Flying Flea (oz83)

About this Plan

Carden Baynes Flea. Flying Flea. From Aeromodeller December 1963.

Quote: "Plane on the Cover! FG Longbon's 44 inch span, one sixth true scale model for 1 - 1.5 cc engines of the famous home-built Carden Baynes Flea.

Of all the challenging subjects for flying scale models, Henri Mignet's Pou du Ciel has been the one which has probably defeated more modellers than any other subject (the de Havilland 5 probably runs it a close second).

Imagine our pleasant surprise, therefore, to see on that sunny summery day with which the Northern Heights Flying Club is usually blessed for their annual gala at RAF Halton, Bucks, a beautiful example of the Flea performing just like the full-size. Investigation proved that this was, in fact, quite an old model being aired after a period of storage and display in a model shop. It is a veteran flyer which has been built with various wing sections and which, we can assure all readers, is beautifully stable in the version as drawn.

We watched several flights by veteran scale modeller FG Longbon at Halton, took the cover photo and entered discussion for these plans. When the model was produced, Mr. Longbon did not have access to the material we were able to gather for the September '63 Aircraft Described feature and so there are some subtle differences which have been introduced in the preparation of the APS drawing for the sake of specific accuracy. They do not in any way effect flying trim, but add to the authenticity.

Incidentally, the colouring on the cover is not quite correct, the aircraft should be all silver (if to be registered G-ADMH) with letters in black outline. Nevertheless, this Flea makes a very pretty picture as all will agree and to see its tandem wings droning round in calm evening air is a sight to admire.

Construction closely follows that of the full-size wherever possible and because the designer's building notes incorporate many interesting tricks of the trade born from the long experience of Mr Longbon, we are reprinting his building notes in full here, rather than issue them separately and only to plans purchasers. Many hints and tips on flying scale modelling can be picked up by study of the plan reproduction and these building notes.

The fuselage is the first item for construction, beginning with cutting out medium hard 3/32 in sheet fuselage sides and marking positions of formers F3 to F7..."

Update 01/10/2018: Added article, thanks to aeromeddeler.

Supplementary file notes

Article.

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