Howard made the announcement on the yahoo group for 2014... I am not waiting 11 months to get started. I just received a package and have my entry for this year:
I get the feeling this is going to be a flyer. I am already thinking about moving the rear peg forward 4 inches to have the center of mass of the rubber over the cg of the plane. Also I will start with an 8 inch prop. Guillow's gives you a HUGE 9 inch prop... I don't what to see this plane fly away...
I have never built this kit before, and am looking forward to have MORE contestants this year! I just realized the box says "Contest Type Airplane"
im not gonna wait til the last min ute either. I signed up on yahoo last night. I already did a Javelin, but I think i'd like to do something different for the contest. By the time the deadline is near, I will have probably built every plane in the series!
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I had 2 problems (I may have created them myself). The top "A" pieces did not reach the crossmember... so I added some balsa to make it work out:
I also added some extra balsa to the nose section:
and altogether we had a good trip to Alaska and a beautiful day to come home:
This picture was taken today from the Bridge of my ship as we passed Seattle... (It rained in the previous 7 days, and today was clear!)
The Fairchild is a nice flyer and a good looking airplane.
I recommend tying the trailing edge of the wings together. A strap of balsa will do. The wings are long and fairly heavy with not much support through the cabin. On a nose first landing, the wings tend to tear away from the fuselage.
Moving the motor peg is a good idea for the reason you stated. Also, in the plans location it's really cramped in the tail trying to load a rubber motor.
P.S. Stunning picture you took of the sea and Seattle.
One other thing, you might consider scalloping the top formers.
That's the way they are done on the full size aircraft. Really enhances the appearance of the model.
I was thinking about moving the rear peg, but the structure would need to be changed and reinforced. I was planing on placing the peg in the plan location, but have an extension hook to catch the rubber about 1 or 2 inches forward.
The model is in my shop at home, and I will finish when I am on home after Christmas.
What do you mean by scalloping the top formers?
The model seems pretty light so far and I think it will be a good flyer.. By the way, I bought 2 kits because most of the pictures I see of this plane has a radial engine, so I plan to build another and kit-bash the front end. That will also make it easier for stretch winding. This model is as per plans for the Guillow's contest!
Mitch
UPDATE: I just sent in an order to Guillow's... among other things I ordered some parts for another 400 Spit... Remember I have the plans for a 1940's Guillow's Spitfire... That model will be built up very much like the Fairchild. It has a 24 in ws, but I can blow that up to 27-3/4 to be 1/16th scale and use the canopy of the 400 series...Next FAC event will include.... The Battle of Britain!!! I plan to keep bringing Guillow models to FAC EVENTS!!!
