Sword (oz1988)

About this Plan

The Sword. Combat model for control line. October 1957 Aeromodeller.

Quote: "For sport, stunt or COMBAT build J Templeman's Sword.

Combat is rapidly catching on. We cannot say that we approve all of its attendant developments: but there's no denying the fact that in recent rallies, the entry has progressively increased, until we have reached the stage where administration is hard taxed to cope in the course of an afternoon's meeting, Yet despite this rapid growth in popularity, we have yet to see any real advance either in design or flying. Most heats are won by the default of the opposition - staying on the ground longer, or crashing in an attempt to make a show of 'combat' belligerance.

What is needed is an improvement in model appearance and performance, and here, in the Templeman Bro's Sword, we have a companion for the already established APS Duellist (oz1238) which we hope will play their part in improving the breed.

Both these designs met, in the prototype stage, at the '56 Criterium d'Europe at Brussels and were evenly matched - the pilot ability deciding the winner. They are quite different, although both are 'wings', and form an ideal pair representing the British and Spanish approaches to a model design which must be robust, manoeuvrable, easy to build, and fast.

John Templeman admits he is not a full-schedule stunt flyer: but he has still managed to cope in the combat circuits with the Sword. To prove that it will go 'through the book' he invited 1956 European Stunt Champ Gerard Lecomte of Belgium to take the handle, and Gerard flew it through all the pattern at first attempt. So here we have a model that will satisfy everyone - including the lone hand who is not able to take up combat flying and simply wants something tough and reliable that is sheer fun to fly.

To make the Sword, one must first laminate the fuselage. This consists of a centre core of 4-inch balsa, with 1/2 x 3/8 inch bearers let into top and bottom having appropriate engine spacing, and then side plates of 1/16 ply, and a central ply fin. It is better to make the ply and centre core cutouts for spars, etc., prior to laminating if one is at all disinclined to cutting through thick wood.

Now slide the flat section of the leading edge, the pre-slotted trailing edge and the lower spar through the fuselage slots. Fit the tip ribs to key these 28-1/2 in members inline with one another and add ribs R2, 3, 4 and 5 together with the bellcrank installation minus wire leads..."

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Update 31/05/2018: added article, thanks to Douglas Groom.

Supplementary file notes

Article.

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