3 as ze <= a ee ae SS Moybe that eld adage of “two must be better than one” is correct—the Doublet is off to @ fast climbing start os shown on this take-off BY DENNIS TAPSFIELD .. . twin-engine power Pattern is quite a challenge; should stir some of those Pat- tern types who complain that they just don’t have enough power to present their maneuvers in the best possible light. They should find this machine a real ball—no matter what, a twin still makes exciting flying. © After spending some weeks looking around for a new project, I developed the urge to build a twin, and the sight of a large twin flying at Esher Club’s symposium this year finally got_ me moving. I really wanted an aerobatic model, but as there didn’t appear to be a commercial plan available, I set out to design my own. The basic aerodynamics are those of a conventional aerobatic single-engined model, but with the two engines and a scalish fuselage. The re- sultant model is really satisfying to fly, being quite lively on the two’.19°s and it really dispels some of the fantasies put around about wha: will happen if one motor guts! The model will loop, bunt, roll, spin, and fly inverted as well as any single-engined model of the same cali ber, plus that beautiful beat of the two motors which I fiad a real thrill, If a motor does cut, she will hold off with a little aileron and even climb slowly; so if you feel you want to have a go, let’s make a start CONSTRUCTION This model is not intended for the beginner, rather as a new adventure for the reasonably accomplished builder Smiling author with his @ Ball. Wing markings are correct—note mid:wing configuration MODEL AIRPLANE NEWS # October, 1979,and flyer. So I will do my best to point ‘out possible pitfalls in construction rather than a blow-by-blow, A to B method of construction, Wing: The original model had a home-made foam wing covered in mahogany veneer, with strengthening hardwood spars to carry the U/C and to stiffen the area by the nacelles in the positions shown on the plan, but a built lp Wing is shown should you prefer this type of construction. Join the two halves together using the two 1/4” plywood dihedral keepers, and web in between top ard bottom’ spars at the two inner bays using 1/8" hard balsa, ‘grain vertical. Use a wing jig if you have one, to preserve alignment; note that ribs 4 & 5 are cut off in front of the hardwood spars Don’t forget to install the engine throttles, Bowden cables in nylon tube (Stranded flex wire cable in plastic tube, Ed.) before covering; the prototype has a single cable connecting both engines with the movement re- versed on the port engine by a bell- crank in the nacelle. Keep the cable sweeps a large as possible to retain freedom of movement and to minimize backlash. After covering, add the tips and bandage (‘Wrap,” Ed.) the center section with 3” fiberglass tape. This is quite adequate. Cut out the nacelle sides to drawing, and stick the 1/32" ply doubler to the balsa sides, making sure that you make two of each hand. I use Dunlop Thixo- fix (a contact type cement) as an adhesive it’s quick and does not warp the wood. Cut out the two ply formers for each nacelle and assemble both nacelles onto the wing using plenty of white glue. Insure that there is 3°-4° MODEL AIRPLANE NEWS # October, 1973 Doublet ot rest shows nice clean lines, wellfinished lock and the muffler extensions used on the Enya mufflers—2 Enya .19's for power. THE DOUBLET... right thrust on the starboard engine only. True everything up and set aside to dry. Fuselage: It is important to keep the tail end of this model as light as possible, so select your wood carefully Cut out the fuselage sides from the medium soft 3/32" balsa, and the 1/16" and 1/52" ply doublers, Thixofix these together, add the 1/4” x 1/4" longerons and the’ 1/4” x 1/8" stiffeners. WI these are drying, cut out the formers Add the 1/4” baisa treblers to the sides using Thixofix again. Clean up the profiles and join them together using formers 3 and 5 to start with, Allow to set. At this stage you can build the fin and tailplane on the plan; these need no explanation, but once more select your wood carefully to keep it light. Pull the rear of the fuselage together, glue, add the remaining formers taking care to keep everything true. Fill in with 1/4" sheet where shown in front, of the tailplane, and add the 3/32” upper sheeting at the rear end. Check the size of the fuselage to the plan shape of the 3/8" sheet decking, profile to shape, and after insuring that the decking seats correctly, glue to the fuselage. Add the top nose block and sheet in the under side of the nose, but leave the rear fuselage underside open for the time being. Finish off the cabin area with 1/4""x 1/4" and the 1/4" sheet doublers between formers 3 and 4 where shown. Fair in the top nose block, add the nose block proper. Cut out and fit the 1/4" ply central cabin strut and glue in the 1/8"" balsa cabin floor. At this stage have a good clean up session on: the fuselage, sanding everything to shape carefully. Cut the slot for the fin, meking sure that it is in line. Cut away the rear decking to produce a slot allowing the tailplane to seat correctly, at the +2° profiled on the fuselage. When you are perfectly sure that all is ready, glue in the fin and tailplane. Make’ the rudder and elevators, but don't attack until after covering. GENERAL, Hold the wing into position in the fuselage with rubber bands and check for alignment with the tail unit. Build up the lower part of the fuselage with the wing held in this way, fiberglass the small former 3 to the wing firmly, drill for the two 1/4” dowels and add the rear fixing bolts and nuts. Install your fayorite controls for elevator and ‘rud- der, and position the servos before you sheet in the fuselage underside. Bend and install the landing gear as shown and sheet in the nacelles, leaving the tank areas open. Drill the motor mounts in position on the formers and fit the engines; glue the side and bottom fairing blocks in position. When dry, face off the ends square, and glue on the 1/16” ply rings in line with the spinners. When dry remove the engines and fair in the blocks completely, Make up the three removable hatches, one for each tank bay and one for the servo compartment in the wing. Fabricete the fuel tanks; 1 used 3/8” B.S.F. brass nuts thinned down to about 3/32” soldered to the angled part of the tank and a short (1/4”) bolt with a thinned head (about 1/16") as a screw in plug, drilled to take two brass tubes, one for the clunk, the otier for the vent. The clunks were made by building up solder onto brass tude. Everything else is fairly conven- ticnal-the original has Logictrol servosTHE DOUBLET. Reena sade tl Reroaer comedy Gictated by your own gear to. some ax Ce oe tele aaleattcetet your “pilot” before fixing the cabin en aa ete del ase ree eit Solarfim mainly to save weight, apart cimaeccales Casino eee cit be fitted in the nose ara, and the C6, Checked; the original “Deublet” needed three ounces of lead in the nose, hence my advice to keep ahe tll ight, Setup the engine trottes carefully thats they) Come! ual fully fopenifo- fetter, ad’ back to" de closed stop fogetiter, This not too ertcal, as with etalon wu Yn | a Of landing! Set all the control throws as coy aan oa laa setae eA found, Wiea you run the raotors you may encounter, some bad vibration 1 Gidy and to cure it, 1 ut off about 5/16 ltremfone] propel binds or each engine. ‘Do. this as follows: set the eagicaletl ace selle=at eae 9” x 6" props straight up and down, ed sheracttnl forint rel ty IS thatthe enging is balanced ‘better fatally but not dynamically by doing aia gorse ak cal the, prove ‘Oh in any" otter relative positlononly at your peri! FLYING “The prototype flow “sisisht off the board” (no kidding) and has never been rpodjusted ata ica beatin eleeeeeeteert ee starboard engine first 1o get it warm lop ih start the port, they como back to the’ starboard” which should. start usly whe warm. Be sure the engines esuicistetuallts exter tear vi cmt ‘over (idl). Ifin doubt st them a Ie eee oan a safe are fut on take off is the only really tacky part with most twins Face the model ito the wing, open up the throttles, and holding her straight if necessary with a touch of rudder (the original tracks as though on rails). Let her pick up plenty of speed, and with a touch of olay ale eee eee fe aE a shallow climb away: This is best, for if you are unlucky ‘¢noagh to. love an Engine you wil stil be in control. Gain parse Geta Vee thal of thet twin, You wil fing her very febponive, and leer than you expect: When you are Tealy, set er up for a landiog by tating her well out alg ltayation AIR powell ine fern chopping power to tskover aboet $10 ft up- She will old off really wel, tut takers ite time to slow’ down betag dite clan serodyasnoaly SOME GOLDEN RULES (1) Be sure the motors are reliable for take off asa flame-cut can be tricky at this tine (2) Naltne alan fy pants forthe boys unless you are 100% sure that the motors will open up OK, and no over: shoots if you ean avoid them, for the same reason, (3) Shou on engine fin ight, do not allow the model to turn the way it reset see oe teen ree wane fo Le, towards uw dondengae, Jo" 2 ie poms how sere of ha carson one cee ot equpmant lt installation as well 8 the front end of the engine nacelles. IVs @ fight, compact package. MODEL AIRPLANE NEWS ¢ October, 1973,@ WING SPAN 88 IN. WING SPAN 66 IN. QUALITY COUNTS. WE HAVE IT! “ORIGINAL DESIGN Write For Free Brochure uu Bas “MOBETS WAU carro so mo ny ROS @ TAKES REGULAR 30R4 SSNS Uae cette AMARILLO, TEXAS, 7 i TEKIT SANOED AND MACHINE CUT z = COMPLETE EASY TO FOLLOW als0)a0 ‘ASSEMBLY fm KIT INCLUDES ALL HARDWARE, WHEELS ENGINE MOUNT Ba ous aus >) The Doublet You will find she responds quite well to a Becton, Ee Custom RIC Field Box _| | its aileron: ara! wil Even ciimb gentiy! The By SALEM i weed shee as ones ENTERPRISES & you would witha deadsticksinale-engined low lve comesir ick slow Hug igltonawien || Good lucct Let's see some more, twins in Fanny enol aten SRG ETUEAT™"| wei, ey mae ley sod an a meee wal hcton voor | | gucaniced to stop the acbos at your Held ‘ake racla wll ft no arm fora while, a! least! . RET Seay ie, lect he lactic starter jacks: ee F cick disconnect tue! g line with specter tue! s Compact 8 ze. Easy to Professional Baal 2 seis tours Shpower for 8) MANDIA LANE, BOX 58, GOLOENS BRIDGE, N.Y. MODEL AIRPLANE NEWS # October, 1973