Little Willie (oz3781)

About this Plan

Little Willie. Free flight rubber model.

Quote: "LITTLE WILLIE, by the Rev WP Wylie.

Little Willie is the result of my association with the local Air Scouts. No doubt the experts will raise their eyes in horror; no doubt they will point out that he is far heavier, and also stronger, than he need be; that he has a most inefficient form of tail; or that just a little more trouble here and there would have produced a more efficient machine. But it is just that extra trouble that you, the complete novice, are at present unable, though far from unwilling, to take.

Little Willie is deliberately designed for you; the person who has never yet made a plane, and who knows next to nothing about how to do it or to fly it. As far as is humanly possible snags have been avoided. On the other hand, by building Little Willie you will learn a lot about modern methods, gain invaluable experience, and also find the thrill of flying a model of your own.

I am going to be fairly detailed, because there are odd points which no one ever tells the novice, but which are of great importance.
First and foremost make a copy of the plan. You must work from full-size plans. You may think you can do without these; you can't.

Start with the fuselage. Here is one of the difficulties that cannot be avoided, the curving of the longerons. Don't be tempted just to bend them and hope they will stick when the cement dries. Cut four pieces, slightly longer than necessary, and hold each of them in the spout of a boiling kettle..."

Note this plan is not full size, it is here as printed in the original mag, so the plan is 1/2 sized, but with some formers shown at full size.

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