Curtiss Swift (oz16916)

About this Plan

Curtiss Swift. Free flight scale model for rubber power. Wingspan 20 in.

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Update 3/8/2026: Added article, thanks to Pit.

Quote: "How to Build the Curtiss Swift. By Joseph S Ott, Model Editor, Popular Aviation.

THE 'Swift' is the latest development of the Curtiss-Wright Corporation and adapts itself ideally to model construction. As the motor in the large plane is entirely enclosed in the fuselage and of a liquid-cooled type, the weight which would necessarily be required by the parts for a radial motor are entirely eliminated.

The body of this model is a perfect spindle streamline from the pointed nose to the pointed tail. When constructing this model utmost care should be employed and the parts should be made very light so that good flying quality may be obtained. It would be advisable to employ a dihedral angle a little larger than that shown as a low wing airplane model is a little more difficult to balance laterally than a high wing model.

Constructing the Body: It is best to make a full size layout of the side view of the body, only, so that the longerons may be bent and assembled as in Photograph No1. The illustration in this photograph shows the simplicity of one body side. Two of these, exactly alike, are required. Longeron material 1/16 inch square.

Body Construction - Step No2: Photograph No2 shows the two body sides assembled into a square shaped longitudinal form. The pieces used across the top and the lower part of the body are cut to the same length. To obtain the correct length for these parts it will be necessary to make a full size drawing of the top view as illustrated. Enlarging the drawing is simple enough if one uses a divider and doubles the small drawing throughout.

Body Construction - Step No3: The third photograph in the body construction series shows the tail piug and the body formers cemented in position. These formers are drawn to full scale and can be traced directly from the magazine on the wood or may be traced on thin paper and then transferred to wood.

Before assembling the body formers, make certain that there is a little more material remaining on these parts than is actually required so that after it has been assembled and has dried, it can be sanded down to fit the curve of the body. By allowing a small amount of additional materials on the formers the finished job is much neater..."

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