Rearwin Speedster M6000M (oz5034)

About this Plan

Rearwin Speedster Model M6000M. Radio control scale model.

Quote: "This half-A stand-off sport scale model is the epitome of a classic light airplane of the late 1930's. Designed for .049 to .051 engines and two or three channels.

The Rearwin Speedster model M6000 has to be just about the epitome of a classic light airplane of the late 1930's era. This, coupled with its nearly ideal proportions for modeling, makes it a super subject for Half-A Scale. I looked through my old magazines and found several examples in Model Airplane News and Sport Modeler and drew my plans from these minimal sources. It turns out that the scale is pretty good and one glimpse of that beautifully cowled, in-line, inverted engine; and the very proud vertical tail, immediately brands it as the M6000 Rearwin Speedster.

Subsequent research, some of which is reflected in the drawings, was accomplished through Northrop Institute's American Hall of Aviation History; discussions and priceless photographs from John Underwood, of the American Aviation Historical Society; a long discussion with Mr Gene Salvay, who worked for Rearwin when he was a college student; and last, but certainly not least, my good friend Dan Lutz, who loaned me the scale presentation from his beautiful, but sadly departed, Speedster - somebody turned on on him.

The research done so far proves to me that there is a lot of contradiction in the historical data, largely due to inaccurate press releases given out by the Rearwin Company. Aviation and Aero Digest articles published at the time the Approved Type Certificate (AR661) was issued, distinctly show the NC15865 prototype with the American Cirrus Hi-drive engine and, yet, infer that the power plant is the Menasco C4 or C4S. Coupled with the fact that only 11 of these little beauties were produced, leads to even more confusion. The magazines, of course, cannot be held responsible for any misinformation since they merely published the Rearwin press releases.

All of the production versions did use the Menasco engine (hence the M6000M designation) which is the version I have chosen to model.

The best and most reliable information that I have been able to obtain on colors and color scheme came from Mr Salvay, who stated that all of the Speedsters were either Stearman vermillion and light (Curtiss) blue trim or vice-versa. All had the same silver stripe on the fuselage and wheel pants outlined with a black pin-stripe. Analysis of the photographs that I have indicates that NC19410 and NC20741 were vermillion with light blue trim; NC 19412 was light blue with vermillion trim. N20741, in its current configuration, is Cub Yellow with a black design on the fuselage side. The shape of the design and the N number can be found in a photograph appearing in the September 1963 issue of Air Progress.

Construction of the model is in the tradition of the old timers using a Warren truss, box fuselage with stringers. The wing is a simple flat bottom built-up structure and can be built in one piece with no dihedral, if desired: the full size aircraft only had 1/4 degree of dihedral. The wing struts are semi-functional in that the model can be, and has been, flown without them, but I feel more secure when they are used.

In the instructions which follow, I have tried to be explicit only in those areas demanding the proper sequencing since I believe that anyone building this model will be somewhat of a craftsman and will innovate anyway, so let's get on with it.

Fuselage: Both of the fuselage sides are built at the same time, then, after the glue has set, they are separated and assembled into a box frame. The longerons are 3/16 square medium balsa with 1./8 square vertical and diagonal members in the forward section to allow 1/16 sheet to be inlaid for greater strength.

Start the fuselage by cutting the 1/16 sheet to shape. Mark the location of the 1/8 square uprights and diagonals..."

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Supplementary file notes

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