Bar Flea (oz2406)

About this Plan

Bar Flea (Bar-Flea). 40 in span lightweight aerobatic model for 4 channel RC and .15 to .19 engines. Direct contribution to Outerzone.

Update 22/06/2020: Added article, thanks to RFJ.

Quote: "Your FREE plan for another mini-multi R/C model. Bar Flea, by John Knight

If Phil Kraft's Kwik Fly (oz7431) can be scaled down to Flea Fli (oz7210) size, then why not the Bar-Fli (oz5544) too? Such was the thinking that led to the creation of Bar-Flea - and it works!

This is not a beginner's model, quite the reverse in fact, since this little number really demands reason-able experience with acrobatic type R/C multi models and good reflexes. Prototype No.1 died early through my own incompetence - inverted at 30 ft, and applied up elevator instead of down - ouch. (Rather bad habit for serving RAF pilot - Ed.) No. 2 model was shot down by interference (monitored American voice transmission).

Both models used K&B 19 R/C power, driving an 8 x 8 in nylon prop. Running on KK. Nitrex 15 fuel, both prototypes would hold pace with a 61 powered Thunderstormer (oz9052) straight and level (to coin a phrase Mr Russell), which in my estimation corresponded to a speed of about 80 mph, so this little fella doesn't exactly drag its heels.

Construction is pretty straight-forward but here are a few useful pointers which may help. To help keep the weight as low as possible, balsa replaces ply in many places where the latter is normally the accepted material, for instance, the dihedral braces are balsa and I've never had a failure yet using balsa instead of ply here. Undercarriage blocks are not grooved - 10 swg mainlegs are clamped on with Micro Mold nylon saddle clamps. Even in the write-off of model No.1, the main gear was in one piece and installed in model No.2.

If you like, you can use 1/16 ply all the way along the tank bay floor - the ply is to stop the nose wheel entering the fuselage on a good 'bounce'. You might also try putting 1/8 sq strips along the inside of fuselage bottom corners aft of the wing to allow rounding of the bottom of the fuse. Dowel and rubber band wing fixing is, obviously, an alternative to the nylon bolt type shown.

Radio installation must, naturally, be arranged to suit your equipment. My models used Bonner RS radio, but the Kraft KPS-I0 servos shown on the plan are typical of modern lightweight radio installations. In any case, your arrangement must be made to preserve correct balance and on mine, the power pack was situated vertically behind F3, elevator and rudder servos in front of F4, with the Rx between DEACS and servos. (All set for a nice transistor sandwich in the case of a prang, but in the little ones, your options are limited - Ed.) Motor servo was fitted between F2 and F3 because I build nose heavy!

Finally, limit the aileron and elevator travels to 1/4 in up and down initially, and in the case of the ailerons, afterwards too! I doubled the aileron movement on No.2 model which produced a roll rate like an RAF Gnat jet trainer, but it was just not comfortable to fly.

With the Bar-Flea, you get only 317 sq in of wing area and any extra ozs tend to up the wing loading much more dramatically than on the big machines, so watch it. Aim for a weight of 2-1/2 to 2-1/4 lbs, mine was 2 lbs 14 ozs."

Supplementary file notes

Article.

Corrections?

Did we get something wrong with these details about this plan (especially the datafile)? That happens sometimes. You can help us fix it.
Add a correction