Custom Privateer (oz278)

 

Custom Privateer (oz278) by Don McGovern 1955 - plan thumbnail

About this Plan

Custom Privateer (McGovern's Monster). Radio control flying boat model. Wingspan 114 in. Later kitted by Berkeley.

Note the Custom Privateer (oz574) first appeared in Air Trails, 1954. This here is the design as it appeared when kitted by Berkeley, in 1955.

Quote: "The 'Custom Privateer' is a huge NACA Long Planing Hull Flying Boot design. Water take-offs with a screaming .60 draw a crowd everytime. In seconds it is a speck in the sky, wheeling to your command. Throttle back and shoot power-on landings, taxi back to beach or boat.

Test flown for two years, it has never dunked, even on white-capped open water. Standard gallon can fits under CG in cargo area. Design can lift several pounds of extra payload. Wing transports externally on car top racks. Easy to build and recommended for novice RC flyers, as it is not critical in flight. "

Alternate scan. Both pages of the original Berkeley kit plan. These are large files, and good scans, but sadly the scanner limit of 36in width means both drawings are slightly cropped.

Update 4/6/2022: Have split this listing now, since we have 2 separate plans. So now the Air Trails magazine plan is (oz574) and the Berkeley kit plan is (oz278).

The beautiful pics on this page from both Jean and Eduardo both show models built using the Berkeley kit plan.

Supplementary file notes

Planfile includes detailed building and flying instructions.

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Custom Privateer (oz278) by Don McGovern 1955 - model pic

Datafile:

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Do you have a photo you'd like to submit for this page? Then email admin@outerzone.co.uk

User comments

Hello Steve, last winter I build from plan [see more pics], spend three months, very nice model and fly very smooth, this privateer have a very good glide ratio, I use electric motor with 6 LiPo,. Very nice in the water , Cheers
JeanTardif - 12/05/2015
Hello, I am building a Custom Privateer. What size electric motor are you using? Mine is going to be full radio control. I cut in an elevator. What did you do? My email is andydujat@gmail.com
AndyDujat - 18/05/2016
What did you cover the aircraft with and what paint did you use? My winter project is to build McGovern 's monster.
RickAeziman - 01/06/2016
Hi Rick. For covering I use Natural Solartex and three coats of clear nitrate dope from Sig Manufacturing. For the fuselage bottom section, covering with 3/4 oz. fibreglass and resin. For painting I use automotive Dupli color in spray can, primer, and filler primer. Cheers
JeanSkydive - 20/07/2016
Would love to see some pix of this model while under construction, if anyone should happen to have any. I bought this plan in 1955 and am now 86 years old but starting construction, mostly just for the fun of building. Don't expect to ever fly it.
DonBuck - 23/12/2016
Received the pictures from Eduardo! I just can't believe my good fortune in finding you folks and that you found someone who did such an excellent job of documenting his progress. Makes me so glad that I had not started this project till this fall. I had got that sheet out many times and wondered just how to go about it. Kept it with me during my several moves with my company. Computers and the internet have changed it all so much.
DonBuck - 16/02/2017
Following Don's request, Eduardo got in touch to share his construction photos. See Don's post above - but ignore the date. This all happened in December 2016, it's just taken me ages to get round to writing this post. My apologies to Eduardo for taking so long to say thank you and share his photos with the wider Outerzone community. There are too many (79!) to add all the pictures here, but I thought you'd like to see the following selection [more pics 008-026]. As you can see, Eduardo did a fine job: great photos of a lovely build.
Mary - 16/02/2017
I am progressing with the Custom Privateer build and am beginning to get interested in powering it. I see some posts which talk about electric motors. I would like to get in touch with anyone who has successfully used electric to learn what they used. Never have done electric. Also, would like to communicate with anyone about the RC aspect - servo placement, push rods, etc. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
DonBuck - 20/03/2017
Hello, I just purchased a vintage custom privateer. It's 114 in full size model. I could use some help on the location of the CG. Thank you
Brian - 30/06/2019
Ok. It's shown on the plan, and says "Balance at 25% of Chord".
SteveWMD - 01/07/2019
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