Lil Stingray (oz28)

About this Plan

Lil Stingray. Tiny twin boom control line stunt model, for Cox .010 engine. From from AM Nov 1964.

Quote: "This tiny mite is the first true full-stunt Ukie for indoor flying. Goes like crazy outdoors, too. Younger types with fast reflexes are invited to try the diamond airfoil; older 'experts' better stick to the slower, quieter symmetrical section.

Engine research has advanced over the past years by leaps and bounds and one of the hottest successes in the tiny engine field continues to offer a real challenge to the modeler. For a comparatively small amount of change he can buy the hottest motor in the business. Them's my sentiments and I'll stick by 'em, partner.

My immediate original reaction on seeing Mr. Cox' .010 was to buy one. I really didn't need the engine, but building a control line stunt model small enough to fly indoors at last seemed entirely possible with this engine. Of course, at the time I didn't envision also using the engine as a pump in the Crusader, that idea hadn't hatched as yet. The first engine was broken in and installed in one of the available kit R/C jobs. As the engine loosened up it became more difficult to handle the controls of the job. About that time we laid aside the radio project and drew up a set of plans for something that would use this tiny tiger's power in a more familiar way. What I wanted was a Ukie design that would do a portion of the pattern on 10 foot lines!

The original Lil Sting-ray was designed with a diamond airfoil which was so popular in combat. This offered great simplicity and took the minimum amount of building time. The engine's tank was stripped off and a regular stunt tank was laid out on .004 brass shim stock. Jap tissue for the lightest serviceable covering job with two coats of clear to seal the paper and the model was finished.

The complete whiz-wagon came to just 50 grams (3/4 ounce). The first test flute on 10 foot lines made the pilot look like a whirling dervish proving the model had to have at least 20 foot lines to allow your feet to keep up with your orbit. A set of .004 steel lines proved just right on this job giving you time to move and yet not loading the model down with line drag. The fact that the model will go through a complete wingover is something to raise your hair..."

Update 19/07/2016: article pages, text & pics added, thanks to RFJ.

Supplementary file notes

Article pages, text & pics.

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