Philip Kent Comper CLA-7 Swift

[martin davey]

After a few get me flying again models built during the lockdown, my first scale model in years is now about to take to the building board. :)

[EarlyBird]

Interesting I am sure that I will not be the only one following your build.?

[Murat Kece 1]

looking forward to your build.. Good luck.

[kc]

Nice design.   Good luck with it and let's see some photos in due course.

It's worth noting that the plan is available direct from Philip Kent via his club's website which also gives a phone number for him.   There is a 96 inch span Comper as well.   Some other designs not available elswhere too.

The plan and laser cut parts are available from Sarik.

Edited May 6, 2021 by kc

[Don Fry]

Nothing wrong with his designs. I would suspect however, he chose lightish wood at the backend..Be aware that laser cut bits, are a bit one weight fits all. Not knocking them, save a huge amount of work, but be aware of what goes behind the CG. 

[martin davey]

So after looking at the plan for day, ordering various bits of hardware a start is made.

[martin davey]

On 06/05/2021 at 17:31, Don Fry said:

Nothing wrong with his designs. I would suspect however, he chose lightish wood at the backend..Be aware that laser cut bits, are a bit one weight fits all. Not knocking them, save a huge amount of work, but be aware of what goes behind the CG. 

Your bang on with that, fortunately the laser cut plywood parts are at the front, back end is indeed very light construction.

Edited May 7, 2021 by martin davey

[martin davey]

Progress, although I have had a couple of G&Ts now so best I stop. ?

[martin davey]

Small keel and wing seat arrangement, I have constructed this from light ply, rather than balsa and inserted a blind nut here with a little bracing to strengthen this area as I was not happy with the original arrangement.

[martin davey]

A little progress today, cowl cover for battery box and a small block, yet to be shaped on the front end. I also made an attempt to construct a removable cockpit to allow access to the receiver and servos, but abandon that on the grounds that the balsa used here is supposed to be a ridiculous 1/32", instead I will mount them upside down and make a hatch underneath the fuselage. On the subject of 1/32" the front end  from cockpit  to battery box is sheeted  with this stuff, while I can understand the need to keep the weight down, I don't think this is very practical, unless it is a static model. So it will either be glassed on the front end or I shall use 1/16" in it's place and suffer the weight penalty. I am conscience of the weight, but I also want practicality on the flying field. at the moment it weighs next to nothing.

[DaveyP]

Hi Martin, all looking good, following with interest but have to say I'm not a fan of the small highlighted text. Difficult to read on a small device, maybe it's just me though.

 

[martin davey]

Thank you, I will sort the text problem ? 

[martin davey]

One side sheeted with 1/32 which will eventually be glassed over and brass wing strut fixings fabricated and installed.

[martin davey]

A little more done today, rear fuselage stringers cut and fitted.

[martin davey]

A little more progress, servo and receiver try made and servos installed for rudder and elevator and a start made on the cowl.

[Engine Doctor]

Nice job Martin . Waiting to see it at the field.

[Kim Taylor]

Love this 'plane - used to have (then lost) the Dennis Bryant plan which I never got around to building.

Does this plan show the Pobjoy radial engine as an alternative to the cowled inline?

Guess it wouldn't be too difficult to modify, even if not.

Kim

[kc]

It would seem that Martin's plan came with the a copy of the article.  But if you want it a copy of the magazine  RC ModelWorld November 2010 is on sale here.    Note that even though the magazine has a logo saying free plan it was NOT included with the magazine!  The free pullout plan was Peter Miller's Swizzle Stick  40 inch fun fly model.

Edited May 18, 2021 by kc

[martin davey]

5 hours ago, Kim Taylor said:

Love this 'plane - used to have (then lost) the Dennis Bryant plan which I never got around to building.

Does this plan show the Pobjoy radial engine as an alternative to the cowled inline?

Guess it wouldn't be too difficult to modify, even if not.

Kim

Sadly no it does not, but as you have said a front end modification would sort that ?

[martin davey]

Ok a little work today on my not so favourite area, the undercarriage, the plan shows some brass and solder work and small nuts and bolts. Then my son Pete turned up and we spent a little time looking at alternative methods using commercially available products and although wire bending was still the order of the day the fixings are nylon and some very light alloy tube. The main gear so far:

[martin davey]

AT a point now where the fuselage is nearly done and ready to have the very thin balsa areas glassed, more of that later. But I have to attach a tail plane seat to do that I need a tail plane so have commenced construction on this. This made up of 1/16th core with leading, trailing edges and ribs added to both sides. The plan show the leading edge of this done in three pieces but I decide to go with one piece by way of lamination after wetting the balsa with Windex. Seems to work OK.

[martin davey]

Typically as I took this image the scales turned themselves off, so you will have to take my word, 38g. A blank piece of balsa, without shaping weighs the same, you have to wonder. ?

[martin davey]

Tail end nearing completion, just some small ply pads to add for control horns, before returning to the fuselage to make a tail plane seat.

[martin davey]

A few pieces that have been glassed, primed and rubbed down with wet and dry waiting a second coat of primer.

[martin davey]

The front end of the fuselage glassed and ready for rub down and primer. Weight gain, negatable, with two full size servos installed it still weighs less than a lb.