Baby Boomer (oz8540)

About this Plan

Baby Boomer. Free flight power sport model.

Quote: "If you want a ship to put behind the new Herkimer Cub or K&B Infant engine that will give contest performance and is not the usual run-of-the- mill pylon job, try the Baby Boomer. Its fast, tight spiraling climb and flat glide put it in the winners' circle whenever it is flown.

If you look closely you may note the resemblance to the Baby Bowlus sailplane, for it was from this design that the original Boomer was built back in 1938. Since that time at least ten Boomers have been built and all had the same general characteristics: easy to build, easy to adjust, and (we regret to say) easy to lose.

When flying the Baby Boomer take weather conditions into consideration and limit the engine run accordingly. The Infant will run about eight seconds on the fuel in the fuel line from the tank end just before launching. If you use an average size eye dropper to fill the tank, you will find that one dropperful of fuel will give a run of about 25 seconds.

In selecting your wood for construction of the Boomer, bear in mind that the flying weight with an Infant, should not exceed two and one half ounces. For powering with a Cub we recommend 1/20 in sheet balsa for the wing instead of 1/32, and a solid boom of the hardest balsa available. If you can secure some light tubing, that might well be substituted for the balsa on the boom.

With the exception of the boom, the construction is about the simplest, and a warp-free structure should result. Actually the Infant boom shouldn't present any problem if care is taken in selecting a sheet of 1/20 soft straight-grained balsa and a straight 1/4 in dowel. Cut the sheet to the size indicated on the plan and soak it in hot water for at least five minutes. Then lay the dowel in the center of the sheet and gradually bend the balsa around it. Strips of tissue wrapped around the balsa will hold it in shape until dry. If done correctly, the seam should run perfectly straight throughout the length of the tube. When dry, remove the tissue and cement the tube together, constantly checking to make certain that the seam remains straight.

Next, sand the seam smooth, then remove the dowel. Cut a strip of 1/16 medium hard balsa sheet to fit snugly inside the entire length of the tube to act as a stiffener. Use plenty of cement on this strip and then insert it into the tube..."

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Update 27/03/2017: Added article scan thanks to Newtmagick.

Supplementary file notes

Article pages.

Corrections?

Did we get something wrong with these details about this plan (especially the datafile)? That happens sometimes. You can help us fix it.
Add a correction