Skorpion (oz6820)

About this Plan

Skorpion. Radio control slope soarer model.

Quote: "An Aerobatic, 2 Channel Slope Soarer from the United Kingdom. Try this Skorpion to improve your two channel skills. You will find it's an ideal, go anywhere, fun machine. By John Goodyear.

Skorpion represents the end product of twelve months design and evelopment work undertaken in an attempt to produce a simple, efficient, two channel acrobatic slope soarer, capable of handling the worst possible combination of wind/lift conditions experienced in the UK. That means being able to operate in winds varying from nothing up to 45 mph - such diverse weather occurring with irksome regularity on the top of the Pennine range of hills at 2,500 ft in northern England.

This has been largely accomplished, thanks to the low wing loading and clean lines. Clearly, though, Skorpion is at a significant disadvantage in really calm conditions when everyone else is flying their 120 in plus high aspect ratio soarers. At least it's capable of scraping along, even under these conditions however, which is more than can be said fora lot of other 'kippers'.

Other highly desirable characteristics exhibited by Skorpion are the use of inexpensive, readily available building materials, high maneuverability, and aggressive styling. If you're still reading you might already be tempted. So, providing you can handle an aileron model, send off your money and acquire a plan, buy the wood, and start building. This is how it all goes together.

Construction. Fuselage. Simplicity in building was one of the criteria laid down when designing Skorpion and the fuselage is a classic example of this. For strength, laminated 1/32 ply and 1/8 medium balsa sheet sides are used. Don't omit the lightening holes in the ply, and don't be tempted to enlarge them or alter their position. As drawn, the ply supplies maximum reinforcement at positions of critical stress.

Once you have the sides cut out, give the ply a good rub down with fine grade sandpaper prior to gluing. This will remove any residual mould laquer which always appears to be present on plywood nowadays. Further, as an aid to later cutting, mark out the positions of both the wing and the hatch on the outer sides of both balsa members.

For gluing I would earnestly recommend the use of semi-flexible adhesive. This allows bending of each laminated side when the nose and tail are pulled together, later on. Do not use epoxy or conventional white wood glues because all you will succeed in doing is building in stress. I personally use a water based adhesive marketed in the UK as 'Copydex.' No doubt an equivalent is available in the US..."

Supplementary file notes

Article, thanks to hlsat, JHatton.

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