Heath Parasol (oz9194)

About this Plan

1929 Heath Parasol. Radio control sport scale model. Uses cardboard construction.

Quote: "The model of the Heath Parasol is patterned after its namesake in that it is inexpensive to build, easy to construct and simple to fly.

The primary building material is 1/8in corrugated cardboard. The advantages of cardboard as a construction material are numerous. The most important factors are the low cost and availability. In addition to being available from cardboard container manufacturers, cardboard can also be obtained from most grocery and department stores in the form of shipping containers.

All that's needed to cut out cardboard pieces is a sharp razor blade. Sharp comers or rounded edges are equally easy to cut, with no worry of cracking or splitting as with balsa wood sheets. In addition, since cardboard comes in large panels, large sections may be made from one continuous piece.

The ease of cutting, combined with the large shapes which may be formed from a single piece of cardboard, have resulted in simplified design techniques which reduce building time to an absolute minimum. The weight of cardboard varies considerably, but the lighter weight cardboard can be used to build models which are less, or equal, in weight to models using standard balsa wood construction, while still maintaining adequate strength and durability...

The use of non-cardboard material is kept to an absolute minimum, while still maintaining structural integrity. In addition, the construction methods have been simplified for easy construction. The fuselage cross-section is rectangular. The empennage and control surfaces are single thicknesses of cardboard.

The wing is essentially a single-spar upper surface only airfoil with leading edge doublers. Spruce strips have been used on the leading and trailing edges where streamlined shapes or smooth control surface action is required. Plywood has been used for engine and landing gear supports..."

Hi Mary and Steve, My first RC model made from the magazine's small plan. Pictures of my plane from the '70s taken out of the basement [model photo & more pics 003-006] regards, Karsten.

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Supplementary file notes

Article pages, thanks to Karsten.

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