Hawker Hart (oz1723)

About this Plan

Hawker Hart. Scale control line biplane. From Model Aircraft, December 1962. Designed for the Merco .35 and similar engines.

Update 1/1/2023: Added complete article (2 parts) thanks to RFJ.

Quote: "Control Line Scale Models. Part I: Clive Hall describes basic methods of construction, and presents the plans for his own Hawker Hart.

THE construction of C/L scale models can be comparatively complex but, if approached in a systematic manner, a pattern of construction emerges which, with slight adaptation, can be employed for virtually any prototype.

In this series, I have set out the various basic essentials of construction which I have successfully employed with my own models and, in the side view sketches, show how the same basic methods can be applied to numerous different aircraft. For the benefit of newcomers to C/L scale modelling I have started with the basic requirements, before going on to more specific design aspects.

There are three obvious units into which design is divided and they in turn are further sub-divided:

Wings: 1. Built up, tissue covered - mainly for biplanes. 2. Simple basic structure sheet covered - more modern aircraft.

Fuselage: 1. Profile and halved formers. 2. (a) Sheet sides and full formers. (b) Sheet part-sides (sometimes sloping) and full formers.

Tail: Cut from sheet balsa in most cases.

WINGS: 1. Tissue covered structure for older machines. The lower wing centre section needs to be very strongly sheeted as it will, later, be cemented to the fuselage by its upper surface. The underside of the centre section may need reinforcement, if it is to carry part of the undercarriage.

WINGS 2. Sheet covered structure to represent metal covered wings The wing is made in five steps: 1. Simple monospar structure with a few ribs - in the case of multi-engined machines a second spar may be added between the motors. 2. The undersurface is cut to shape from in. balsa sheet and the first structure cemented down onto it. 3. The solid balsa leading edge is cemented on and partially shaped. At this stage, undercarriage components may be added, i.e. the entire installation for a fixed nit', or the tubes for a drop-out u/c. 4. The upper surface is attached - if balsa cement dries too rapidly, Durofix or PVA does not. Balsa block is added to complete the wing tip. 5. The leading and trailing edges are shaped and the wing sanded smooth. 5. The mainspar position in such a wing may be anywhere between 25 and 5o per cent. of the chord from the LE The depth of the LE must be such that there is still enough wood to hold down the upper surface after stage 5. All wings should be made in one piece for maximum strength, which means incorporating ply dihedral braces—in stage i for the spar and in stage 3 for the LE, and-bandage support for the wing sheet joins, inside the underside at stage 3 and on the upper surface at stage 5. It is important to avoid chordwise cuts in the wing sheeting at all times. Spanwise cuts only are safe, making little difference to the structure's ability to resist bending stresses.

FUSELAGE: The basic sheet side structure is for prototypes with flat sides in cross-section, such as the Bristol Fighter. This is modified for aircraft with part of the side flat, or near-flat and perhaps sloping, such as the FW 190D. The profile and halved former method is for aircraft which cannot be made by the other method, such as the Thunderbolt. Aircraft of any period can be found which will fit one structure - some, such as the Fury, could be made easily by either.

FUSELAGE 1. Profile and halved formers. All parts are cut out first: half formers, profile pieces, motor bearers. The motor bearers and profile pieces are assembled direct on the plan, then one set of half formers is attached. This unit is then removed from the plan and the remaining half formers are attached. Then fuel and control systems are installed and the fuselage planked. Block balsa may be useful in places, usually for the motor cowling and aft of the last former. The nosewheel for a tricycle undercarriage must be installed before most of the planking. Any profile pieces left in the cockpit space for strength during construction. can be removed after completion of the planking... "

Supplementary file notes

Article.

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