This is a curious little model that I have seen in larger form, with a two stroke and retracts in an old issue R/C Jets International. This version, 30" span, powered by a Speed 400, with home-rolled duct and a trimmed APC Electric prop, is a little twitchy in pitch, but on eight 1100mAh cells, seemed to give Neil more than a hint of a smile as it steamed about the air at Kings Park.

The model was designed by Stephen Mettam and the plan (ref. MW2700) was published in Electric Flight International (now Quiet & Electric Flight International, thankfully abbreviated to Q&EFI!). The build is straightforward, just following the plan. I had no magazine commentary to go by so if you only get a plan, then just study it well before and during building.

This is a one piece, 'build & fit' model. i.e. the flying surfaces and fuselage are fitted together after covering. Obviously, check the fit as you go. Some care is needed making the fuselage cutouts for the wing as the plan seems to be out in places by 1/4" or so. This may have some bearing on the cg problems I encountered. Even with the naro size elevator servo set four inches back from the position shown on the plan and the battery pushed back against the aileron servo, it was still nose heavy. A flat battery pack arranged so that it could slide under a horizontally mounted elevator servo would be a way around this problem - or you could just build the tail a little heavier!

The wing was relatively simple with 1/8" spruce spars and built flat on the board. Joining the horizontal support for the shroud so that it slots together with the rear vertical section is fun because, smooth as it all is, it changes with x layers of covering. Use whatever method you like to retain the canopy/hatch.

I covered the flying surfaces in transparent deep red Solarfilm and the fuselage in black, so the model looks like a winged blackcurrant and liquorice humbug. (Where do you get those, Andy! - Ed.)

With all that apparent speed on a standard Speed 400 and eight cells, perhaps a modification with undercarriage or a scale-up to 40" span and anything from a hot buggy motor to a budget brushless?

Anyhoo! Nice little plane with lots of possibilities. A little extra noseweight to maybe stabilise the pitch and if not, then at least to steady things down so you have time to blink while it's in the air.

Thanks for reading.