Little Mediator (oz7527)

About this Plan

Little Mediator. Radio control sport model for 1/2A power, from RCM.

Quote: "The recent availability of low priced, reliable two channel radio systems has promoted a rapidly growing degree of interest and activity in 1/2A R/c flying. Many youngsters (and some not so young) are eagerly joining our R/C ranks, via the acquisition of two channel equipped .049 powered aircraft. The kit options available to the two channel beginner are excellent with many fine, easy-to-build, trainer types being offered.

At the opposite end of the 1/2A kit spectrum; there is an even greater variety of kits to select from. Just read the ads - 1/2A scale, pylon and pattern types abound! Yet, the intermediate area of 1/2A flying - that point in time where the two channel fledgling has mastered his high wing, rudder-elevator controlled, first aircraft and wishes to advance to something with greater performance capabilities - is strangely barren.

If you are an experienced flyer, think back for a moment to your H-Ray, Kadet, RCM trainer, etc, days. Would you have miade your second R/C plane a scale fighter type? Perhaps a pylon racer or sleek pattern type. More than likely you wisely selected a shoulder wing aileron equipped type such as Sig Kommander, Micro Elite, Hoss Ely. etc.

Now, without flipping through the ads in this magazine, name a couple of 1/2A designs that fall in the intermediate category. Difficult, isn't it? The very limited number of 1/2A intermediate designs available became apparent to me when my teenage son, whose first R/C endeavor was an Air-tronics A-Tee, began looking for a kit that would further develop his R/C skills.

A search throughout the hobby shops of central Connecticut revealed many fine 1/2A kits, but was fruitless as far as finding an intermediate type was concerned. The decision was then made to 'go to the drawing board' and design one. It was decided that the design should possess the following features:

(1) a good amount of wing area,
(2) a symmetrical airfoil,
(3) a fairly long fuselage moment.
(4) be able to accommodate standard size radio components,
(5) be a shoulder wing design,
(6) be easy to build.

The name Little Mediator was chosen because a mediator can be defined as 'one who functions as an instrument or intervening agent between two groups, individuals, or factions; to effect a smooth and agreeable reconciliation or transition from one point to another'. A more brief definition might be 'Intermediate' or to be in the middle. Little Mediator is, in reality, a scaled-down composite of proven design features found in larger size intermediate level type R/C aircraft.

Any novice R/C pilot who has 'won his or her wings- on a rudder-elevator equipped trainer should not have any difficulty in successfully mastering a Little Mediator. This design will easily perform any maneuver that the more advanced and faster flying, aileron-ele vator equipped aircraft are capabie of doing; yet, it retains the docile, stable characteristics associated with a trainer type.

As can be seen with a quick look at the plans, Little Mediator is a very easy air-plane to build. If you are a relative novice, yearning for a 1/2A ship that will do it all, but isn't in the 'mini-missile' category, or perhaps an experienced R/C'er looking for a 1/2A, fun type aircraft, why not rummage through your balsa wood supply pile and we'll get started with the construction details.

Construction. Wing: Start by cutting out the wing ribs. Cut fourteen ribs Out of 1/16 sheet and two ribs out off 1/8 sheet balsa. This can be greatle simplified if you first make a wing rib template out of 1/16 plywood to use as a cutting guide. lf you have some .060 aluminum or equivalent, you can make two rib templates which bolt together with two 6-32 machine screws..."

Quote: "Hi Steve, Here is the plan and a photo of the Little Mediator (1977). The plan is of low definition though so I don't know wether or not you will accept it. Have a nice sunday,"

Direct submission to Outerzone.

This is a low res plan. I actually went back and had a look for a clearer copy, and ended up scaling up this version here from the article scan at http://pulling-gz.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/rc-modeller-plan-and-article-series_8803.html

Note: see Paul's great build thread at http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2385376

Update 18/03/2016: Clearer version of article added, thanks to Ron Swenson.

Supplementary file notes

Article pages (5), text & pics.

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