I am going to take one more try at this

[Dave_Trible]

Two things not mentioned  here are the fact that the magazine draftsmen were not always modelers, but draftsmen, and changed many plans to fit the magazine format.  Scond is the simple fact that the USPS had hard fast rules on the size of a box going parcel post and I will say all kit makers made subtle to obvious changes to the original plane so it would fit in the kit box.  Thus many of the numbers we copy are not truly relevant. But then few are.  I tried that old averageing trick when I got back onto CLPA back in 1999. Turned out to be a total waste of time because I didn't really grasp the concept. So I just used plans or good kits.
Trying to reinvent the wheel is frustrating as trying to find out who invented it and how it was done. Just use the wheel that fits and go for it.
Also one well known engine manufacturere paid MAN extra so his engine would show in the plans, when in fact, many times the original used an entirely different engine.  

Ty you really nailed something . I know we can think that if we can design some super new secret weapon bomb then we can just walk on the Nats field and walk off with the trophies . I think a lot of guys have wasted their flying careers in the workshop trying just that. One could be much further ahead in the game to pick a good known design and spend all that time flying it until it falls apart.  There are no 'design' points on the scoresheet.  Design when you understand what and why you want something different.

Dave

[Dave_Trible]

Hi Dave. Did you get the Spitfire?

Yes Ty I sure did.  Building another ship first then diving in on it. 

[Doug Moon]

...One could be much further ahead in the game to pick a good known design and spend all that time flying it until it falls apart.  There are no 'design' points on the scoresheet.  Design when you understand what and why you want something different.

Dave

This is a great post!!!!!

To expand on it a little.  When changing a design flying characteristics, data, should determine the changes that should be made.  But proper research should be conducted before making changes to make sure the changes one is going to make will do what one thinks they will do....(I know that's a mouthfull )  I say this because when changing one aspect of the deign others are changed as well and trimming becomes a whole new adventure and sometimes the results are less than stellar.

[George]

TLAR designs with sneaker airfoils still fly...somewhat.    

George

[steve bittner]

I will probably get blasted for what Im going to say but here goes. Many years ago we used 35 engines and built planes around them. We would ether use a left over wing from something in the 52-56 inch variatey, or draw a rib pattern with the high spot around a third of the way back 11-14" at the root & taper it to the tip what looked right or just barn door style. Lay out the fuse by the engine & length to nose, space then 4oz fuel tank & space & former, then front of wing. Now you have your length, width of engine & tank using 3x36 1/8 balsa. Cut out the fuse sides for the wing in the middle or more toward the bottom. Now look at you wing & make a stab that compliments the shape & size of the wing. Stick it on top of the fuse sides or just below for your fuse top to go on in proportion to what looks to balance what the plane looks like. Mount landing gear about an inch or two in front of the wing. If it all looks proportioned top & side view, your good. A pilot with good skills can fly a beautiful pattern with this set up. A poor pilot can take the best airplane and still not fly wheel. We used to sit around just drawing on small paper all kinds of designs top & side views. Again, if it looked right it would fly just fine. That is where we started, good luck

[Serge_Krauss]

With our resources, we can make just about anything fly. With some care, some of these things can be made to fly pretty well, although it often depends on one's definition of "well", how well they want it to fly, and how much common sense goes into it. Some of my childhood friends could take tried and proven kits or even decent hand-me-downs and quickly make them impossible to "fly" for any significant time. One step up, there were a lot of Ringmasters wallowing around without hope then in my neighborhood. Some skill or at least aptitude is usually
required.