Things to Come (oz16955)
About this Plan
Things to Come. Free flight sport (fantasy scale) model, for rubber power. Wingspan 36 in.
Quote: "The Model Aeroplane Constructor. Things to Come. How to Build Flying Model of the Plane Featured in this Famous Film.
ON pages 295, 304 and 305, 309, and 307, are shown the plans, full-size, for the plane which was featured in the famous film "Things to Come." This plane was designed for the film by Nigel Tangye, Air Correspondent for the Evening News, and we are indebted to Mr Hands, Jun., of the Harrow and District Model Aero Club, for giving us the basis on which these plans have been drawn.
Plans have been distributed through the book, so that they can be pinned down on the board as a complete guide. Each page joins up, to form a plan on one side of the paper.
Fuselage: Trace on to a sheet of 1/16 balsa, all parts marked 4 to 15. Cut out and file in slots where marked in solid black, on drawing. Note No.4 is 2-ply balsa-cut two, opposite grain and cement together. Take lengths of 1/16 square balsa and cement into position L1, L2, L3, L4. Firstly lay longeron on drawing and mark off positions for formers 4-15. Note L1 is taken from 4 to 9, and from 12 to 15 only at first, the space 9 to 12 being added when cabin formers 9a and 10a are in position. Fix in stringers 1/16 square balsa.
Nose Block 16 is made from block balsa. This should be made to fit into opening of former No.4. Take pattern from outside No.4 and sand to shape. Fit in thrust bearing 18. Nose block held in place by elastic band in usual manner.
Tail Block 20 from block balsa. Pattern from 15 outside, and fits into inside 15. Fix in rear hook. Held into position with elastic.
Fuselage Support No.19: Cut two shapes from 1/16 sheet balsa, to occupy complete shaded area. Slots cut where shown by black solid. Cut shapes from 1/4 sheet balsa, as shown at either end by darker shading.
Cement first patterns on either side of shapes from 1/4 balsa. This forms a hollow centre. Sand off each end in streamline effect. See Fig.3. This unit slots into bottom of fuselage and is cemented firm.
Stub Wing, Page 295: Cut six ribs, 46-51 from 1/16 sheet balsa to section shown. Cut leading edge 52 from 1/4 balsa. Trailing Edge 53, 1/8 by 1/8 balsa. Spar 54, 1/8 by 1/4. Spar 55, 1/8 by 1/8 balsa. Ribs slot into leading edge..."
DIrect submission to Outerzone.
Quote: "Hello Steve, I have been searching for plans for the plane in the movie "Things to Come" which is based off an H.G. Wells speculative novel "The Shape of Things to Come". The movie was written by Wells and released in 1936. I knew the plans existed in the April 1937 The Model Aeroplane Constructor. Finding that magazine was like finding a needle in a haystack. But I did find it! I also found an image of a completed model [main pic], but I don't know who built it.
Marc Henshaw"
Supplementary file notes
Article.
Notes from Matze (zipfile).
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-
(oz16955)
Things to Come
from Model Aeroplane Constructor
April 1937
36in span
Rubber F/F
clean :)
all formers complete :)
got article :) -
Submitted: 12/08/2026
Filesize: 332KB
Format: • PDFbitmap
Credit*: MarcHenshaw
Downloads: 332
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User comments
I watched this film first fifty years ago and thought it a lot of dated hokum. I saw it again a few weeks ago and found it relevant and frightening, particularly the reckless quest for space exploration.The model’s sharply tapered wings would seem to mitigate it actually flying but perhaps the fins would provide an endplate effect. I’ll leave it to someone else to build one.
Richard Falconer - 23/08/2026
I have built 2 of these over the past 25 years one at 36 in for rubber power and one at half size for electric. I found them impossible to trim for free flight which was a pity as it's a cool looking machine. The high thrust line and sharply tapered wings are I think the root of the problem
If anyone has/does got/get it to fly I would love to how.
I might have a go at a a third.
Andy
Andy Snelson - 23/08/2026
Published in 1937, this model design is definitely part of the Dieselpunk genre. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dieselpunk/
Along with Bernie Gross' designs, they gave a glimpse into what they thought the future might look like. https://tinyurl.com/dieselpunkk
RBelloc - 23/08/2026
Andy if planes are like these it often come to the end as you experienced. I always calculate my wings in flz vortex and not only to be sure it just flies also to improve aerodynamic to have good stall behaviour at best glide ratio, and stability is a must. It takes much too long just to test something by try and error. May be you have someone in your Club who can help you its worth due you get an airplane you love to fly. We now have the possibility to calculate by PC for what Reimar Horten needs a week by hand within a few minutes. May be you are keen on trying yourself, its worth it and you are far in front of all the others that just think an mean but didnt know :-)
Cheers mate and good luck , the best flights are still in front of us ??
Matzito - 23/08/2026
Have added a zipfile of Notes from Matze - this includes some thumbnail images, notes on using CAD to design the airfoil, and a STP file of the resulting wing.
SteveWMD - 27/08/2026
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- Things to Come (oz16955)
- Plan File Filesize: 332KB Filename: Things_to_Come_oz16955.pdf
- Supplement Filesize: 420KB Filename: Things_to_Come_oz16955_article.pdf
- Supplement Filesize: 1944KB Filename: Things_to_Come_oz16955_Notes_from_Matze.zip
- help with downloads
Notes
* Credit field
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Scaling
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