Full size Printed Plans Scale 1 ¼”=1ft Control Line GREGOR FDB-l The last biplane fighter

Full size Printed Plans & Article

Not a KIT or MODEL No Material

Reproduced Vintage Plan From 1961

Vintage plan from 1950 

GREGOR FDB-l

The last biplane fighter

Full size printed plan on a 42” x 36” sheet

Eight Page article with building note, material list, illustration and photos

Scale 1 ¼”=1ft

Control Line

Wingspan 35”

Engine .60

by S Cal Smith

The model presented here is scaled at 1 1/4" = 1 ft. directly from factory 3-view, giving a span of 35 in. and a wing area of  271 sq. in. Details such as spinner, aluminum cowling, canopy and wheels scale out to the sizes readily available at most hobby shops.

The ship is designed primarily as a good flying scale design; however, limited stunting is possible and has been done, A symmetrical wing section is shown on the plans and was used on the original model; thickness is the same as the scale lifting section. Although the wing loading is too high to-compete against the pure stunt design, the final weight of 32 oz. giving a wing loading of 11.7 oz./100 sq. in. allows for plenty of loops, Eights and inverted "flight. The good flying characteristics of full-scale biplanes seem to carry over to the model, and no difficulties were experienced even on the first flight with a good wind blowing It's a real treat to see this baby stunt.

REPRESENTING the last link in fighter design between World Wars I and II the Gregor FDB-l was probably the cleanest and smartest-looking biplane ever built. It could properly be called the last biplane fighter since all succeeding designs have been monoplanes.       

Before the United Kingdom entered World War Il, the Canadian Car and Foundry Co. of Ontario was producing Grumman designs under license and various British aircraft types. The Gregor FDB-1 represented the company's first original design. Com­pleted in late 1938, test flights "proved the qualifica­tions of the design, but .because of the impending ­conflict the plane was never produced in quantity. Instead, United Kingdom production was standard­ized on the Spitfire and Hurricane, and these types bore the brunt of Hitler's attack on England.

Possessing the good maneuverability of the biplane, the FDf3-1 carried light armament in comparison to the eight-gun Spits and Hurricanes. Power was originally the 750 hp P&W Twin-Wasp Jr.; but the design was suited for engines up to 1200 hp. Wingspan was  28 ft. and top speed was 300 mph (at 9000 ft.).

 Thank you for looking