all directions. My building board comprises a piece of 3/4 in blockboard with two layers of 'laminate floor' fibre underlay glued to it. The underlay accepts pins with a push from a fingertip.

Wing: The wing is fully sheeted with no spars, which, for a model this size, is light, simple and extremely strong. Each panel is built inverted for convenience when it comes to fitting the undercar-riage mount and the aileron linkage.

Make up the top wing skins 2 mm wider than the plan view, you need a little extra width to go around the curvature of the ribs. Plane the edge of a sheet of 1/4" balsa and cut off as shown to make the leading edge section. Glue this in position on the top skin. From W1 to W8 the leading edge is straight, but note the slight curve in from W8 to W11..."

Marquess 33 from R/C Model World November 2009.

Direct submission to Outerzone.

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