Minerva (oz3761)

About this Plan

Minerva. Rubber sport biplane model.

Quote: "Full-size plans for building this attractive gull-wing streamlined biplane, illustrated on the front cover of this issue, are available from The Aeromodeller offices, price 2/6, post free.

THE best method of building the fuselage is to temporarily stick cardboard centres on to formers and cut out squares corresponding to the size of rod on which it is to he assembled (the line D.L. should be taken as the centre of rod to ensure the fuselage being correct). The portion where the fillet occurs should be very carefully built, the 1/16 in sheet rib being glued on where shown and the nose and tail of the fillets carved to fit. The two stringers which comprise, the fillet should he stuck on and the whole carefully sandpapered. The nose former should he faced up with 1/32 in ply. The fuselage tissue should he applied in strips with the grain running along the fuselage.

Wings and Tail Unit. These are constructed in the usual manner, the leading edge being carved to shape after the job is dry. The gull portion of the top wing is set at 0 degrees incidence on the fuselage, the ribs C and D being set at an angle to ensure that the correct incidence is obtained on the top wing. The wing interplane struts are sanded to a streamline section and glued to the appropriate ribs. (I do not think it is advisable to make the wing struts detachable). The wing pegs should be a firm fit in the boxes so that no vibration will be present. Care should be taken when covering that the wings do not warp, as this is fatal.

Tail. The fin and tail-plane are of straightforward construction, and should be covered before assembling on to the removable tail-piece, the tail being set at 0 degrees incidence. Again, great care should be taken to ensure that the tail-plane does not warp.

Nose-block and Propeller. These are of normal construction and are detailed on the drawing. Hard balsa should be used and the utmost care taken in balancing the propeller..."

Quote: "Back to the 1940s again for free flight plans and the October 1941 AEROMODELLER. The Cover painting by RUPERT MOORE shows the MINERVA climbing over the English country side while below a group of aero modellers stand by the take off mat. In fact the MINERVA was the only plan to pass along from this issue and it's a very attractive rubber powered biplane designed by J.E. FRASER. The gull wing sets it apart and together with the spindly undercarriage it has that wonderful true 'Vintage' look. Looks capable of a good performance as well."

Supplementary file notes

Plan file includes magazine article.

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