Cubee (oz2838)

About this Plan

Cubee. Pontoon FF model for .049-.09 glow power. Wingspan 38 in, wing area 250 sq in. From Model Airplane News, Sep 1951.

Quote: "This is pontoon flying at its best, a realistic model with scale-type floats, that taxis slowly, picks up speed, rises on the step, then completes a graceful 'big-ship' take-off and climb. Cubee by Ted Grzesczak

Until you have seen a sport-type seaplane with its slim realistic floats skim along a glassy surface, then swoop gracefully into the air, you haven't seen anything. There is no greater thrill than to start that engine, set the plane on the water and watch the prop move the model slowly at first, but then faster and faster until it is planing along on the steps, finally to make a true rise-off-water (ROW) take-off.

Cubee is no contest model with ugly squat floats to get the machine quickly into the air. It is meant to look a little like a real airplane and to act exactly like the real thing. Take our word for it, the extra work in making those two genuine pontoons will be amply repaid.

But if you should want to convert Cubee into a land model (oh, no!), be sure to use only .035 - .039 engines as the ship will be too fast to fly on larger motors without floats, certainly so if an .074 is used.

To build the fuselage, cut the sides from 1/16 sheet balsa and cement the rear together. Cut out the balsa bulkheads and cement them in place, checking both alignment and the joints. The plywood firewall must be cemented well because it has to take a great deal of punish-ment. Put the fuselage stringers in place, starting with the top one and working. down. The cowl now can be carved to shape and cemented in place. The bottom is covered with 1/16 sheet balsa, the grain running the long way on the bottom, except where the wing passes through; here the grain is run crosswise. The dowels for holding the wing in place now are added.

The wire gear now is made and soldered together. This should be done carefully so that the gear is the same as the plan; this is important if the model is to take off; Bind and solder all joints well. Fine copper wire is good for binding. All joints should be clean, then soldering is a pleasure and not a nightmare.

The floats are easy to make by using a keel and sheet . covering. Cut out the bulkheads and keels. Cement in place. When these frames are finished, sheet the bottoms..."

Update 06/01/2019: Added article, thanks to RFJ.

Supplementary file notes

Article.

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