Snip 1/2A Combat plan

I like It. Thanks for posting. I used to fly combat but I don't remember the ribs having that shape. but that was 50 years ago.
Basswood

I am pretty sure I made one back in the day, but am positive I had a one piece elevator. I guess I modified it. Used a TD and flew it a lot all summer with a lot of throw on the elevator. It would slow down a lot and you could guide it around very precisely. Later I moved the pushrod out a couple notches and it didn't slow down on the loops, so it was very fast and I didn't like it any more, so a buddy bought it and crashed it right away. Toolbox in the rat trap on the 10 speed going to the school yard, and the plane tucked under my arm. I bet a Fora would be fun.

Yep with full elevator control you can plant one of those combat planes real quick.
Basswood

I picked one of these up last fall, at a hobby shop that was closing.



Haven't flown it yet. Still have snow on the ground.

Posted about it here.

https://www.coxengineforum.com/t13449-unidentified-1-2a-combat-plane

That is a long wait for a flight from October. Doesn't winter suck?

I love the old diamond ribs.  You can build the whole wing on a flat surface in just a few minutes using CA.  I may have to build one of these really quick, even though I have far too many planes as it is. Be a good way to use up some of the scrap wood I have overflowing everywhere.  I saved the pics and will print them out with Tile Print tonight.

The Weak Mark

andrew wrote:Here's a 1/4A combat plane from Model Airplane News (plan page pullout), circa 1961, that used the diamond airfoil. It was, if I remember, my first scratch built plane.

Andrew,  I built one of these right when I got back into CL about six years ago.  It was a big hit at the circle.

The Gemologist Mark

It is not here with me, but the 1/2a Circle master also uses a diamond airfoil. I have those here should anyone want a copy in pdf.

NEW222 wrote:It is not here with me, but the 1/2a Circle master also uses a diamond airfoil. I have those here should anyone want a copy in pdf.

https://outerzone.co.uk/plan_details.asp?ID=4378

The Concierge Mark

Okay, I sized and printed out the plans last night. Am I the only one who thinks this thing will be nose heavy as designed?

The Schnozz Mark

Sorry Mark I cannot be of more useful assistance about it at this time as mine is at the cottage in winter lockup. From what I remember, I used a horseshoe backplate engine with external tank on mine and think it was good to go.

Ok I understand the pennies on the outer wing tip, Old school to keep the lines tight in the wind but adds weight to the plane.
we always just turned the engine mount to the right sometimes with washers under the engine.
But why in the Snip 1/2 A plan is the engine mount centered to the left? because the right is shorter than the left?
Basswood

Basswood wrote:Ok I understand the pennies on the outer wing tip, Old school to keep the lines tight in the wind but adds weight to the plane.
we always just turned the engine mount to the right sometimes with washers under the engine.
But why in the Snip 1/2 A plan is the engine mount centered to the left? because the right is shorter than the left?
Basswood

The wing tip weight is to compensate for the weight of the lines on the inner wing, plus the fact that the plane will likely be flying higher than the control handle. The weight keeps the wing more horizontal.

But why in the Snip 1/2 A plan is the engine mount centered to the left? because the right is shorter than the left? wrote:

It is offset to the right not the left as the controls are exiting the plane.

Control line planes are often made with the inboard wing 1" longer so the wing has more lift to support the line weight. On my old F2A planes there was not even an outboard wing at all. If you don't want to add a penny, to can add a basswood or spruce corner gusset and or make the tip piece out of spruce too. The tip usually hits the ground on the crashes. We have to use a nickle because we don't use pennies any more. I used the TD mount and it balanced OK. I covered in silkspan and dope. I am pretty sure this is the plane I made, not the George like I thought.

Some CL planes are asymmetrical because the outboard wing flies faster than the inboard wing.

Hello, I think you got the wing size thing backwards. Mark

This is getting fun. I'm learning a lot here.
Basswood

We used to call them bat wings over in S. Cal Does anyone remember that.
Basswood

I remember S.Cal.         Wish I didn't...

The Mojave Mark

batjac wrote:I remember S.Cal.         Wish I didn't...

The Mojave Mark

That's why I moved to Az. plus the flying is better, less trees.
Basswood