RCM Basic Trainer (oz5103)

About this Plan

RCM Basic Trainer. Radio control trainer model.

Note the RCM Basic Trainer (oz8273) first appeared in RCM magazine, or to be more exact the plan appeared in the 1972 'RCM Flight Training Course Volume 1'. This here is the version as kitted by Bridi Hobby.

Quote: "Here is a small, easy to build radio controlled model airplane designed primarily for the beginner. This aircraft was selected by R/C Modeler magazine from numerous designs as the ideal basic trainer to be featured in the RCM Flight Training Course.

Construction techniques are simple in order to get you in the air quickly. The aerodynamic design was carefully considered to provide the inherent stability desired to keep the newcomer out of trouble through his learning stages. The experiehced flyers find the RCM Basic Trainer affords a welcome change of pace from the big and heavy ships, as it is a real fun airplane to fly!

Our recommended construction proceedure is illustrated even though we feel the plans are self-explanatory. We do emphasize that careful workmanship thoughout the construction stages pays off at the flying field - don't be afraid to use sandpaper.

Fuselage side sheets are cemented together. Doublers are cemented to the side panels in the cabin area and stiffening strips are added. The 1/16 plywood wing support doublers are glued to the top of the balsa doublers. Be sure to make a left and right assembly.

Sub-assemblies of nose section and bulkheads are made with white glue for extra strength in these highly stressed areas. The engine mount must be made to fit your choice of engines and blind nuts installed prior to assembling to nose block and firewall. Fuel and vent line holes in the firewall must match your choice of fuel tanks.

Remember to align the landing gear retainer slots properly on the front cabin bulkhead (one slot forward and one aft). Drill a 1/8 diameter hole in each end of bottom landing gear support to accept strut.

The fuselage sides are assembled with the top edges on a flat surface. Ice cream sticks held with rubber bands and clothespins made effective clamps. Check alignment carefully. Fit triangular strips in bottom of nose between landing gear support and firewall... "

Quote: "Steve, Thanks so much for such a wonderful website. You have inspired me to get back into model aviation. Attached you will find plans and instructions for a kit I found up in the attic. I scanned the plans, instructions and picture from the front of the box. The picture says it has a 50in wingspan, but when I measure the plans. It is actually 49-7/8in. So the plans are an actual scan of the plans and to scale. I have this kit about 90% built, and all the info appears to be there. Thanks again for such a wonderful website."

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Update 26/10/2020: Added kit review from MAN, October 1974, thanks to RFJ.

Quote: "Field and Bench Review: Bridi RCM Bacic Trainer kit, by James Kitchen.

This kit combines a simple and well-thought-out design with the highest quality wood and hardware. All parts are pre-cut which can be a little disconcerting to a person who is familiar with seeing sheets of die-cut parts. All the individual parts stared me in the face including such items as fuselage side sheets; bulkheads; 18 x 3/32 wing ribs, all uniformly cut, sanded and held together with two extra long pins; other wing components (spars, leading and trailing edges, sheeting and ailerons) bundled together, and tail surfaces including pine in-serts for attaching rudder and elevator con-trol horns. Hardware included main landing gear, rudder, elevator, and aileron horns, tail wheel assembly, and landing gear straps with the smaller items neatly packaged. Parts can be conveniently checked against the itemized list provided. A dry-run through the plans and parts identification are always advisable before beginning serious construction.

As an engineer, I can really appreciate the detailed, full-sized working plans provided. I am used to looking at plans, but there is considerable difference between plans for highways and those for model airplanes. All plans are meant to be self explanatory, but it helps to know a little bit about what is being explained. These plans are exceptionally clear and should be understandable to the beginner building his first plane. As an additional tool, recommended construction procedures are photo-illustrated and explained on both sides of a 17 x 22 in supplementary information sheet. Between the detailed plans and the supplementary information any questions about actual construction of the model should be resolved. This step-by-step procedure should be particularly useful to newcomers and should reduce the danger of building oneself into a corner.

Although construction techniques are a matter of individual preference and are usually acquired over a period of time and a number of models, word of mouth from fellow modelers and helpful hints from model magazines are valuable sources. I can't say that my techniques are the best, but here are some things I have learned so far. I use Titebond and epoxy for gluing - Titebond for the wings and fuselage, back of the fuel tank compartment, and epoxy for fuselage bulkheads, motor and landing gear mounts, firewall, tank compartment, for joining wings, and rudder and stabilizer to the body. I use epoxy as fuel proofing for exposed sections in the engine and tank compartments, and fiberglass and polyester resin to rein-force the wing panel joint.

Some design features of the Basic Trainer that contribute to ease of construction are the flat bottom airfoil, beveled center rib section and a flat top fuselage deck. The flat bottom airfoil permits the wing panels to be constructed directly on the building board and should keep warping to a minimum. Bottom wing sheeting and cap strips are pinned directly to the plans (over wax paper for protection from excess glue). Wing panels may then be built straight from this foundation. Use of 3/32 balsa for sheeting and cap strips results in an exceptionally sturdy wing. The beveled center rib section facilitates joining wing panels and insures the proper dihedral. It is important that the inboard rib of each wing panel be placed at 90° to the building board to take advantage of the beveled rib.

Before joining wing panels, you should plan your aileron installation. This will in-volve cutting away portions of the beveled and inboard ribs and some of the center sheeting - a job which can be more conve-niently accomplished while the components are separate. The flat top fuselage deck makes it convenient to place the fuselage on its back on a flat surface for developing the proper alignment while gluing the fuselage sides and bulkheads together.

The method of mounting the engine was new to me. The nose section consists of a 1/4 in plywood plate for a motor mount atop a preshaped balsa nose block affixed to a 1/8 plywood firewall. Blind mounting nuts on the underside..."

Supplementary file notes

Instructions, complete with photos.
Review.

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