Grumman American Lynx (oz5843)

About this Plan

Grumman American Lynx. Radio control scale model, designed for the Zenoah GT-80. Wingspan 98 in, wing area 1642 sq in. Scale is 1/3.

Quote: "Jim Bede’s Popular Light Aircraft, in One-Third Scale
by David P Andersen.

Cover pic : Alexandra Fleming prepares to take the active at Minneapolis’ Flying Cloud airport with David P Andersen’s 1/3rd scale Grumman Lynx. This construction article features an exactly scale model of this 1970’s high performance civilian airplane originally designed by Jim Bede.

The 1/3rd scale model retains most of the flight characteristics of the full scale aircraft - excellent ground handling, positive control, stall resistance and stability. Yet it is capable of mild aerobatics while being attractive and a little different. These are features we seek in a scale model.

If you are inspired to build a Lynx of your very own, let’s return to the 1970s. Put on your bellbottoms and a polyester krinkle-crepe shirt. Go down to your shop and shove a cassette of disco music into your 8-track. Let’s begin.

All of the wood, metal and molded components can be purchased from the venders listed in the references. Or they can be constructed with common shop tools. Decide which parts you wish to make and which to buy. Then assemble your own kit. Gather all of the documentation you will ever need before starting construction.

This is a simple airplane to frame up. The flat-bottom constant chord wing, slabsided fuselage and sheet metal fixed landing gear are more typical of a high-wing trainer than a world-class scale model.

But the devil lurks in the details. Depending on how much scale detail you wish to include, the little Grumman can be built as a simple sport model or a serious competition model. It’s up to you to decide how far to go. Don’t be discouraged by the detail included in the plans. If you just want a sport model, ignore them. But if you love to express your craftsmanship, go for it.

This model was designed to compete in AMA and FAI (2005 rules) contests. The plans are totally scale. They match the 3-view drawings and photos of the full-sized Lynx exactly. The plans and the references contain all the information you need to compete at the world level. The major wow factor is the cockpit detail and the major element in wow factor is surprise. So concentrate your efforts there if you wish to impress. Otherwise, make the canopy out of foam and cover the airplane with Monokote.

You should have a copy of the issue the magazine in which this construction article appears. It contains close-up photos of construction details that the plans and text alone do not fully describe.

I like to make all the sub-assemblies first, starting with the most difficult. Progress seems slow initially but everything comes together rapidly later. Parts may be cut by photocopying or cutting up the plans and attaching the patterns to stock with a glue stick. Verify that photocopies are not distorted by overlaying them on the original and holding them up to the light. (Photocopying patterns for your own use is permissible under The Fair Use Doctrine of the copyright laws.) Cut the parts with a scroll saw slightly oversize and trim to the center of the line with a disk sander. Peel off the pattern before the glue sets and there will be no residue.

Cutting out parts is one of the most enjoyable aspects of modeling. What could be more relaxing than buzzing parts to classical music or cool jazz while a Minnesota blizzard rages outside your shop window? But if you must pay someone else to have your fun, purchase the wood parts from Precision Cut Kits or any other good kit cutter.

One of the joys of 1/3rd scale is that all screws and rivets used on the full sized airplane can be purchased in 1/3rd size (MicroFasteners - see References). No decals or glue drops. We can use the real thing!

Gather all the information you will ever need before beginning construction. You will especially need the Bob Banka fotoset for scale details. The Lynx Maintenance Manual contains several more markings. If there is a Lynx at your local airport and it has a nice color scheme, consider modeling it. Find the owner (www.landings.com) and ask his permission to take photos. My experience is that aircraft owners are delighted that someone would make a model of their airplane and they will go out of their way..."

Note this plan is also available online as a free download from the designer himself at http://www.mnbigbirds.com/Andersen%20Plans.htm

Supplementary file notes

Article 32 pages[!] complete.

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