Gigolo (oz7439)

About this Plan

Gigolo. 1/2A fun flyer for .049 (.8cc) engines, designed by Dave Ridgway.

Quote: "Dig out that spare .049 - diesel or glow - and get building. Dave Ridgway's mighty mite. Gigolo.

What's in a name? Dave calls his 'Gigalo' with an 'A' but if he means those flighty gents who are a dab hand with the ladies, our dictionary gives it as 'Gigolo'. Take your pick!

Way back in the '60s we Northerners used to refer to the PAW products as GIG's used in great numbers for Control Line Combat models. Enough history - now to the '90s. This model evolved from a series of small, very aerobatic models with their ancestry in the competition fun fly American designs. The full-size fun fliers are quite fragile and tricky to transport but these tiddlers are just the thing for throwing in the back of the car and can be flown on the smallest of sites. The amazing antics they are capable of mean they are just the thing for letting off steam! It can be made 2 or 3 channel (with throttle) with or without the coupled flap system - it's great to experiment and have fun with - and I mean FUN!

Construction. The construction is very quick and simple but do follow the method given and bear in mind the following additional points. The wood sizes used are extremely generous and, unless stated otherwise on the plan, use light, firm good quality wood to keep the weight down. The wing is really the model; it has been designed to be very rigid with a flat rear section to the aerofoil to facilitate a warp-free wing. At all times during construction make sure it is well pinned to a true building board. Do read all the article before commencing construction. Glues: The method of construction lends itself to the use of cyano adhesive and is recommended for most parts of the construction.

Method:

1. Make a complete kit of parts, making sure the slots in mainspar and ribs are true and a good sliding fit - not tight, not sloppy. Cut out ribs using the usual 1/16in ply template backed with coarse grit abrasive paper to prevent it slipping on rib stock.

2. Protect plan with polythene sheet, pin clown lower trailing edge over plan, position main spar over some scrap 1/16in sheet packing pieces over plan. Glue the two tip ribs only to spar and trailing edge.

3. Slip all remaining ribs over spar but DO NOT GLUE to spar. Now glue and pin ribs to trailing edge only.

4. Check fit leading edge in ribs, adjust if required. Apply cyano to ribs and hold LE in position until set. Now add the trailing edge to ribs.

5. Check everything is true and well pinned down and fix ribs to spar. I prefer to use PVA thinned with a little water brushed on to all mating faces. Alternatively run thin cyano down the joint and set with accelerator..."

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Update 20/05/2016: article pages, text & pics added, thanks to RFJ.

Supplementary file notes

Article.

Corrections?

Did we get something wrong with these details about this plan (especially the datafile)? That happens sometimes. You can help us fix it.
Add a correction