Upper Crust (oz7941)

About this Plan

Upper Crust 1/2A. Free flight power model.

Quote: "Half-A free flight competitor based on British designs has a large wing area. Takes high nitro fuels for a screaming engine run. Upper Crust, by Gene L Post.

While relaxing in my hotel room in San Diego one evening following a hectic day of convention sessions, the urge to lay out a half-A free flight design that had been on my mind sent me through my attache case for drawing paper. Some computer printout paper was retrieved and the drafting was underway. That was in 1966, and the initial design evolved to what is now called the Upper Crust.

Originally the design was smallish in size and was influenced somewhat by British designs and Larry Conover's Little Lindy (oz10186). But, as I fiddled with the design here and there and neared the time that the first stick was pinned to the plans, it took on more of the characteristics of the present design. In other words, I chickened out on the overall small size concept. About the only thing remaining on the current design resembling British half-As was the rear fin. However, in 'honor' of my initial impressions, the first two or three ships built were called Limey. Then Dave Linstrum published a really British-type design with the same label. A name change was in order - hence the current name Upper Crust. There is no relation in the two names, but in view of the modest contest success that the design had begun to achieve, Upper Crust seemed appropriate.

Speaking of contests, there have been very few meets entered in which the design has not placed. In such cases the reason has almost always been either fuel problems or my own foolish mistakes (like dethermalizing under power). The early models had wings utilizing the Warren Truss construction, and on a couple occasions folded when the ship DTed under power. On all models built in the past couple of years, the Union Jack or geodetic method of wing construction has been used. I still DT early on occasion, but have never folded one of these wings.

Although some of the construction procedures are not the most orthodox, I feel the added advantages are well worth the effort. The construction photos should help on the less familiar procedures.

Construction: The fuselage has basically triangular cross sections and provides the most rigid and indestructible pattern of construction I have ever used. It is certainly not new. The plans show 1/4 in hardwood motor bearers with 'sideboard' type cowling. Of course, the cowling isn't necessary, but was used simply to dress up the appearance. Also, the firewall has been placed further back on some fuse-lages and the Tatone tank mount used. This is easily the simplest of the two front ends..."

Gene L. Post's Upper Crust from American Aircraft Modeler magazine issue 06-73.

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Supplementary file notes

Article pages, text and pics.

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