Hi everyone,

Recently a young friend (and member here) got interested in control line and took several days of paid instruction in Delhi.

This got me thinking of a revisit to control line, as we haven’t had access to a field for RC for over two years now. Finding a place to fly a noisy control liner is the next problem...

There was a time when I flew aerobatics (excl squares, triangles and four leaf clover!).
But that was long ago. Here’s a pic of me doing a wingover at Safdarjung some 45 years ago.

At 70 I doubt if I could fly a full out stunter for 6 minutes, at least not without refresher training.

Probably with a small Cox Babe Bee powered trainer on 25-30 ft dacron lines.
This was what we learned on after limited success with a 1.5cc diesel powered SkyBee.

So I drew up plans for a 16” profile version of an old classic, the Keil Kraft Phantom Mite of 1948!

Here’s the sketch...

Luckily I had a sheet of 1/4” balsa of 7lb/cuft stock.

So out came the balsa knife and the Master Airscrew plane, and a few hours of work produced the basic airframe. Under 60 gms!

The firewall and finish added about 17 gms.

The engine mount, undercarriage and tundra wheels added about 22 gms.

Without the engine & prop (64 gms), the complete airframe weighs 97 gms.

So AUW of 160 gms.

 

This is what she looks like now...

This is Superb Iyer Sir

Very Nice. All under 5.5 ounces. It is going to fly great.
 To help resolve the noise issue, go electric as you have built very light.

Nice build.  If you want a refresher training on flying CL, I will be happy to help.  Have good experience flying CL
Please post a picture from starboard side.

Anu guidance for squares, triangles, hourglass and four leaf clover appreciated.
Round manoeuvres including overhead eights I am used to.

Thanks for the picture.
Can you fly inverted level flight?  If yes, then you can fly these patterns.
You must be knowing all aerobatics to be done into the wind.

I’m afraid that’s not quite clear.

All aerobatics are done in the downwind side of the circle. (Except overhead eights)

Regards

Into the wind, means headwind i.e. wind is coming on the nose of the model when a pattern/stunt is initiated.

Iyer sir has successfully tested this control line model

See the windsock (above top left corner of the building) at 30-50 seconds to get an idea of the wind!

nice flying

Watching the video, reminded me of the days when we used to fly the CL model "SR. PEACEMAKER"

Hi everyone,

Back to Control Line Revisit again.

After the first flight (of only 10 laps) I felt dizzy, and staggered for a second or two. But I knew the solution - focus on the model and ignore the background - so had no problem thereafter.

The purpose of this model was to get me back into C/L ab-initio. It’s neither intended for nor capable of any aerobatics at all. But just going round and round is boring if you have experience of aerobatics.

So a new model with a symetrical airfoil was needed. Enter the BEDE BD-8.
But that was electric! And the weight of the battery put all thoughts of aerobatics to rest after just one hairy loop.

So back to the drawing board.
Actually a rush job, without even bothering to draw up any plans.
The objective being to reduce the wing loading i.e, more wing area.
But without overloading the Cox Babe Bee.

The Phantom Mite weighed 160gms, but had 0.5 sqft wing area.
The BD-8 had 1 sqft wing area, but weighed 360gms.
So both had wing loading of about 13oz/sqft.

This time the target is 6oz/sqft. With 1 sqft wing area and weight under 160gms.

Framed up the wing today.
Weight so far: fuselage and tail 20 gms, wing 30 gms.

Very Nice. What do you intend to cover it with?

@Free Flight,

Thanks.
Couldn’t tell you earlier as was undecided.
Finally used 27 micron laminating film!

After all these years, I’m still to get a smooth glossy finish on balsa.
Still trying, though...

Weight so far 101 gms. Plus 62 for Babe Bee and prop, or 82 for QRC

Next question:
Spray silver on the wings or not?

Looks very pretty. Should fly very well.

The one time I have used the laminating film, had to spay color on the dull side before covering the model. Would like to know what type of paint will use now that the model is already so well covered. How do you now get the paint to stick on the outside ?

Completed!
Took Free Flight’s advice and left the wings unpainted.
Weight 168 gms - exactly 6oz.

Looks great - let 'er rip! Waiting for the video

Far too windy today for a small control line.
Could barely manage two short flights with the other (3D RC) model.

you can say it was golden age of aeromodelling for  control line models