General Western Meteor (oz7383)

About this Plan

General Western Meteor. Radio control scale parasol model.

Quote: "Nats winning 1/8th scale (48in span) model of the delightful American parasol wing monoplane. For 20 to 30 engines and four function radio control. General Western Meteor, by Brian Peckham.

I HAD NEVER HEARD of the 'Meteor' monoplane until your editor sent me a highly detailed 3-view drawing with a note - how about a club 20 scale version of this? The Meteor was made by the General Western Aero Corporation during 1930/31 and was typical of the light aircraft of the period, with welded tube fuselage, spruce and aluminium wing construction, fabric covered, and powered by a Kinner K-5 radial engine.

This period of aviation appeals to me so the Meteor was immediately drawn up to 1/8 scale making it 48 in span for Saito 30 FS power as these are allowed under the Club 20 scale rules and seemed appropriate for this type of aircraft. However, by the time I got around to building it the Nationals were only 3 weeks away. It was finished just in time for its first flight in the competition and as you will have read in Radio Modeller it was a winner, being so easy to fly.

The construction is not difficult but requires some care and thought, and experience of built-up construction.

Wings. The ribs are made by the sandwich method using 2 No 1/8 in ply templates cut to W1 and W14, the templates are made about 3/32 in longer at the LE and TE, cutting blanks for W2-W13 only and cutting W1 and W14 direct from the templates (trimming to length over the plan). The centre section ribs are cut to W1 and modified as shown. W1A, Band C, W15 and VV16 being traced from the plan.

The front spar is cut from 1/8 in hard sheet, the rear spar laminated from 1/4 in sq balsa or 1/4 x 1/8 in spruce tapered at the tips. Each panel is built on the board, the trailing edge from 1/32 x 3/8 in ply with 1/8 x 1/16 in each side slid into slots cuts in the rib trailing edges with a Junior hacksaw, the panels are complet ed and bonded, and the ailerons separated, their LE chamfered back as shown. The two panels are joined to the centre section, inverted on the building board, the top being flat with the trailing edge packed with 1/4 in sq..."

Direct submission to Outerzone.

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