Build and Fly the China Clipper 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 California 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 San Francisco 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 1 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.