Building the Osborne Platter

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Designed by Bill Osborne &Peter Justin

Drawn by Heman Lee

1/2a Control Line Trainer

Engine: Cox BlackWindow .049

This model airplane is made from foam-board that can be purchased at any art-supply store or Targetfor less than $3 a sheet. For today's youths, it is very rewarding to be able to build their own model andmake their first solo flight. Bill makes all of the components for our class from surplus materials.Engines mounts, bell-cranks, control horn are all made from scratch in his home shop. Not only does hesupplies these airplanes to our class, he has built hundreds of these for the kids in his own community forfree. This model is a great trainer because it is almost indestructible when crashing on grass and easy tobuild. With minor modifications it can even do basic aerobatics, such as loops.

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Parts List

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Foam-Board 3/16" 1 Lead-out Guide1 Plywood 1/16 X 1 1/4 X 12 or Paint Stick 8 Washers for 2-56 screws1 Plywood 1/16 X 1 1/4 X 9 or Paint Stick 7 Screws 2-56 x 3/41 Balsa 1/8 X 5 1/16 X 3 9 Nuts 2-561 T-Angle Motor Mount 1 Control Horn1 Lead Weight 1/4 oz 1 Bell-crank & Spacer1

.055 X 9" Pushrod Wire 1 Cox Black Widow .049 enginewith Cox 6 X 3 propeller.

Tools Needed

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Titebond or Elmer Yellow Wood Glue

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Model airplane dope (clear and color)

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Xacto Knife No. 1 or Hobby Knife

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Sand Paper - 320 or fine

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Ruler and Triangle

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Pliers with wire cutter

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C-Clamps and some heavy weights (Brick orfrying pan)

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Electric or Cordless Drill

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Building Instructions

Step 1 - Outline the Platter.

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Make a 12" diameter circle on the foam-board. Todo this, tack a string to the middel of the circleand tie a felt pen 6" from the center. This willallow you to draw a perfect 12" diameter circle.2.

Measure a distance between 1 to 1-1/2" for theengine mount. (1/2" for Norvel or Stunt version).If you are using the Norvel BigMig Startup withthe integrated tank, you can just make it perfectlyround.3.

Draw a horizontal line about 1 - 1/4" for the widthof the engine.4.

Make a straight line from the left edge of theengine mount to the left tangent of the circle.5.

Do the same for the right side.6.

Now you have the basic outline of the Platter.Cut the foam according to the outline you just made..The platter is an 12" diameter plate with an 1 - 1/2"nose. You can vary this distance down to 1/2" if youwant to make it do stunts. The one shown, is a trainer.Mark the center of the Platter using a ruler. Draw andstraight line down the center. Mark the center of both topand bottom plywood doublers.

Step 2 - Doubler.

Glue the plywood longer doublers to the top and theshorter piece on the bottom. Make sure the doublers areexactly in the center on both side. Use a clamp or heavyobject to clamp down the doublers and let it dry overnight.Apply glue to both doublers and sandwich it to thefoamboad. Rub it back and forth a few time. Pull off andapply more glue. Let it tack on for 5 minutes beforeputting it back on and clamping it down.

Alternative:

3/32" softply or go to you local hardware orpaint store and ask for 2 paint mixing stick. You can usethese as doubler. Just cut one down to 11" or smalldepending on which version you decide toe build, and theother bottom doubler to 9" .