Bucker 180 Student (oz3276)

About this Plan

Bucker 180 Student. Scale model for radio control. Wingspan 75.5 in, wing area 645.7 sq in, for .23 to .40 engines.

Note this plan does not show fuselage formers. The kit included a pre-formed glassfibre fuselage.

German language plan.

Later reprinted in Modellismo.

Quote: "Bü 180 Student. Riproduzione di un aereo da addestramento e turismo degli anni '30. Ap. Alare 195 cm. Motorizzazione elettrica 3-4 celle o scoppio :40- .51 4T."

Quote: "And this one is from Klaus Krick Modellbau in 1971...First as an all Wood kit and later with a fiberglass fuselage... Cheers Pascal"

Update 26/09/2018: Added instructions, thanks to Stefan.

Quote: "Developed in 1937 by Bucker Flugzeugbau GmbH of Berlin-Rangsdorf, the Bu 180 Student was a modern light aircraft of mixed construction with a performance second to none. The Student was equally well suited as a general sports aircraft, primary trainer, conversion trainer for glider pilots and even as a glider tug.

Thanks to its extremely short take-off and landing runs of 140 and 100 metres respectively, the Student could be operated from even the smallest airfields without difficulties. The prototype (registered D-ELIO) was equipped with the French 'Train T4' of 40 HP for its maiden flight. Open cockpits were standard, but versions could be had with a generously glazed cockpit canopy as well.

About 40 Students had been built until summer 1939 for German, Swedish and Swiss customers, when at the outbreak of WWII all German Students were pressed into service with the GAF.

Our model was based on data found in a pre-war manual and to a much larger extent on an original aircraft beautifully restored by the aircraft collector Fritz Ulmer of Goppingen, and is absolutely true to scale in its outlines.

This kit includes a well-detailed fiberglass fuselage with cowl and cockpit. The remainder of the kit is balsa construction. The wings plug in to the fuselage like glider wings, and have special hardware to make the aileron linkage hookup. The hardware includes scale wheels, tailwheel. Detailed English building instructions included."

Update 30/4/2025: Added kit review (fr), thanks to DriesNeyrinck.

Quote (google-translated): "Semi-scale model for relaxed pilots. BUCKER 180 STUDENT from Krick. By F Lallemand, produced by J Baum.

The Krick production range is particularly interesting due to the originality of the models offered. These are retro aircraft, uncommon, and very much in keeping with current trends. What better choice to start with semi-scale modeling than building a model intended for training? Moreover, a simple, rustic aircraft will be much more reliable than a sophisticated one, and that's important in practice.

History: With the multitude of young people trained in German clubs on rudimentary gliders such as the SG-38, it was essential to provide a transitional powered aircraft before installing them in the cockpit of a fighter or dive-bomber. Among the aircraft designed for this purpose, the Student 180 combined the qualities of slow flight, great docility, and exemplary stability. Built by the Bucker Company in 1937 in Rangsdorf, near Berlin, its characteristics were remarkable.

Light aircraft, low-wing monoplane, single-engine, fixed landing gear. Tandem two-seater. Wood and fabric construction.

Wingspan: 11.50 m
Length: 7.25 in
Gross vehicle weight: 540 kg
Cruising speed: 170 km/h
Landing speed: 65 km/h
Takeoff distance: 140 meters
Landing distance: 100 meters.

Still pretending to respect the Treaty of Versailles, prohibiting the creation of a military aviation force, the aircraft were once again assigned to flying clubs under the guise of civilian registration. Then, a few hours of advanced aerobatics on the BU-133 completed a training course that culminated in civil war operations in Spain, under the emblem of the Condor Legion. This ideal test site provided a means by which, without great risk, the future Luftwaffe would train its crews and quickly acquire the formidable experience of modern air combat, which would prove to be an overwhelming and decisive factor in the following months. But that's another story.

The model: The model offered in the box is produced by the Krick firm in Knittlingen (West Germany). The scale chosen was 1/6, which results in:

wingspan: 1,917 mm
length: 2,108 mm
lifting surface: 48.88 dm²
weight: 2,400 g
wing loading: 50 g/drum
engine: 3.5 to 6.5 cc

One will immediately notice the model's respectable size, its very low weight, as well as the modest engine displacement. These are all criteria that make the Student model more like a motor glider than an airplane.

Before discussing today's study, however, it should be noted that, in this case, the term 'beginner modeler' is intended for modelers who already have some knowledge of piloting and construction.

Since the full-size aircraft is intended to train glider pilots to fly powered aircraft, the scale model will also be an ideal aircraft for a pilot who already has one or two previous projects under his belt and has acquired the reflexes that allow him to no longer make mistakes with the controls.

J Baum, from the 'Le Graouilly' Aeromodeling section of Ailes Mosellanes in Metz, perfectly illustrates the case of the average modeler, wanting a simple model that doesn't require an excessive amount of time to build, and piloting without breaking a sweat.

The documentation: The construction instructions (without translation) coldly state that the plans in the box were reconstructed from some debris found at the bottom of a hangar, that it is likely that no aircraft still exist, that the archives have disappeared, and that consequently, it is completely pointless to write or call to obtain any documentation. A somewhat cavalier approach to sidestepping the problems. What Krick's professionals didn't bother to try to resolve, we managed to do very easily.

And we did it simply by writing to the French Air Museum. Admittedly, the relevant archives are not very extensive. However, a few photos and press excerpts are available, more than enough to satisfy judges of semi-models, as well as a small three-view plan. Only a sketch of the instrument panels remains untraceable.

The box: With the chapter on documentation and our grievances closed, we must recognize that the kit represents a good prefabrication compromise between the different trends generally found on the market. Indeed, at present, the vast majority of commercial boxes can be divided into three main principles:

1. Entirely conventional manufacturing, in wood and structure. Construction time is often significant but the total weight is as low as possible:

2. The 'mixed' solution, offering a fuselage in fiberglass or other, and wings in conventional construction. An interesting compromise, allowing reasonable assembly times to be combined with an acceptable total weight.

3. Finally, maximum prefabrication, including wings and empennages in cased polystyrene and a resin spindle. Speed ??of assembly, but higher wing loading and inversely proportional to the weight reduction of the wallet.

The Student box is designed according to the 'mixed' solution, that is, perfectly adapted to the semi-scale formula.

Construction: This is the first serious semi-scale box that our 'Grandpa' has tackled. Therefore, we feel that when he describes the construction as 'a long ordeal,' he is being a bit harsh. Ultimately, nothing insurmountable, since he succeeded perfectly. Few problems with the fuselage, which was delivered finished.

The wings are removable from metal strips using a process identical to that used on gliders, with the aileron controls being controlled by forks and angle drives.

The leading edge of the wing is boxed, the remainder being covered in fabric in the same way as the tailplanes. A few minor adjustments to make, but again, nothing out of the ordinary.

On the other hand, the tail wheel is a bit more annoying. It's designed to be 'crazy.' We don't know if many of our readers have ever used this system, but we only needed one time to swear it would be the last. During taxiing, the aircraft is completely uncontrollable and happily launches into a tailspin. At worst, it's even better to install a fixed axle..."

Supplementary file notes

Instructions (de) complete, 8 pages.
Review (fr).

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