Charger (oz1726)

About this Plan

Charger. Free flight gas model for .45 Tiger power.

From Air World, November 1946.

Update 13/8/2022: Added article, thanks to theshadow.

Quote: "The Charger, by Claude McCullough.

Many Bbuilders who are potentially enthusiastic pylon fans are unable to reconcile themselves to the scared giraffe appearance that seems characteristic of this style of design. In the Charger, the pylon force layout, with consequent high power handling ability, has been coupled with an enclosed motor, twin tails and dean lines to produce a really happy compromise between performance and appearance. Its sky-rocket climb is utilized to best advantage by a floating glide that isn't hampered by a built in headwind.

The original was powered by a Bunch Tiger, but any engine of similar size (Rocket, DeLong 45, Cannon, etc) may be used. The wing area is 520 sq inches and under AMA regulations must weigh 36.4 ounces.

Plans are drawn one-quarter size and may be enlarged with a pair of dividers or by 'griding' the pages with 1/4 inch or smaller squares.

The pylon and model's round fuselage are built around a diamond main frame, side View of which is detailed on the plan. Build the two sides of the diamond from 3/16 square balsa, one atop the other. Attach these sides together with cross-pieces of the same size as the ones they meet, taking care to get it lined up square. Bulkhead formers may be plotted quickly with a compass and cut from 1/8 flat balsa.

The pylon Is planked with 3/32 flat that has been well soaked in hot water until pliable, pinned in place until dry. Around the back curve of the pylon, it may be necessary to add small balsa blocks to provide space for sanding to streamline shape. The front of the fuselage is planked with 1/8 flat and the fuselage stringers are 1/8 square hard balsa. The pylon's lines are blended into the front of the fuselage by a 1/16 sheet fillet.

The front of the fuselage is faced with 1/16 plywood and two small nails are firmly cemented into the fuselage, protruding about 1/4 in from the plywood facing to provide firm lodging for the detachable firewall. The firewall is attached by means of rubber bands and hooks, as is the removeable cowling. The cowling is cut from a solid balsa block and hollowed out to a wall about 1/8 thick. Cover with silk tor better, crinoline) inside and out and dope well. Mount ignition parts on a plywood track and hinge to firewall to permit easy access.

The retracting single wheel is held in up position by tension of rubber bands or a small coil spring and in the down position by the weight of the plane. The, use of a F'room aluminum spinner, which fastens to the motor shaft, affords the sleekness of a spinner with the necessary feature of quick detachability for changing a prop.

Stabilizer of conventional construction but care should be taken to select firm, hard pieces of balsa for building because it is in effect part of the landing gear and has to sustain a portion of the ship's weight..."

Update 30/8/2022: Replaced article with a clearer copy (previous version throws an error on page 5, when viewed in Reader DC), thanks to Rui Fonseca.

Update 8/9/2022: Added airfoils (dat format) zipfile, thanks to Martin Huebner.

Quote: "Dear Outerzone, This is indeed a very pretty model! In response to the question of /Glassblade/, I would like to send you the airfoils of Charger oz1726 as selig-formatted dat-files - see attached Zip-File. I've grabbed and digitized the shape from the plan. Additionally I've smoothed the coordinates for those who want to do some calculations on it, i.e. with XFoil. The gif-files should show that the smoothing has been done well. Greetings from Germany,"

Supplementary file notes

Airfoils zipfile.
Article.
Article (previous scan version).

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