Zombie (oz1856)
About this Plan
Zombie. Free flight rubber model. This is a half-size replica of the original Zombie V (oz7812) design.
Quote: "Try this half-size replica of Ron Warring's 1949 Wakefield Class. Zombie, by Bill Dennis.
LIVING AS I NOW DO in the middle of Devon, I am surrounded by miles of countryside. The bad news is that it is divided into very small fields by very tall hedges! I was looking for a model suitable for flying in a confined space but with a bit of character and I was inspired by the SMAE/SAM indoor event for half size Vintage Wakefields. Three years ago I had built a 'Zombie' which flew extremely well at the Nationals, but was last seen heading toward Skegness at about 2,000 feet. Hoping that a small version would be successful too, I set to work and managed to finish it in three evenings. I fly my model outdoors, but more careful wood selection and a balsa prop would reduce the weight considerably and make it a good indoor flyer.
Fuselage: It was a long time since I had built with 1/16 in square. I found the most accurate way to pin the longerons down was to use scraps of 1/8 in balsa over them. When assembling the two sides take care that the spacers are accurately cut since these thin longerons are easily distorted. The best way is to fit the spacers midway between F2 and the nose and tail and then trim the others to suit. Note that the fairing over the tailplane is fitted after covering.
Flying surfaces: No special comment required here, except to extol the virtues of basswood (available from SAMS, see classifieds) for making very strong, thin and light tip laminations. Bending is made easier if the strips are first soaked in a 50 per cent solution of household ammonia - preferably outside! Two sets of ribs can be made in minutes by the sandwich method, but start at W2, since the thick W1 rib will distort the taper.
Covering: Use Jap tissue for the wings and tail, and lightweight modelspan for the fuselage. If, like me, you haven't used Jap before, you will find it somewhat different to modelspan. Firstly, it is relatively impermeable, so you cannot attach it by doping through. Instead, use thinned PVA on the structure, or dope. Secondly, all the shrinkage occurs during the water shrinking process and gives a nice smooth finish, while the dope has relatively little effect.
Flying: My model was nose heavy, so I had to ballast the tail to get the CG on the main-spar. I powered my model with 12 strands of 1/6 x 1/24 rubber, which made it fly like a real Wake should, with a zippy climb. With a loop of 1/4 in performance should be a little more sedate. In either case the model is very stable. Hand launches with a model of this size will not tell you much about the glide, so judge this on low power flights. With the tail fairing it is more convenient to trim the glide with ballast, although the prototype flew with no adjustments, except for downthrust. "
Supplementary file notes
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
-
(oz1856)
Zombie
by Bill Dennis
from Aeromodeller
February 1984
22in span
Rubber F/F
clean :)
all formers complete :)
got article :) -
Found online 25/11/2011 at:
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showpost.php?p=19965932...
Filesize: 274KB
Format: • PDFbitmap
Credit*: algy2
Downloads: 2427






Do you have a photo you'd like to submit for this page? Then email admin@outerzone.co.uk
User comments
Hi Steve, I'm pretty sure they changed the airfoil when they shrunk this. Or, at least, the Aeromodeller plans I've seen for the full sized Zombie show a much thicker airfoil. The thin one shown here should work better at the smaller size, but I think for the FAC half sized Wakefield event, you're not supposed to change the airfoil. The current rules, as per the FAC web site, say "No messing with the plan!" and then give a few exceptions that don't have anything to do with the airfoil. For sport use, my comment can be ignored.Lincoln - 27/05/2013
Hi there, yes you are correct, the small model has a thinner flat bottomed airfoil, also the tailplane is a flat plate. This does seem to suit the model, mine is over 20 years old now, its still a great flyer (1 1/2 minutes + in the Ally Pally at the Model engineer exhibition 1995) it is my favourite 1/2 size wakefield
MJH - 24/06/2014
More photos of models that I have built from Outerzone downloads [more pics 003-006].
EricHolmes - 27/05/2019
There’s nothing on the plan about dihedral, but I suppose about 2 in’s would be right for each wingtip. Also what happened to the two little extra tail fins ?
Peter Rea - 12/07/2024
The link to the original plan at Zombie V (oz7812) shows the fullsize had dihedral of 4-1/2 in under each wingtip. This is half size model, so I'd say use half of that.
SteveWMD - 12/07/2024
Yes use half the dihedral of the full size one. As for the tailfins they are missing, do you also notice the tail is a flat plate rather than the airfoil section of the full size one. One other thing I would recommend is carving a balsa prop to half the size of the full size model, it flies so much better. Mine is still going now 30 years old and still my favourite half size wakefield
Mike Hollamby - 13/07/2024
Add a comment
- Zombie (oz1856)
- Plan File Filesize: 274KB Filename: Zombie_oz1856.pdf
- Supplement Filesize: 448KB Filename: Zombie_oz1856_article.pdf
- help with downloads
Notes
* Credit field
The Credit field in the Outerzone database is designed to recognise and credit the hard work done in scanning and digitally cleaning these vintage and old timer model aircraft plans to get them into a usable format. Currently, it is also used to credit people simply for uploading the plan to a forum on the internet. Which is not quite the same thing. This will change soon. Probably.
Scaling
This model plan (like all plans on Outerzone) is supposedly scaled correctly and supposedly will print out nicely at the right size. But that doesn't always happen. If you are about to start building a model plane using this free plan, you are strongly advised to check the scaling very, very carefully before cutting any balsa wood.
Terms of Use
© Outerzone, 2011-2025.
All content is free to download for personal use.
For non-personal use and/or publication: plans, photos, excerpts, links etc may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Outerzone with appropriate and specific direction to the original content i.e. a direct hyperlink back to the Outerzone source page.
Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site's owner is strictly prohibited. If we discover that content is being stolen, we will consider filing a formal DMCA notice.