Rearwin Speedster (oz6145)

About this Plan

Mini Rearwin Speedster. RC scale model. Stand-off sale design for .19 power. Model # pl-777. As detailed in the article text, this is a 3/4 scale version of a 64in span Woody Woodward Rearwin Speedster model design.

Quote: "This vintage aircraft, presented for the Sunday sport flyer, is an all-time favourite. It builds into a beautiful stand-off scale model and flies like it looks. The Mini Rearwin M-6000.

It was 1944 and I had just come home with my treasure from the local hobby shop. A 30 in span Megow Rearwin Speedster with 'Motor Hum Device!' (How's that, nostalgia lovers?) I could hardly wait to get out the razor blades and bandaids, and star: my new project - a plane that only a decade before failed to go into production (only 20 Speedsters were ever built.) I didn't care and I liked the looks of the plane and it soon became one of my favorites. The Megow model flew well, and I scratch-built another. (I still have those Megow plans.) Now, my 13 year old son wants to build the Rearwin, but I'm getting ahead of myself.

It wasn't until March of 1967, while looking through a model magazine, that I came upon the Rearwin, magnificently sculptured by Woody Woodward! This 64 in span R/C model rekindled a glow I had 23 years before, and I just had to build the Rearwin again! Out came the razor blades and bandaids. Woody's plane just fit the bill for me, as I had a Super Tigre .46, and a PCS radio, with tin can servos. My son, seeing the model of the Speedster, wanted a small Rearwin, out which version should we build? The 30 in span Megow was too small, and the construction was too light for a 1/2A version, and Woody's was too big, and besides that is Dad's plane!

We decided to compromise, and build a 3/4 scale version of Woody's Rearwin, and power it with a K & B .19; RC guided by a Futaba radio.

Several weekends at the drawing board yielded another Rearwin Speedster a 'Mini Rearwin' with a 47-1/2 in span. Again, out came two sets of razor blades and bandaids, and together we started to scratch-build the Rearwin. Scratch-building has always been fun for me, because somehow it seemed less costly to build the plane from scratch than from a kit. With today's ba sa prices at the hobby shop, now I wasn't so sure it was less costly. I wondered if balsa could he bought from a lumber comoany, and if it would be cheaper that way. I found my answer, and it is a resounding yes.

The Mini Rearwin was finished in early March 1978, and I took it down to the local hobby shop to show the plane to the would-be test pilot, Chuck Smith. His comments were glowing, and he summed up the plane in one word, impressive! Several guys at the shop identified the plane as a Rearwin Speedster, and all without hesitation knew it was a scratch-built. Several wondered if it would be kitted, and I said I didn't know, maybe.

A Sunday date was set for the first flight, providing the weather was good. We arrived at the Sepulveda Basin, the local flying site at about 10:30 in the morning. A slight 10 mph breeze was coming out of the south. I called Woody Woodward the Thursday before, and he brought his camera with him and took some field shots. Woody checked the balance and weight, and guessed it would fly just like his larger version, but a little faster.

The moment of truth finally came, and we fired up the K & B .19 (with Perry carb), and adjusted it for a slightly rich mixture. Charlie checked the idle, we proceeded down the taxiway, and turned onto the main runway. The Rearwin taxied like an obedient pup, and stopped at the north end of the runway, as Charlie throttled back to an idle. I stood at the side of the runway, and through my mind flashed the entire sequence of events leading to this moment. From the concept on the drawing hoard, through the construction phase, the final check-out, and now the first flight. Charlie eased tne throttle forward. The re-creation of a bygone era moved quickly down the runway, and winged skyward into a left turn. Charlie quickly leveled her out at about 150 ft, and the Mini Rearwin streaked passed us in a straight and level flight.

Charlie grabbed a little more sky, and made a left turn about a quarter mile north of us, and brought the Rearwin around and overhead. The nearwin flew rock steady, and did not show any attitude change at low throttle. This told me that the 0° down incidence on the engine was okay. Charlie flew a few more laps around the field, and then
throttled back, lining the Rearwin up with the runway. The Rearwin then settled in softly, for a smooth landing.

Charlie's comments were that the plane flew very well, with good, quick response. A slight right correction in the linkage was all that was needed. I provided about a 2 degree toe-in in the landing gear (thank you Dave Lloyd) as suggested by many who gave me advice during the construction of the Rearwin. This helped the ground handling characteristics of the plane.

The Mini Rearwin has all the stability of Woody's larger version, but the response and flying speed is a little quicker. I agree with Woody - the Rearwin is the best and most stable high wing scale monoplane I have ever seen!

The Rearwin is not a difficult plane to build, but don't expect to build it in one weekend. The construction is a typical stick and stringer concept, and the fuselage is constructed on a Warren Truss design. No special tools are required, but a table type jig-saw or sand-saw would he helpful, as there are quite a few plywood parts. Well enough of this chit-chat, let's build a Mini Rearwin..."

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