Galloping Comedian (oz1835)

About this Plan

Galloping Comedian. Control line stunt model from May 1952 Air Trails.

Update 27/03/2016: Replaced this plan with a clearer copy (400 dpi scan from full size), thanks to dfritzke.

Update 09/10/2020: Added article, thanks to RFJ.

Quote: "One of the most quietly competent, self-effacing modelplane experts flying in competition circles today is Harold 'Red' Reinhardt of Elizabeth NJ, an outstanding model designer and stunt con-tender. Red is the type of fellow who replies 'Okay, I guess' to a query like, 'How did you make out at the Whatsis model meet?' The fact that he may have won first place by a wide margin and a trip to Detroit seems incidental.

You ask Harold if he has any new models and he's apt to say, 'A couple.' At the next club meeting all you seem to hear is wondrous comments about Reinhardt's new stunt designs. We haven't been able to figure out whether Red is an atomic-age Cal Coolidge or is the most modest modeler on the face of the earth.

In either case, it's always necessary to track Reinhardt down in order to get any information on his designs. In 1950 Red won the Plymouth International stunt competition and the Air Trails' perpetual stunt trophy. Last year Red tried to make it two in a row, but missed out, blaming not the contest nor its officials, but mostly himself. From the standpoint of his fellow contestants, Red's slick little orange and white entry was tops in appearance and capable of running through the full stunt pattern with obvious ease.

As we do in many, many cases, the editors picked this model for presentation here not only because they like it and considered it of special significance, but because many of the modelers competing in the big Plymouth battle paid it lavish compliments. Here is Red's own story of his Galloping Comedian:

It seems that the trend in stunt flying is toward realistic, good looking stunt ships. This one was designed to resemble the racing ships of the prewar days. It handles very nicely, and does a good stunt pattern. The original was powered by a Fox .35, but it will take any .29 to .35 with no trouble.

Start by building the wing, since the rest of the airplane is built around it. Make a tin pattern of the wing rib section, and make all the ribs and nose ribs by placing it on sheet wood and cutting around it with a knife or razor blade. When this is done, stack all the ribs together with pins and notch out for the leading edge.

Cut the notches for the spars, being sure to allow for the full-depth web spar plus cap spar that will separate the front and back halves of the ribs. Then cut the ribs in half with a coping saw at the point where the full-depth spar will be placed. Cut the 5/8 x 1/8 x 36 in full-depth spar from hard sheet. Glue the front halves of the ribs and the nose ribs in position, then add the 3/8 square leading edge. Add the back halves of the ribs, and glue on the bottom half of the split trailing edge. Cut the trailing edge fill-ins and glue them in place..."

Supplementary file notes

Article.
Previous scan version.

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