Full Size Printed Plan & Building Notes
No material plans only
*1/2A SAMURAI*
Off‑spring of the FAI Samurai our little 1/2 A Combateer carries an the family tradition of being a champion with its record of WAM Class Champion for 1977, plus a 3rd at the '77 Nats!
Full size printed plan on a sheet 30” x 15”
Nine page article with building notes
WINGSPAN 28”
AREA 160 SQ.IN
WEIGHT 5 OZ.
ENGINE 1/2A
BY RICH von LOPEZ
iThe 14A Samurai is the smaller version of the FAI Samurai (published in the May 1978 issue of Model Builder) and like the larger version, has a Western Associated Modelers (WAM) class championship to its credit and an additional third place at the 1977 Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) National Championships. This is the third 1/2 A design that I have published, the first being Li'l Snip (Model Builder, February 1974) and the second being Li'l Matador (Model Airplane News, September, 1976). The Li'l Snip design was bought and produced by the Midwest Products Company and is currently available.
Why design a new 1/2 A combat model when the one you are currently using is perfectly adequate? This is the question I asked myself before beginning to develop the 1/2A Samurai. I concluded that what I was looking for was a more refined version of what I was flying, Li'l Matadors. I wanted to eliminate some weight, do away with the bladder tank tube, use a monoboom, add strength to the structure, and have a better flying model.
What about the added strength I wanted? How could this be done? I started by replacing the balsa wood spars and leading edge with basswood units.
Thank you for looking Rose