Wombat (oz3874)

About this Plan

Wombat. From Australian Model Hobbies magazine, September, 1949. 5cc Biplane designed by Gordon Burford. This is a modern redrawn plan in PDFvector format.

Quote: "An Outstandingly Successful Stunt Controline Model Designed by Gordon Burford.

Controline flying was beginning to lose a lot of its interest in South Australia, as progress to a topnotch stunt controline flyer meant many crashed models and the time t build them, but when the biplane featured here made its appearance its ease of handling and stability brought most of the tiring stunt flyers back with renewed enthusiasm.

Three weeks after the Bipe's initial appearance, the Australian Wakefield and Victorian Gala weekend was held and during the controline stunt contest which was part of the weekend's flying, four f these Bipe's made themselves evident in the hands of visiting South Australian modellers, one of which came out on top in the hands of Bill Evans. None of these models had been flown before and two of them were fitted with new motors which had never been run in the models, and the old bogie 'Mr Bad Fuel Tank Setup' was more than evident, but even so the Bipes managed to stagger through figure eights, loops and inverted flight and an outside loop. which because of the low general standing of the flying was sufficient to win the contest.

Gordon Burford, long the top man in SA stunt controline flying made further progress with the aid of the Bipe to the stage where he must be second to none in Australia; his inverted take-off was a terrific surprise when first seen and as yet I don't think it has been repeated by other stunt men in Australia, although given a capable model no doubt some of the top liners would manage it.

South Australians are most keen to see Gordon clash with Ted Gregory present Australian Stunt Champ - at the next National Championships.

Flying during the monthly controline day at Glenelg in May were at least eight bipes all powered with the local 'Gee Bee' motors and the noticeable progress the chaps made impressively demonstrated the virtues of the design.

Construction is simple and rugged and as the surfaces have a comparately small moment of inertia, in the case of a crash very often the Bipe fares better than a monoplane of similar area. Just what makes this model rather better than average is not definitely clear, but we suggest that the large wing area for the low longitudinal moment of inertia enables, as long as sufficient power is present to overcome the undoubtedly high drag, stunt maneouvres to be accomplished in small space (ie tight loops, turns, etc) and this is necessary for any top-flight stunt model. Note the similarity between the Wombat and such planes as De Bolt's Super Bipe (oz9444) and the one by Henry J Nicholls, the latter is probably on the right line of development in using a laminar flow airfoil.

As with any and all models, the most important first move is to read the plan thoroughly. In this particular model there is almost no departure from orthodoxy, that is, in the construction.

Commencing with the fuselage, cut out the two sides from medium sheet, and sand. Assemble fuselage. This can be done using either 1/8 sheet top and bottom, or building up with crossbraces, the former is stronger and advisable. See that the incidences of the two mainplanes are exactly right as this is most important on biplanes. The undercarriage and motor mount (beam) is well illustrated on the drawing..."

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