Piper Comanche (oz913)

About this Plan

Piper Comanche. Free flight scale power model, for .75 - 1 cc power.

Quote: "A 1 in to 1 ft scale free-flight model of a popular light plane. Designed for 0.75 to 1 cc motors. Piper Comanche, by Peter Lewis.

A dream come true - is how Piper describes this elegant new combination of their many years of experience in the light 'plane field, and the same description holds good for this stimulating F/F Comanche replica. Scaled to the popular 1 in = 1 ft size, this sleek low-wing design accom-modates a 0.75 to 1 cc engine for optimum performance.

Fuselage. Medium weight 1/8 in sheet is used for the crutch and it is shaped to the outline shown in the plan view. The engine bearers are now cut from 1/4 x 1/4 in hardwood and cemented firmly in place, adjustment to their spacing being made, if necessary, to suit your engine. Former F2 is made from 1/16 in plywood and is pinned and glued to the front of the bearers. It is then faced with the 1/8 in sheet F1, after which the remaining full formers, F3 to F10, are cut from 3/32 in sheet and cemented in their positions on the crutch. Add the pair of 3/32 in sheet tailplane supports and the 20G wire tail bumper on its 3/32 in mounting.

Make incisions across the crutch at the rear face of F4 and the front face of F6 to facilitate the cutting away of this part at a later stage. F3 carries the 18G wire fork for the nose heel. Cut the cabin roof to shape from 3/32 in sheet and cement it in position, supported by the cabin side frames below.

Before covering the fuselage, add the tailplane and fin. Both are cut from 1/8 in sheet and sanded to section. The tailplane is mounted on its supports, followed by the fin above it. At the same time, add the rear fairing of if 1/8 in sheet which is securely cemented just below the rudder.

The fuselage is now ready to receive its covering of 1/16 in sheet aft of F3. As the sides, top and bottom possess gentle curvature, as much area as possible can be covered in one piece at a time, leaving just the four corners to be filled with narrower strips curved by heating or steaming. Use soft block for the tail fillets and 1/4 in sheet on the cabin roof. After fitting the engine mounting bolts, build up the cowling area above and below the crutch with I in. sheet, making the underside removable..."

Supplementary file notes

Planfile includes article.

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