At the end of 2019 it became apparent there may not be much racing the following season.. and as we stumbled into 2020 it looked a good year for building. I had many projects on my mind, both toy aeroplane related and other stuff too. One of the longest term of these was a desire to build an F2C using traditional materials and aeromodelling techniques, with a nod to contemporary best practice developed over many years competition of this very fast class.
Fing2C build, #001
The trouble with bright ideas is that they occur very quickly, my grey matter can have a complex project fully planned out in a just a few minutes. But the actual doing of the thing takes sooooooo long. And then when you ‘do it’ the first time, only to completely balls it up, you just have to start again. Which just takes longer.
The Plan
Based on my successful adaptation of Steve Smiths Wing Fing for British F2CN (Fing2CN) I have long held an ambition to do a new version for F2C utilising modern tanks, engines and hardware. The beauty of modern F2C is its accessibility. If you want the best kit, you can just buy it. Literally some of the fastest models in the world, just Fed-Exed (other couriers are available) to your doorstep.
But I’m an aero-modeller. The thrill of competing with the fruits of someone else’s labours is slightly lost on me. You buy engines, you build models. Thankfully, very competitive engines are simple to source.
The first couple of models would be made in wood with carbon engine ducting. This was with one eye to going fully moulded once the concept was proven. Wood construction allows some very interesting design ideas to be experimented with simply and incorporated quickly.
The exception would need to be the underside assembly of the model, that takes a beating thermally from the exhaust heat and also from the fuel overflow. My thoughts were the carbon / epoxy would have the best available fuel resistance. A moulded balsa shell covered inside and out would complete the assembly. The thing that always seems to kill wooden models over time is fuel seepage. And tarmac of course.
A couple of prototypes were planned to prove the concept was worth pursuing.
Wayne Trivin
I never had the pleasure of knowing Wayne but if you are an aficionado of aeromodelling excellence head over to the NCLRA archives for some truly inspiring pages. Towards the end of his life Wayne himself started an F2C build, sadly not completed, but anyone who initiates building by selecting his own balsa from logs has my admiration.
So I trawled through Wayne’s excellent articles and adapted some of his ideas.
https://www.nclra.org/TechTopics/WayneTrivin/Actualindex.html
My thoughts on Fings…
- Moulded balsa fuselage, thanks Wayne!
- Conventional crutch as per Smiffy’s plan
- Bent wire U/C
- 8mm Balsa wing
- Zalp tank
- Perret exhaust duct
- Profi exhaust cover
- Makarenko bellcrank assembly
So just bosh together a couple of models for test flying. Wouldn’t take long!
Fing2C 001 was for Sosnovski power as I had cunningly sourced a duct assembly to suit. The ducts halves were pretty twisted, I think they were probably seconds, and whilst gluing couldn’t be forced absolutely straight but they were near enough. This was a major part of the initial preparation work done.
Fing2C 002 is for Zalp. This model is to assess a couple of things;
- Is a 1/4″ wing noticeably different (Steve swears by skinny wings)
- I’d like to try a circular bellcrank
Oh, and perhaps the silliest idea of all was to build the model on a curved centre-line, following the arc the model tracks around the circle. Many Russian and Ukranian models have this feature, I just liked the idea. Twit.
I’d made a structural foam blank to laminate the 1/8th balsa crutch side extensions and roughed out the 1/2″ beech bearers near enough to be able to accept the motor. The nose moment, root chord and duct design are all nicked ideas. These are usually the best ones, if they’ve already been proven to work.
Unfortunately I’d already built a problem in. And I’d only just started…..but it’s ok, I figured it out when the paint was drying.
Answers on an e mail please, there’s a prize!
Next – the fuselage, Waynes world beckons. Soggy balsa wood and a strange smell.
CL racing 
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