Danish HM-II (oz5261)

About this Plan

Danish HM-II. Heinkel HE 8. Stand off scale model floatplane for .40 to .50 power.

Quote: "In the early 1930's, much publicity was given to a continuing series of air show, long-distance air races, and other such activities. While designed to capture the public's imagination with their pure sensationalism, these events, in themselves, contributed little of practical value.

But if there were those in aviation who wished to bask in the glow of such strictly publicity-oriented activities, there were others whose unheralded service was providing a basis for the future growth of all aviation industries. One such little known endeavor was the aerial photo mapping of artic Greenland. The world's largest island, Greenland lies astride the busy North Atlantic air routes. With its rugged, mountainous geography, and unpredictable, arctic weather extremes, this pioneering project was indeed an ambitious undertaking for this early era in aviation history. Begun in 1932, in association with the Geodetic Institute, this program required six years of strenuous flying over the desolate artic landscape before being finally completed in 1938.

As Greenland is a part of the island nation of Denmark, the aerial photo-mapping assignment was given to the Danish Naval Flying Corps 1st Luttflotille. Formed on 12 October, 1926 this unit is the oldest numbered Danish military flight unit, the direct descendant of which is now the Royal Danish Air Force's Escadrille 721 (RDAF No. 721 Squadron).

The aircraft which the 1st Luftlotille used to conduct this photo-mapping assignment was the obscure Heinkel Model HE-8 floatplane. As this was the second hydro-monoplane type aircraft operated by the Danes, it carried their designation HM-II. An unusually large single engine aircraft by 1930 standards, the HM-II had a wingspan of 55 feet, and accommodated a crew of three in open cockpits, itself a real challenge in arctic flying. It was powered by an Armstrong-Siddeley Jaguar VI air-cooled radial 9 cylinder engine that was rated at 450 horsepower, The first aircraft of this type was delivered to the Luftmarinestation at Copenhagen on 17 August, 1928.

With its historic and relatively obscure background, functional design, and brilliant arctic markings, the makes an ideal subject for a sport-scale R/C floatprane. Built to a scale of 1.14 inches per foot, the 64 in wingspan model is adequately powered by either a .40 or .45 engine that gives a realistic, slow flight characteristic of the original aircraft's performance envelope (max speed 134 mph). With its extremely lighweight structure that closely follows that of the actual HM-II airframe construction, this docile model is an ideal introduction to the unique world of flying floats.

For anyone who has ever built a stick and tissue Guillow kit, the construction of the HM-II model is amazingly similar, although obviously quite larger. Since they present the only different aspect from the normal R/C land-based bird, the float construction is handled first. The basic 118- x 1/4- balsa framework is built directly over the plans (built in sets of two). Allow the top and bottom longerons to extend an extra four inches past the all end to allow for the stern curvature when the sides are later assembled. After removing the framework from the plans. laminate each to a sheet of 3/32" balsa. Make sure to build two right and two left sides.

Assemble the completed side laminations into a basic box structure built around the two 1/4-in sheet balsa anti-slosh bulkheads, formers FF1 and FF3. In addition to providing separate, water-tight compartments, these bulkheads also provide the main compression, shock distribution point for water impact. (And if you don't think water impact can be hard on floatplanes, try jumping into a lake at about 50 mph.) Once the box structures have been allowed to dry, add the 1/4-in square crossbraces and sheet the bottom of the floats.

The next item is the 1/8-in piano wire bird cage that joins the floats to the wings. The fore and aft struts are wire wrapped and silver soldered to their respective spreader wires that separate the two floats themselves..."

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