Sir Jasper

FIRST PARAGRAPHS OF BUILD ARTICLE:

"Sir Jasper is a simple model to build yet is full of character, and most important of all, great fun to fly. It may be flown rudder only, or with kick-up elevator if a compound escapement is used. The fuselage construction is begun by marking out the sides on a sheet of 3/32 x 4 in balsa. Mark the positions of the formers, and cut out. Add the 3/32 x 1/8 diagonal braces, escapement rails and 3/16 square doublers for the wing seating. Cut out former F2, and make up F3 from scrap. Add these formers to one side - checking for squareness. When dry, add the opposite side.

Next, draw the tail end together, followed by the top and bottom sheeting - cross grained. Draw the nose together and add F1, using pins and sellotape to clamp it in position. Glue the top and bottom 1/4 in sheet to the nose section. Cut out the ply firewall, drill to suit the engine, and epoxy the bolt heads to the rear. Epoxy to F1. Add the Rx mounting rails then drill the holes for the wing and U/C dowels.

Make the port wing panel first. Pin the lower spar and leading edge to the building board, then cut out all the ribs and glue in position. When dry, add the TE, top spar and dihedral braces. Remove from board, and position in relation to the starboard panel, but with the tip packed up 3 in to allow for dihedral. Build the starboard wing panel flat on the board in the same way as the first. When dry, remove wing and sheet the upper surface of the centre-section.

Add 1/4 in square supports for cabane struts,epoxy brass tubes in position, then sheet underside. Finally cement tip plates in position. The tail and fin are cut from medium hard 3/32 sheet balsa. Cover the fuselage and tail with lightweight tissue, and the wings with coloured nylon to save weight.

Apply colour dope sparingly - numerals etc may be black tissue doped on. The cockpit is from black fuel tubing, using an impact adhesive to secure it. Bend the U/C to shape and retain with rubber bands.

Install the RC equipment as shown, ensuring that the CG is positioned on the spar - move the batteries fore and aft to achieve this. Finally, add the shirring elastic rigging - this really adds to the appearance and oh, don't forget 'Sir Jasper', the pilot!"