Teal C300 (oz9632)

About this Plan

Mercury Teal C300. Power sport model. Wingspan 37in, area 215 sq in, for .50cc engines.

Scan from DBHL, cleanup by theshadow.

ref DBHL-7195.

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Update 05/10/2020: Added kit review from Model Aircraft, February 1956, thanks to RFJ.

Quote: "Over the Conter Kit Reviews: The Mercury Teal.

In the immediate post-war years when power models were a comparative novelty in this country, we got a lot of fun and satisfaction out of a high thrust line hatchet fuselage design, the Jersey Javelin (oz9487). Powered by one of the first of the Mills diesels (the engine number was in the teens), it gave us duration performance with a stability sadly lacking in its cabin and pylon counterparts. Recently, of course, this similar design layout has achieved International repute with Stan Hill's Jersey Amazon (oz2688) and its derivatives, but we have often wondered why more designers have not favoured high thrust line stability.

The Teal could not be called a pretty looking model, but should be one of those duration models without vices, easy to trim and lacking the sensitivity of the high-powered pylon model which gets so many beginners into trouble. And on a 0.75 cc engine, it should have a really hot performance. Designer Ron Young, in fact, claims 3 min off a 15 sec motor run as easily attainable. We are certainly prepared to accept this figure, but it would need a good engine, a light model and just about optimum trim.

Fuselage construction differs from conventional practice and at first sight seems to involve a large number of pieces. The basic fuselage structure is a vertical crutch, built flat, over the plan. Sheet parts are then added, in order, and go together quite logically and easily. The whole of the front and the bottom fuselage aft of the wing position is then sheet covered. Cowling is simple, neat, and the installed engine readily accessible. The engine could be equally well mounted inverted, if you are prepared to accept a little extra work and a less accessible unit for adjustment.

The wing has a relatively thick, heavily cambered section - a good glide section, rather than one appropriate to fast climbing. Dihedral angle on the outer panels is generous, without being exaggerated to the point where the model tends to 'Dutch roll.' Construction is very straightforward and much as we personally dislike squared-off wing tips from the point of view of appearance they are the current trend, simpler and stronger than curved sheet tips.

Quality of the kit wood is very good - for our personal standard again, perhaps a little on the heavy side, but cleanly cut and all first class material. The bulk of the strip lengths are machined integral from sheet and just require parting off with a knife or blade. Wing leading and trailing edges are ready shaped, as are a number of the fuselage sheet members. Apart from cement (and a wheel) the kit is in fact delightfully complete.

This is, without doubt, just the model we would recommend to anyone who wants to break into duration power flying - a model which has plenty of latitude as regards trim, is straightforward in construction and put out in the form of a really first class modeller's kit. Even the experienced power flier would get a lot of fun and satisfaction out of it.

Model specification: Span 37 in. Length 26-1/2 in. Wing area 215 sq in. Recommended maximum weight 8 oz. Tail area 85 sq in. Recommended engines: Dart, Frog 50, ED Baby."

Supplementary file notes

Review.

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