Piper Colt (oz8994)

About this Plan

Royal Piper Colt Senior. Radio control scale model. Wingspan 74-3/4in, wing area 946 sq in, for .60 - .80 power.

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Quote: "The Piper Colt is a low cost side-by-side, two-seat sporting and training aircraft of typical piper high-wing monoplane design. It has a fabric-covered, all-metal airframe and is powered by a 108 hp Lycoming 0-235-C1B four cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine. It comes in Standard, Custom and Super Custom models, differing in equipment and instrumentation.

The Super Custom colt has blind-flying instruments, a Piper autonav radio compass and Narco superhomer for VHF communications and VOR navigation, making it suitable for use as an instrument flying trainer.

Production was at the rate of eight Colts per day in march 1961. Many have been exported, including an initial batch of 30 for Swedish aero clubs who selected the Colt as standard equipment in 1961. Eight of these 30 are to Super Custom standards and 15 to Custom standard (in each case less radio).

This Colt kit is one of a few scale models available which can be easily located and studied in person. If your aim is scale or sport scale, it would behoove you to scout your local airport as chances are you will find a Colt based there which you can model in great detail.

Constructing the Piper Colt Sr:

Before you glue a single piece of balsa, take the time to layout the parts and study all the isometric drawings which have been painstakingly provided to make your job easier. Take the time to map out your intent (true scale or eyeball scale) and your installations. After all, now is the time to provide for lights, scale fittings,etc.

The logical place to start is with the tail, so glue and tape V-1, V-2, Vv-3 and V-4 together. Likewise assemble V-5, V-6 and V-7. Spot glue the two assemblies together and when dry, sand to the airfoil shape shown in the top view (this is done not for scale, but for lightness - if you are building the ultimate scale job, you will know what the shape should be).

Glue and tape the H-6's and H-7's together to make top and bottom skins. Mark the H-1 and H-2 rib locations on one skin and glue the entire framework in position on the bottom skin. Start assembly with H-3 trailing edge, then 'the H-1/H-2 ribs and finally H-5 and H-4. When dry, add the top skin and then tape and glue the H-8, H-9 and H-10 elevator parts together. Complete the installation by spot gluing the elevators in place and when dry, carve and sand the elevator to the shape shown in the side view.

The fuselage structure will be done by following the isometric drawings (shown between fuselage side and top/bottom views) from left to right. Build the main former up by gluing the F-8, F-8' and F-9's on the F-7, taper the bottom edge of the former to fit as shown on the side view.

Drill the engine bearers to fit your engine and make mount bolt provisions. Drill and mount the nose gear bearing on the F-3/F-4 assembly, then glue the F-1 engine mounts in place add formers F-2, F-5, and F-6 taking care to maintain proper alignment with the F-35's and F-36's. When dry, add the two F-40 blocks on the backside of F-2 and then glue in F-39, F-41 and two F-38's in that order. While this nose structure is drying, refer to the drawing above the wing side view and assemble two opposite fuselage sides (using F-13's through F-19's) with slow drying epoxy glue.

Next, mark all the former locations on the fuselage side view and then glue the sides in place on the engine mount structure with fast drying epdxy. Be careful to keep structure straight. Now add formers F-7, F-30, F-10, F-11, F-12 and glue the fuselage sides together at the tail. Double check for straight alignment and then let the glue cure overnight!

Assemble opposite sets of upper fuselages sides using F-21's through F-24's and add wing hold down fittings as shown in the drawing above the F-10 former in the side view. When these are dry, glue them in place on the formers F-10 through F-12 and then add F-20 top fuselage stringer and the F-31's (bottom stringers). Refer to the fuselage cross sections which are shown along the right edge of the fuselage plan. Cut and glue the 3/32 balsa planking (grain crosswise) along the top of the fuselage..."

Supplementary file notes

Kit instructions, 12 pages.

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