Here is shown how to make a complete
monoplane model, using as power a bow and string which has
been drawn tight by twisting the wheel. Upon being released it
gives a powerful impetus to the wheel.
First get a stick one-quarter inch
square and eighteen inches long. It must be sound and straight
grained. Spruce or ash being favorite woods, the main point is
to have the backbone light and strong. Put on a piece of
hickory or any flexible piece for the bow at about the
position shown. The exact distance is best determined by
experimenting. Fasten it with wire so that it may be moved
till you get the right balance. The plane is made of silk
stretched on a rattan frame 18x4". It is curved up by putting
tight strings parallel with each other from corner to corner.
The amount of curvature (one inch) is shown by Fig. 8.
The small plane (9 x 3") is made in the same way. Its mission
is something like that of the tail of a kite. Fig. 5
gives a clear idea of cutting a square spruce stick into
propeller shape. The planes are fastened to the backbone or
spine in the manner shown in Fig. 7. Use very fine wire
or strong thread for the lashing. Now comes the power plant
.
Bend a long strip of tin double and tack
or tie it to the long stick or spine as shown in Fig. 2.
Close to the end of the stick place the small piece A. (See
Fig. 4 for complete view.) For a shaft we use a bicycle
spoke. For the cross-arms A in Fig. 2 use two spokes
threaded through slits in the tin and twisted together. The
little piece X is found on spokes, and use to tighten
them. Get two of those and place one on each side of the cross
arm, to be used as pulleys. It is well illustrated in Fig.
3.
Y, in this same cut, is a bead used for a bearing. It
is a simple thing to understand, but you must work carefully
and slowly to get right results. Look the drawing over
carefully and study the details. Everything is shown and it
will answer any question that might come to your mind.
A bearing is that part of a machine that
comes in contact with any other part that turns or moves.
Always try to make those parts slippery by using oil, and to
further reduce the friction use a bead, in this case at W,
in Fig. 2. Now put your wheel on, use strong fish line
for a bow string, simply tying it on; bring each end over a
different pulley on the sides of the cross-arms A in
Fig. 2. Twist the propeller until the bow is drawn as much
as it will stand, then toss the airplane gently up. It should
fly fifty or sixty feet at least, and is not liable to be
broken, for the planes will cause it to glide safely to the
ground even after the power is spent. The greatest difficulty
you will have to overcome is to balance the device properly to
make it light enough.
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