Flying Outhouse Plans & Article
April 1974 American Aircraft Modeler

April 1974 American Aircraft Modeler

April 1974 American Modeler - Airplanes and Rockets

[Table of Contents]
Aircraft modeling has undergone significant changes over the decades - both in technology and preferences. Magazines like American Aircraft Modeler, and American Modeler before that, were the best venues for capturing snapshots of the status quo of the day. Still, many things never change, so much of the old content is relevant to today's modeler.

Whether you are here to wax nostalgic, or are just interested in learning history, hopefully you will find what you are seeking. As time permits, I will be glad to scan articles for you. All copyrights (if any) are hereby acknowledged.

Although not my cup of tea, a lot of people like building and flying novelty aircraft like this Flying Outhouse that appeared in the April 1974 edition of American Aircraft Modeler. It should be easily scaled up for larger engines or even converted to electric power. Click on the plans at the bottom for a larger version. You might be able to buy full-size plans from the AMA plans service. All copyrights (if any) are hereby acknowledged.

Flying Outhouse

ABOVE: Framing up an outhouse doesn't require a carpenter. A good building rule-of-thumb is to always keep things flush, but in this case. well ... Let's leave it at that. ABOVE RIGHT: If you can't cut a straight piece of balsa, don't worry about this building project. Keep things aligned, of course, but a few jagged edges only add to the appeal. RIGHT: The wing is prepared for gluing to the "cabin." Having made our readers privy to this information. all that can really be said is that this photo shows a dope behind the water closet.

Step 1: Not scanned yet

Step 2:

Step 3:

Step 4: Cut the stabilizer and elevator to shape and fasten together with a strip of cloth hinge material; leave a 1/16" gap between them. Install elevator and horn. Cut the fin and rudder to shape and glue together. with the rudder offset 1/2" to the outside of the flying circle. Glue fin to the stabilizer on the stab centerline. Glue stab to upper booms and place end of pushrod in elevator horn. Secure the push rod with a soldered washer or 1/2A wheel retainer.

Step 5: Cut the center wing panel and the two outer wing panels to shape and sand in a slight airfoil section. Pin the center panel flat to the work board and glue the outer panels to it, blocking the tips of the outer panels up 11k". Give the joints two coats of glue and add cloth reinforcement top and bottom. When dry. cut the wing center section to fit around the upper booms on top of the cabin. Mount the wing to the boom mount, cabin front and sides with glue. Cut wing struts to length and glue in place. Bend line guide to shape, glue and wrap with thread. Be sure to put it on left wing strut. Cut out the vent cap. form it into a cone shape and glue to the vent tube. A piece of No.7 rocket body tube is the booster tube at cabin lower rear. Or, the tubes can be rolled from stiff paper.

(click for larger version)

Notice:
The AMA Plans Service offers a full-size version of many of the plans show here at a very reasonable cost. They will scale the plans any size for you. It is always best to buy printed plans because my scanner versions often have distortions that can cause parts to fit poorly. Purchasing plans also help to support the operation of the Academy of Model Aeronautics - the #1 advocate for model aviation throughout the world.

Try my Scale Calculator for Model Airplane Plans.

Flying Outhouse Plans & ArticleApril 1974 American Aircraft Modeler

Flying Outhouse Plans & Article
April 1974 American Aircraft Modeler