| REG'S SIG CITABRIA
Having just sorted out my
model-making workshop arrangements, I have at last made a start on
the SIG CITABRIA that I chose several months ago as my
next building project. My ATS KITE, with veneered foam wing,
was my first attempt at building and I chose it deliberately as
being a fairly straightforward piece of box-like construction just
to see how I got on with building, before tackling anything more
ambitious. As it turned out, I thoroughly enjoyed the build, so I
have been looking forward to trying to advance my experience - and
hopefully develop some skills - with
the Citabria.
The Citabria was
introduced in the 1960's by Champion Aircraft Corporation as a
sporty alternative for private pilots who wanted something
different than the all-metal nose-wheel airplane. It is the direct
descendant of the Aeronca Champ and although its big flat-bottomed
wing makes it easy and gentle to fly, it is also fully capable of
handling aerobatics - a feature reflected in its name which is 'airbatic'
spelt backwards!
 This
1/6th scale model from the SIG stable claims the same flying
characteristics as the full-size machine. It boasts an exact scale
outline of a post-1974 Citabria. It is a rugged balsa/ply
construction job, features a one-piece wing design, precision
die-cut formers and ribs, moulded plastic cowling and wheel pants,
formed aluminium landing gear, authentic decals, full-size plans
and 3-view drawing and a photo-illustrated instruction book. It
has a 69 ins wingspan, is 47 ins long, and is suitable for ·35 - ·50
2-stroke or ·45 - ·61 4-stroke engines. I am planning on
installing the RCV60-SP rotating cylinder valve 4-stroke
engine. The model weighs around 7lbs, requires 4-channel radio
and is said to be ideal for Sunday flying or Sports Scale
competition.
So, that's what
we're aiming for - watch this page to see if I can manage it! Be
warned, though, progress may be slow, otherwise I might miss my
deadlines for updating ModelFlight!
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Let's
kick off with the mandatory look in the box before work gets
going. Lifting the lid revealed all the hardware and moulded parts, etc., plus nothing much
more than an enormous variety of balsa sticks, sheets and ply,
plus the plans and a pretty good and well-illustrated step-by-step
instruction book. |
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Building commences with
the starboard wing section, and here the die-cut wing ribs
are slid onto short lengths of wing spar material and
lightly sanded to true up the edges - not necessary to
sand the entire stack perfectly flush but just enough to
take off any high spots or burrs. |
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The 1/16" x 1"
trailing edge and 1/4" balsa spar is pinned to the
plan, the wing ribs placed over the two internal spars and
the rib/spar assembly positioned over the plan, the ribs
spaced out correctly and glued to the wing spars and
trailing edge. A set-square or triangle is used to ensure
that the inboard rib is perfectly vertical. |
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Moving on quite a bit,
the trailing edge itself and top trailing edge sheeting,
top wing spar and balsa leading edge have all been
positioned and wing-strengthening gussetts glued in place
together with the aileron leading edge and aileron ribs.
Here, the wing has been removed from the plan and the
aileron, which is built as an integral part of the wing,
is being sawn loose from the rest of the wing structure. |
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Here's this stage of the
starboard wing section finished, the top wing spar
and leading edge having been sanded to the contour of the
ribs. |
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The centre wing section,
constructed in similar fashion. This view is distorted to
save space here, but the larger view is undistorted! |
Next, I will repeat the process above to
build the port wing section and will report my progress once that
has been done!
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Just
a couple of shots this time to keep us up to date with Chris
Hardie's progress on his model of this unusual Luftwaffe WWII plane.
