A-7 Corsair II (oz16795)

About this Plan

A-7 Corsair II. Radio control scale model. Tractor prop layout. Wingspan 1100 mm.

Quote (google-translated): "Construction Plan. A-7 Corsair II
A Semi-Scale Replica. Design: Heinrich Baumhofer.

It's the rapid flight characteristics and the sophisticated technology that impress me so much about a jet fighter. The 'military' aspect is secondary for me as a model builder, especially since there's no alternative: such aircraft simply don't exist for civilian use. Of course, there are some replicas available as kits, but their price was always too high for me. Designing and building it myself was the solution. I've already flown a Mirage and a Lockheed U-2, but the Corsair, based on the construction plan published here, has thrilled me in every respect: its flight characteristics, excellent and even docile handling.

I used a 1/72 scale plastic model as a reference. It was assembled, photographed, then the fuselage was sawn into slices, these were photographed again as macro shots, and then everything was scaled down to the correct size on paper using a calculator, slide projector, enlarger, and drawing pencil.

Construction: Fuselage and tail assembly: First, frames 1-9 are made. It should be noted that frame 4 is almost identical to frame 5. They differ only in that frame 5, like frame 6, has approximately 12 small holes, 1 to 2 mm in diameter, for sewing and epoxying the main landing gear in place. Frame 1 should be made of 5-ply plywood so that the narrow edge of the jet intake opening, in this case the opening for engine cooling, does not break. These deep cuts in the upper part of frame 1 are also very important. Later, once the fuselage has been sanded, they will be completely sawn through, and the planking will also be sawn along frame 2 downwards.

At the top, in the area of strips 11 and 11a, the balsa strips are used for the planking (between frames 1 and 2) are not glued on at all, thus creating a removable engine cowling. This cowling can then be removed and reattached as needed using screw M, parts m, and two additional screws. All cutouts in the frames are important for engine cooling, as the air entering at the front must also exit somewhere, i.e., at the rear.

Now, the landing gear parts are bent, sewn, and resin-bonded to frames 5 and 6. Then, all other parts of the fuselage are cut out, and the engine mount is fabricated according to the engine type.

The fuselage frame is now assembled as follows: frames 3 to 7 are glued to the small board 13, and then the pine main stringers 11a are glued in place. After the glue has dried, the small board 12 and frame 2 can be inserted and glued in place, as well as the aft frames 8 and 9. This assembly is then clamped in place after carefully checking for warping.

Now the balsa stringers 11, frame 1, and the engine mount can be glued in place. The engine mount is screwed in, as can be seen in the drawing. Once all parts 31 to 33 and part 10 (note: do not glue the lower half of part 10 to frame 1!) and the auxiliary frames are attached and the glue has dried, planking can begin..."

Direct submission to Outerzone.

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