Step One (oz8723)

About this Plan

Step One. Radio control trainer model.

Quote: "An ideal trainer, cheap, simple and a delight to fly. This 48inch wingspan model is for .09 - .10 two-strokes and 2 channel RC. Designed by Geoffrey Sprawson.

An ideal trainer, cheap, simple wingspan model is for .09-.10 Designed by Geoffrey Sprawson.

Please sir, how can I build a radio controlled plane for my birthday money?" Easy 1 thought, just buy a kit like the ones I used to fly freeflight and away you go. When I started looking, however, I discovered that it isn't that easy now, so, off to the drawing board.

Three weeks later I had the answer ready to fly: 48 inch wingspan, 2 channel, 29 oz and powered by a Frog 1.49 that I first used in a Mercury Matador in 1957! The first flights were a revelation, Step One is a joy to fly. Dr Mike Sun, who did the test flying, said it was one of the best handling models he had flown. He also expressed the opinion that it would be a pity to give it a trainer's name as it would deter experienced pilots from building one!

Here it is then, Step One, the ideal trainer, cheap, simple and a delight to fly. The perfect model for the experienced pilot to enjoy on a fine summer's day, if you can remember what that was and the ultimate weapon for a club spot landing competition.

Building Because this is a beginner's model I will go into detail in the instructions. The most important feature of this model is it's low weight. A light model flies slower and requires much less power than a heavy one.

The secret of building light is the careful selection of the lightest balsa wood suitable for the components which you are making. if your local model shop has scales available to weigh the balsa, weigh every piece you buy. You'll be amazed at the variation, 1/16 inch x 3 inch can range from 3/8 oz to 1-1/4 oz in weight!

In this plan I have specified balsa as soft, medium soft, medium, medium hard and hard. To use the 1/16 x 3 inch sheet as a guide, I would define these as follows..."

Step One, R/C Model World, October 1988.

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Supplementary file notes

Article pages, thanks to RFJ.

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