Goldberg Falcon Sires a Junior
July/August 1963 American Modeler
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In
the early 1960s, Carl Goldberg Models was reaching a crescendo in
its kit manufacturing business. Many successful models were already
on the hobby shop shelves serving all genres of the hobby - free
flight, control line, and radio control. The Falcon was a particularly
big hit because it served as both a trainer and an intermediate
flyer. A newbie could buy a Falcon and use if from his maiden flight
to introductory aerobatics. Building off the success of the Sr.
Falcon to come up with a 1/2A size version. Rudder-only was still
popular at the time, so the Jr. Falcon launched into a market ready
for another option. I don't recall ever owning a Jr. Falcon, but
I have owned a couple 1/2A Skylanes and a Skylark.
Note in
the advertisements that the price for a Jr. Falcon was $4.95 in
1967 and then $5.95 three yeas later in
1970.
This edition of American also ran a feature titled,
"Carl
Goldberg: Mr. Modeling."Goldberg Falcon Sires a Junior
One Good Kit Breeds Another: Goldberg's Falcon Sires a Junior
This
first try at a commercial R/C design by Carl Goldberg turned out
so successfully that he has marketed the same design in smaller
size; both are products of Carl Goldberg Models (Chicago). Let's
dig into the original big one, to see what we can find.
Design Concept. Carl chose a medium size trainer which may be flown
with the simplest Rudder-only installation, or the smaller reed
receivers and servos to fly with . Rudder-Elevator-Motor Control.
The shoulder-wing configuration is generally more "forgiving" than
the low wing.
Since it is intended to fly with elevators,
if desired, the builder may wish to try inverted operation, and
the semi-symmetrical wing is accepted as a fair compromise between
good rightside-up flight and the inverted maneuvers - including
outside loops. Airfoil is of moderate thickness. The stab is also
medium thick, fully symmetrical.
Dihedral is fairly modest,
so if the plane is built for rudder-only, it could be increased
to provide better rolling properties - assuming the builder was
interested in violent acrobatics. If elevators are to be used, stick
to the plans.
For good ground handling and ROG's, we find
a trike landing gear. Nose gear furnished with the kit is not steerable.
A generous distance between nose and main gears and wide main wheel
tread assure stability in taxiing, takeoff or landing.
Construction.
The Falcon is of simple construction. Two fuselage sides must be
pieced together with a "sawtooth" joint; this is strengthened by
side doublers which cover it. Fuselage formers are keyed into slots
in the sides; both top and bottom are keyed, as are such additional
parts as the tail assembly seat. It would be pretty difficult to
put the fuselage together any other way but true.
Hardwood
motor bearers are furnished along with plywood "breakaway" motor
mounting plate. This plate used early in the fuselage assembly assures
that the sides are even.
Landing gear main and nose wires
are formed from 1/8" music wire, the nose strut having a 4-loop
shock spring in it. Main gear is built into the fuselage bottom.
The main wing is rectangular, all ribs are die-cut, leading
and trailing edges are notched for rib positioning. The edges are
shaped to required cross-section. To spare the novice modeler some
of the woes of assembling a wing with underside convex, "Symmet-Tru"
construction is featured. This includes positioning tabs on the
underside of some wing ribs, near the leading edge, easily removed
after the frame is complete. The stab, quite simple, also has rib
tabs to aid assembly. Fin and rudder are of sheet balsa, as are
the elevators.
Equipment. The plane was test flown with
Min-X 6 channel equipment and three Transmite servos. It may be
used with engines from .09 to .19, with .15 being favored; the Multi
test plane had an O.S. Max .15 RC engine, and a 2-oz deBolt clank
tank (there is ample room for a much larger tank).
All parts needed to complete the plane that are not furnished in
the kit are specified by name and size. The balsa has been carefully
selected; wing rib sheets are light but stiff quarter-grain stock;
wing spars are hard balsa (a little heavier, but they'll better
stand the beating most beginners will give the plane), wing tips
are cut from same block of balsa, so they will be matched in weight.
Specifications. Span-56", chord-10", wing area-558
sq. in. Test plane with 6 channel equipment weighed 3 1/2 lb. Equipment
space under wing, 10 x 3 1/4," high x 2 3/4" wide; ample space for
all batteries under fuel tank in forward compartment.
JUNIOR FALCON Knowing a good thing
when he has one, Goldberg scaled his Falcon down to smaller size.
Appearance, design and construction features are so much like the
56" plane you would have difficulty telling them apart in the air
- except for the noise. Junior is intended especially for any .049
engine ... which gives lots of leeway.
The
fuselage sides have same W-joint in the center, the same doublers
fore and aft, the same keyed formers, top and bottom. Wings are
made the same way, with Symmet-True methods to assure easy and accurate
assembly. Intended basically for Rudder operation,
the Jr. Falcon may be flown with kick-up elevator and plans show
where to cut the stab for this addition. Despite modest size, there
is lots of fuselage space for radio gear, both under wing and in
the nose compartment. Designer Goldberg feels Junior is ideal for
the "package" radio units, depicts the Citizen-Ship R/C Pak in one
sketch. Another suggested and illustrated installation is C &
S Finch receiver with Septalette Mark V actuator, for proportional
rudder.
Junior Falcon spans 37".
Jr. Falcon Specs: Span 37"; chord, 6 3/4"; area, 250 sq. in.
Intended for .049 to .074 engines, integral or separate fuel tanks,
beam or radial mount. Weight, 16-oz. Radio area under wing is 6
3/4 x 2 1/2 x 2" wide; 3 x 2 1/4, x 1 1/2" (average) compartment
in nose.
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. If the AMA no longer has this plan on file, I
will be glad to send you my higher resolution version.
Try my Scale Calculator for Model Airplane Plans.
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