Corby Starlet (oz16777)

About this Plan

Corby Starlet. Radio control scale model. Wingspan 2.1 m, for 20 cc four stroke engine.

Quote (google-translated): "RC Semi-Scale Model. Corby Starlet, by Dennis Tapsfield.

I'm always on the lookout for an aircraft that could serve as the basis for my next model. One day I saw a photo of this machine in a magazine and was captivated by its appearance. Of course, my particular fondness for light, beautiful powered aircraft played a role; others prefer different types of aircraft. However, one objective fact cannot be argued away: designs like the Corby Starlet are ideally suited for model building. In any case, I discovered that 'Hapi Engines,' a company that modifies VW engines for aircraft, distributes the plans (address: Eloy Municipal Airport, Rural Route 1, Box 1000, Eloy, Arizona 85231, USA). So I wrote to them and received a brochure (about $7) which was quite easy to understand and included color photos, a three-view drawing, and other information.

This, along with the other information I had gathered, gave me enough to build a standoff-scale model. Undoubtedly, one can find even more detailed information if desired. The brochure includes a list of owners of the "real" Starlet in the USA and Australia, whom one could contact if, for example, one is looking for a different paint scheme.

The model has a relatively short tail, though not as short as my BD8, which flies extremely well - so no need to worry. Anyone interested in building the Starlet should have some experience building and flying similar models. However, since the Starlet is a very docile aircraft, it's well worth building and flying. My concise instructions will suffice for the experienced modeler.

I made great efforts to keep the weight low to avoid having to obtain a special permit (in England, we have a 5 kg limit) when flying the Starlet at airshows or even just in the local fields. I achieved this goal - but only by using a Solarfilm covering, which is incredibly lightweight, although the model would have looked more realistic with a Solar-tex covering. (This also applies to iron-on films from other brands: The smooth version, ie a film film, is always lighter than an iron-on film with a textile structure.) With an Enya 20cc four-stroke engine, I just barely kept the flying weight under approximately 5 kg. Only with great care when purchasing wood (take a postal scale with you!) can you achieve the not only 'legally' favorable weight of 5 kg. The model's flight characteristics are excellent; however, they are only so if the flying weight is this low.

The Fuselage: This very simple box structure is light and easy to build. First, cut out the side panels from 0.8 mm plywood and cover them with 4 mm balsa. The plywood ends at the engine bulkhead, the balsa continues to the leading edge.

Use glue sparingly. White glue is perfectly suitable; some parts can be done with superglue. Use two-part epoxy for highly stressed parts. Once the bulkheads are finished, the sides are assembled, and construction proceeds as usual. The engine should be installed before the leading edge is fitted. (The Enya four-stroke engine was tilted slightly to allow the muffler to be removed.) The engine can then be used to center the Nose rings are used. There is no side thrust or engine downthrust. Before closing the underside of the fuselage, the servos and Bowden cables are installed. Only use the right material for the landing gear, otherwise it won't survive the next landing. High-quality hard aluminum (Dura) or fiberglass is suitable. For grass runways, I use wheels with a diameter of 115 mm, for which I also paid close attention to the weight (225 g per pair). For someone who wants to lose weight, every gram counts!

Select the wing wood carefully! After cutting the ribs, make the template for the spar cutouts. This makes the work very clean, as the spars and the leading edge run parallel to each other. The cutouts for the aileron spars must also be made now..."

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Note see also MB, Aug 85.

Update 28/5/2026: Added further article from R/C Model World, Aug 1985, thanks to RFJ.

Supplementary file notes

Article.
Article (RCMW Aug 1985).

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