Virus (oz5713)

About this Plan

Virus. All-sheet design for beginners to RC models.

Quote: "The Virus by Ken Willard. Flight Tested by RCM. Step-by-step instructions for the ideal beginners ship.

Last month we talked about the radio equipment for beginners in R/C model flying - transmitters, receivers, and actuators. Having covered that phase, our next concern is the model in which to install the equipment. And here again, you'll find, as many opinions as there are modelers. If, however, we keep uppermost in our minds that the beginner I'm trying to help is neither a tree flight or control-line convert, nor is he a radio ham, certain basic facts can be listed for use in selecting a design.

Let's digress for a moment, though, and mention some good kit designs for modeler converts from free flight and control-line. For free flight converts, accustomed as they are to polyhedral, paper covering, single box fuselage typical free flight construction - the Nomad (oz6264) makes a good beginners R/C trainer. For the sport free flighters - modelers who like to fly Veco Dakota's (oz233), Midwest Sniffers (oz468), and similar sport models, there are many good kits, both large and small. The Schoolboy (oz1030), Lightning Bug (oz2168), Lil Esquire (oz621) are good small jobs: the Esquire (oz384), DeBolt Champion (oz413), and other similar models are good in the larger size.

For the control-line converts, it's hard to beat DeBolt's Champion - the construction is similar, and when built true and properly balanced, first flights are usually completely successful - unless the modeler gets too nervous and goofs on the controls! But back to you, the absolute beginner. Let's list all the things that are most likely to cause you trouble:

1. Covering. Your first covering job is likely to be pretty sad. Sure, some of you will do great, but for most beginners; this is a real chore, with no assurance that even with care you’ll have a smooth job. The solution? Eliminate the chore. Make the entire model of balsa.

2. Gluing. 'Laying a bead of glue' is standard practice, but at first try it's hard to keep the flow from the glue container smooth and regular as you apply the glue. So, the answer is to make the areas to be glued together big enough so that the pieces can be pressed together and the excess, glue wiped away without losing all of the cohesion.

3. Warping. The variation in balsa weight, strength and stiffness, are very likely to cause warps when two dissimilar pieces are bent to a shape. So - do a minimum of bending, and when necessary, do it so that the pieces are firmly fixed in place on your flat workbench until dry.

4. Installing the equipment. Most beginners tend to be a little 'ham-fisted.' To overcome this, the equipment should be easily accessible with no need to get your hands deep inside the fuselage. Solution - make the escapement, radio and batteries easily reached through a removable hatch in the top of fuselage. All wiring right at the top, too.

5. Engine operation. The engine has to be easy to start. Fortunately, most of today's engines meet that requirement, particularly if the manufacturer's instructions are followed. The engine should also be kept clean—and this isn't always easy. However, it's possible to reduce the frequency with which dirt gets into the engine by putting the motor on a pylon above the wing. Then, in addition to it’s being readily accessible; it isn't always nosing into the ground on rough landings..."

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