Jap Slapper (oz2027)

 

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Good day, Here is my recently completed Megow Japslapper [main pic, 005-009]. This was built using "Victory Construction", as per the original kit specifications. The glue of choice its tight bond as it works well with the paper and wood components. The gray card stock be omes very strong with a coat or two of Nitrate dope. Best wishes, Dan
Dan Rhinehart - 02/02/2026
Amazing what lengths modelers will go to in order to overcome obstacles like an almost total shortage of balsa during WWII, shipping routes across the Gulf infested with U-boats. Many kits at that time resorted to substitute materials that worked but not as well. I remember as a kid finding a box of rubber bands made in the war years. They were black and sticky and obviously not real rubber. That's why they were still there, nobody would use them. Cardboard made a somewhat usable substitute for some components. I've made ribs from foamboard for several years with success, prompted by lack of balsa on a Sunday night with hobby shops closed. I printed the rib patterns out and pasted them to stacks of foamboard, four high at a time, cut on my scroll saw with a fine blade. Four high pinned together is as much as you can cut without increasing errors. You end up with a supply of really nice ribs for little effort. Capstrips fit well on the flat rib edges. Use wood glue to avoid damage to foam core. See picture of my Ugly Duck wing [pic 010] showing foam ribs undergoing repair. Notice the foam core shear webs, also extremely strong. It's a pretty big model, 84", has survived a midair with little damage. I just glued the damaged ribs back and re-covered with MonoKote. Before building with foam ribs, I tested the structure to make sure it was strong enough. A test piece with spruce spars and foamboard shear webs, about 18" long was subjected to the usual hobby shop stress test. Nobody was able to break it. I felt better. The Duck has flown for 10 years, powered by a .60 engine, has hauled 5 pounds of candy in the bomb bay. I now have an Ugly Stik wing being re-covered in my shop with similar foamboard ribs, will fly again. Do not use Dollar Tree foam, not strong enough.
Doug Smith - 03/02/2026
Good day, with the second plan sheet, I wanted to point out the 1/2" squares are the fuselage paper gussets. And yes they act as their own scale check as they are exactly 1/2". The paper square fuselage gussets are made of ordinary writing paper. Also of note is the optional folding prop. This is a bit of wartime ingenuity as it is not only a folding prop; it also acts as a way of recycling broken propellers.
Best wishes,
Dan Rhinehart - 05/02/2026
Of course, a person could build this with balsa and life would be a lot easier. 1/16 ribs with 1/32 cap strips. 3/16 square for the longerons. It sure looks like a Leon Shulman design and is likely the predecessor to the Banshee. Keep the tail light and balance at about 40 percent. It's an unfortunate name, but I guess somewhat understandable as it was produced right after Pearl Harbor.
Simon Blake - 05/02/2026
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