Nifty Novice (oz7233)

About this Plan

Nifty Novice. Intermediate control line trainer profile model, for .049 to .15 power. Plan shows both biplane and low-wing monoplane layout.

Quote: "In line with the series of 'Tenderfoot' articles in American Aircraft Modelef, here is a project for an 'advanced Tenderfoot.' The design is patterned after many of the single-seat homebuilt airplanes seen today, and resembles many airplanes built in the 1930's. This model is a good basic and intermediate trainer, better-looking and bigger than the 049 types (for better performance), but still very easy to build-and you have your choice of a low wing monoplane or a biplane. If you build the low wing version it can later be easily converted to a biplane. An 09 is plenty of power; we used the Cox Medallion 09. A 15 can be used in the biplane for even greater performance.

The model was developed by the authors. Ray is an old-time modeler going back to ignition-engined free flights and early control-liners, and hadn't been involved in modeling since the glow plug came along. Dick started in control line, but for the past few years had been very active in radio-control competition flying. Ray was anxious to get back into modeling but wanted a project to get his feet wet without going too deep. A small control-liner seemed like the best approach and could be used to get the rest of the family involved with flying, too.

Dick worked up a design featuring the single-wing, biplane conversion, and Ray built both versions and found that the basic modeling skills he had weren't lost, just rusty from lack of use. The project succeeded - the planes were easy to build and fly. The models proved to be good trainers during the first flight session, held to teach the whole family how to fly - the first nine attempts resulted in nine full-bore crashes, and the Nifty Novice was still in perfect shape.

Construction: Let's start with the wing. Cut the required ribs from 1/16 and 3/8 balsa. Edge-glue two pieces of 1/16 balsa together for the bottom of the wing and lay on a flat surface. Use the plans as a guide and mark the rib positions on the 1/16 balsa; glue the ribs and the 1/4 in square leading edge in place. Sand down the leading edge. Put plenty of glue on the leading edge, ribs, and along the trailing edge; add the top 1/16" balsa wing covering,
holding it down with pins until dry. Sand well, finish shaping the leading edge and round off the wing tips.

The fuselage is cut from a piece of 3/8 balsa. Motor mounts are cut to length from a piece of 3/8 x 3/8 hardwood and glued in place. Be sure they are installed to suit your motor. The 1/16 plywood doublers are cut to shape and glued to the fuselage. Use clothespins around the edges to hold the doublers on while the glue dries, or put some heavy weights on the assembly and lay it on a flat surface to dry. The bellcrank mount is cut from a piece of 3/8 x 3/8 hardwood..."

Hi Mary/Steve - Here is Dick Sarpolus and Ray Borden's Nifty Novice from American Aircraft Modeler magazine issue 01-72.

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Supplementary file notes

Article.

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