Hughes H-1 Racer (oz1928)

About this Plan

Hughes H-1 Racer. Scale control line model.

Quote: "Hughes H-1 Racer, famous old racer from the early thirties reproduced in accurate scale for control line.

Howard Hughes decided, early in 1934, to make an attempt on the world's landplane speed record. At that time it stood at 305.33 miles per hour, held by the famous pilot-designer, James Wedell. Hughes hired Richard Palmer to help him design the Hughes H-1 Special and work began that spring. The sleek craft slowly took shape with its long, slender all-metal fuselage and short, stubby wooden wings. The racer was completed eighteen months later, in the fall of 1935, by which time the speed record had jumped to 314.32. But Hughes remained undaunted because wind tunnel tests indicated that his play-thing was capable of 365 miles per hour.

Our model of the Hughes H-1 Special is built to the scale of one-and-three-quarters inch to one foot, the same scale used for our Howard Ike control-line model which appeared in the 1962 model annual. This scale produces a man-sized airplane which is a joy to fly. We installed a J Roberts control system, which uses a third line to actuate simultaneous engine speed and flap control. Any engine from .29 to .60 cubic inch displacement can be used and it should be fitted with a speed control attachment specifically designed for it. For best results the engine should have a factory equipped control such as a Johnson Throttle Master or a Roberts Vari-Speed.

Before describing our model we wish to express our appreciation to Vincent Vec-chio and George Egley for their contributions to this article.

Construction begins with the wing. Cut the spars, ribs, and joiners to shape, and cement joiners to the spars forming the correct dihedral. Be sure to notch spars for the wing ribs and cut joiners in one piece. Cement all ribs except 3, 4, 6 and 7 into the spar notches and, while these are drying, cut the wing covering to shape and butt-join to form the correct chord distance. Be sure to allow room for the flaps. Apply plenty of cement to the ribs and spar, press the covering in place and hold it with straight pins until the cement has dried.

Bend the landing-gear struts to shape and join by binding the joints with fine copper wire and soldering. Cut the land-ing-gear supports from plywood and drill holes for the J bolts. Fasten the wire strut assembly to the plywood support and smear cement around the J bolts and wire. Slip the supports into the slots of ribs 3, 4, 6 and 7. Cut a narrow slot in the lower covering to admit the landing-gear struts and cement the landing-gear assembly to the wing structure. Use plenty of cement during this operation and replace the piece of covering which was removed to admit the strut.

Cement the bellcrank mount firmly to the spar and ribs. Carefully drill an addi-tional hole in the secondary bellcrank arm for the flap-control rod. It will also be necessary to enlarge the elevator-control hole in order to accommodate the 3/32 control rod. Bend and attach the three con-trol rods and solder a washer to the end of each. Cut the wing flaps from sheet balsa and cement the dowel in place after the control horn has been securely at-tached. The control horns are standard Veco, or similar elevator equipment, with one side of the attachment bar removed.

Drill holes and drive wire pins into the ends of the flap dowel. Use hardwood block anchors with tubing inserts for hinges and cement into place. When the flap is secured be sure that it fairs with the bottom covering. Tape the flap in the closed position and, with the bellcrank in the high speed position shown, bend the flap-actuating wire rods. Bind and solder the joints carefully. Add the lead-out lines to the bellcrank and be certain to stagger the ends. Run the three lead-out lines through the holes in the ribs. Check the control bellcrank and be certain that the flaps operate easily...."

Update 29/03/2015: Replaced this plan with a clearer copy, thanks to JJ.

Update 02/12/2016: added article, thanks to RFJ.

Supplementary file notes

Alternate version of the same plan, laid out over 2 sheets, as originally printed.

Article.

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