Mini GH 20 (oz3582)

About this Plan

Mini GH 20. Mini Wakefield rubber model.

Quote: "Mini-Wakes are fun! Try GF Elsegood's version of this 1942 design and find out for yourself.

THE SEARCH FOR ANOTHER scaled-down down Wakefield was inspired by the half-size Zombie plan featured in the February 1984 Aeromodeller. A friend and I each built one, and we were delighted by their flying characteristics. Inspired, I wanted another vintage Wake and eventually found the right model in GWW Harris' GH2O, which dates from 1942. The construction follows the full size exactly; material sizes have been reduced to the nearest practical sizes available.

Fuselage construction. Build two sides over the plan using hard 1/16 sq for the longerons and softer wood for the uprights. Cut out formers 1 and 4; fit and check for squareness and allow to set. Fit the nose former, glue rear fuselage ends together and then fit in the remaining 1/16 sq cross pieces. If you decide to fit the undercarriage bend it up from 20 swg wire, glue in place and strengthen by wrapping two layers of tissue around it and former 1.

Wings. Use a ply template to cut out the ribs from the softest wood possible. There are plenty of them so the wing will be adequately strong, but it is important to keep the weight down. Make the tips from bamboo; I used strips from an old table mat cut down to about 1/32 sq. Make a thick card template of the tip; heat the bamboo near a candle flame, and when it softens wrap it round the template. Repeat the process if necessary until there is no tendency for the bamboo to spring away from the template, otherwise the tip may distort the wing when fitted. Do not add the 1/16 sheet centre rib yet. Prop up the wing tip to give 2 in dihedral under each tip and glue in the dihedral keeper between the 1/16 sq. spars. Complete the wing by fitting the 1/16 centre rib, which is in two pieces.

Tailplane and Fin. The tail is identical in construction to the wing, but it has only one 1/16 sq spar. The fin outline is assembled from 1/32 in sheet, and the 1/16 sq spar and 1/32 x 1/8 in ribs are added in straightforward fashion.

Noseblock and prop assembly. Laminate 1/8 sheet for the nose block, facing the locating plug with the piece of 1/64 ply cut out of the inside of the nose former. Drill out carefully and fit the 20swg all tube bearing. Originally I flew the model with a seven-inch plastic propeller, in which form the performance is identical to that of the Zombie. By fitting the folding prop the glide improves dramatically. It is well worth the extra effort involved. Carve the blade from very soft block, and smooth and rub in two coats of balsa cement which should'give a very smooth, hard surface for a minimum of effort..."

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