Moss Trooper (oz1994)

About this Plan

Moss Trooper. This is a (non-scale) 35 inch low wing sports free flight for up to 1cc. From May 1968 Aeromodeller.

Quote: "BEFORE we begin, let's explain the name! A Moss Trooper is defined in a dictionary as a Freebooter of the Scottish Border. This model was designed and built to a deliberate specification which was as follows:

(1) Reasonably easy model and fairly quick to build.
(2) Semi-scale model, with realistic looks.
(3) By utilizing the minimum of balsa wood varieties, the cost could be kept down, therefore the minimum of waste wood was left over.

The most accurate way to describe this model is to say it is a cross between a scale Grumman Wildcat, a Garland Linnet, a Cessna 172, and a Percival Provost trainer!

The main feature which adds the most character to the model is the almost scale looking nose cowling which is based on the type used in most modern light aircraft to enclose the flat Lycoming or Rolls Royce Continental piston engines, plus the blown type cockpit cover which the French seem to go in for. But for certain details, the model is a conventional low winger which anyone used to building from APS designs can tackle with ease.

Construction. The best way to start is to build the nose cowling from medium 1/4 in sheet balsa. From 3 in wide sheet it will be necessary to build up the rear bulkhead from two pieces. The point to remember here is to build all the engine compartment edges so they all cement onto the rear bulkhead against the edge. The reason for this is the rear bulkhead will take the punishment in a hard landing and will stop the rest of the engine compartment pushing back.

The rest of the 1/4 in sheet can now be used to make the tail, the fin, the fillet to the fin, and by using it to cut two wing-tip ribs for each wing-tip they can be cemented together in two's to make the wing-tip blocks. The 1/8 in sheet can now be cut into the fuselage formers, necessary wing ribs and the piece which the tail wheel leg is sewn to. The 1/16 sheet will make the fuselage sides, the fuselage decking, wing ribs and capping..."

Update 20/12/2016: added article, thanks to RFJ.

Supplementary file notes

Article.

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