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Bomber Construction Notes
Modifying
a Display Kit for Rubber Powered Flight
by Dave "Bomber Boy" Gee
The first thing one notices when beginning a static-to-flying conversion
of
the Easy Built Hampden is that the wing roots are glued onto 1/16
fuselage
sticks. Not too sturdy! I reinforced the fuselage sides and built
balsa boxes
that pass through the fuse at the wing's leading edge and main spar.
Then I
extended those spars when I built the wings such that they slipped
into the fuse
securely and gave me a chance to align the wings before gluing them.
The elevator has an airfoil and I built it that
way. Mistake! Should have
made it flat for easier trimming. Also I increased
the stab area about 20%,
which required adjusting the rudders and mounting area. All of the
canopies and
parts fit together quite nicely.
I
cheated shamelessly when it came to the nacelles! They are open
all along
the bottom and have motor sticks which protrude an inch behind the
wing. To
make them any longer would have required much more nose ballast.
As is, there
is only about 6 grams of clay up front.
The bomber flies very sweetly but is somewhat pitch-sensitive,
probably due
to the lifting stab. 2 loops of 1/8" rubber behind each prop
provide lively
motivation.
Last
tip: if you have seen the new Sharpie marker pens in "sand
and spinach"
colors and thought that you now have the RAF covered, forget it!
The "sand"
is a beautiful gold color and the "spinach" is like radioactive
astroturf.
Take a look at my rather oddly-colored Hampden and see.
Editor's Note: Dave's Hampden took 3rd place at the fall 2006 Black
Sheep Squadron rubber powered contest.
Balsa Model Airplane Kit. Balsa Flies Better.
