AMA Plans Service Showcase - 2008/05
John Tanzer’s Lil’ Foiler
John Tanzer’s original RC Foiler design was published in the May 1991 Model Aviation. The .60 glow-powered model was so popular with his club members and others who built it that John decided to build a smaller version using the same construction techniques and the same airfoil design. He called it the Lil’ Foiler.
The construction feature was published in the October 1992 Model Aviation. The Lil’ Foiler was designed to be powered by .40- to .51-size glow engines, but it is also a good candidate for an effortless conversion to electric power.
Key construction features:
- Constant-chord, multispar wing with shear webs for extraordinary rigidity.
- Robust fuselage: 1/8" lite-ply sides with 3/32" cross-grain balsa sheeting on top and bottom.
- Tail feathers built from 1/4" sheet balsa.
- Easy to build and transport; the model can be carried in one piece for lunchtime flying sessions.
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 48.5 inches
- Wing area: 615 square inches
- Suggested flying weight: 4.5–5.0 pounds
The full-size plans for the Lil’ Foiler (set 721) are available for $14 from the AMA Plans Service. See page 199 of the magazine for ordering details.
Wing-skin preparation
Because there are variations in the wood, there will be slight differences in the height of the balsa sheets. The last step to prepare the wing skin is to block-sand the surface with a long sanding block or T-sander.
Make the other skins exactly as the first, and then you’re ready to adhere the skins to the foam core. This topic will be covered in my column next month. If any instructions are unclear, consult the accompanying photos — a picture is worth a thousand words. Good luck on your next project!
Lozenge Fabric
Many World War I German pursuit aircraft incorporated a unique camouflage design called a “lozenge” pattern (Lozengetarnung) on their wings. This pattern was made from irregularly shaped, colored polygons that were time-consuming to paint. Because painting added considerable weight, a preprinted fabric in various forms and colors was used from 1916 onward.
For modelers, painting a lozenge pattern has always been tedious. Wildmann Graphics now offers a five-color lozenge fabric in quarter scale, available in two distinct patterns:
- Darker pattern: intended for upper wing surfaces.
- Lighter pattern: intended for lower wing surfaces.
Production and use:
- The pattern is printed on linen-colored Solartex using a large-format printer and Eco-Sol acid-based permanent ink.
- The fabric has a glue backing and can be adhered using a low-heat setting.
- Street price: $65 for a 2-meter roll.
See the Sources section for contact information.
Armand’s Spad 13
The appearance of the Balsa USA Spad 13 in recent columns has generated reader interest. This submission comes from Armand Francoeur of Westford, Massachusetts.
Armand completed his Spad last summer, covered it with Solartex, and finished it with Benjamin Moore latex paint applied using a 1-inch foam roller. He top-coated the scheme with Minwax clear acrylic spray.
Power and performance:
- Engine: Converted Poulan 42 cc chainsaw engine with a home-brewed electronic ignition (Armand is a retired electrical engineer).
- Weight: 21 pounds.
- Center of gravity (CG): Reported as “dead on” when completed; Armand attributes this to the heavy Poulan engine.
- Flying: Handles nicely in the air; ground control was initially a bit squirrelly, but adding a gyro to the rudder helped substantially.
Armand belongs to two clubs: the Concord Sky Hawks (Concord, New Hampshire) and the 495th RC Squadron (Tewksbury, Massachusetts). He was initially interested in RC electrics but switched to large gas-powered models after flying a scratch-built Citabria. He has since converted a dozen gas engines (18cc to 50cc), all using his homemade electronic ignitions.
Nice work, Armand! Once you try large gas models, there’s often no turning back.
If you’d like to see your model in a future RC Giants column, send digital photos and a brief write-up.
Go flying; have fun!
Sources
- Wildmann Graphics
Phone: (406) 892-1911 Website: www.wildmanngraphics.com
- German Lozenge Camouflage
Website: www.wwiaviation.com/lozenge.html
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
