Back to Front (oz3502)

About this Plan

Back to Front. Rubber canard model.

Quote: "You can't get much more unorthodox than this. KJ Wallace's negative-sweep canard is great for sport flying or P-30 competition.

THIS MODEL WAS CONCEIVED after reading about the merits of negative sweep wings as used on today's ultra-modern fighters. The fact that the model is also a canard and a pusher is purely accidental but probably reflects my unorthodox approach to everything! In fact, on showing the completed model to my wife she commented 'I hope you feel better now!' Thus was born Back-to-Front.

Construction is very straightforward and should present no real problems to anyone who has already built one or two models. Remember, although I only really use the model for sport flying, it does conform to P.30 class rules and hence has performance to match, especially if careful wood selection is adhered to.

The beginnings. The wings. I normally begin all my models with the wings, simply because if I get bored halfway through, at least the wings can be used for something else! First make an accurate template, incorporating the spar slot, from plywood and cut out a set of ribs. Note that at this stage the two centre section and two root ribs have an extra 3mm square slot on top of the rib and the two ribs adjacent to the root have the extra slot on the underside.

Now build the complete centre section over the plan and don't forget to pack up the front of the TE with scrap 0.8 mm sheet. Ensure everything is square and leave to dry. Now pin the wing TE over the plan, packed up at the front as before, and add all the ribs (except root and tip) followed by the 3 x 1.5 mm spar. This is a fiddly procedure but take time to ensure everything is square and true, and leave to dry. Now add the 3 mm sq leading edge. Scrap block is used to hold it into the notches in the ribs. This will help to keep it straight. Once set, add the root rib tilted to produce the required dihedral, join this panel to the centre section, add the reinforcing root gussets and leave to set. Now repeat for the other wing panel..."

Supplementary file notes

Planfile includes article.

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