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Building Tips and technical articles. => Building techniques => Topic started by: jfv on August 26, 2016, 01:14:16 AM
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With the GSCB nostalgia combat meet coming, I decided to build a Berkeley Lancer. Not seen very often but it's supposed to be a pretty good flier. For a combat plane the construction is rather unique with an "I" beam wing and a 3/8" thick fuselage. If it hits the ground it's not going to be pretty. Got the wing framed and starting on the fuselage. Changed the construction of the spar a bit as it seems the original was designed to use only one thickness of balsa and ply. Also beefed up the bellcrank mount.
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It that thing laser-cut? The ribs have that typical brown look.
I remember ads for those planes back in the day. Nobody in the area ever built one. Reasons were the terribly bad quality of Berkeley kits and, as you said, crash damage.
One local design, the Orbiteer BC by John Kilsdonk, utilized the slide-in I-beam wing like your photos show. The slide-in I beam was a popular concept around here and was used on numerous one-offs and personal designs. The ribs could be sliced off with no scrap loss and were easier to cut than regular ribs.
The slide-in construction allowed table top wing framing with a minimum of fixturing.
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Yes, it's laser cut. I have a laser. And as you can see, I cut fixtures for the tips and center. Wing came out very straight.
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Yes, it's laser cut. I have a laser.
Hi Jim,
That is WAAAAAAY to nice to use for combat! y1 But very interesting. ;D
Just my opinion.
Jerry
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Your right, I won't ever fly it in actual combat, but with a Fox 36X BB on the front it should be fun to fly..
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I built quite a few I/Beam combat models back in the day. They stood up just as well as other models. I used solid trailing edge not built up.Built flying wings and profiles.
Ed
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According to the plans, the combat Lancer was designed by Authur Pawloski. The plan has a 1958 date on it.
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Making some progress. All the main components are finished. Changed the construction of the fuse a somewhat to make it a bit more durable. The original was just 3/8" balsa with 1/8" ply doublers on the nose. No hardwood motor mounts. I put in some 3/8" square maple mounts and added a 3/8" balsa doubler on the nose on the inboard side for some added rigidity. Built up the rear of the fuse with 1/4" x 3/8" strips on the perimeter, 1/8" x 3/8" truss members in the middle, then covered the whole length with 1/64" ply. Nose doublers are 3/32" ply. Also, went with cloth hinges just for fun.
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Some some graphics on the wing, clear on the fuse and tail feathers, install the pushrod and 36X and we are good to go. Hope the paint dries before Sunday.
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Jim :
Real nice. See ya Sunday.
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Looking good, Jim!
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Maiden flight on the Lancer today at the Vintage Combat Plane Fly-in. Flies great. Here's the Lancer before its first flight.
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Same plane and colors. Must be the color balance on the camera.
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Hi, Great looking model, how does it fly?
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Flies very well. Have to tweak the wings a bit to get the wings level but other than that it's smooth and predictable.
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Hi Jim
The Lancer really looks good. Is that a 36X with a pacifier? Bet its a whole lot faaaaaaster than the original Lancers would have been with GH-35's & suction tanks!
Side Note to Ty: Art Pawlowski was one of the Stratmoor kids. He designed the Atom & won the Walker Cup as (I think) a senior. The Strathmoor group made their mark in Stunt but also built I-beam combat planes along the lines of the Lancer, they were reasonably competitive until the serious wings came along...
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Hey there Dennis:
Yes, it's a stock 36x needle bearing on a pacifier. We didn't time it but compared to my other planes, I would guess it's pushing the upper 80's to 90 mph. Just fast enough for some fun flying.
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All you Lancer fans- Check out the control line combat forum at RC Universe for an update.
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Do you sell full size plans of the updated Lancer? I have too many kits now. H^^
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Sorry John, no updated plans only a printed assembly sheet on how to apply the new parts to the old plans.
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Nice work, a beautiful airplane.
Juan
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Anyone want to buy a Lancer kit?
Dennis