1912 Blackburn Type D Monoplane RC Plane Plans
Build the Blackburn from CAD RC plans for a great flying model airplane
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Contributor pictures of the 1912 Blackburn monoplane from RC plane plans here!
FREE download of Blackburn fuselage formers here - included with plan!
Video of the full scale Blackburn flying at Shuttleworth collection here!
The sport scale 1912 Blackburn Type D monoplane is a gentle flyer on three channels of radio control
Full scale flying Blackburn at Shuttleworth Collection
1912 Blackburn Type D
The Blackburn Type D monoplane was built by Robert Blackburn, founder of the Blackburn Aeroplane Company, at Leeds in 1912, just four years after the Demoiselle took to the skies in France. The Blackburn Type D was a well thought out machine featuring pleasing lines, constant chord wire braced wings and a simplified undercarriage arrangement. The Blackburn Type D monoplane flew a series of test and demonstration flights for the following two years, suffering a final crash in 1914. The Blackburn’s remains lay untouched until discovered in 1938 by Richard Ormode Shuttleworth. The Blackburn Type D monoplane was restored by Shuttleworth’s engineers after the War, and still takes to the air on quiet days with the Shuttleworth Collection. The Blackburn Type D monoplane maintains the wonderful distinction of being the world’s oldest flying British aircraft.
Rear view of 1912 Blackburn Type D monoplane
RC model of the 1912 Blackburn monoplane
The Blackburn Type D monoplane makes for an ideal RC plane plans model aircraft. The Blackburn exudes character that is easy to replicate in the RC plane plans. The Blackburn contains plenty of internal fuselage volume for radio equipment, and a unique triangular fuselage underside that adds to the visual signature that is easy to capture on the CAD model plane plans. The Blackburn’s constant chord wings provide for a simplified build, and the large tail surfaces translate well for a stable RC plane plans flight profile. The Blackburn’s distinctive cowl and undercarriage are straightforward to construct via the RC plane plans, and add to the overall appeal of this timeless pioneer of flight. The Blackburn Computer Aided plans are very easy to follow, and contain all the information needed to quickly this great flying model. So, without further ado, let’s get started on your Blackburn!
Blackburn Type D top view at indoor Field House
The Blackburn RC plane plans model is made from normal building materials of balsa and plywood. The Blackburn shoulder mounted wing provides plenty of camber and area for stable flight, and the rudder and elevator provide positive control inputs. The Blackburn RC plane plans 1/16” plywood fuselage crutch provides a strong and stable foundation for mounting the wings, engine firewall, radio equipment and tail section reinforcement. The Blackburn RC plane plans uses throttle, elevator and rudder for three channels of control, which is perfect for the flight regime of this Blackburn RC plane plans model.
Blackburn wing construction
Blackburn wing ribs W-1 thru W-3 cut out from 1/8" balsa
The Blackburn wing, as shown on the RC plane plans, is constructed with four 1/4” balsa dowels for the two main inner spars, plus the wing leading and trailing edges. The inner two balsa dowel spars friction fit into 1/4” diameter fuselage mounted metal tubes, making for a very easy wing-fuselage assembly scheme as shown on the Blackburn RC plane plans. The 1/4” balsa dowels are carved and sanded round from 1/4” square balsa dowels. The Blackburn two inner RC plane plans dowels should be of medium grade balsa for strength,
Plywood reinforcement in Blackburn wing dowel
and the leading and trailing edge dowels should be of lighter grade of balsa wood. A 1/16” plywood insert is glued into the two inner balsa dowels spars for strength at the fuselage mounting tube, as shown on the Blackburn RC plane plans. It is VITAL that you include this plywood reinforcement, per the RC plane plans, or the balsa wing dowels will simply break under normal flight loads at the Blackburn fuselage tube mounting point.
As described on the RC plane plans, each Blackburn wing rib is built from three sections of 1/8” sheet balsa: W-1, W-2 and W-3. Start building the wing by pinning the two inner Blackburn 1/4” balsa wing dowels directly onto the full size RC plane plans. Be sure to cover the Blackburn RC plane plans with plastic to avoid gluing the wood parts to the RC plane plans. Ensure the ends of the dowels with the 1/16” plywood reinforcements have the plywood vertical, and at the end of the wing that will be inserted into the fuselage mounting tubes. Cut 20 W-2 ribs from light grain 1/8” balsa sheet as shown on the Blackburn RC plane plans, trim as necessary, then glue to the two inner spar 1/4” balsa dowels.
Blackburn inner wing section elevated on jigs J-1 and J-2
Completing the Blackburn wing
When dry, remove this portion of the Blackburn wing assembly from the plans. Next pin this inner wing assembly above the RC plane plans using jigs J-1 and J-2, made from 1/4” square balsa. Now pin the wing’s 1/4” balsa dowel leading and trailing edges directly into the RC plane plans. The mounting jigs J-1 and J-2 provide the precise elevation and incidence of the inner wing section above your building board to properly align and glue in place the remaining 1/8” balsa wing ribs W-1 and W-3 per the Blackburn RC plane plans.
Completed Blackburn wing frame
When dry, remove the now completed wing assembly from the Blackburn plans. Add sub-rib W-4 to the outer end of the wing, and position W-4 1/32” below the upper outline of the outer wing section. Cut out the wing tip section from 1/32” balsa cross grain, to facilitate bending over W-4 as shown on the Blackburn RC plane plans. Glue the wing tip section in place.
Repeat this procedure to build the opposite Blackburn wing on the RC plane plans. Sand both wing panels smooth, and you are done with this phase of the Blackburn RC plane plans model build.
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