Short Singapore (oz17025)

About this Plan

Short Singapore. Free flight scale model biplane flying boat, for rubber power. Wingspan 36 in.

Quote: "The Short Singapore was a British multi-engined biplane flying boat built after the First World War. The design was developed into two four-engined versions: the prototype Singapore II and production Singapore III. The latter became the Royal Air Force's main long-range maritime patrol flying boat of the 1930s and saw service against the Japanese with the Royal New Zealand Air Force during the Second World War [for more type history, see build notes]

CONSTRUCTION:

WING: The wing is built using the Dave Rees’ Sliced Rib method. Mike Stuart has a great tutorial on this method here: https://www.ffscale.co.uk/rees.htm

Use the dimensions as noted on the plan. Both upper wing and lower wing are built in this manner. Build the wings flat on the building board and when completed then make the cuts through he spars to add the dihedral. Reinforcing the cuts with strips of 1/16” balsa to strengthen the cut area.

FUSELAGE: The fuselage is built using the Ladder Jig method. There are many types of ladder jigs, simple balsa strips made into a ladder, more extensive wood and aluminum construction, commercially made jigs and foam board jigs. Maxfliart has a great tutorial on YouTube using this method: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yUYY1dqfH8

All the fuselage formers are made from 1/16” sheet balsa. You might want to reinforce the formers with 1/16”sq on the thin vertical grain. I find using a ladder jig helps me turn out a straight fuselage.

EMPENNAGE: The horizontal stab is made using 3/32”sq and sheet balsa. The vertical stabs are made by 3 laminations of the outline of the vertical stabs from 1/32”x3/32” strips of balsa wrapped around templates made from the plan outlines. I usually use foam board wrapped with Teflon plumbers tape for the templates. This allows the laminations to be easily removed from the templates.

I planned on using a foam board jig to mount the wings to the fuselage. Mike Stuart has a tutorial that helps with this process: https://www.ffscale.co.uk/page4b.htm
There’s a lot of flying wires to fit in place and I’ll let you use your preference on how to do this. Check out the 3 view drawings and the the front view on the plan.

Hope you find this plan enjoyable to build a truly interestng biplane flying boat.
Regards,
Tom Akery/Sky9pilot"

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Supplementary file notes

Build notes.

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