Weick W1-A (oz3107)

About this Plan

Weick W1-A. Free flight scale twin-boom pusher model for C02 power.

Quote: "Here is another Walt Mooney beauty, his Weick W1-A from Model Builder issue 11-77"

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Quote: "What does our Peanut Bender do when he finds a design that hasn't enough room for a rubber motor? Turn to Fizz Power! This little ship is a perfect subject for CO2 engines.

The Weick W1-A was built in the earty 1930's as a research safety airplane. It was operated and tested by the U.S. Bureau of Air Commerce in 1935, and was known for a time as the Weick rudderless_ It went through several modifications over a period of several years, and was rebuilt by Fairchild Aircraft Corporation to the configuration modeled here.

Mr Fred Weick went on to design the Ercoupe, another safety airplane, and also to work for Piper Aircraft. where he had some influence on the design of the Cherokee and some agricultural airplanes.

With the exception of the very early airplanes by Curtiss and a few others, the W1-A was one of the first aircraft to be equipped with tricycle landing gear, something that almost all modern general aviation aircraft have, for safer landings and ground handling.

This aircraft was selected for a CO, model for several reasons:

1. It is an historically significant airplane,
2. It has a reasonable free flight configuration. Tail size and dihedral were satisfactory.
3. Being a pusher, the CO4 engine is protected in case of a crash.
4. CO2 engines are easy to start, even when they are located between booms.
5. And, of course, it's an interesting shape.

This model is not what is known to the model airplane world as a straightforward design. However, it is not a difficult model to build.

Besides its general twin boom, centerpod, pusher configuration, the model is built with separate surfaces. The flaps, elevator, and rudders (it certainly wasn't rudderless after the Fairchild rebuild), are built separately from their respective fixed surfaces. The flaps forced this decision, because they are separate airfoils. Therefore, there are a few more pieces to make than usual.

In addition, the pod and boom arrangement doesn't lend itself to the usual construction techniques. Try to keep the model light in weight, because it is rather large for the Single cylinder CO2 engines.

The fuselage pod is the most different of all the components, so a fairly complete building sequence follows.

First, cut out all the separate parts. Note that the 'floor,' 'ceiling,' and 'deck' are only given as half-patterns. Make two halves and cement them together, or make a complete pattern before making them out of a single piece. Note the grain direction indicated on the various pieces. Two of the three bulkheads are assemblies. Use light 1/16 sheet, or even 3/32.

Cement the uprights on either side of the web as shown. Note that the front bulkhead leans aft in the side view, and cut the ends of the uprights appropriately. Hot Stuff is useful (although not indispensable) to fix the bends in the front uprights. Use hard balsa for the front keel, and bottom keel. Use light balsa for the aft keel, which is also assembled from two pieces. Use hard balsa for the upper and lower formers. Note that two of each are required. Above the ceiling there are three cabin top ribs. One long one goes along the centerline of cabin forward of the wing.

Start assembling the body by cementing the bottom keel to the complete floor. Now you know why the floor grain goes crossways to the fuselagel The grain direction makes it easier to bend the floor to match the bottom keel shape. Next, cement the front keel and aft keel in place. Start thinking about how the engine will be installed. It will require a hole in the front bulkhead to allow the filler line to get through..."

Supplementary file notes

Planfile includes article.

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