Taylor Monoplane (oz7806)

About this Plan

Taylor Monoplane. Scale model light plane for .20 - .25 two strokes or OS FS 40 and 4 function RC.

Quote: "The little Taylor Monoplane has an awful lot going for it as a model. It is very clean with little fiddly detail. Simple to build there are lots of examples scattered around the country, so that finding one to copy should not be too difficult.

I chose G-AYSH because it was local, a flat sided version, but mainly because I felt that the clipped wing would be better. I planned to use an OS FS20 and also felt that the tail plane was a little on the small side for the larger wing. The OS FS20 has plenty of power to fly the model, but must be well run in, I fitted a Master 9 x 6 and used 10% standard fuel, my engine running at 10,500 which was perfect. Any 19 to 25 two-stroke could be used. The model must be built as lightly as you can, I aimed for a weight of 3.3/4lbs but finished up at 4.1/2lbs, 4oz of this was lead in the nose, I really must use lighter wood in the tail!

Detail was kept to a minimum, for minimum read dummy engine - period. All controls are scale, closed loop for the rudder, internal pushrod to the elevator and the ailerons only move up. I believe that the last item is important and failure to use this extreme differential could result in tip stall tendencies at low speed. The ailerons are completely adequate so no need to worry about that.

The model is very tough, an attempt to scatter it around the country, when a crystal played up, resulted in a deadstick vertical dive into a ploughed field. Damage consisted of two rib bays with the leading edge caved in and the wing bolt mount torn out, an hours work and the model was ready for the paint to be touched-up.

One thing happened which has caused great hilarity, but which does not seem likely to happen to other builders. I had a model pilot with a bobblecap, to fit the canopy I had to cut the bobble off. While wondering how to make a helmet I noticed some very thin plastic leathercloth on the case belonging to my hand held CB radio. I cut a piece of this off, heated it up over an iron and then pulled it over the pilots head, when it had cooled I trimmed it and had a perfect leather helmet. I took the com-pleted model out on a cold day to take photos and the sun shining through the canopy shrank the helmet back to look like a prayer cap or knotted handkerchief (dirty).

Building the fuselage: The fuselage is pretty easy to build, but I have found a new method of getting the sides to curve; this can be a rather difficult operation where there is a framework on a sheet side. Take two sheets of 4 in wide 1/16 sheet, medium grade and mark the extent of the doublers (with about an inch to spare at the front). Now take two pieces of 1/32 ply 4 in wide and glue them down with contact glue, Evostik or Thixofix - I like the latter best. Build two side frames from 3/16 in sq hard over the plan. When the frames are dry lay them onto the laminated sides so that the doubler comes to the right place and mark the location for F-2 and F-3 on the sheet sides.

Now comes the clever bit. Support one side (Plywood up) on two bits of 1/4in sq at the former locations, lay the frame onto the side and spot glue it halfway between F-2 and F-3 to the side. Now press down the frame and side between the supports making a smooth curve and hit the whole area with Cyano. Carve the completed side from your fingers and glue the rest of the frame down. Now complete the other side in the same way. Make sure that you make a right and left side or you will have to build two more and make two models - well, you wouldn't want to waste a side would you? Oh please yourself. Trim the surplus sheet away and admire your precurved sides. They may not be a perfect match but it is one heck of a lot easier to correct these than trying to bend the complete sides equally from flat..."

Radio Control Scale Aircraft Quarterly September 1988 - Note that the wing plan is for a short wing version. You need to add one bay to get the original scale wingspan.

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Update 22/06/2016: Added article pages, thanks to RFJ.

Supplementary file notes

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