Little Sky Skooter (oz2714)

About this Plan

Little Sky Skooter. Free flight sport model.

The original Sky Skooter (oz4431) was a Veron kit from 1950. This here is a scaled-down later version from Aeromodeller in March 1990, at 24in wingspan, for CO2 power.

Quote: "Skyskooter. Go for a neat mini-Vintage cabin classic with Clive Westerman's two-footer for CO2 power.

THE original Veron Skyskooter first ap-peared in the early fifties - actually, just early enough to be accounted, authentically, as a vintage design nowadays; and the smart four-footer with attractive semi-scale looks and tricycle undercarriage became an instant favourite. Its roomy cabin, with provision for access via large door, endeared the Skyskooter to the radio control fraternity and several British records tell to this design in the days of ECC radio and the Mills 1.3. Others were built by the dozen for F/F and the ED Bee powered Skyskooter was, for quite a time, as popular a 'period' combination as was the Veron Cardinal and Mills .75.

Plans for the Skyskooter are still available from the designer, Phil Smith of 32 Verwood Crescent, Southborne, Bournemouth, Dorset, who has given permission for Clive Westerman's half-size reproduction to be published here.

Our mini-model:Some designs look just fine when reduced in size; others, curiously, somehow grotesque. The mini-Skyskooter, we venture to suggest, is an absolute jewel. Telco CO2 power is perfectly sufficient for reliable yet zippy circuits, and is robust enough to absorb the rough-and-tumble of outdoor flight as well as the less turbulent world of Indoor activity. At half-size, the original construction scales down quite happily with few deviations from 'scale'. Sticking the bits together presents no difficulty and the mini-Skyskooter assembles rapidly. Build one now for the weekend!

Fuselage: This is a straightforward box; assembly with stringered turtle deck and, on our version, extra 3/32in sq stringers from the nose to the rear of the fuselage - governs the correct tailplane incidence.

The main undercarriage legs are bound to the lower longerons in the same manner as its larger ancestor. The CO2 tank may be allowed to float, unsecured, in the cabin with only the pipework to give a degree of rigidity, but some builders may prefer to create a firmer interior framework. Similarly, the filler valve is not fixed to the structure, although if desired, this could easily be arranged. N1 is suggested as the best location, with extra stiffening desirable to take account of the considerable load imparted at charge-up. On the whole, the 'free' system, though not so neat, is quite satisfactory.

We have shown an inverted motor layout on the plan, although the original mini-Skyskooter featured an 'upright' arrangement which was the more common alternative in the days of its larger ancestor.

Wing and tail surfaces: These are perfectly straightforward, with the usual caveat about care in construction ensuring no warps. To save a little weight, the original three-spar wing was slightly modified to the layout shown. Purists may wish to add the omitted spar (directly below to top one). The fully symmetrical tail is a touch unusual, but is easily created by building it flat-bottomed in the usual way, then adding the supplementary, undercambered rib portions.

Take care in covering, crispness really matters on 'miniature' models, and you are ready for flight! The prototype was yellow-and-black, but there's plenty of scope for going to town on the tissue finish. Three coats of well-thinned (30/70 per cent) dope/thinners should give a weather-and-airproof finish to the fuselage. Two coats should be sufficient for the wings and tail.

Up and away: A few gentle test launches should establish if anything is widly out of trim. Mind you, providing incidence angles and balance point are as per plan, no dificulty should arise. Try a few gas charges before committing yourself to a full liquid charge and maxium power. Left-hand circuits are best, but the mini-Skyskooter is really viceless in flight. Happy Skyskooting! "

Supplementary file notes

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