Elf Cat (oz1820)

About this Plan

Elf Cat. Control line stunt for 1-1.5cc power. From Aeromodeller January 1959.

Quote: "Fully Aerobatic controliner for 1 to 1.5 cc . Elf-cat, by JH Bailey.

THIS FAST FLYING little stunt design fills the bill for the comparatively recent increase in interest in the 1.5 cc size of engine. Designed originally for the Elfin 1.49, hence the name, it is well suited to any of the more powerful 1 cc diesels and will also accommodate all of the 1.5's, although in the case of the rear disc intake engines, it is necessary to make a slight alteration to former F.4 to allow for the carburettor to overhang the tank. With front rotary engines, the tank falls in line with the needle valve and provides slightly better performance.

By using a thick airfoil and small tail surface area, Elf Cat has a high degree of sensitivity and will perform the entire stunt schedule, aided in the attempts to do square manoeuvres by the small section trailing edge flaps. It uses an asymmetrical wingplan to maintain line tension under all conditions and its simple construction makes it an ideal model for the relative beginner.

A unique feature of this design is the system of bell-crank mounting. Instead of the conventional plywood plate, the bellcrank is supported by a pivot bolt which is located in the centre section by sub spars and ply reinforcements. This gives an unobstructed bellcrank movement and allows one to have ample pushrod wire projecting through the bellcrank without fear of tangling with the mount.

Construction begins with the fuselage sides being joined together by formers F.4, F.9 and F.12. Fit the intermediate formers, engine bearers and nose cowl laminations in sheet, then make up and fit the tail surfaces.

Now switch to the wing, spars for which should be made up with the sub braces in the centre and the wing then built into two stages over the plan for the assymetric layout. Install the control mechanism and connect up the flaps, leaving the pushrod long enough to be fitted through the fuselage for final attachment at a later stage.

Apply sheeting to the upper centre section, fit wings to the fuselage and after connecting pushrod and elevator horn, install tank and fit the undercarriage up behind the leading edge and bind it to F.7 with strong thread, applying a liberal coating of cement.

Now install the tank and cover the fuselage bottom making sure that a clear air channel runs through the exhaust duct to exit beneath the wing centre section..."

Supplementary file notes

Planfile includes article.

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