Rodeo (oz6560)

About this Plan

Rodeo. Radio control sport biplane model.

Quote: "A realistic semi-scale biplane that is pretty in the air, steadier in the wind than the average monoplane, and fully aerobatic with a .35 to .61 engine.

Do you feel like a change from the usual aerobatic low wing monoplane? Are you apprehensive of the time and effort involved in building that scale model you've always promised yourself - and, even if you did build it, would it be 'too good' for weekend flying sessions? Do you like your models to look like full size airplanes? Above all, do you like biplanes? Then why not get some romance into your aviation with a vintage bipe, particularly the open radial motor, golden age type airplane of the 1930s - that exciting era in aviation history. 'Rodeo' offers you a fairly simple to build, yet realistic semi-scale model, based on the lines of these classic American biplanes_

Pretty in the air, delightful to handle, and fully aerobatic when called upon, it requires only moderate power (think of the fuel economy) - the prototype performing very adequately on a good .35 (Merco). Nevertheless, the model is large enough to handle a .61 should you really want to tear the strip up. The take-off is very straight and easy. in fact, the pilot is hardly involved. "Rodeo' ' just looks after herself - (I know you have heard this one before, but this time it's true!)

The approach and landings are really a dream - if you can't put this one down. you'll never land anything' You can haul it back with a link steam on and she will sit down, in a light breeze, with virtually no forward sriccd. at all. One of the features of "Rodeo" is its resistance to tip stalling. I wouldn't say it couldn't tip stall, but we've tried, and we can't! There is nothing fancy about the wing design, the airfoil section is NACA 2412 throughout, with the top and bottom wings at the same incidence, with no washout. And don't let anybody kid you that biplanes are tricky to fly in a wind, those who know will tell you that they are probably steadier in a wind than the average monoplane.

Having now come to the end of the commercial, let's have a look at the construction. In general, Rodeo is of all sheet construction, with cantilever bolt-on wings of balsa covered foam. The structure is conventional and simple and designed to use medium and soft stock. The selection of light wood for the sheet components is important, especially for the rear half of the fuselage, and covering of the tail surfaces..."

Scanning by Don at EAC, cleanup by theshadow.

Update 12/02/2018: added additional article from RCM&E October 1973, thanks to RFJ.

Supplementary file notes

Article pages, text and pics, thanks to theshadow.
Additional article: RCM&E October 1973.

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