RE-8 (oz16988)

About this Plan

RE-8. Control line scale model WWI biplane bomber. Wingspan 42-5/8 in, for .35 engine.

Quote: "One of the famous crates of World War I, the British RE-8. For .29-.35 engines, it's put together by loving hands, wires and all it can be stunted. By Frank W Beatty.

I have always been an admirer of World War I biplanes. I've built many of them as controlline scale models even though as a group a large percentage of them cannot be built to give anything but an erratic disappointing performance in the air. The RE-8 was the result of a long search for a World War I type bipe whose design would adapt itself readily to fine controlline flying. A brief analysis of the drawings shows the ship has a smallish, slim fuselage compared with the amount of wing area. For control there is ample tail area. But, best of all, the wings are set well back on the fuselage for good trim characteristics. Note also that the wheels are set forward of the CG for good landings.

This Fox-powered, 34 oz ship lifts easily off the ground and can do wingovers, loops and inverted flight. The daredevil expert could really wring this one out. This is one scale model which is a pleasure to land. The low wing loading and drag of the rigging makes for a really long, slow glide. The ship touches down easily and almost never noses over.

This colorful, detailed, ruggedly constructed, easy to fly ship is hard to beat. But don't take my word for it; the plans are here, try one yourself.

The tail is easiest, so let's get it out of the way first. Saw the fin and rudder out of 1/4 in sheet balsa; the stabilizer and elevators from 3/16 sheet balsa. After they are sanded to shape, notch the rudder and elevators for the control horns. The elevators are also grooved out on the bottom side and the joiner wire and the horn wires are cemented flush with the bottom. Cement the tubing for the hinges in place and dope silk around each length for reinforcement. Dope silk covering over each part and set aside for final assembly.

We'll need the lower wing before the fuselage can be completed, so let's do the wings now. They are both built in three sections, of conventional construction methods, so I will just emphasize a couple of features..."

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Supplementary file notes

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