Curtiss Shrike YA-8 (oz4778)
About this Plan
Curtiss YA-8 Shrike. Rubber scale model.
Quote: "The Curtiss Shrike VA-8 was designed in the early 1930's to meet the US Army's need for an attack aircraft capable of close ground support, light bombing and observation. The aircraft was developed around the favored Curtiss 600 hp Conqueror in-line, liquid-cooled engine which produced a slim, streamlined 183 mph aircraft. But the Conqueror engine was plagued with chronic cooling problems and large maintenance costs. So Curtiss decided to re-engine the VA-8 with an air-cooled 625 hp P&W radial and upped the designation to the VA-12 Shrike, an aircraft that proved popular with the Army and the pilots who flew it, However, the YA-8 makes a better looking model.
For those of us who grew up in the 30's and 40's there is a special fascination with the planes of that era, especially the military aircraft. Nations readying for war, rapid progress in aircraft design, and memories of seeing those planes as pictured in the media of those days all combine to motivate us to recreate these old warbirds as models.
The Shrike was one of many models on the "must build- list... a list that most scale modelers have, written or unwritten. It was first made as a Peanut Scale with 13 inch span and 14 gram weight. A smooth flying little gnat, but with limited duration and a peculiar habit of climbing up about six feet, hesitating and making a slight turn to the left, and then going off in a beeline to land just as the winds ran out. One thing learned was that if those big wheel pants weren't positioned exactly straight ahead. the model wouldn't fly worth a darn.
By enlarging the plans to a wingspan of almost 36 inches, a more workable and detailed model was possible. The big model is also very steady in flight, and moves in wide circles to the left. Build light and pack in the rubber and see the performance go up. Incidentally. the Shrike would make a great radio-controlled scale model.
FUSELAGE: Cut out bulkheads from medium hard sheet balsa, cut out side keels from 3/32 sheet balsa, and the top and bottom keel pieces. Position bulkheads on side keels, then add top and bottom keels. Add 1/16 sq stringers in pairs, beginning next to Ilse side keel, making sure to keep the fuselage straight Leave the wing bay open. Between F3 and F4, glue in soft pieces of 1/4-inch sheet or similar, carve to shape, and sand. Between F4 and F5, fill the spaces between the stringers with soft 1/16 sheet balsa. Add the 1/16 sheet pieces to support the wire wing braces, the solid wing braces, and the rear motor peg.
Cockpit canopy supports are 1/16 sq balsa for front, and 1/32 laminated balsa strips for the rear cockpit. Later these supports can be covered with thin cellophane. When the fuselage is completed, use fine sandpaper to smooth the structure and to slightly scallop the bulkheads between the stringers, so the tissue doesn't bump-up on the bulkheads. Details Ssuch as the exhaust stack line, radiator, oil cooler, and fuel tank are made from scrap balsa and added to the fuselage just before painting.
WING: Cut out all ribs and lay down the two 3/32 sq spars on the plan and glue in the ribs except for the center rib. Slightly slant the two ribs that bracket the landing gear, so the pants fit in nicely. Glue in the 1/8 sq leading edge and the 1/8 x 1/4 trailing edge, and add the wing tips and the top spars..."
Direct submission to Outerzone.
Hi Steve - Here is Ted Schreyer's Curtiss Shrike YA-8 from Model Builder magazine issue 11-91.
Supplementary file notes
Article.
Corrections?
Did we get something wrong with these details about this plan (especially the datafile)?
That happens sometimes. You can help us fix it.
Add a correction
-
(oz4778)
Curtiss Shrike YA-8
by Ted Schreyer
from Model Builder
November 1991
36in span
Scale Rubber F/F LowWing Military Bomber
clean :)
all formers complete :)
got article :) -
Submitted: 24/08/2013
Filesize: 1157KB
Format: • PDFbitmap
Credit*: theshadow
Downloads: 1397
-
Curtiss_A-8 | help
see Wikipedia | search Outerzone
------------
Test link:
search RCLibrary 3views (opens in new window)
ScaleType: This (oz4778) is a scale plan. Where possible we link scale plans to Wikipedia, using a text string called ScaleType.
If we got this right, you now have a couple of direct links (above) to 1. see the Wikipedia page, and 2. search Oz for more plans of this type. If we didn't, then see below.
Notes:
ScaleType is formed from the last part of the Wikipedia page address, which here is https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curtiss_A-8
Wikipedia page addresses may well change over time.
For more obscure types, there currently will be no Wiki page found. We tag these cases as ScaleType = NotFound. These will change over time.
Corrections? Use the correction form to tell us the new/better ScaleType link we should be using. Thanks.
Do you have a photo you'd like to submit for this page? Then email admin@outerzone.co.uk
User comments
No comments yet for this plan. Got something to say about this one?Add a comment
- Curtiss Shrike YA-8 (oz4778)
- Plan File Filesize: 1157KB Filename: Curtiss_Shrike_YA-8_oz4778.pdf
- Supplement Filesize: 842KB Filename: Curtiss_Shrike_YA-8_oz4778_article.pdf
- help with downloads
Notes
* Credit field
The Credit field in the Outerzone database is designed to recognise and credit the hard work done in scanning and digitally cleaning these vintage and old timer model aircraft plans to get them into a usable format. Currently, it is also used to credit people simply for uploading the plan to a forum on the internet. Which is not quite the same thing. This will change soon. Probably.
Scaling
This model plan (like all plans on Outerzone) is supposedly scaled correctly and supposedly will print out nicely at the right size. But that doesn't always happen. If you are about to start building a model plane using this free plan, you are strongly advised to check the scaling very, very carefully before cutting any balsa wood.
Terms of Use
© Outerzone, 2011-2024.
All content is free to download for personal use.
For non-personal use and/or publication: plans, photos, excerpts, links etc may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Outerzone with appropriate and specific direction to the original content i.e. a direct hyperlink back to the Outerzone source page.
Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site's owner is strictly prohibited. If we discover that content is being stolen, we will consider filing a formal DMCA notice.