Britain’s Phillip Kent designed his model after the
Alexander Aircraft Company’s Bullet, a cantilever
low-wing monoplane designed with a retracting
undercarriage, and capable of transporting four people at a
cruising speed of 150 mph.
Straightforward, built-up construction consisted of fulldepth
sheet balsa spars slotted to accept wing ribs, 3/16 balsa
cabin parts covered with 1/64 plywood, and a simple box
fuselage fi lled out with stringers. The removable front cowl
was built up with layers of sheet balsa. The aileron bottom
balsa was burnished to give proper upward curl.
The model, which had a 621/2-inch wingspan, was originally
designed for electric power, but because of the high initial cost,
Phillip switched to a Laser 50 four-stroke engine.
Phillip’s fi rst model was based on a Bullet test model
A “most interesting” design from across the pond
X771H with a silver color scheme. Sig Koverall covered the
wing and fuselage, and Solartex was used on the tail surfaces
and ailerons.
The original model was heavily damaged in a crash after
an aileron servo failed. The second model used the more
attractive fi n and rudder shape of aircraft X309V, with a forest
green and silver paint scheme.
According to Phillip, the model “fl ew straight off the board …
landings and takeoffs were particularly easy on the grass fi eld.”
AMA Plans Service listing 792, the Alexander Bullet was
featured in the November 1995 MA, and is available for $24
plus shipping and handling. AMA members can access the
digital archives on the magazine’s website to read more about
it. See page 153 or go to www.modelaircraft.org/plans.aspx for
ordering information.
Edition: Model Aviation - 2012/07
Page Numbers: 93
