Kittiwake (oz2197)

About this Plan

Kittiwake. Free flight rubber duration twin-boom flying boat. Built to Wakefield rules.

Quote: "Holder of the British record for waterplane duration, this twin-motored flying boat is simple to build yet offers hours of fun.

UNTIL A COUPLE of years ago when W Tinker and Co of the Portsmouth and Epsom clubs experimented with this type of craft, apparently only members of the old North Kent M.A.S. and the present North Kent Nomads M.G. have made rubber driven flying boats. It is rather surprising that more modellers have not done so, as the flying boat is a fascinating subject and very spectacular when skimming off the water.

Experiments have been made with single motor layouts but the designer has yet to see one take off the water without a hard push. When they appear to have sufficient power to take off, torque troubles are in evidence as the machine tilts badly and invariably spins into the water. Sponsons and floats do not appear to be effective, however well designed, as drag on the water pulls the machine round.

Having had some success with the twin motor layout, it was decided to build a Wakefield size machine for two reasons. Further, it is a very efficient 'land' plane size and secondly, a long motor run can be obtained due to the length of nacelles. Since an 'old rule' Wakefield had 14 strands of 1 in x 1/24th in 36 inches long, Ray decided to power Kittiwake with two motors each comprising 8 strands of the same 36 in length.

Start construction by building the hull, two 1/8 in sq side frames for which are pinned down over the plan, one frame over the other for accuracy and speed. When dry, they are separated, and 16 s.w.g. wire wing mounts bent and bound in place and gussetted. A paper tube is made by rolling over suitably waxed dowel and cementing, then fitted to former H2. This former and H1 are then joined to the side frames and whole structure allowed to dry thoroughly.

Rear of side frames are brought together and held under pressure of a clothes peg. The front end is similarly treated after steaming the structure forward of H1. Spacers and dowels are now added. Underside of the hull is covered with 1/32nd sheet, leaving a hole for the paper tube end to prevent cavitation on take-off..."

Update 19/12/2016: added article, thanks to RFJ.

Supplementary file notes

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