Vintage RTP model Christian Moes, Far
Valley MFC, Ontario, Canada - November 2018
Notes below from video of model flying, which can be seen at
the bottom of this page. This model was designed and built by the late
Andrew Reynaert, an expert craftsman and aeromodeller extraordinaire, in Sault
Ste. Marie, Ontario during the late 1950s. Since then, it has been safely
stored away by another legendary aeromodeller - Dr. Nino Campana. With some
minor repairs, the model flew for the first time in many decades on November
16, 2018 during the Soo Modellers regular weekly indoor flying session at
Grandview Public School. The model flew with no changes, a tribute to the
designer - other than a new propshaft and bearing (the original was well used!)
and a new rubber motor. The model still had its original 12 strands of corded
1/4" x .030" black rubber. For this first test, we used a somewhat newer 24"
loop of 6 strands x 1/4" x .040" tan "super-sport". I didn't bother to cord it,
which is why it pukes the prop at the end of each flight. For the next trial,
we will try 8 strands (corded). RTP (round-the-pole) tether length is 22 feet,
lap time 5.5 seconds = 17 mph (27 kph). These flights are with 500 turns on the
motor.
The tether connection is very sturdy, and mounted
quite far forward as seen here. The wing is held with rubber bands, so not
suitable for wing tip connection.
It was originally intended to fly freeflight, but
not surprising, it had torque issues, and was converted to RTP.
Here is the motor.... due for replacement me
thinks?
The elevators were replaced at one point (note
different colour tissue) as the originals were lost. We believe the slot in the
rudder was for an equalizer rod between the elevators. The piece of wire may
have been a friction lock. New elevators have soft wire hinges, so the slot is
redundant.
There is no rear motor peg. The motor is retained
by the wire tailskid, which bends forward as tension is applied. A real pain to
install, but seems to work ok.
A reaction from Richard Barlow from Prescott, Ontario, having
seen the video. "Lovely. I well remember RTP, not only with rubber, but also
Jetex. Aeromodeller had an article on the latter called "Farnborough In Your
Clubroom". I recall that the fumes were awful!! Richard
