Mitsubishi Type 96 Claude (oz8535)

About this Plan

Mitsubishi Type 96 A5M Claude. Control line scale model Japanese Navy fighter. For Fox .29 engine. Scale is 1/12.

Quote: "Sakai's 'Claude'. Mitsubishi Type 96, by Walter A Musciano.

The Mitsubishi Type 96 or A5M series Japanese single seat Navy fighter saw combat service from 1937 through 1942. It was replaced by the Zero. Allied code name for Type 96 was 'Claude.' This was the first service monoplane fighter in the Japanese Naval Air Force.

Claude took to the air in 1935 with an inverted gull wing. Control problems caused abandonment of this feature in favor of a straight center section. The first production model, the A5M1 Type 96, was fitted with a sliding cockpit canopy. However, test flyers and fighter pilots complained that the canopy hindered visibility, so it was discarded. Subsequent engine and armament modifications resulted in the A5M2a and A5M2b models. These were followed by an ex-perimental 'V' type liquid cooled engine powered version which did not go in production.

Third and final production model, the Mitsubishi A5M4, had a maximum speed of 280 mph powered with a 710 hp, 9-cylinder, air cooled Kotobuki radial 41 engine. Two 7.7-mm machine guns were fitted in the upper cowl, some also carried two 66-lb bombs under the wing. The plane could reach 16,400 ft in less than 8 minutes. Its airframe was extremely light; loaded weight was less than 4,000 pounds! Range could be extended through the use of a streamlined drop tank fabricated from papier-mache and bamboo.

The last Type 96 was constructed during 1940; at that time almost a thousand A5M aircraft were in service. It saw considerable action in China; during the early campaigns of World War Two it operated from both land bases and carriers.

Our 1in to 1ft scale copy of Saburo Sakai's Claude can be powered by a glow plug or diesel engine from .19 to .35 displacement. The advanced scale modeler may prefer the smaller powerplant for realistic performance while the novice will find a .29 will produce moderate speeds to keep the model out on the lines.

Construction begins with the wing. Although the original wing was three sectioned we construct ours in one piece to insure adequate strength. Cut spars and joiners to shape, cement together forming correct dihedral. Add ribs, when dry cement lower covering to spars and ribs - due to the dihedral breaks install in three sections. Bend landing gear struts, attach to plywood supports with 'J' bolts. Make hole in lower covering, slip struts through, then cement supports firmly to lower covering, ribs and spar. Check for correct CG alignment, apply several ce-meat coats for strength.

To achieve proper vertical location for bellcrank and not interfere with standard fuel tank installations, we place it in outer wing panel. This also hides the lead-out lines. The location means the addition of two smaller bellcranks to transmit control action through wing center section into fuselage. Main bell-crank firmly bolts to hardwood mount which, in turn, is securely cemented to spar. The two secondary bellcranks, not subjected to high stresses, can be held in place with small round-head wood screws on a plywood square cemented to lower covering. A washer goes between bell-cranks and mounts..."

This is an Uncle Willies plan.

Direct submission to Outerzone.

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