Douglas Skyraider (oz9163)

About this Plan

Douglas Skyraider. Stand-off scale model for .60 power with radio control.

Quote: "This R/C Stand-off scale ship for .60's offers foam care wings, sheet tail and a rolled plywood fuselage/ Dan Reiss

After completing my Rooster, which appeared in the May 1977 issue of Flying Models, I began looking around for a scale subject which I might be able to apply the same method of construction for the fuselage. As you might recall, this was a short biplane with the wings set at a negative stagger. The fuselage was molded from a single piece of 1/32 plywood with the help of an alignment fixture and its own formers. Due to the shape obtained with this construction technique, the selections available were minimal, if not a choice at all.

I was about to scrub the whole idea when I came upon Profile #60 of the Douglas Skyraider. After a few closer looks at the photos it dawned on me that here was just what I was looking for. The fuselage sides appeared flat with the top looking pretty close to a semicircle. Even the sway-back caused by the plywood sheet bulging at the tail could be disguised within that long dorsal fin that is a characteristic of the Skyraider. Of course the circular cowl presented its own problems, but that also had its solution which describe later.

Instead of boring you with the unusual history of this airplane we'll start right in with the building. Read that Profile if you're interested, or the many publications that are available about it. I'll present a detailed description of the construction process although it has already appeared in the issue mentioned, just in case you don't have one around. The changes are few but I would rather take the chance of being repetitious instead of leaving you out on a limb.

Start with the empennage first, since it is so easy. All the pieces are just cut to shape from 1/4 medium hard balsa. An airfoil shape isn't necessary, just round off the edges for appearance sake. Start with the wing by cutting out the foam cores with the indicated templates. Glue on the 1/4" x 1/2" trailing edge and sand it to shape. Cut out the recess for the 1/4" balsa hinge support and cement it in, making sure that it's level with the top of the wing. Install the aileron pushrod and bellcrank with the bellcrank at the wing tip as shown on the plans. By placing the bellcrank out there, your wing sheeting and bellcrank alignment procedure will be much easier. Sheet the wing with 1/16" balsa, then cut a small slot where the pushrod to the aileron will pro-trude from the wing skin at the bellcrank..."

Douglas Skyraider, Flying Models, October 1977.

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Supplementary file notes

Article pages, thanks to RFJ.

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