Church Mid-Wing Model JC-2 (oz5094)

About this Plan

Church Midwing JC2. Free flight scale model homebuilt racer.

Quote: "Nats-winning, free-flight scale model is copy of au-thor's own restored full-size airpIane. Steady flying model on an .09 engine.

THE first time I saw a Church Mid-Wing JC-2, it was hard to visualize it as a one-time racing plane. Gene Chase, a model builder and member of the local Antique Airplane Assoc. had the remains on exhibit at an antique plane fly-in. It was in sad shape; actually no shape, just a rusty skeleton more resembling a pile of junk.

Gene had factory drawings and an advertisement on the tiny ship. Right away I saw the potential it had for a scale model. The cockpit was simple, easy engine to scale, lots of wing area, plus a colorful paint job. Gene, himself, started rebuilding the Church in the winter of 1965. While helping to clean up some of the parts for the fuselage, I began the scaling down of the plane. Since I helped on the full-size airplane, my work on the scale model was easier for I could see many details at close hand.

The original Church was built in 1928 and 1929, by Jim Church of Chicago. He used basic Heath Parasol parts, ie the wings, body and tail. His plane was powered with the famous Henderson motorcycle engine. In 1929, Jim entered the Church in the Cleveland Air Races in the 100 cu in class. The Church, piloted by Freddie Lund, test pilot for Waco, lead the race for five laps before a burned valve forced it from the race. The airplane performed so well, Jim started kitting his modifications for the Heath. He also sold the complete plane and parts to potential builders.

The Church could be bought complete, ready to fly, for $975 or in kit form for $200. Conversion kits to change the Heath to a Church were available; also a fully equipped tool kit which sold for $12.50. Today, you can't even buy the box at that price.

Some of the specifications of the plane were: weight empty, 240 lbs; top speed, 90 mph; landing speed, 28 mph; span 27 ft; chord, 4 ft 6 in.

With all the information that was available arid the real plane handy to measure, the Church made a very exciting subject to scale. Some difficulty was experienced in scaling and fabricating the landing gear because I wanted realism in the shock syydtem.

Construction: it has always been my choice to build the fuselage first. The main part of the fuselage is not difficult to build but there are a few parts which will take some extra effort to make it true to scale. Build the two sides on the plans, using 1/4 sq. After the sides are complete, they are then joined by cross members. Start at front and work to back..."

Quote: "Church Midwing. Un elegante homebuilt americano del 1928 dalle ottime caratteristiche di volo. Ap. alare 137 cm, lunghezza 88 cm, motore 1,5 - 2 cc o elettrico equivalente."

Update 03/01/2016: added article from American Aircraft Modeler Annual 1968, thanks to theshadow.

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