AMA Plans Service Showcase-2012/04

The Good Tern was a
straightforward, reliable, easy-toadjust
Embryo-class model, built
with the option of floats for ROW
(rise-off-water) or wheels for ROT
(rise-off-table).
Construction followed conventional
FF model practices. Fuselage parts
and tail surfaces were medium square
balsa; wings and ribs were cut from
straight-grained, soft balsa.
Author Bill Noonan stated that
assembling the floats was much
like building two more fuselages.
He used waterproof glue to
cement all pieces of the floats, and
attached them to the fuselage with
wire legs.
The front legs were cemented
into the floats; the rear were
cemented inside the fuselage, bent
and sprung to engage aluminum tubing
cemented inside the float. The floats
could be disengaged from the airplane
by forcing the rear struts from the
tubing.
Peck-Polymers white tissue was used
for covering and lightly
sprayed with rubbing
alcohol. After it had shrunk,
unwanted tissue was lightly
sanded away. Diluted clear
nitrate dope was followed
by an airbrushed coat
containing a small amount
of silver powder. Red and
blue trim was obtained
by masking and using an
airbrush. The port float was
painted red; the starboard,
blue.
Bill found that two
loops of 3/16-inch rubber at
approximately 18 inches
long worked well during the
test flight. He thought that
it was a fun model offering
versatility, noting, “After
you build it, you may agree
with that old axiom: one Good Tern
deserves another.”
This model was featured in a
construction article in the November
1983 MA. AMA members can access
Graceful and versatile,
this FF model rises above the rest
the magazine’s digital archives on
the Academy’s website to read more
about it.
The Good Tern is AMA Plans Service
listing 424, is available for $5 plus
shipping and handling. See page 159 or
go to www.modelaircraft.org/plans.aspx
for ordering information.