58 MODEL AVIATION
A new look at an aeromodeling icon
Below: The author points his prototype
into the wind to feel out the breeze.
Three landing-gear options are
available. The “safety orange” tips
enhance visibility.
Left: The recommended
AXi motor is a healthy
power plant and adds the
necessary ballast. Epoxy
and hot glue are the
primary adhesives used for
this project.
by Leon Shulman
ITS HERITAGE DATES back to 1940, as
an FF design that was radical for its time.
Besides the aesthetically pleasing lines, it
was aerodynamically efficient. The original
Zomby featured a fully cowled engine, an
automatically retractable single-strut landing
gear, and a folding propeller. It won almost
all contests in which it was entered, and
thousands of kits were internationally
manufactured and sold.
Even though the Zomby was world
renowned and published in many countries
and in several languages, MA revisited the
design as a construction feature—the “Super
Super Zomby” (plans set 979)—in the
August 2005 issue. It showcased RC-assist
updates but was the original size and
structure.
This article will look at the Zomby that
takes advantage of a relatively popular
material. It is simply made and will enable
you to have a swiftly built model that you
can get into the air practically overnight.
The Blue Foam Super Zomby is
no slouch, even though it is cut
from 1/4-inch Dow BlueCor
insulation foam. Cost
and effort are
minimal; one BlueCor sheet costs less than
$2. It requires no special tools and is unique
in structure and assembly. An
aerodynamically efficient curved airfoil,
which adds great strength, is practically
weightless.
06sig2.QXD 4/22/09 11:10 AM Page 58
The wing template is made from the plans sheet. A rigid
chipboard template can be used to produce many samples. Flip
the template over to make the opposite side.
Carefully cut the wings from 1/4-inch foam using a fresh hobby
knife. Pin or tape the template in place, and record the polyhedral
and 1/2-inch-spaced crease lines.
Create each wing panel’s airfoil with a metal ruler and crisp table
edge. Bend the LE to shape one crease at a time.
Fix the inner wing panel to the table and raise the outside root
edge 13/8 inches from the surface to the top edge. Sand the inner
root dihedral surface perpendicular with the table.
Separate the wingtip from the polyhedral joint location. This is a
good time to paint the bottom of the tips a bright color.
Notice the typical airfoil curve. Sand the wingtips in a similar
manner as shown on the plans. Glue butt joints with epoxy.
Photos by the author
June 2009 59
06sig2.QXD 4/22/09 11:33 AM Page 59
60 MODEL AVIATION
Left: The author’s blue-foam Zomby is a 65th-anniversary
tribute to his design that showcased many original features.
Below: Why not a collector’s card for model airplanes? Leon
had his own made, each detailing one of his original designs
and contest achievements. There’s almost not enough room!
Construction: Dow BlueCor 1/4-inch blue foam, plywood hard points
Finish: Builder’s choice
Other: Two-cell Li-Poly battery, 8- to 10-amp ESC, microreceiver,
two microservos
Type: RC sport electric
Skill level: Beginner
Wingspan: 38 inches
Wing area: 230 square inches
Length: 28.5 inches
Weight: 6-8 ounces
Motor: AXi 2208/34
Zomby History
06sig2.QXD 4/22/09 10:40 AM Page 60
The original Zomby kit sold for $1.95 in
the early 1940s, and building this Zomby
won’t cost you any more—maybe even less.
Inflation isn’t kicking in here, but
performance is for sure.
The approach to this Blue Foam Super
Zomby incorporates the original design
concept coined as “Designed to Climb.”
With either a brushed or brushless motor
system, it will climb higher than you can see
in close to 20 seconds. Upon throttling back,
the model will transition into a beautiful flat
glide.
You can take advantage of any lift,
whether from a tree line or hot-air thermals.
The Blue Foam Super Zomby weighs, at the
most, a mere 9 ounces and boasts a wing
loading of 5.6 ounces per square foot.
Mild winds do not bother this model. Its
FF tradition makes it naturally stable.
Although it will climb rapidly with full
power, it will also fly slowly on slightly
more than an idle. This airplane can also be
successful flying indoors, in spaces as small
as the average school gym.
The Blue Foam Super Zomby features a
removable single-strut landing gear, as on
the original, but the plans show an option for
more conventional landing gear with two
wheels. You can even choose to mimic the
retracted look by leaving the undercarriage
off altogether. My good friend and
collaborator, Frank Pisano, developed these
features and drew the featured plans.
CONSTRUCTION
Plans show the full-size model/parts
with construction notes. As I mentioned,
this Zomby is made from Dow BlueCor
fan-fold foam, or any material that is
similar in weight and characteristics.
BlueCor is available from Lowe’s, The
Home Depot, and most other large
hardware stores.
Items necessary for this build are a
sharp razor or knife, a sandpaper block,
your basic modeler’s tools, foam-friendly
cyanoacrylate, and epoxy. You will also
need 1/32, 1/16, and 1/8 plywood, small pieces
of 1/16 x 1/4 basswood (or hard balsa) as
stiffeners, 1/16-inch-diameter wire for the
landing gear, and a wheel or wheels.
Suggested hardware and their locations are
noted on the plans.
Construction goes quickly, but make
sure to adhere to the following step-by-step
procedure.
Cut all parts to shape; make a kit.
Assemble the landing-gear socket with
cyanoacrylate.
Bevel the horizontal stabilizer’s bottom
edges and one side of the vertical tail. Add
basswood stiffener material to the control
surfaces.
The hinges are made from clear packing
tape; employ it on both sides of the
movable surfaces. Leave a 1/3-inch space
between surfaces and press tape in place,
and then fold the surfaces back in the other
direction. Apply a second piece of tape, to
complete the hinge. Rub and press the tape
firmly to secure it.
Make the airfoil shape and wing
dihedral, as shown in the photos. Crease
the foam wing in six 1/2-inch increments to
make the airfoil. This process results in an
efficient wing with tremendous strength.
Assemble the model, using masking
tape to hold the parts in position while you
adhere them with epoxy or cyanoacrylate.
All incidence and motor thrust settings are
built-in; however, you can make thrust
adjustments as desired by using small
washers between the motor mount and
plywood wall when an outrunner-style
power plant is employed. For the beam
mount, shave the 3/8-inch beam as desired.
The photographs show the location of
the motor, ESC, battery, servos, etc. The
receiver, controller, and Li-Poly battery is
held to the fuselage with Du-Bro hookand-
loop tape (item 348). I used Du-Bro
double-stick tape (item 634) to mount the
servos.
The CG is at the 50% point of the wing
chord (shown on the plans). I used Du-Bro
Micro Control Horns (item 848) and Micro
Push Rod System (item 847) to connect the
Polk’s Hobby X-Micro servos and Polk’s
Seeker 6 receiver. The servos should be set
up to allow 3/4 inch of control throw on the
rudder and 1/2 inch on the elevator.
I used the AXi 2208/34 motor and a Jeti
8-amp brushless ESC from Hobby Lobby.
On a two-cell Li-Poly pack, that
combination turns an APC 10 x 4.3SF
propeller, which is available from Landing
Products. The economy setup uses the
GWS 350C motor and Castle Creations
Pixie-20 ESC with a GWS 10 x 4.3 SF
propeller.
I was surprised, because there was little
performance differential between the units.
The brushless package was somewhat
sprightlier, weighed slightly less, and
exhibited better overall efficiency; the
Zomby could climb to altitude more on a
single charge.
I recommend that you either paint the
undersides of the wings a bright color or
use Fluorescent Orange Solartrim. The
airplane climbs like a rocket and glides like
an eagle, but that blue foam blends quickly
without clouds in the background.
Flight: Upon launching, the Blue Foam
Super Zomby will angle up and turn by
itself as it spirals upward. You can steer it
gently if you want. Before it climbs out of
sight, throttle back slowly and allow it to
transition into a soaring glide. This model
is gentle and responsive.
Try landing it at your feet; you can do it
with this Zomby. MA
Leon Shulman
[email protected]
Sources:
Du-Bro
(800) 848-9411
www.dubro.com
Polk’s Hobby
(973) 351-9800
www.polkshobby.com
Hobby Lobby
(866) 933-5972
www.hobby-lobby.com
Landing Products
(530) 661-0399
www.apcprop.com
GWS
(909) 594-4979
www.gwsus.com
Castle Creations
(913) 390-6939
www.castlecreations.com
Edition: Model Aviation - 2009/06
Page Numbers: 58,59,60,61,62
Edition: Model Aviation - 2009/06
Page Numbers: 58,59,60,61,62
58 MODEL AVIATION
A new look at an aeromodeling icon
Below: The author points his prototype
into the wind to feel out the breeze.
Three landing-gear options are
available. The “safety orange” tips
enhance visibility.
Left: The recommended
AXi motor is a healthy
power plant and adds the
necessary ballast. Epoxy
and hot glue are the
primary adhesives used for
this project.
by Leon Shulman
ITS HERITAGE DATES back to 1940, as
an FF design that was radical for its time.
Besides the aesthetically pleasing lines, it
was aerodynamically efficient. The original
Zomby featured a fully cowled engine, an
automatically retractable single-strut landing
gear, and a folding propeller. It won almost
all contests in which it was entered, and
thousands of kits were internationally
manufactured and sold.
Even though the Zomby was world
renowned and published in many countries
and in several languages, MA revisited the
design as a construction feature—the “Super
Super Zomby” (plans set 979)—in the
August 2005 issue. It showcased RC-assist
updates but was the original size and
structure.
This article will look at the Zomby that
takes advantage of a relatively popular
material. It is simply made and will enable
you to have a swiftly built model that you
can get into the air practically overnight.
The Blue Foam Super Zomby is
no slouch, even though it is cut
from 1/4-inch Dow BlueCor
insulation foam. Cost
and effort are
minimal; one BlueCor sheet costs less than
$2. It requires no special tools and is unique
in structure and assembly. An
aerodynamically efficient curved airfoil,
which adds great strength, is practically
weightless.
06sig2.QXD 4/22/09 11:10 AM Page 58
The wing template is made from the plans sheet. A rigid
chipboard template can be used to produce many samples. Flip
the template over to make the opposite side.
Carefully cut the wings from 1/4-inch foam using a fresh hobby
knife. Pin or tape the template in place, and record the polyhedral
and 1/2-inch-spaced crease lines.
Create each wing panel’s airfoil with a metal ruler and crisp table
edge. Bend the LE to shape one crease at a time.
Fix the inner wing panel to the table and raise the outside root
edge 13/8 inches from the surface to the top edge. Sand the inner
root dihedral surface perpendicular with the table.
Separate the wingtip from the polyhedral joint location. This is a
good time to paint the bottom of the tips a bright color.
Notice the typical airfoil curve. Sand the wingtips in a similar
manner as shown on the plans. Glue butt joints with epoxy.
Photos by the author
June 2009 59
06sig2.QXD 4/22/09 11:33 AM Page 59
60 MODEL AVIATION
Left: The author’s blue-foam Zomby is a 65th-anniversary
tribute to his design that showcased many original features.
Below: Why not a collector’s card for model airplanes? Leon
had his own made, each detailing one of his original designs
and contest achievements. There’s almost not enough room!
Construction: Dow BlueCor 1/4-inch blue foam, plywood hard points
Finish: Builder’s choice
Other: Two-cell Li-Poly battery, 8- to 10-amp ESC, microreceiver,
two microservos
Type: RC sport electric
Skill level: Beginner
Wingspan: 38 inches
Wing area: 230 square inches
Length: 28.5 inches
Weight: 6-8 ounces
Motor: AXi 2208/34
Zomby History
06sig2.QXD 4/22/09 10:40 AM Page 60
The original Zomby kit sold for $1.95 in
the early 1940s, and building this Zomby
won’t cost you any more—maybe even less.
Inflation isn’t kicking in here, but
performance is for sure.
The approach to this Blue Foam Super
Zomby incorporates the original design
concept coined as “Designed to Climb.”
With either a brushed or brushless motor
system, it will climb higher than you can see
in close to 20 seconds. Upon throttling back,
the model will transition into a beautiful flat
glide.
You can take advantage of any lift,
whether from a tree line or hot-air thermals.
The Blue Foam Super Zomby weighs, at the
most, a mere 9 ounces and boasts a wing
loading of 5.6 ounces per square foot.
Mild winds do not bother this model. Its
FF tradition makes it naturally stable.
Although it will climb rapidly with full
power, it will also fly slowly on slightly
more than an idle. This airplane can also be
successful flying indoors, in spaces as small
as the average school gym.
The Blue Foam Super Zomby features a
removable single-strut landing gear, as on
the original, but the plans show an option for
more conventional landing gear with two
wheels. You can even choose to mimic the
retracted look by leaving the undercarriage
off altogether. My good friend and
collaborator, Frank Pisano, developed these
features and drew the featured plans.
CONSTRUCTION
Plans show the full-size model/parts
with construction notes. As I mentioned,
this Zomby is made from Dow BlueCor
fan-fold foam, or any material that is
similar in weight and characteristics.
BlueCor is available from Lowe’s, The
Home Depot, and most other large
hardware stores.
Items necessary for this build are a
sharp razor or knife, a sandpaper block,
your basic modeler’s tools, foam-friendly
cyanoacrylate, and epoxy. You will also
need 1/32, 1/16, and 1/8 plywood, small pieces
of 1/16 x 1/4 basswood (or hard balsa) as
stiffeners, 1/16-inch-diameter wire for the
landing gear, and a wheel or wheels.
Suggested hardware and their locations are
noted on the plans.
Construction goes quickly, but make
sure to adhere to the following step-by-step
procedure.
Cut all parts to shape; make a kit.
Assemble the landing-gear socket with
cyanoacrylate.
Bevel the horizontal stabilizer’s bottom
edges and one side of the vertical tail. Add
basswood stiffener material to the control
surfaces.
The hinges are made from clear packing
tape; employ it on both sides of the
movable surfaces. Leave a 1/3-inch space
between surfaces and press tape in place,
and then fold the surfaces back in the other
direction. Apply a second piece of tape, to
complete the hinge. Rub and press the tape
firmly to secure it.
Make the airfoil shape and wing
dihedral, as shown in the photos. Crease
the foam wing in six 1/2-inch increments to
make the airfoil. This process results in an
efficient wing with tremendous strength.
Assemble the model, using masking
tape to hold the parts in position while you
adhere them with epoxy or cyanoacrylate.
All incidence and motor thrust settings are
built-in; however, you can make thrust
adjustments as desired by using small
washers between the motor mount and
plywood wall when an outrunner-style
power plant is employed. For the beam
mount, shave the 3/8-inch beam as desired.
The photographs show the location of
the motor, ESC, battery, servos, etc. The
receiver, controller, and Li-Poly battery is
held to the fuselage with Du-Bro hookand-
loop tape (item 348). I used Du-Bro
double-stick tape (item 634) to mount the
servos.
The CG is at the 50% point of the wing
chord (shown on the plans). I used Du-Bro
Micro Control Horns (item 848) and Micro
Push Rod System (item 847) to connect the
Polk’s Hobby X-Micro servos and Polk’s
Seeker 6 receiver. The servos should be set
up to allow 3/4 inch of control throw on the
rudder and 1/2 inch on the elevator.
I used the AXi 2208/34 motor and a Jeti
8-amp brushless ESC from Hobby Lobby.
On a two-cell Li-Poly pack, that
combination turns an APC 10 x 4.3SF
propeller, which is available from Landing
Products. The economy setup uses the
GWS 350C motor and Castle Creations
Pixie-20 ESC with a GWS 10 x 4.3 SF
propeller.
I was surprised, because there was little
performance differential between the units.
The brushless package was somewhat
sprightlier, weighed slightly less, and
exhibited better overall efficiency; the
Zomby could climb to altitude more on a
single charge.
I recommend that you either paint the
undersides of the wings a bright color or
use Fluorescent Orange Solartrim. The
airplane climbs like a rocket and glides like
an eagle, but that blue foam blends quickly
without clouds in the background.
Flight: Upon launching, the Blue Foam
Super Zomby will angle up and turn by
itself as it spirals upward. You can steer it
gently if you want. Before it climbs out of
sight, throttle back slowly and allow it to
transition into a soaring glide. This model
is gentle and responsive.
Try landing it at your feet; you can do it
with this Zomby. MA
Leon Shulman
[email protected]
Sources:
Du-Bro
(800) 848-9411
www.dubro.com
Polk’s Hobby
(973) 351-9800
www.polkshobby.com
Hobby Lobby
(866) 933-5972
www.hobby-lobby.com
Landing Products
(530) 661-0399
www.apcprop.com
GWS
(909) 594-4979
www.gwsus.com
Castle Creations
(913) 390-6939
www.castlecreations.com
Edition: Model Aviation - 2009/06
Page Numbers: 58,59,60,61,62
58 MODEL AVIATION
A new look at an aeromodeling icon
Below: The author points his prototype
into the wind to feel out the breeze.
Three landing-gear options are
available. The “safety orange” tips
enhance visibility.
Left: The recommended
AXi motor is a healthy
power plant and adds the
necessary ballast. Epoxy
and hot glue are the
primary adhesives used for
this project.
by Leon Shulman
ITS HERITAGE DATES back to 1940, as
an FF design that was radical for its time.
Besides the aesthetically pleasing lines, it
was aerodynamically efficient. The original
Zomby featured a fully cowled engine, an
automatically retractable single-strut landing
gear, and a folding propeller. It won almost
all contests in which it was entered, and
thousands of kits were internationally
manufactured and sold.
Even though the Zomby was world
renowned and published in many countries
and in several languages, MA revisited the
design as a construction feature—the “Super
Super Zomby” (plans set 979)—in the
August 2005 issue. It showcased RC-assist
updates but was the original size and
structure.
This article will look at the Zomby that
takes advantage of a relatively popular
material. It is simply made and will enable
you to have a swiftly built model that you
can get into the air practically overnight.
The Blue Foam Super Zomby is
no slouch, even though it is cut
from 1/4-inch Dow BlueCor
insulation foam. Cost
and effort are
minimal; one BlueCor sheet costs less than
$2. It requires no special tools and is unique
in structure and assembly. An
aerodynamically efficient curved airfoil,
which adds great strength, is practically
weightless.
06sig2.QXD 4/22/09 11:10 AM Page 58
The wing template is made from the plans sheet. A rigid
chipboard template can be used to produce many samples. Flip
the template over to make the opposite side.
Carefully cut the wings from 1/4-inch foam using a fresh hobby
knife. Pin or tape the template in place, and record the polyhedral
and 1/2-inch-spaced crease lines.
Create each wing panel’s airfoil with a metal ruler and crisp table
edge. Bend the LE to shape one crease at a time.
Fix the inner wing panel to the table and raise the outside root
edge 13/8 inches from the surface to the top edge. Sand the inner
root dihedral surface perpendicular with the table.
Separate the wingtip from the polyhedral joint location. This is a
good time to paint the bottom of the tips a bright color.
Notice the typical airfoil curve. Sand the wingtips in a similar
manner as shown on the plans. Glue butt joints with epoxy.
Photos by the author
June 2009 59
06sig2.QXD 4/22/09 11:33 AM Page 59
60 MODEL AVIATION
Left: The author’s blue-foam Zomby is a 65th-anniversary
tribute to his design that showcased many original features.
Below: Why not a collector’s card for model airplanes? Leon
had his own made, each detailing one of his original designs
and contest achievements. There’s almost not enough room!
Construction: Dow BlueCor 1/4-inch blue foam, plywood hard points
Finish: Builder’s choice
Other: Two-cell Li-Poly battery, 8- to 10-amp ESC, microreceiver,
two microservos
Type: RC sport electric
Skill level: Beginner
Wingspan: 38 inches
Wing area: 230 square inches
Length: 28.5 inches
Weight: 6-8 ounces
Motor: AXi 2208/34
Zomby History
06sig2.QXD 4/22/09 10:40 AM Page 60
The original Zomby kit sold for $1.95 in
the early 1940s, and building this Zomby
won’t cost you any more—maybe even less.
Inflation isn’t kicking in here, but
performance is for sure.
The approach to this Blue Foam Super
Zomby incorporates the original design
concept coined as “Designed to Climb.”
With either a brushed or brushless motor
system, it will climb higher than you can see
in close to 20 seconds. Upon throttling back,
the model will transition into a beautiful flat
glide.
You can take advantage of any lift,
whether from a tree line or hot-air thermals.
The Blue Foam Super Zomby weighs, at the
most, a mere 9 ounces and boasts a wing
loading of 5.6 ounces per square foot.
Mild winds do not bother this model. Its
FF tradition makes it naturally stable.
Although it will climb rapidly with full
power, it will also fly slowly on slightly
more than an idle. This airplane can also be
successful flying indoors, in spaces as small
as the average school gym.
The Blue Foam Super Zomby features a
removable single-strut landing gear, as on
the original, but the plans show an option for
more conventional landing gear with two
wheels. You can even choose to mimic the
retracted look by leaving the undercarriage
off altogether. My good friend and
collaborator, Frank Pisano, developed these
features and drew the featured plans.
CONSTRUCTION
Plans show the full-size model/parts
with construction notes. As I mentioned,
this Zomby is made from Dow BlueCor
fan-fold foam, or any material that is
similar in weight and characteristics.
BlueCor is available from Lowe’s, The
Home Depot, and most other large
hardware stores.
Items necessary for this build are a
sharp razor or knife, a sandpaper block,
your basic modeler’s tools, foam-friendly
cyanoacrylate, and epoxy. You will also
need 1/32, 1/16, and 1/8 plywood, small pieces
of 1/16 x 1/4 basswood (or hard balsa) as
stiffeners, 1/16-inch-diameter wire for the
landing gear, and a wheel or wheels.
Suggested hardware and their locations are
noted on the plans.
Construction goes quickly, but make
sure to adhere to the following step-by-step
procedure.
Cut all parts to shape; make a kit.
Assemble the landing-gear socket with
cyanoacrylate.
Bevel the horizontal stabilizer’s bottom
edges and one side of the vertical tail. Add
basswood stiffener material to the control
surfaces.
The hinges are made from clear packing
tape; employ it on both sides of the
movable surfaces. Leave a 1/3-inch space
between surfaces and press tape in place,
and then fold the surfaces back in the other
direction. Apply a second piece of tape, to
complete the hinge. Rub and press the tape
firmly to secure it.
Make the airfoil shape and wing
dihedral, as shown in the photos. Crease
the foam wing in six 1/2-inch increments to
make the airfoil. This process results in an
efficient wing with tremendous strength.
Assemble the model, using masking
tape to hold the parts in position while you
adhere them with epoxy or cyanoacrylate.
All incidence and motor thrust settings are
built-in; however, you can make thrust
adjustments as desired by using small
washers between the motor mount and
plywood wall when an outrunner-style
power plant is employed. For the beam
mount, shave the 3/8-inch beam as desired.
The photographs show the location of
the motor, ESC, battery, servos, etc. The
receiver, controller, and Li-Poly battery is
held to the fuselage with Du-Bro hookand-
loop tape (item 348). I used Du-Bro
double-stick tape (item 634) to mount the
servos.
The CG is at the 50% point of the wing
chord (shown on the plans). I used Du-Bro
Micro Control Horns (item 848) and Micro
Push Rod System (item 847) to connect the
Polk’s Hobby X-Micro servos and Polk’s
Seeker 6 receiver. The servos should be set
up to allow 3/4 inch of control throw on the
rudder and 1/2 inch on the elevator.
I used the AXi 2208/34 motor and a Jeti
8-amp brushless ESC from Hobby Lobby.
On a two-cell Li-Poly pack, that
combination turns an APC 10 x 4.3SF
propeller, which is available from Landing
Products. The economy setup uses the
GWS 350C motor and Castle Creations
Pixie-20 ESC with a GWS 10 x 4.3 SF
propeller.
I was surprised, because there was little
performance differential between the units.
The brushless package was somewhat
sprightlier, weighed slightly less, and
exhibited better overall efficiency; the
Zomby could climb to altitude more on a
single charge.
I recommend that you either paint the
undersides of the wings a bright color or
use Fluorescent Orange Solartrim. The
airplane climbs like a rocket and glides like
an eagle, but that blue foam blends quickly
without clouds in the background.
Flight: Upon launching, the Blue Foam
Super Zomby will angle up and turn by
itself as it spirals upward. You can steer it
gently if you want. Before it climbs out of
sight, throttle back slowly and allow it to
transition into a soaring glide. This model
is gentle and responsive.
Try landing it at your feet; you can do it
with this Zomby. MA
Leon Shulman
[email protected]
Sources:
Du-Bro
(800) 848-9411
www.dubro.com
Polk’s Hobby
(973) 351-9800
www.polkshobby.com
Hobby Lobby
(866) 933-5972
www.hobby-lobby.com
Landing Products
(530) 661-0399
www.apcprop.com
GWS
(909) 594-4979
www.gwsus.com
Castle Creations
(913) 390-6939
www.castlecreations.com
Edition: Model Aviation - 2009/06
Page Numbers: 58,59,60,61,62
58 MODEL AVIATION
A new look at an aeromodeling icon
Below: The author points his prototype
into the wind to feel out the breeze.
Three landing-gear options are
available. The “safety orange” tips
enhance visibility.
Left: The recommended
AXi motor is a healthy
power plant and adds the
necessary ballast. Epoxy
and hot glue are the
primary adhesives used for
this project.
by Leon Shulman
ITS HERITAGE DATES back to 1940, as
an FF design that was radical for its time.
Besides the aesthetically pleasing lines, it
was aerodynamically efficient. The original
Zomby featured a fully cowled engine, an
automatically retractable single-strut landing
gear, and a folding propeller. It won almost
all contests in which it was entered, and
thousands of kits were internationally
manufactured and sold.
Even though the Zomby was world
renowned and published in many countries
and in several languages, MA revisited the
design as a construction feature—the “Super
Super Zomby” (plans set 979)—in the
August 2005 issue. It showcased RC-assist
updates but was the original size and
structure.
This article will look at the Zomby that
takes advantage of a relatively popular
material. It is simply made and will enable
you to have a swiftly built model that you
can get into the air practically overnight.
The Blue Foam Super Zomby is
no slouch, even though it is cut
from 1/4-inch Dow BlueCor
insulation foam. Cost
and effort are
minimal; one BlueCor sheet costs less than
$2. It requires no special tools and is unique
in structure and assembly. An
aerodynamically efficient curved airfoil,
which adds great strength, is practically
weightless.
06sig2.QXD 4/22/09 11:10 AM Page 58
The wing template is made from the plans sheet. A rigid
chipboard template can be used to produce many samples. Flip
the template over to make the opposite side.
Carefully cut the wings from 1/4-inch foam using a fresh hobby
knife. Pin or tape the template in place, and record the polyhedral
and 1/2-inch-spaced crease lines.
Create each wing panel’s airfoil with a metal ruler and crisp table
edge. Bend the LE to shape one crease at a time.
Fix the inner wing panel to the table and raise the outside root
edge 13/8 inches from the surface to the top edge. Sand the inner
root dihedral surface perpendicular with the table.
Separate the wingtip from the polyhedral joint location. This is a
good time to paint the bottom of the tips a bright color.
Notice the typical airfoil curve. Sand the wingtips in a similar
manner as shown on the plans. Glue butt joints with epoxy.
Photos by the author
June 2009 59
06sig2.QXD 4/22/09 11:33 AM Page 59
60 MODEL AVIATION
Left: The author’s blue-foam Zomby is a 65th-anniversary
tribute to his design that showcased many original features.
Below: Why not a collector’s card for model airplanes? Leon
had his own made, each detailing one of his original designs
and contest achievements. There’s almost not enough room!
Construction: Dow BlueCor 1/4-inch blue foam, plywood hard points
Finish: Builder’s choice
Other: Two-cell Li-Poly battery, 8- to 10-amp ESC, microreceiver,
two microservos
Type: RC sport electric
Skill level: Beginner
Wingspan: 38 inches
Wing area: 230 square inches
Length: 28.5 inches
Weight: 6-8 ounces
Motor: AXi 2208/34
Zomby History
06sig2.QXD 4/22/09 10:40 AM Page 60
The original Zomby kit sold for $1.95 in
the early 1940s, and building this Zomby
won’t cost you any more—maybe even less.
Inflation isn’t kicking in here, but
performance is for sure.
The approach to this Blue Foam Super
Zomby incorporates the original design
concept coined as “Designed to Climb.”
With either a brushed or brushless motor
system, it will climb higher than you can see
in close to 20 seconds. Upon throttling back,
the model will transition into a beautiful flat
glide.
You can take advantage of any lift,
whether from a tree line or hot-air thermals.
The Blue Foam Super Zomby weighs, at the
most, a mere 9 ounces and boasts a wing
loading of 5.6 ounces per square foot.
Mild winds do not bother this model. Its
FF tradition makes it naturally stable.
Although it will climb rapidly with full
power, it will also fly slowly on slightly
more than an idle. This airplane can also be
successful flying indoors, in spaces as small
as the average school gym.
The Blue Foam Super Zomby features a
removable single-strut landing gear, as on
the original, but the plans show an option for
more conventional landing gear with two
wheels. You can even choose to mimic the
retracted look by leaving the undercarriage
off altogether. My good friend and
collaborator, Frank Pisano, developed these
features and drew the featured plans.
CONSTRUCTION
Plans show the full-size model/parts
with construction notes. As I mentioned,
this Zomby is made from Dow BlueCor
fan-fold foam, or any material that is
similar in weight and characteristics.
BlueCor is available from Lowe’s, The
Home Depot, and most other large
hardware stores.
Items necessary for this build are a
sharp razor or knife, a sandpaper block,
your basic modeler’s tools, foam-friendly
cyanoacrylate, and epoxy. You will also
need 1/32, 1/16, and 1/8 plywood, small pieces
of 1/16 x 1/4 basswood (or hard balsa) as
stiffeners, 1/16-inch-diameter wire for the
landing gear, and a wheel or wheels.
Suggested hardware and their locations are
noted on the plans.
Construction goes quickly, but make
sure to adhere to the following step-by-step
procedure.
Cut all parts to shape; make a kit.
Assemble the landing-gear socket with
cyanoacrylate.
Bevel the horizontal stabilizer’s bottom
edges and one side of the vertical tail. Add
basswood stiffener material to the control
surfaces.
The hinges are made from clear packing
tape; employ it on both sides of the
movable surfaces. Leave a 1/3-inch space
between surfaces and press tape in place,
and then fold the surfaces back in the other
direction. Apply a second piece of tape, to
complete the hinge. Rub and press the tape
firmly to secure it.
Make the airfoil shape and wing
dihedral, as shown in the photos. Crease
the foam wing in six 1/2-inch increments to
make the airfoil. This process results in an
efficient wing with tremendous strength.
Assemble the model, using masking
tape to hold the parts in position while you
adhere them with epoxy or cyanoacrylate.
All incidence and motor thrust settings are
built-in; however, you can make thrust
adjustments as desired by using small
washers between the motor mount and
plywood wall when an outrunner-style
power plant is employed. For the beam
mount, shave the 3/8-inch beam as desired.
The photographs show the location of
the motor, ESC, battery, servos, etc. The
receiver, controller, and Li-Poly battery is
held to the fuselage with Du-Bro hookand-
loop tape (item 348). I used Du-Bro
double-stick tape (item 634) to mount the
servos.
The CG is at the 50% point of the wing
chord (shown on the plans). I used Du-Bro
Micro Control Horns (item 848) and Micro
Push Rod System (item 847) to connect the
Polk’s Hobby X-Micro servos and Polk’s
Seeker 6 receiver. The servos should be set
up to allow 3/4 inch of control throw on the
rudder and 1/2 inch on the elevator.
I used the AXi 2208/34 motor and a Jeti
8-amp brushless ESC from Hobby Lobby.
On a two-cell Li-Poly pack, that
combination turns an APC 10 x 4.3SF
propeller, which is available from Landing
Products. The economy setup uses the
GWS 350C motor and Castle Creations
Pixie-20 ESC with a GWS 10 x 4.3 SF
propeller.
I was surprised, because there was little
performance differential between the units.
The brushless package was somewhat
sprightlier, weighed slightly less, and
exhibited better overall efficiency; the
Zomby could climb to altitude more on a
single charge.
I recommend that you either paint the
undersides of the wings a bright color or
use Fluorescent Orange Solartrim. The
airplane climbs like a rocket and glides like
an eagle, but that blue foam blends quickly
without clouds in the background.
Flight: Upon launching, the Blue Foam
Super Zomby will angle up and turn by
itself as it spirals upward. You can steer it
gently if you want. Before it climbs out of
sight, throttle back slowly and allow it to
transition into a soaring glide. This model
is gentle and responsive.
Try landing it at your feet; you can do it
with this Zomby. MA
Leon Shulman
[email protected]
Sources:
Du-Bro
(800) 848-9411
www.dubro.com
Polk’s Hobby
(973) 351-9800
www.polkshobby.com
Hobby Lobby
(866) 933-5972
www.hobby-lobby.com
Landing Products
(530) 661-0399
www.apcprop.com
GWS
(909) 594-4979
www.gwsus.com
Castle Creations
(913) 390-6939
www.castlecreations.com
Edition: Model Aviation - 2009/06
Page Numbers: 58,59,60,61,62
58 MODEL AVIATION
A new look at an aeromodeling icon
Below: The author points his prototype
into the wind to feel out the breeze.
Three landing-gear options are
available. The “safety orange” tips
enhance visibility.
Left: The recommended
AXi motor is a healthy
power plant and adds the
necessary ballast. Epoxy
and hot glue are the
primary adhesives used for
this project.
by Leon Shulman
ITS HERITAGE DATES back to 1940, as
an FF design that was radical for its time.
Besides the aesthetically pleasing lines, it
was aerodynamically efficient. The original
Zomby featured a fully cowled engine, an
automatically retractable single-strut landing
gear, and a folding propeller. It won almost
all contests in which it was entered, and
thousands of kits were internationally
manufactured and sold.
Even though the Zomby was world
renowned and published in many countries
and in several languages, MA revisited the
design as a construction feature—the “Super
Super Zomby” (plans set 979)—in the
August 2005 issue. It showcased RC-assist
updates but was the original size and
structure.
This article will look at the Zomby that
takes advantage of a relatively popular
material. It is simply made and will enable
you to have a swiftly built model that you
can get into the air practically overnight.
The Blue Foam Super Zomby is
no slouch, even though it is cut
from 1/4-inch Dow BlueCor
insulation foam. Cost
and effort are
minimal; one BlueCor sheet costs less than
$2. It requires no special tools and is unique
in structure and assembly. An
aerodynamically efficient curved airfoil,
which adds great strength, is practically
weightless.
06sig2.QXD 4/22/09 11:10 AM Page 58
The wing template is made from the plans sheet. A rigid
chipboard template can be used to produce many samples. Flip
the template over to make the opposite side.
Carefully cut the wings from 1/4-inch foam using a fresh hobby
knife. Pin or tape the template in place, and record the polyhedral
and 1/2-inch-spaced crease lines.
Create each wing panel’s airfoil with a metal ruler and crisp table
edge. Bend the LE to shape one crease at a time.
Fix the inner wing panel to the table and raise the outside root
edge 13/8 inches from the surface to the top edge. Sand the inner
root dihedral surface perpendicular with the table.
Separate the wingtip from the polyhedral joint location. This is a
good time to paint the bottom of the tips a bright color.
Notice the typical airfoil curve. Sand the wingtips in a similar
manner as shown on the plans. Glue butt joints with epoxy.
Photos by the author
June 2009 59
06sig2.QXD 4/22/09 11:33 AM Page 59
60 MODEL AVIATION
Left: The author’s blue-foam Zomby is a 65th-anniversary
tribute to his design that showcased many original features.
Below: Why not a collector’s card for model airplanes? Leon
had his own made, each detailing one of his original designs
and contest achievements. There’s almost not enough room!
Construction: Dow BlueCor 1/4-inch blue foam, plywood hard points
Finish: Builder’s choice
Other: Two-cell Li-Poly battery, 8- to 10-amp ESC, microreceiver,
two microservos
Type: RC sport electric
Skill level: Beginner
Wingspan: 38 inches
Wing area: 230 square inches
Length: 28.5 inches
Weight: 6-8 ounces
Motor: AXi 2208/34
Zomby History
06sig2.QXD 4/22/09 10:40 AM Page 60
The original Zomby kit sold for $1.95 in
the early 1940s, and building this Zomby
won’t cost you any more—maybe even less.
Inflation isn’t kicking in here, but
performance is for sure.
The approach to this Blue Foam Super
Zomby incorporates the original design
concept coined as “Designed to Climb.”
With either a brushed or brushless motor
system, it will climb higher than you can see
in close to 20 seconds. Upon throttling back,
the model will transition into a beautiful flat
glide.
You can take advantage of any lift,
whether from a tree line or hot-air thermals.
The Blue Foam Super Zomby weighs, at the
most, a mere 9 ounces and boasts a wing
loading of 5.6 ounces per square foot.
Mild winds do not bother this model. Its
FF tradition makes it naturally stable.
Although it will climb rapidly with full
power, it will also fly slowly on slightly
more than an idle. This airplane can also be
successful flying indoors, in spaces as small
as the average school gym.
The Blue Foam Super Zomby features a
removable single-strut landing gear, as on
the original, but the plans show an option for
more conventional landing gear with two
wheels. You can even choose to mimic the
retracted look by leaving the undercarriage
off altogether. My good friend and
collaborator, Frank Pisano, developed these
features and drew the featured plans.
CONSTRUCTION
Plans show the full-size model/parts
with construction notes. As I mentioned,
this Zomby is made from Dow BlueCor
fan-fold foam, or any material that is
similar in weight and characteristics.
BlueCor is available from Lowe’s, The
Home Depot, and most other large
hardware stores.
Items necessary for this build are a
sharp razor or knife, a sandpaper block,
your basic modeler’s tools, foam-friendly
cyanoacrylate, and epoxy. You will also
need 1/32, 1/16, and 1/8 plywood, small pieces
of 1/16 x 1/4 basswood (or hard balsa) as
stiffeners, 1/16-inch-diameter wire for the
landing gear, and a wheel or wheels.
Suggested hardware and their locations are
noted on the plans.
Construction goes quickly, but make
sure to adhere to the following step-by-step
procedure.
Cut all parts to shape; make a kit.
Assemble the landing-gear socket with
cyanoacrylate.
Bevel the horizontal stabilizer’s bottom
edges and one side of the vertical tail. Add
basswood stiffener material to the control
surfaces.
The hinges are made from clear packing
tape; employ it on both sides of the
movable surfaces. Leave a 1/3-inch space
between surfaces and press tape in place,
and then fold the surfaces back in the other
direction. Apply a second piece of tape, to
complete the hinge. Rub and press the tape
firmly to secure it.
Make the airfoil shape and wing
dihedral, as shown in the photos. Crease
the foam wing in six 1/2-inch increments to
make the airfoil. This process results in an
efficient wing with tremendous strength.
Assemble the model, using masking
tape to hold the parts in position while you
adhere them with epoxy or cyanoacrylate.
All incidence and motor thrust settings are
built-in; however, you can make thrust
adjustments as desired by using small
washers between the motor mount and
plywood wall when an outrunner-style
power plant is employed. For the beam
mount, shave the 3/8-inch beam as desired.
The photographs show the location of
the motor, ESC, battery, servos, etc. The
receiver, controller, and Li-Poly battery is
held to the fuselage with Du-Bro hookand-
loop tape (item 348). I used Du-Bro
double-stick tape (item 634) to mount the
servos.
The CG is at the 50% point of the wing
chord (shown on the plans). I used Du-Bro
Micro Control Horns (item 848) and Micro
Push Rod System (item 847) to connect the
Polk’s Hobby X-Micro servos and Polk’s
Seeker 6 receiver. The servos should be set
up to allow 3/4 inch of control throw on the
rudder and 1/2 inch on the elevator.
I used the AXi 2208/34 motor and a Jeti
8-amp brushless ESC from Hobby Lobby.
On a two-cell Li-Poly pack, that
combination turns an APC 10 x 4.3SF
propeller, which is available from Landing
Products. The economy setup uses the
GWS 350C motor and Castle Creations
Pixie-20 ESC with a GWS 10 x 4.3 SF
propeller.
I was surprised, because there was little
performance differential between the units.
The brushless package was somewhat
sprightlier, weighed slightly less, and
exhibited better overall efficiency; the
Zomby could climb to altitude more on a
single charge.
I recommend that you either paint the
undersides of the wings a bright color or
use Fluorescent Orange Solartrim. The
airplane climbs like a rocket and glides like
an eagle, but that blue foam blends quickly
without clouds in the background.
Flight: Upon launching, the Blue Foam
Super Zomby will angle up and turn by
itself as it spirals upward. You can steer it
gently if you want. Before it climbs out of
sight, throttle back slowly and allow it to
transition into a soaring glide. This model
is gentle and responsive.
Try landing it at your feet; you can do it
with this Zomby. MA
Leon Shulman
[email protected]
Sources:
Du-Bro
(800) 848-9411
www.dubro.com
Polk’s Hobby
(973) 351-9800
www.polkshobby.com
Hobby Lobby
(866) 933-5972
www.hobby-lobby.com
Landing Products
(530) 661-0399
www.apcprop.com
GWS
(909) 594-4979
www.gwsus.com
Castle Creations
(913) 390-6939
www.castlecreations.com