Pesco Special (oz17030)

About this Plan

Pesco Special. Free flight scale model for rubber power. Wingspan 19 in.

Quote: "Build this sweet flying racing craft from full-size plans on the following pages. Pesco Special, by Paul Plecan.

ONE OF THE OUTSTANDING racers developed during recent years was the 'Pesco Special,' in which Roscoe Turner won the 1938 Thompson Trophy Race. Averaging over 283 mph over the grueling 399-mile course, this ship was probably the fastest racer built incorporating a cantilever landing gear.

Originally designed and constructed by Lawrence Brown, later modified by Matty Laird, of Laird racing plane fame, it was then further rehashed by Roscoe himself, with engineering help from Raoul Hoffman - one case where too many cooks didn't spoil the broth. Of several models constructed by the author, all showed plenty of speed, yet each one was also a fine duration ship. Since the tail surfaces are ample and the fuselage so long, this model stands a good chance in contests when pitted against the ever-popular light plane flying scale models.

A folding prop would improve the glide, and, at the risk of losing a few points on appearance, an un-dercambered airfoil could be em-ployed. This would be unnecessary, of course, if you just want a dependable flyer to have fun with.

FUSELAGE CONSTRUCTION: The first part necessary is the bottom keel strip, cut from 1/16 sheet as shown in the plan outline. Two each of each indicated former (F-1 to F-10) are cut out next.

Fuselage construction is easiest if the half-shell type of building is employed. This means assembling the left half of the fuselage directly on the plan and removing it when the cement has dried, to add the other half. A sheet of wax paper between the plan and framework will keep the plan from adhering to the fuselage frame. One-sixteenth square stringers are added to the fuselage according to the spacing indicated by former F-6 plans.

Allow the cement sufficient time to harden before removing the half-shell fuselage from the workbench, as hurrying at this stage will invite warping. Once the fuselage has been assembled, attack the landing gear before covering the frame with tissue. The tail hook should also be secured to F-9 b-fore covering.

A cowling is next. The front portion is laminated from several rings of sheet balsa, and then rounded off. Spacers keep F-1 and F-2 apart while 1/16 sheet is wrapped around them for covering. The nose plug should be removable to allow winding the motor with a hooked hand drill. The landing gear is added now, care being exercised to keep both wheel pants true on assembly, in order that the wheels track evenly on take-offs.

WINGS are constructed in the usual manner, by sliding the ribs onto the spars projecting past rib W-1 in order that the spars be cemented against formers F-4 and F-5. Watch for warpage when spraying the wings, and if necessary, weigh them down with a few tools to keep perfect alignment. Do this when doping the wings also.

Two or three coats of silver dope are necessary, and once the appearance is satisfactory, and alignment has been checked, it will be alright to slip the wings in position and cement.

The tail surfaces are so simple. we don't think any explanation necessary. Only 1/16 stock is necessary when all trailing edges..."

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Supplementary file notes

Article (incomplete).

Corrections?

Did we get something wrong with these details about this plan (especially the datafile)? That happens sometimes. You can help us fix it.
Add a correction