Build and Fly the Glider

How to create a Fascinating Flying Silhouette Model of the Trans-oceanic Clippers From Sheet Balsa Wood

By Jesse Davidson

THE clipper ships of the Andrew Jackson. It was indeed a middle 19th century were the triumph of which every American at fastest sailing vessels ever built the time had reason to be proud for and were used extensively in the it reduced by one-quarter the and Australia gold rushes record of 120 days made by the and in the tea, opium and slave clipper ship Memon two years trades. They were the last effort to before. compete evenly with the steam It was of this event that the vessels on long voyages and with New York Commercial on October heavy cargoes, and for many years 8th, 1851, said: "Such a passage they were moderately successful in as this is more than a local triumph delaying the final victory of steam. and inures to the reputation not When Donald McKay's Flying alone of the builders of the ship Cloud arrived in 89 and her enterprising owners, but of days out of New York it established the United States. It is truly a a record never surpassed and only national triumph and points clearly twice equaled—once by the Flying and unmistakably to the Cloud herself three years preeminence upon the ocean which afterward, and in 1860 by the

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awaits the United States of Expansion, development and America." progress was moving at a fast clip. At this period of its history, the And so we leave these United States was at the peak of precursors of the modern clipper her maritime glory. The American ship era that unlike the previous flag rippled from the masts of one is not a last expiring effort to clippers side by side with the Union hold its own with the steam Jack of Britain in every important vessel—the gigantic greyhounds of seaport in the world. The rivalry today— but that will probably between these two countries was reduce oceangoing commerce to intense but the American merchant the transportation of freight only marine had the edge. One of our and leave the passengers and keenest foreign critics of the early express to the flying clouds of nineteenth century, Alexis de today. Tocqueville, in his famous book The reader will be interested in "Democracy in America" mentions the etymology of the word "clipper," the fact that our mariners were bold I am sure. It is not very clear but and hardy and possessed of probably obtains its derivation from confidence that denied the need for the verb "clip" which in early times caution and safety that too much meant, among other things, "to fly" were with our British cousins. The or "run swiftly." The expressions American ships were faster than "going at a good clip" or "a fast clip" the English so that eventually they are familiar to most of us. In fact I had to call for Donald McKay, the have used the latter expression foremost American ship builder of somewhere above. We can his day, to design clippers for the reasonably suppose therefore that English merchant marine. when craft of this new model were Donald McKay and the clipper first built which were intended in the ship era are synonymous. For his argot of the day, to clip over the was the genius that influenced the waves rather than plough through improved type of sailing vessel that them, they became known as put America in the forefront of the clippers because of their speed. maritime powers. During the War of 1812, the The writer regrets that he swift privateers built at Baltimore cannot further elaborate the notes were known as Baltimore Clippers on this phase of American but whether these were the first development of transportation for it ships described as such in a was indeed a romantic era. nautical application is not certain America was having its growing but undoubtedly the word clipper is pains and expanding westward of American origin. It is interesting rapidly. The gold rush was at its to note that the aerial clipper ships height, settlers were pouring into are built in Baltimore where the newly acquired territory that was Martin Aircraft Company is located. Texas, Oregon and the states The first Sikorsky and comprising the Mexican Cession. Commodore flying boats to be used

2 by the Pan American Airways in its And now to work. South American service in 1928 can The materials listed below are be compared with the fast little balsa unless otherwise specified: packets that immediately preceded the era of the clipper ship. Today A. Wing, A1/16” x 2 ½” x 16 ¼” Pan American Airways has the B. Fuselage, 1/8” x 1 15/16” x 11 swifter clippers such as the 3/8” Brazilian Clipper, Pan American C. Rudder, 1/16" x 1 15/16" x 2 Clipper, etc. 11/16" D. Elevator (make two), 1/16" x 1 With the South American 3/4" x3 1/2" routes established and operating E. Sponson (make two), 3/16” x smoothly, Pan American looked out 2 3/8" x 2" over the Pacific seas and beyond F. Motor nacelle (make four), and saw the Philippines, 21 days 3/32" x 17/32" x 1" away by surface vessel, and a little G. Propeller (make four) 1 1/2" farther on sprawling China. . . . dia. The newspapers were full of H. Pitot tube, 1/32" round the China Clipper's first regular bamboo flight to the Philippines and return. I. Position of the nose weight You've read of the ovations; which is lead foil descriptions of the ship. No need to K. Wing rib (make two), 1/16" x rehash it. Then followed the 9/32" x2 7/16" Philippine Clipper. And today they L. Wing rib (make two), 1/16" x clip it down the wind to the islands 1/4" x2 9/16" discovered in 1521 by Magellan and M. Front wing strut (make two), where he met his death. 1/16" x 1/8" x 2 1/8" bamboo Tomorrow, flying clouds will N. Rear wing strut (make two), scuttle over the North Atlantic 1/16" x 1/8" x 2 " bamboo towards Europe. 0. Front lower compression strut (make two), 1/16" x 1/32" x 5/8" And so, reverting to the bamboo editorial of the New York P. Rear lower compression strut Commercial quoted above, its (make two), 1/16" x 1/32" x 5/8" sentiments can be modernized by bamboo substituting the words "in the air" for Q. Front upper compression strut "upon the ocean." But the United (make two), 1/16" x 1/32" x 3/4" States does not await preeminence bamboo in the air. It is preeminent. R. Rear upper compression strut (make two), 1/16" x 1/32" x 11/16" bamboo S. Brace wires which are of white thread.

3 The principal parts of this retain the cambered shape until the glider are the wing, elevator and moisture has entirely evaporated. sponson (shown in half), fuselage, In the meantime you can mark out rudder, motor nacelle, wing ribs the hinge lines on both the rudder and struts. Trace all the parts and elevator parts. except the struts and propeller on Next to be placed in position transparent paper or, if you wish to are the motor nacelles. Apply a little avoid damaging the page, measure cement on the cut-away portions of each part from the drawing and each nacelle and slip onto the wing. redraw it on the wood to be used Note that the lower part of the cut- for that part. away portion of each nacelle fits The first step is to cut out all snugly to each wing rib. See side the balsa parts exactly on the lines. view plan of fuselage. Hold the Now we'll concentrate first on the wing away from you and check on fuselage. With the aid of a sharp the alignment of all four nacelles. pencil and a ruler, mark out the At this time all the main parts cabin windows of the hull and also of the model are ready for painting. the windows of the pilots' control The colors of the Clipper glider are room. The water line, which is given as follows: The entire represented on the fuselage fuselage is painted aluminum with drawing by the thin white line at the the exception of the portion below lower part of the hull, is also the water line which is done in marked off on your balsa piece. Be black. All the windows shown in sure both sides of the body are white on the plan are done in black alike. on the model with the exception of Before attempting to camber the large door which should be the wing it is best to mark out the outlined only, with black india ink. ailerons and aileron tabs as well as CHINA CLIPPER and the letters P the area allotted to that portion of A A as well as the winged globe the wing to be painted orange. are done in black. PAN The outlines of the ailerons should AMERICAN AIRWAYS SYSTEM is also be made on the under surface also black. Be sure to match both of the wing. The license numbers sides alike. are marked off on the upper Next, add on the pilot tube. surface of the right wing and on the This part is made of rounded under surface of the left wing. The bamboo 1/32" diameter and wing is then cambered to shape cemented in the position shown on over a steaming kettle. While so the plan. Paint aluminum. The arched, apply cement along the elevator parts are colored tops of all four wing ribs, letters K aluminum with the hinge line and L, and set them in their marked with india ink. The rudder respective places. The use of small is also aluminum colored and its model making pins pushed through hinge line and tab marked with the top of the wing part way into india ink. The license numbers are each of the ribs will do lots to help done in black on both its sides.

4 Now on both sides of the just outside, the rib position, letter vertical fin nearest to the hinge line L. The dihedral angle measures paint the Martin trademark. It is a 1/2". If necessary, place little five pointed white star on a circular objects at the tip ends of the wing background of blue. A very fine to hold the angle until the cement blue line runs parallel with the hardens. Now the model is ready angles of the star as close to the for assembly. edge as possible but leaving The wing is attached to the sufficient space for a white margin, fuselage in the position and angle extremely narrow. Around the blue shown on the side view plan. Apply field is a thin white circle. Above cement along the under-side of the the white circle is a red one five wing and press firmly to the body times the thickness of the white making sure it is perfectly centered. one. Around the red circle is a thin A couple of small model making white one and over that is still pins pushed right through the top of another thin red circle. Inside the the wing into the body will help hold star, horizontally, appears the it securely. name MARTIN, above, and below U. S. A. in blue. The sponsons may be made individually as listed in the bill of You are not expected to do all materials, or a piece of wood this on the small vertical fin and measuring 3/16" x 2 3/8" x 4" may with the scale-size trade mark be cambered to the shape as shown, but if you're going in for a shown on the side view plan, letter larger glider of the Clipper and E. Note how it tapers from the want detail down to the letter, here inward side which measures 3/16" you are. to the outward tip to measure The entire wing with the 3/32". See front view, letter E. exception of the area designated Complete the sponson piece with a for orange is painted aluminum. fine sanding and then with the aid The whole underside of the wing is of a thin-bladed knife divide it in aluminum. The license numbers half. Check each half by laying it both above and below are painted directly on top of the sponson in black. Separate the orange and pattern. Attach the halves to their the silver colors with a thin line of respective sides of the fuselage black all around the orange portion. with a little cement and small The nacelles are also painted model making pins inserted at aluminum with a thin black line inward angles to hold them separating the end of each cowling securely until the cement hardens. from the rear portion of the nacelle. Afterward remove the pins. Note See letter F. The sponson halves also that the sponsons protrude are painted aluminum. slightly ahead of the wing. See side view plan. When the paint on the wing has dried thoroughly, crack the In attaching the wing struts, wing slightly at the points shown on letter M, place them in position first. the plan by the black and white line These are the forward struts. The

5 rear struts, letter N, are next to be same pattern. Add as much as cemented in position. The smaller needed until the model glides with upper and lower compression a long gradual descent. Touch up struts of which two of each are the weight of with aluminum paint. required are then attached as Choose a breezy day for shown on the front view plan. outdoor gliding and always launch All struts are cut from bamboo into the wind. and must be streamlined. When For those desiring to build a the cement has hardened all model of the Philippine Clipper, the around, paint the struts in dimensions above given are aluminum color. exactly the same for the [~ sister Before cementing the rudder ship. The license number of the | to the fuselage, attach each Philippine Clipper is (NC-14715) elevator half to the sides of the and the name is placed along the rudder. They are set at a slight bow as shown in the plans. angle of incidence as shown by the white line on the rudder drawing. After the cement hardens, attach Build a Cradle for Your Model the whole affair to the fuselage in I am sure that you will want to the position shown on the side view keep this model for decorative plan. Later add the brace wires of purposes and for the best effect, a white thread indicated by the letter cradle is the thing. Painted in a S between the wing struts (side yellow and green combination it view) and the tail structure. makes an attractive color scheme Carve out four three-bladed in contrast to the aluminum, orange props carefully and twist the blades and black trimmings of the glider. It slightly so that they'll whirl when is a very simple affair and can be the model is launched. Use small constructed and assembled in a pins .for the shafts and center them few minutes. into each nacelle. The props, of Two pieces of balsa each course, are painted aluminum. measuring 3/32"x2"x2" are used for Letter I designates the the ends. An "end" with full size position for the nose weight. Use dimensions is shown in the plans lead foil for the weight. Get enough from which you can make a full of this foil and fold it into the shape size pattern on stiff paper, cut out, as shown on the plan. Now cut out and traced onto the balsa pieces. the portion of the fuselage where The front end is distinguished by the weight is to be placed and having the larger slot shown by the cement the foil in with a drop of dotted lines, while the rear end slot cement. is shown by the white space between the dotted lines. The Glide the model indoors and dimensions of the large slot are out in order to observe its behavior. 1/8" wide and 3/4" deep. The small Should the model stall, add more slot is 1/16" wide and 1/4" deep. In foil by cementing pieces cut to the each end cut out the right and left

6 slots in which the side members are placed. See letter C in sketch of completed cradle. The slots measure 3/32" x 3/8". The slots are placed 13/16" apart measured from the outsides. The length of each side member measures 3/32" x 3/8" x 7". Apply a little cement to all parts to be joined and assemble as shown in the isometric view. The ends are painted yellow and the side members medium green.

Model Airplane News, June 1936

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