TOT (oz8578)

About this Plan

TOT (Tiny Old Timer). Free flight rubber sport model. Featuring a dummy ignition engine on the nose. An old-timer lookalike design. Wingspan 16 in.

Scan from DBHL, cleanup by theshadow.

ref DBHL-6241.

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Update 30/6/2026: Added article, thanks to PB_guy.

Quote: "Article attached for TOT oz8578, which was published in the October (not September) 1990 issue of Airborne. Magazine available on HPA now. [see: https://hpa.aeromodelling.gr/plans/details.php?image_id=2039]
PB_guy"

Quote: "The Golden Era of modelling lives on and on, with oldies 'shrunk' down to .020 and CO2 size to fit into equally shrunk flying spaces (and budgets!) - quite beside the fact that vintage motors belong to a minority, and are available usually on a trading basis only.

The TOT (Tiny Old Timer) was designed to embody all the classic beauty of those Megow, Comet, Scientific and so on, models, without over-resembling any particular one, and to use rubber propulsion. The dummy motor is optional, but does wonders for realism (my TOT is to have an Ohisson installed.) Although some wood sections are generous, the TOT, even with nose ballast, builds lightly. it just happens to be a wonderful flyer too.

Construction is straightforward, but put pride into this one - you will be glad you did.

The wing is built right on the gladwrap-covered plan, with the tough leading edge and pre-sectioned trailing edge pinned down first, tip components added next, then the ribs. Only after the wing is dry, fully sanded and satisfactory is the centre section parted and outboard panels bevelled and glued to the dihedral shown. Now fit the gussets and recheck the dihedral. If correct, add the spar to the centre section, then the remaining panels, pinning down each as it is involved. Sand off high spots and glue gobs.

The tailplane is also a right-on-the-plan job, so needs no special instructions beyond keep it light. TOT has a short nose, so any tail end weight is exaggeratedly felt. Sand the fin to marginally over 1/16 thick, and do good leading and trailing edges to reduce wood bulk; this also applies to the stab.

The fuselage is beefy, but a 3/16 inch rubber motor (or CO2) dictates this. A steep climb is part of the character. Build one side, then the next directly on top (with gladwrap between to prevent adhesion). Lightly sand both faces of each side and tack glue the bevelled tail ends together. adding cross-members from the cabin back, then pull the nose together with a rubber band, and add the respective cross members. Next install the landing gear, and sheet in the underside as shown.

Before decking the nose, make a rough, oversize nose-block and ensure that it plugs snugly into the nose aperture. Now add the nose deck block, face off the front, and plug in the nose block. Sand the assembly to the correct contours, then add the cabin top semi.circle and window frames. Lightly sand the fuselage, and inspect for symmetry. Drill the nose block and fit a plastic nose plug with eyeballed downthrust. Guesstimate the amount of nose ballast needed, and mold it into place.

I always apply two light coats of dope to the entire framework, then touch up with No. 1000 wet and dry, It does marvels, and the weight penalty is negligible.

Now cover the model with the lightest tissue available, water shrink with fine atomised spray, and when dry, brush on two scant coats of much thinned nitrate clear dope. Sand off any tags etc with No. 1000 paper, and assemble the TOT. Install the shampoo-lubricated rubber, and balance under the wingtips at the spar, adding or reducing plasticene nose ballast as required.

Test glide, and make tine adjustments with ballast until it is satisfactory. Hand wind in some turns, and launch gently. TOT should fly stably away. Gradually increase power with each succ-essive flight. The trimmed TOT has a sweeping climb: it is nostalgia on the wing, and looks like a real Old Timer very high up (an optical illusion because of TOT's small size).

Gotta go! Must install that dummy Ohissonl Hope you enjoy TOT as much as I do."

Update 30/6/2026: Replaced this plan with a clearer version, now at 600 dpi, thanks to Pilgrim.

Supplementary file notes

Article.
Previous scan version.

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