Citabria Pro (1/8 scale)

Right-oh, that's the Crimbo break over and done with. I've re-furbed several of the existing fleet, washed the dishes at least once (to satisfy the New Years resolution), and now it's time to get back to the serious business of designing toy aeroplanes!

So here's a couple of photos of the full-sized aircraft...

Cute, isn't it?

Essentially the Pro is the forerunner to the better-known Decathlon. Only one aeroplane was built, before the design was re-worked to include an enclosed cockpit. So it's a rare bird indeed!

From a private source I've managed to obtain a few photos and a 3-view (although the original drawings were destroyed in a fire many years ago), which means that I've been able to get the crayons out and scratch a few lines on paper.

So, we're looking at a lightweight, 48" sportster, powered by the usual 3548 1250Kv outrunner and a 3S 2700 lipo, probably in the 2 1/2lb range.

An excellent choice sir! Always been on my list too.

Linds

Lovely! Should be a nice one for calm days (if we get any).

Dare I say anything about 30 four stroke?! Probably best not...

CS

Like it and like the size, good for some relax flying and also doing some nice aerobatics to.

Ton

I second that, OS 30 four stroke standing idle.

RCM&E did a plan of this about 30 years ago, I was very tempted at the time.

Thanks for the feedback Gents!

CS, you're more than welcome to stick any engine you choose in the fron, so be my guest!

Yes, the Pro has been modelled more than once in the past, and BalsaUSA market an 80" kit.

Anyway, here's a link to a brief history of the aeroplane;

**LINK**

tim

hi Tim,

great choice of plane, i built one one from the rcm&e plans designed by Henry Haffke a long time ago, powered by a OS40FSR. Fantastic plane

could be tempted with another one,

shaun

The Henry Hafke version was 56 inch and still seems to be in MyHobbyStores plan service as RC1353. Cowl is available too.

Can we expect to see your 48 inch version as an RCME plan soon Tim?

kc,

I don't know about 'soon', but it would be nice to see it as a readily available plan. Providing it flies, of course......

I'm still drawing bits and bobs at the moment, but I'm hoping that construction of the wing will start in the next week or so.

tim

I don't know, how You do it Tim! Just sid down, draw some lines and awesome plane appeares....

Construction has started, and not before time too!

Actually, I have to confess that the recent cold weather has seen the workshop heater defeated and crying for mercy, so it seemed kinder to wait until the outside temperatures rose a little above freezing.

So, here's the start of the left wing panel!

Nothing out of the ordinary here.....

Just a detailed shot of how I raise the lower sheeting up to meet the fronts of the ribs, using spare layers of 1/16 sheet whilst the glue dries.

I'm leaving the root ribs until after the dihedral braces are glued to the spars.

The inset ailerons are built in situ, and will be cut free later on.

......and that'll be the obligatory double post then!

Edited By Tim Hooper on 27/01/2013 20:15:39

Nice to see this on the move, very neat and logical as always, and I do like those pins!

Linds

I must say that looks like the type of scale model I really like.

Good lines, a nice easy build wing, a good area of wing and a really nice paint job. Quite how it will be done with film will be interesting.

I am looking forward to the plan. Do you think it will be this year? As i am gearing up for an autogyro, that is to be published by RCM&E.

Yes, i am looking forward to this one!

I do seem to remember there has been an IC plan done before by RCM&E. I thought in blue, so I am probably wrong.

Edited By Erfolg on 28/01/2013 15:52:08

Hi Tim,

Nice subject. I have the Henry Haffke plans and cowl and reasonable photo series of the original. I wanted to build it, but I never found a 3-view.

Good you got a 3-view. I will be following your project.

Enjoy.

Best regards,

Edwin

Thanks lads!

Erf, it does look pretty straightforward, doesn't it? Mind you, the tailplane mount looks to be a interesting, and I'm still deciding just how to mount the wing on top of the cabane struts. I want to use no more than 2 bolts.

Edwin,

I do have a small copy of the Haffke plans. 56" for a .40 ic , yes? Mine will be a real lightweight in comparison.

Anyway, I did get the right wing panel assembled this evening, so the next stage is the centre section.

tim

Edited By Tim Hooper on 28/01/2013 23:00:51

Looks lovely Tim, should be a lovely flier too

Cheers

Danny

Stop it! STOP IT!! So many wonderful plans, and so little time....!

If anybody is looking for a family and a mortgage, please, please take mine. Then I might actually get some building done.

I thought it had been modelled previously, Henry Haffke was it.

I have a plan for a Gee Bee R1/2 by the said gentleman,I have never built it, as it seemed a bit advanced when younger. Now when I have thought of an electric version, I can see that it is far to heavy and Robust than is necessary for electric power.

Again I imagine that your model has been designed with a consideration of the availability of economically sized Lipo, motor and ESC packages. Probably more important is your ability to ensure that the weight is managed down to what is optimal for electric flight.

I have just converted an old trainer (+30 years) to electric. Although the model is well suited to IC power, it is vastly overweight for electric power. It does emphasis to me that the mass and robustness, that is necessary for IC, results in a weight spiral, that can be avoided for electric power.

As many have noted, I can only look in envy at your building skills and the resulting quality of model.

With respect to the tailplane, the model is small, there is little to be gained in having a removable TP, in either storage and transport.

When I first restarted, I converted a Tomboy to electric, I decided on a removable TP, using threaded bicycle spokes. I came to the conclusion, that it was a waste of both weight and time. Simplicity has a lot to recommend it.

I am looking forward to this model, the size s just right etc.

Was there a light blue and yellow colour scheme ever applied to this aircraft, at full size?

On a more general note, the redesign of the larger FF models and some rubber models, has a lot to recommend it, being relatively easy. Redesigning an IC model generally benefits from consideration of  both the overall size and structures robustness,it  is more challenging, because if the original deign is known, it is hard to lighten optimally, as it is always difficult to resist the thought, it adds strength, I will leave it, as it is.

Edited By Erfolg on 29/01/2013 11:47:58