DH Tiger Moth (oz1815)

About this Plan

DH.82 Tiger Moth. Free flight scale model biplane. Designed by Aeromodeller staff, drawn up by J Coasby. This plan was developed from the classic large rubber version by Rupert Moore.

Quote: "By request, an accurate 1/8th scale free-flight model for 1cc or larger engines of the DH 82 Tiger Moth. Designed by Aeromodeller staff.

OF ALL THE aircraft that have borne RAF roundels, the one dearest to most hearts is the De Havilland 82 Tiger Moth. Thousands of pilots have received their aerial baptism in the rear cockpit of a 'Tiggy' and such was its service versatility that, in case of dire necessity, it became an operational bomber in the cause of defending the British Isles in 1940. Fighter pilots delighted in throwing the squadron 'relaxation' Tiger around the sky between duty calls for it was, and still is said, that the true sensation of flight is only felt when the wind roars about one's ears and the slipstream buffets the cheeks as an open cockpit Tiger is put through its paces.

Modellers, too, have a soft spot for this, the almost original of swept-wing aircraft, and for many years the APS plan for a rubber-driven accurate scale Tiger Moth (oz4494) by C Rupert Moore has been one of the most popular Aeromodeller scale plans. Many were the conversions made for diesel power, and great the variety of engines used in such a modification. Requests for a special conversion plan have now been met with this latest introduction to the APS range of an entirely new drawing, type-tested with two prototypes, and made as accurately to scale as only the closest study of the full-size aircraft will permit.

One prototype has an ED Bee, the other an Allbon Javelin. Each has identical flight characteristics, and we have little doubt that the power could I even be extended to include the 2.5 cc size of engine, so docile and automatically stable is the basic design. A typical flight pattern is a smooth left hand circle after take-off or handlaunch, with a slow rate of climb up to perhaps fifty feet in 20 seconds. With a pair of dummy pilots in the cockpits, the Tiger can hardly be distinguished from the real thing as it occasionally jerks its wings a fraction to correct the bank just as though a midget pilot was applying a spot of aileron. We've had the Javelin version holding altitude in a circuit no more than 50 feet across and flying like a Goodyear racer around imaginary pylons. We have also tried - for fun - to see how much elevator packing can be added for maximum range of trim, and as much as 3/8 inch can go under the trailing edge without untoward effect. This, then, is a tried and tested design that is as flexible and as insensitive to trim as any scale model of our knowledge. For the modeller with a little building experience, and a zest for making something accurate in detail with plenty of opportunity for a fine colour finish, the Tiger Moth should be an absolutely first choice.

Constructional details are stencilled on the full-size plans to make it self-explanatory; but a few points of emphasis would not be amiss for the prospective builder.

Key unit of the fuselage structure, which is built in the customary sides-box-top former system, is the wing centre-section strutting, and every care should be taken to see that each important joint is securely bound or soldered as the case may be. Any movement here can nullify all the care and attention devoted to the rest of the model as dihedral sweep-back and incidence of the top wings depend on accuracy in centre-section assembly. Wings are of normal structure, the multiple false leading edge ribs adding scale detail as well as maintaining an important part of the scale aerofoil. Dihedral and sweep differs on top and bottom wings so that the sweep is built into the wing peg boxes and dihedral set by the shape of the pegs. Note the different angle..."

Update 04/06/2013: Replaced this plan with a clearer copy, thanks to Algy2. This is a reprint from Aeromodeller Apr 1985, drawn without the hatched background.

Update 3/11/2015: Replaced this plan (again) with another clearer copy, this one is thanks to dfritzke.

Update 05/06/2018: added article, thanks to RFJ.

Supplementary file notes

Original printed plan Oct 1954, with hatched background.
Previous scan version.
Article.

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