Help identifying 78" Wingspan Tiger Moth

[robert.s]

Can anyone identify the manufacturer of my newly acquired Tiger Moth?

 

I suspect that  its a kit rather than scratch built as some of the balsa is quality mark stamped.The build quality seems to be high. The wings are one piece.

Please let me know if you need any more information or photographs.

 

I'd love to check the CG but don't know its exact location. My guess is that it will be slightly in front of the centre trailing edge of the top wing (where it currently balances).

 

Thanks in advance

 

Robert

[Robin Colbourne]

Pacific Aeromodels did a 78" Tiger Moth  It was an Almost Ready To Fly (ARTF) by the looks of it.

[robert.s]

37 minutes ago, Robin Colbourne said:

Pacific Aeromodels did a 78" Tiger Moth  It was an Almost Ready To Fly (ARTF) by the looks of it.

Thanks Robin, I've looked at the photos on the post and there are some differences. The undercarriage on the green models TM is much more sophisticated. The struts appear to be metal, the cockpit area is different. I wonder if mine is an earlier version of their kit?

[Robin Colbourne]

1 hour ago, robert.s said:

Thanks Robin, I've looked at the photos on the post and there are some differences. The undercarriage on the green models TM is much more sophisticated. The struts appear to be metal, the cockpit area is different. I wonder if mine is an earlier version of their kit?

Robert.s, bear in mind they did two sizes of Tiger Moth, one 50" , the other 78", sop there may be differences depending which one they photographed.  It is also possible that the previous owner decided to mak the undercarriage more scale-like.

[RottenRow]

I agree with Robin’s thoughts. The Green Models Tiger Moths (both sizes) were sold in this country by J. Perkins who branded it with their own name.

 

If it is that one, it may well have been repaired at some point. Originally they were sold covered in shiny film, whilst the covering on yours looks like Solartex or similar. The original metal struts looked awful (they were just squashed aluminium tube, left silver in colour) but screwed into the fuselage sides as yours do. They might have been replaced after the originals were damaged.

 

The plastic brackets that hold the cabane struts onto the upper centre section look like those used on the Green models Tigers.

 

The undercarriage may be a replacement after the original was damaged. It looks about right but doesn’t have the dummy fairings fitted (easily made from balsa).

 

Most model Tigers have their c of g just in front of the rear of the upper wing fuel tank, which is where it sounds as if it is on yours.

 

Brian.

[RottenRow]

Here's the instructions. They cover the original and later versions (with different wing fixings).

 

Greens Super Tiger Moth.pdf

 

Have a look and see if they generally match with your model.

 

Brian.

[Jimbo565]

C/G on the Moth as RR says.

 

 

[robert.s]

4 hours ago, Jimbo565 said:

C/G on the Moth as RR says.

 

 

Thank you, this is exactly the point that mine balances am now fairly confident that the CG is correct. Also assuming no modifications have been made since it last flew it should be in the right place.

[robert.s]

16 hours ago, RottenRow said:

Here's the instructions. They cover the original and later versions (with different wing fixings).

 

Greens Super Tiger Moth.pdf 2.72 MB · 4 downloads

 

Have a look and see if they generally match with your model.

 

Brian.

Thank you Brian, this is very useful. Having compared some of the details. Mine is either a variant of the Greens Moth or another beast. The servo arrangement is completely different, All the struts are wood and not metal, the wings are one piece (i.e. not split), the gear arrangement is far less sophisticated, the wing tank is has cord wrapped and painted to give a corrugated effect.

 

I've assumed that due to the high build quality this is a kit. Could I be wrong?

[RottenRow]

Robert, as I said, several bits of the model might have been repaired, replaced or made more scale-like by the previous owner.

 

All of the things that you mention could point in this direction. To me, the strut fixings, even if they aren’t the original struts, definitely look like the Green Models Super Tiger.

 

As supplied, the wings are in two pieces but are glued together on assembly. This makes them one piece from then on. If they have been recovered, that will have covered up the join.

 

I have a modified one myself, and will have a look at it when I can and look for similarities to yours. Mine has been recovered in (yellow) Solartex.

 

Brian.

[Robin Colbourne]

Robert.s, there is a review here of a 'Fly Model' 1980mm span Tiger Moth which is pretty much 78".  It could be the Green Models one rebranded, or it might be like yours.

21 hours ago, robert.s said:

Thanks Robin, I've looked at the photos on the post and there are some differences. The undercarriage on the green models TM is much more sophisticated. The struts appear to be metal, the cockpit area is different. I wonder if mine is an earlier version of their kit?

Robert.s, bear in mind they did two sizes of Tiger Moth, one 50" , the other 78", sop there may be differences depending which one they photographed.  It is also possible that the previous owner decided to mak the undercarriage more scale-like.

[robert.s]

3 hours ago, RottenRow said:

Robert, as I said, several bits of the model might have been repaired, replaced or made more scale-like by the previous owner.

 

All of the things that you mention could point in this direction. To me, the strut fixings, even if they aren’t the original struts, definitely look like the Green Models Super Tiger.

 

As supplied, the wings are in two pieces but are glued together on assembly. This makes them one piece from then on. If they have been recovered, that will have covered up the join.

 

I have a modified one myself, and will have a look at it when I can and look for similarities to yours. Mine has been recovered in (yellow) Solartex.

 

Brian.

Thank you Brian,

 

I will work on that assumption.

 

I am curious to know the origin of the plane but the most important fact if the CG. Thanks to everyone's input I am confident that it's pretty much where one would expect it to be. As always, I will approach the maiden with caution.

 

Best wishes,

 

Robert