Topsy (oz680)

 

Topsy (oz680) by Horst Diemer 1961 - plan thumbnail

About this Plan

Topsy. Single channel RC trainer.

Update 13/10/15: Added sheet 2 of plan, plus English translation, thanks to Colonel Blink.

Quote: "Topsy is designed as a sports and radio control model for engines of about 0.5cc displacement. The small size can produce substantial benefits; handiness, easy transportation, low stresses on hard landings and simple construction.

The flight characteristics of Topsy are good and the payload (radio control) can be up to the weight of the model itself. On the plan, the installation of the MIKROKOMBI single-channel receiver unit is shown. The items required for installation are shown on the separate parts list. When installing radio control, it is advisable to reinforce former (8) by adding former (H).

Building Instructions: The construction of the model is carried out in part number order, on a flat building board. It is best to use a clean softwood board on which to pin the components. The assembly of the parts is carried out on the plan, which should be affixed to the building board. First, all the diecut parts of the kit are separated carefully with a balsa knife or razor blade, and the printed parts are cut out and sanded smooth.

The Fuselage: Part (1): the fuselage top piece is pinned to the building board. Formers (2) to (5) are glued in the appropriate slots at right angles. The front and rear fuselage sides are joined to make two parts (6) and these are then glued to the fuselage top and formers (2) to (5). The undercarriage (7) is firmly sewn to the former and the join covered with glue, then this assembly is firmly glued to the fuselage sides according to the plan. Glue the hull reinforcements (9) to the sides as shown on the plan. Part (10) is glued to part (11) and then these are affixed between the fuselage sides as shown. After that the 2 parts that make up the fuselage bottom (12) are added to the underside. After drying, the fuselage is lifted from the board and parts (13) to (22) added in accordance with the plan.

When using the MIKROKOMBI receiver unit as shown on the plan, the tail cone (20) and hook (C) must be made and remain removable. The fuselage is now treated several times with GLATTFIX (part no 207) sanding sealer and sanded down between coats to give a clean and smooth surface for later painting. Finally the cockpit is completed by adding the parts (23) and (24) which are cut to the sizes shown on the plan..."

Update 19/01/2020: Added decals zipfile, thanks to Patrick Urbain. These are in CDR format (Corel Draw).

Supplementary file notes

Decals.
Sheet 2 of plan, plus English translation.

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Topsy (oz680) by Horst Diemer 1961 - model pic

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User comments

Hi Steve, I buld the TOPSY from Graupner [see more pics 003,004], with the plan of your site. Weight is 270 gram ready to fly. Thanks for you plan on the OUTERZONE site. Greets ; My site http://users.skynet.be/fa046192/
Julien - 25/01/2014
Good morning Steve/Mary. Was home on R and R over the weekend so Lindsay was able to take photos of my three latest builds from plans taken from your awesome site. Many thanks for all time and effort you guys put in, it's exemplary. Please see attached Graupner Topsy, a free flight model I built in the early '70s which flew away [more pics 005-012]. It was found two weeks later up a tree by locals collecting fire wood some distance from the airfield.
AndyCoutts - 08/10/2016
Dear Steve! Just wanted to share my Graupner Topsy built from the plan on your site [more pics 013]. Had not built a balsa plane for decades and the experience was good fun. I used paper tissue and dope for covering and tried to keep the original colour scheme. It is electric powered and even has FPV equipment on board (woo-hoo!), still struggling to get the COG correct. Thank you very much for your great site! Have a nice day,
Cyburgs - 24/10/2016
Hi Mary/Steve, here are a few photos of the Graupner Topsy [more pics 014-017]. This was built a few years ago, starting off as diesel free flight but now converted to electric rc. We've only just test flown it and made a video too, doing ROG on the beach: www.youtube.com/watch
Anon - 25/07/2017
Hello, here are a few photos of my Topsy, finished a few days ago. Built according to plan from your side "Topsy (oz680)". Your site is the best, thank you!
Manfred - 03/09/2019
Hi. I have a Topsy I built some ten years ago from plans featuring 4 channel radio and a Quickstart Merling converted with throttle carburetor, silencer and pressure fuel. I have pictures if of any interest.
Lars - 21/04/2020
Good afternoon, Sharing a few pictures of my last project, a Graupner Topsy [pics 024-026]. Thanks for the plan and for your great website. :-)
Best regards from Norway,
Hans Petter Stue - 26/09/2020
My Graupner Topsy with ailerons and AP .061 [pics 027,028].
DieterF - 17/10/2020
Hello Mary and Steve, here are some photos of my latest work. The Topsy model [pics 029, 030],
JL Foliguet - 09/04/2022
My half-size Graupner Topsy [pics 031-033] with a small BL-motor.
Dieter Fritsche - 06/06/2024
Hello Mary, hello Steve, My Topsy [pic 034] dates back to the 1970s and was first operated as a free-flight model with a 0.33 cm³ Cox engine and then later as an RC model with a 0.8 cm³ Cox engine. Today the Topsy is powered by a modern 2 S drive. See video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4k5GF1hS3iI
Best regards,
Bernhard Dittmann - 15/07/2024
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