Fw 190 (oz3219)

About this Plan

Fw 190. Control line scale model fighter. Scale Team Racer design. From Model Aircraft January 1958.

Quote: "WHEN the First All Speed Team in California started this Team Racing business, the rules stated that the models should be 'scale or semi-scale' in appearance. I have never seen a scale model flown irk competition racing and the reason for this is twofold. Firstly, some of the rules - that specifying a totally enclosed cylinder head is a good example - make it very difficult for an accurate scale model to conform to the specification. Secondly, to obtain the maximum speed and laps the model must be designed right down to the limits of the specification. Over the years one layout has proved to be the most consistently successful, therefore, all team racers now look alike - well almost!

Scale models can never compete on even terms with the highly developed present-day team racer, but what a wonderful sight it would be to see Hurricanes, Spitfires, FW109s, Thunderbolts and, perhaps, even Bristol Monoplane Scouts and Miles Libellulas racing each other. Most World War II fighters would work out at about the right size if built to a scale of 3/4 in to 1 ft - while of kit designs, the Mercury Spitfire and Mustang would be very suitable.

I would like to suggest the following rules for scale team racing. They are framed so as to give a wide choice of suitable prototypes and I do not think that any one design would predominate, while the spectacle would be worth the extra work involved in building the models.

1. Minimum wing area 100 sq in.
2. Undercarriage must be fixed, or retracting-detracting with scale type wheels. Some departure from scale will he allowed to enable safe landings and prop clearance.
3. Cockpit must contain a pilot of a scale appropriate to the model.
4. Cylinder head need not be completely cowled but should be as unobtrusive as possible, preferably inverted or side mounted.
5. Rules for racing, ie tank size, engine size, line length and number of laps, etc., as for SMAE Class A team racing.
6. The model judged in each heat to be best finished and nearest to scale (25 points for finish and 75 for scale and detail - this means that not too much notice will be taken of the inevitable wear and tear of a team racer) shall have four laps less to fly in that heat.

To test the practicability of these rules I have built and flown models that conform to them, a Douglas Destroyer is shown in the photo overleaf, while my Focke Wulf 190A4, as can be seen from the photographs, is an accurate and attractive model. It has even won a team race, but we are not yet very expert in Nicosia.

If by now you are sold on this scale team racing idea, you will be looking round for a suitable design, so what could be better than the FW190A4, plans and building instructions for which appear herewith.

Building Instructions. Start with the wing. Prick out the outline of the half wing on to 1/16 in sheet balsa, butt jointed to make up the necessary width. Cut four of these. Assemble the ribs, mainspar, outer leading edge and plywood front spar S1 on to the two under surfaces, building in 1-1/4 in dihedral under each tip..."

Quote: "These are not my scans but taken from the scans of the magazine by Zoe Quilter and held on Colin Ushers site. These have then been worked on by me."

Supplementary file notes

Planfile includes article.

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