Fiat G-55 Centauro (oz17032)

About this Plan

Fiat G-55 Centauro. Free flight scale model for rubber power. Wingspan 16 in.

Quote: "FIAT G-55 CENTAURO

The Fiat G.55 Centauro (Italian: "Centaur") is a single-engine single-seat monoplane fighter aircraft designed and produced by the Italian aircraft manufacturer Fiat Aviazione. It was operated by both the Regia Aeronautica and the Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana during the latter half of the Second World War [for more type history, see build notes].

CONSTRUCTION:

WING: The wing is constructed in the typical Dimer tradition. Wing is constructed with 1/16”SQ and sheet balsa. The ribs are sheet 1/16” with a 1/16” fish mouth and a notch at the T.E. for the 1/16”x1/4” balsa strip. The spar is a hard 1/16”SQ balsa strip. The wing is built flat on the building board (suggest covering the plan with plastic kitchen wrap). Lay out the leading edge and trailing edge and glue the ribs between the L.E. and T.E. When the wing panels are complete prop up the tips 1.5” dihedral and add the 1/16”SQ spars on the top of the wing panels. I recommend enlarging the notch for the spars on rob #1 so the spars can be aligned next to each other over rib #1. This make a stronger joint at the middle of the wing with gussets each side of rib #1 at the L.E. and T.E.

FUSELAGE: The fuselage is built using the traditional box style construction with formers on top and on the first few stations on the bottom of the fuselage. Build the sides flat over the plan. When the first side is done and dry, build the second side over the first to create two identical sides. Then, with the sides inverted add the cross members of 1/16”SQ. Once the box frame is complete add the top and bottom formers to the box frame. Keep the formers at right angle to the longerons of the box frame. Once these formers are in place and dry begin adding the 1/16”sq stringers. I recommend using a notcher (I made one for myself from 1/16” width hobby stick and glued some 80 grit sand paper to the edge of the stick). This works really well for notching the formers. I usually start with a dorsal stringer at the top center of each former. Continue adding stringers alternating side to side to keep the tension equal. The box sides have the wing saddle added and the bottom longeron (shown dotted on the plan) is removed where the wing passes through the bottom of the fuselage. Once the wing is in place the bottom stringers are completed to the T.E. of the wing.

EMPENNAGE : The horizontal stab is made using 1/16”sq and sheet balsa. Build this flat on the board. Once dry remove from the board and add to the flat area of the box at the tail end of the fuselage. You might want to leave a little room in the slot for the horizontal stab for trimming shims to get the desired glide.

The vertical stab is 1/6” sheet balsa with the grain running parallel to the L.E. I often will remove the central stringer and make a slot for the vertical stab to be glued into. You might want to add a 1/16” to the bottom of the vertical stab for this purpose.

LANDING GEAR: I show 1/16” sheet inserts on the wing for the removable landing gear sockets. I like to make paper tubes for the gear strut to fit into. These tubes are easy to make and are very strong when finished with some thin super glue. To make the tubes take strips of bond paper the depth of the finished tubes. Begin wrapping the paper strip around the gear strut. Once the paper is completely around the strut for one complete pass, begin adding white glue or TiteBond on the strip of paper and continue to wrap with glue three or four times around the gear strut. Keeping each wrap tightly wrapped each time around the strut. Once the diameter of the tube is where you desire trim of the remaining strip and glue the seam. I’ve found a quick 10 second in the microwave and you will have a nice hard tube. I then slide the tubes off the gear struts and then add some thin super glue around the outside of the paper tube. This makes a light, strong tube that will allow the removal of the main gear for flight. I like to use bamboo skewers for the gear struts and you can buy a package of these at the supermarket or Walmart.

Cover in the tissue of your choice covering both top and bottom of all flying surfaces.

Regards,
Tom Akery/Sky9pilot

Big thank you goes to Steve and Mary for the great Outerzone site!!!"

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Quote: "Steve and Mary, I thought I give a Pseudo-Dimer or Neo-Dimer plan a try. I always liked the camo schemes on the Italian aircraft and the Fiat is one that has many different styles. Regards,
Tom Akery/Sky9pilot
Thanks for keeping Outerzone such a great site!!"

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