Gypsy (oz8554)

About this Plan

Gypsy. Rubber competition model, a Wakefield design.

Quote: "The finest characteristics a model can possess are: ease of construction, a great degree of stability, an efficient high climb, and the ability to soar when the power is exhausted. The 'Gypsy' has repeatedly demonstrated that it has these qualities.

Our first model of this design was actually flown many hundreds of times. For nearly a year it was tested in all kinds of weather, and minor changes and readjustments were made until the performance was consistently good.

It was this model that gained a place for the author on the 1939 United States Wakefield team. At the Wakefield finals, however, the intense heat caused the huge rubber motor to snap when only partially wound. The model was nearly disintegrated by the broken strands of rubber, but Ted Just, who was flying the ship by proxy, managed to repair what remained and made one short official flight. But that is another story.

Shown in the photos is an improved version of the original model. During the past season it was used in numerous contests with good results. On a recent test flight it soared out of sight.

Because of the Gypsy's large size, it has been necessary to make most of the plans one-half scale, so the first job is to make actual size drawings of the fuselage, wing, and tail surfaces. This will be a simple task since it will only be necessary to increase each dimension two times.

In reproducing the fuselage, care should be exercised to make the angle of the top of the fuselage exactly right since the wing's correct incidence depends on your accuracy. Draw 1/2 in squares on your plan and duplicate the wing and stabilizer tips as well as the rudder.

OUR FUSELAGE is subject to considerable stress and punishment, so much strength without excessive weight is required. Select four hard 1/8 sq strips for the longerons, which should be of similar strength and weight. Work directly over the full size plan and make two fuselage sides, one atop the other to insure that they will be identical.

It should be noted that the tail piece to which the rudder and stabilizer are attached is made integral with the fuselage and then when the entire structure is completed it can be cut off.

Pins placed at frequent intervals will help keep the longerons and cross-pieces in place until the cement has set. Place the two sides in position over the top view and join them with 1/8 sq spacers and the three F-4 formers which are cut from 1/8 sheet. Check continually for correct alignment.

Full size formers are shown on the plan and they are cut from 1/8 sheet. Cement formers F-1 and F-3 to place and then attach the 3/32 sq fairing strips. Short pieces of 3/32 sq are cemented between the fairing strips to complete the nose as shown by section F-2. Shaded areas at the front and rear of the fuselage are filled in with 1/8 sheet for added strength, and to provide a place to hold the model while the powerful motor is being wound.

Thin aluminum plates are cemented securely to the sheet balsa in the rear; they serve to cradle the hardwood dowel pin which is fitted through the fuselage to hold the rubber motor.

Construction of the landing gear is simple. A single length of 1/16 diameter music wire is required. Use heavy pliers and bend to the shape and size shown. With strong silk thread bind the landing gear to the fuselage structure and then apply several coats of cement.

Wheels are made from laminated 1/8 sheet of a very hard variety. Cement bearings or washers to the wheels so that they will revolve freely and accurately. Washers soldered to the wire struts will hold the wheels in place..."

Original scans are from http://www.theplanpage.com/esp.htm

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