Senior 9 (oz962)

About this Plan

Testors Senior 9. 27 in span .09 powered gas control line by Testors from early 1950s.

Planfile includes full build instructions.

Quote: "Introduction: TESTOR'S Senior 9 is the fourth in a series of four progressive achievement level kits designed to train the amateur modeler in the art of building and flying control-line stunt planes. If you haven't already done so, you should first build TESTOR'S Freshman 9, Sophomore 9 and Junior 9 before building this model.

This kit has been carefully engineered to match the McCOY "9" Engine, the TESTOR McCOY "9" Propeller, and TESTOR'S "39" Fuel. When powered by the McCOY "9" Engine, the Senior "9" offers you the ultimate of stunt performance in control-line flying. This tailored combination provides the modeler with a matched power unit and a perfect fourth step in the hobby of control-line flying. The TESTOR kit for the McCOY "9" engine has the green label.

STEP No.1: If you do not have a sanding block, make one from a block of wood approximately 6 x 2 x 1 in as shown. It is best to wrap the sandpaper around the block and fasten it with thumb tacks. This makes it easy to replace the sandpaper when it becomes worn. Use number 1/2 sandpaper for rough shaping operations, and number 3/0 for smooth shaping. The sanding block is used to shape the tips of the wing, and round the edges of the rudder and elevator parts. Remember to sand with the grain of the wood during every sanding operation.

STEP No.2: Start assembly of the model by building the wing. Separate the ten wing ribs marked R-1 through R-5, the two wing spars, the four tip formers marked T-1 , and the four tip lead-ing edge covers marked T-2 from the die cut sheets. Trim or sand smooth edges of all die cut parts. Using TESTOR'S Formula B Cement, join the two main spars together using the 3/32 x 1/4 x 3-1/8 basswood spar bracer to reinforce the joint at the center of the spar. The dotted lines on the spar show this position. It is unnecessary to provide a brace at the bottom of the joint inasmuch as the basswood pivot screw block to be cemented in place later will also act as a spar brace. Make certain that the top edge of the spar is in a straight line while the center joint is drying.

Bevel one end of each of the two 1/4 square x 15 in balsa strips, and splice together as shown in the spiking detail in Fig. 2. The bevel should be about 1/2 to 3/4 in long. This piece will be used as a leading edge spar.

Now insert the ribs in the proper notches in the main spar as shown in Fig.2a. Rib R-1 goes in the notch marked 1, R-2 in notch 2, etc. The ribs may be cemented after they are in place. Cement the trailing edge onto the ribs. The end of the trailing edge having the longest distance from the notch to the end is placed at the center of the wing.

Cement the 1/4 square balsa strip in place to form the leading edge. Cement the 1/4 x 5/8 x 3-1/8 basswood pivot screw block in place flush with the bottom of the two center ribs and the back side of the spar. This block acts as a reinforcement at the center of the spar and serves as a place to mount the bellcrank.

Mark the location of the bellcrank pivot screw according to the location on the top view drawing. Thread the two lead out wires through the wing and secure them to the bellerank as shown in Fig. 2b. Slip the bellcrank into place and screw it to the pivot screw block at the proper location with one of the 3/8 in long wood screws. Place two washers underneath the crank, and one on top of it. Do not turn the screw completely in, but allow enough play to insert the pushrod in under the bellcrank later.

The wing leading edge sheet covering may now be cemented into place overlapping the 1/4 in square leading edge and flush with the shoulder on the ribs. The shoulder may have to be trimmed in some instances to make a good fit. It is imperative that alignment be checked frequently to insure against warpage of the wing when adding the sheet covering..."

Update 28/4/2023: Added fuselage template, thanks to AlanPenrose.

Quote: "Well, here is an interesting score, it is a template for the preformed planking/covering for the Testors Senior 9.
You already have the plan posted, with all formers complete. I finally have the last missing piece of the puzzle, it's a scan of the original pre formed, one piece per side fuselage covering.
I bought this, as a 'complete' kit, some pieces may be missing... when I got it and opened it up, I was quite upset, and a little disappointed, as it turned out to be a bunch of glued together, broken parts. When I finally calmed down, and, sorted through the mess, it became clear, that, the model had been about 95% completed. And, after much jigsaw puzzling, it turnout that about 98% of the model was actually there, it got down to just slivers missing. Amazingly, after the mass destruction/re kitting exercise, the whole mess was swept up, and, put back in the box, and, there it lay for at least 50 years I'm guessing.
Anyway, of the two pre-formed sides, one was in 4 pieces, and, the other in two. After several hours of hot water, twisting, ironing, and flattening, I managed to glue the two pieces back together, and, get it flat enough to scan. And, here it is... this."

Supplementary file notes

Fuselage template scan.

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