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Aviation History
1938
1938 - 0987.PDF
APRIL 7, i938- FLIGHT. 353- MODELS A Twin-fuselage Fighter After a Famous Proto- type : Competition News By M. R. KNIGHT Everyone familiar with the appearance of the Fokker Faucheur — illustrated several times in Flight—will acknow- ledge the accuracy of Mr. H. J. Towner's model. A Miniature "Faucheur"F OLLOWING successful flying scale models of the Hornet Moth and the Heston Phoenix, Mr. H. J. Towner, of the Brighton District M A.C., has achieved promising results with a magnificent miniature edition of the Fokker Faucheur mid- wing fighter. As will be seen from the photograph, the ' departure from true scale dimensions is negligible. This repre- sents a very real achievement, since the weight of the "motors" cannot be localised as in the prototype, and auto- matic stability has had to be incorporated. Built to the standard S.M.A.E. scale of iin. to ift., the span is 54-^in., the wing area 306 sq in., and the length 34m. With a total weight of 1702., the wing-loading works out at 8oz./sq. ft. To facilitate transport to the flying field, the model has been constructed in six detachable units. The short fuselage or nacelle, the two centre sections of the wing, and the forward portion of each motor boom constitute a single unit. Birch dowels projecting from the sides of the motor booms plug into paper tubes in the outer wing-panels. The central portion of each boom is attached to the forward portion by means of dowels, and the rear portions of the booms, constructed integral with the tailplane and fins, are attached by means of plugs, which carry the rear rubber-hooks, and push into the end bulkheads in the central portions of the booms. Small wire hooks and rubber bands hold the units securely in position. The nose of the nacelle consists of bulkheads and stringers, with the spaces between the latter filled with |in. balsa, the whole being sandpapered to the correct shape. Eight stringers and numerous bulkheads form each oval-section boom. Each motor cowling is formed from Jgin. balsa sheet, and an £in. hardwood 3-ply bulkhead with its centre cut away to accom- modate the front half of the crankcase, the latter serving as a nose-piece and carrying the airscrew bearing. Left-hand and right-hand airscrews, ioin. in diameter, are employed, each turned by a single skein of rubber, which, to secure a correct e.g. placing without adding dead weight to the nose, extends for only two-thirds of the length of the motor boom. To avoid fouling the rubber skeins, the undercarriages have not been made retractable. They are hinged in front, and the rearward and upward movement is controlled by rubber bands. Both fins are fixed, and steering is effected by hinged ailerons. The elevators are also made adjustable. The entire model is covered with Japanese tissue, doped, and finished with dark olive green cellulose paint, with the exception of cream cowlings, and aluminium crankcase fronts. Only comparatively short flights have yet been attempted, during which stability appeared to be of a high order. Women Engineers and. Models ly/TODEL aeronautics and the Society of Model Aeronautical •"•*• Engineers were the themes of a lecture delivered to the Women's Engineering Society on March 2 by Mr. J. C. Smith (S.M.A.E. Competition Secretary), Lt.-Col. J. T. C. Moore- Brabazon, M.C., M.P., presiding. Interesting points from the lecture were that the building of model aeroplanes and gliders now formed part of the curriculum of German schools, probably half-a-million boys participating, that the model fly- ing movement .was being sponsored by the Danish Government, and that Sweden could boast over 50,000 modellists. Later Dr. A. P. Thurston took the chair, and called upon Mr. R, N. Bullock to deal briefly with the technical aspect. Sundry representative models were on view, including the highly efficient shoulder-wing model with which Mr. Bullock secured second place for Great Britain in the 1937 Wakefield contest, the Viper intercepter fighter of Mr. C. R. Moore (described in Flight of March 4, 1937), and a high-wing model with 9 c.c. two-stroke by Mr. R. J. Trevithick, this model having a device for altering the fin setting when the motor cuts. A microfilm-covered indoor model weighing half an ounce was demonstrated by Mr. R. Copland, and captive flying by a small model tethered by a wing-tip to a pole was carried out by Mr. Bullock. Interesting facts emerged from the subsequent discussion. Mr. Robert Kronfeld mentioned experiments with free-wheel- ing airscrews on full-scale aircraft, and suggested that the idea be tried on models, only to learn that this had been a standard fitment for years. Mr. A. R. Hafner advocated rotating-wing and helicopter models, and seemed surprised to hear that model Autogiro contests had been held, and that a helicopter model had flown successfully before the war. Capt. Norman Macmillan, M.C., and Miss Amy Johnson also addressed the meeting. The 1938 Contests nPHE S.M.A.E. has just issued a most useful handbook, deal- J- ing principally with the numerous outdoor contests arranged for 1938. These include the contest for the Wakefield Cup, to be held in France on July 31, the eliminating trials at Fairey's on July 3, a contest for flying-boats, a seaplane contest for a cup presented by Short Bros., and a speed contest for the Flight Cup. The book also contains a foreword by Lord Wakefield, patron of the Society, a list of 54 affiliated clubs, rules govern- ing record attempts and the flying of petrol-models, details of records recognised by the Federation Aeronautique Inter- nationale, a list of British record flights, photographs of sundry trophies, and Wakefield entry and record claim forms. Readers who are interested, but not yet actively connected with the model flying movement, would do well to obtain a copy and visit some of the contests mentioned. The perform- ance of the modern model would doubtless surprise them. Copies can be obtained at 4d. each, plus i|d. for postage, from E. F. H. Cosh. hon. secretary of the S.M.A.E., 35, Maple Crescent, Sidcup, Kent. "Northern Heights" Gala Day THE Northern Heights Model Flying Club will hold their6th annual Gala Meeting on Sunday, June 19, from 11 a.m.to dusk. The occasion is invariably productive of a huge muster of models and model builders from far afield, and is well worth the journey to the Great West Aerodrome. No fewer than ten contests \\"1 be held, among the model types catered for being flying scale-models (for which the Flight Cup is offered), pusher models, seaplanes, " semi-scale " models, and biplanes. There will be a seaplane competition for women, and the S.M.A.E. women's contest will also be held. Further details can be obtained from the organiser, Mr. C. A. Rippon, 58, Hampden Way, Southgate, London, N.14. * * * During one of the flying meetings held by the S.M.A.E. at the Royal Albert Hall during the winter an indoor '' spar '' rise-off-ground record of 3 min. 36 sec. was set up by Mr. Brown, of the Blackheath Model Flying Club. The model was of the microfilm-covered type. * • * Mr. Reginald Denny, the film actor, is part-designer of a successful radio-controlled petrol model, which is to be used as a target for U.S. artillery. A speed of 60 m.p.h. and a ceiling of 9,000ft. are claimed.
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