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Piper Pacer

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PiperPacer

[1] WrittenbyRobertDance. BuildyourownShortWingPiper FeaturedintheOctober2013issueofModelAviation. DownloadfreeplansofthePiperPacer.

ThefullscalePiperPacerappearedin1949andfallsintotheShortWingPiperscategory whichstartedwiththePiperVagabondin1948,andcontinuedwiththeClipper,Pacer,Tri Pacer,andColt.TheyarereferredtoasShortWingsbecausePiperdeletedthreefeetfrom rootofthebasicCubwing,givingtheseaircrafta29.3footwingspan. ThePacerwasthemosthandsomeoftheseShortWings,althoughtheVagabondhasthe cutecharismaofascaledupmodelairplane.Iwas15yearsoldwhenthePacerwas introduced,andIhavebuiltseveralversionsoftheVagabond,Pacer,andTriPacer.Theyare perfectsubjectsforafineflyingmodel,perhapsbecauseoftheirlowaspectratiowing,large stabilizer,andforcearrangement. MyfirstRCScalemodelwasaSterlingTriPacertrainer,whichutilizedmykitbuilt Controlairereedtransmitter.Shortlyafterthat,Idesignedandbuiltasmall,singlechannel, rudderonlyVagabondusingtheAcePulseCommandercomponentspoweredbyan

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AndersonBabySpitfireengine.Thislittlemodelalsoflewbeautifully. ThePiperPacerwithits18inchwingspan,isthesmallestShortWingPiperIhavebuiltandit istheresultofbuyingaParkZoneEmber.IwassoimpressedbytheEmbersamazingmicro componentsthatIstartedthinkingofusingtheminasmallScalemodelsimilartotheold CometmodelsIbuiltasaboyinthe1940s. ThisPacersconstructionissimilartothoseCometsandtothesmallmodelsdesignedby WaltMooneyduringthe1950sand1960s,whichwereofferedasfullsizeplansinmodel magazines.Thosewhohavebuiltstickandtissuemodelsshouldhavenoproblembuilding thisPacer.BuilderswithacreativebentmightwanttoconvertittoarubberpoweredFF model. ThePacerhaslarge,balancedelevatorandrudderareas,andIwouldrecommenddualrates tolessenthethrowonthesesurfaces.Otherwise,themodelmaybesensitivetocontrol.Idid notusedualrates,buttolessenthethrow,Imadethecontrolhornslongerthannormal.

AtopviewoffuselageshowstheEmbermotor.Donotcoverthetopuntilthecomponentsandcontrolrodsaresituatedandthecenterstringer isinplace.

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ABSDGWJ7mmGBRedmotorwithgearboxwaseasilymountedusingtwocarbonfiberrods.Italsousesaverysmallpropelleradapter.

SpektrumandParkZonehaveseveraltinyreceiver/servobricksthatcanbeusedinthis model.ParkZonesPKZU2164brickfeaturesAS3Xartificialstabilizationwhichmightbe interestingtotryalthoughIhaveneveruseditmyself.Thisbrickisalsoaileroncapable,ifyou wanttomodifythePacerforailerons.TheHobbyZoneChampscomponents,includingthe motor,couldbeusedforthePacer. ThefirstmotorItriedhadinsufficientpower,soIinstalledaBobSelmanDesigns(BSD)GB Redmotorandgearbox.Itmountedeasilyusingtwocarbonfiberrods.Theplansshowthe ParkZoneP51motor,whichshouldhavemorethanenoughpowerforthismodel.Youcan lookontheParkZone,Spektrum,andHobbyZonesitesforpartslistsforthesemotorand receivercomponents. Fortheflyingpropeller,Itrimmed3/8inchfromeachtipofaParkZoneP51propellerand roundedandbalancedit.ParkZonealsoofferscontrolrodsforthesemodels.

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Fuselage
IgenerallyuseoriginalTitebondgluebecauseitgivesyoutimeforadjustmentsandafterit dries,itiseasytosand. Theentiremodelisbuiltfrombalsa,unlessotherwisenoted.Thisisasimplemodel,andI havedrawnthebasic1/16inchsquarestructureinheavyblacktoavoidconfusion.Notethat two1/16squarepiecesareusedatthebottomnoseareatostrengthenthelandinggear.I havedrawnperspectiveviewsofthecowlingandmotormounttoaidintheirconstruction. Makethecowlingframeusinglightweightbalsa,andthenplankitwithdamp1/32sheet balsa.Apaperpatternfortheplankingcouldhelpdetermineitsshape. Themotormountisconstructedoflightweight1/16sheetbalsa,asnotedontheplans.Ifyou decidetouseanothertypeofmotor,adaptittoamountofyourowndesign. Ididnotuseacetateonthemodelssidewindowstoassistincoolingthecomponents.Iused tinyspotsofTitebondglueinfourplacestoholdonthecowling.WhenIwanttoremoveit,I carefullyslicethroughthesegluedareaswithathin,doubleedgerazor. Patternsareshownforthewheelsandwheelpantsconstruction.Gluethelaminationsandlet themdry.Thewheelshaveanaluminumtubecenter.IusedaDremeltooltocarefullyshape thewheels.Asaferoptionwouldbetolightlygluea1/16wireinthecenterofthewheel, shapeitontheDremel,removethewire,andglueinanaluminumtube.

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Thisopeningwillcontainthebatterydoorhatch.

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Inordertodeterminethecorrectdihedral,theauthormadethisjigfromacardboardbox.Hespotgluedeachwingtothefuselageandafter drying,attachedthestruts.

Aftershapingthewheels,shapetheoutsideofthewheelpants,thentakeaDremeldrillwitha roundcarbidebitandhollowthewheelpantuntilthewheelhasadequateclearance.Holdthe wheelpantuptoalightbulbtomakesureyoudonotpenetratethebalsa.Usea1/32 diameterwireforthelandinggear. Foraccesstothebattery,Iuseda1/32sheetsilk,hingeddooronthebottomofmymodelas showninoneofthephotographs.Dependingonbalance,youmaywanttohingeyourdoorin adifferentsectionofthebottom. ThefullscalePacerhadsidestringersasshownontheJ.M.Triggsthreeview,butIchose nottoincludethembecausethepaintschemeIusedwouldhidetheabsenceofside stringers.ThisclassicpaintschemeandcolorweretakenfromaPiperPaceradvertisement.If youwanttoseeotherpaintschemes,searchtheInternetandyouwillfindseveralimages.

Wing
ThewingisconstructedinamannersimilartotheopenribdesignthatWaltMooneyusedon hissmall,rubberpoweredScaledesigns.Thisdesignmakesforalightweightwingandthe upperandlowerportionsoftheribsarestrengthenedbythesparsthataregluedtoeachrib. Makeaplywoodpatternfortheuppercurvedribsandcutthemfrom1/16sheetbalsa.The lowerribis1/16squarestock.Ifyouwantatruescaleribplacement,followtheplacement shownontheTriggsthreeview.

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ThePacerssimplestructureisreminiscentofearlyrubberpoweredmodels.Thewingrootdiagonalswereeliminatedonthefinalplans.

Thetipsarelaminatedfromfour1/32x1/8balsapieces.Wet,bend,andgluethemonaform

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usingTitebondglue.Letitdryovernightbeforeremoving. Youcanmakethecenterofthewingandglueittothetopofthefuselageafteryouhave decidedwheretoplacethebrickreceiverandbattery.Imountedthereceiver/servobrickto 1/16sheetgluedtothe1/16squarelowerwindowframes. Aftercoveringandpainting,Ispotgluedthewingstothecentersectionintwoplaces.You maywanttoconstructajigtoholdthewingstotheproperdihedralwhilegluingthewingsand struts,thenlettheassemblydry.

TailSurfaces
Constructthetailsurfacesasshownontheplans.Iusedaslightlydifferentmethodforhinging therudderandelevator.Iwantedtousehingesthatofferedtheleastresistancetothetiny servos.Iamaflyfisherman,andIdecidedthatmyflylineleaders(ortippets)mightbeideal forthispurpose. Cutalengthoflightleadermaterialanddrawitthroughafoldedpieceofblack400weight emerysandpapertogiveitabitoftoothforgluing.Thentakeahandpinvisewithamicrodrill andmakeholesatthehingelocations. Afterthetailsurfacesarecoveredandpainted,cutaproperlengthoftheleaderanduseCA gluetoanchorthehinges.Besureandusethegussetsshownontherudderandstabilizer, becausewithoutthemthetissuecoveringmayformawrinkleonsharplyangledcorners.

Covering
IamfromtheoldschoolandIprefermodelssuchasthistohaveafinishsimilartothefull scaleaircraft.ThismodelwascoveredwithJapaneseEsakitissue,whichisstillavailable fromvarioussuppliersincludingA2ZCorp. Brushthreecoatsofnitratedopeonallofthebalsasurfacesthatwilltouchthecovering, sandinglightlybetweeneachcoat.Agoodchoiceoftissuecolorforthismodelwouldbe yelloworwhiteratherthanadarkcolor,whichwouldrequiremorecoatsoffinalopaquecolor. Determinethegrainofthetissueandapplyitlengthwisetothewings.Cutsectionsslightly largerthanthewingareayouwillcover.Applyadabof50/50thinnednitratedopetothe centerrootsectionofthetopwingribandtothecentersectionofthelastrib(notthetipofthe wing).Thedopewillsinkthroughthetissueandattachittothewing.

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ThefuselageiscoveredwithyellowEsakitissue.Ahingeddoorwillbeattachedtotheopenareaaftofthefirewallforthebattery.

Pullthisareauntilitisnearlywrinklefree.Youcanloosenitwithabrushandthinnitrateifyou seeanobviouswrinkle. AttachthetissuetotheoutsideperimeteroftheLEs,TEs,andtheendribs,givingthetissuea smoothappearance.Youdontneedtoattacheachribatthistimebecausethefirstcoatof cleardopewilldothat. Cutasectionoftissuetocovertheareafromthetipribtothetipitself.Thisneedscovered separatelybecausetissuedoesnotcoversmoothlyonacompoundsurface.Onceagain,get thetissueassmoothaspossible,butnotdrumtight.Coverthebottominthesamemanner. Younowhavecoveredthetopandbottomofonehalfofthewing.Carefullytrimoffthe overlappingtissuewithadoubleedgerazor.Usingafineatomizer,lightlyspraythetopand bottomofthewingwithwater.Somebuildersuseamixtureofwaterandalcohol,butIprefer water. Whileitiswet,placethewinginajigofraised1/8inchsquarestockandpinthewingdownto preventwarpsuntilitdries.YoumaywanttogivethewingsTEa1/16inchwashout.Topinit down,Islanttheangleofthepinsratherthanpiercethebalsa. Covertheotherhalfofthewingusingthesameprocess.Afterdrying,paintthewingswith threecoatsthinnitratedope,eachtimeplacingthewingsbackinthejigtoavoidwarps. Coverthetailandthefuselage,makingsurethegrainrunslengthwiseandrememberingthat tissuedoesnotdowelloncompoundcurves.Placethetailsurfacesinadryingjig. Thefuselageneedsnojigfordrying,buttheRCcomponentsandcontrolrodplacementneed tobedeterminedforproperaccessandbalancebeforecoveringthefuselageandthecenter ofthewing.Coverthecowlingwithtissueandsandlightlybetweencoatsofnitrate.Ifanarea needssealertypefiller,youcanmixabitofbabypowderwiththenitratedope,butnotonthe

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openareasofcovering.

FinalPainting
MymodelwaspaintedusingthinnedBrodakbutyratecolordopeforthefinalcoats.Iapplied thatdopewithabasicPaascheHairbrush.Youcanusebutyratedopeovernitratedope,but youcannotusenitratedopeoverbutyratedope. IusedBrodakPiperCreamandBrodakBrownformyPacer.Ifyoudonothaveanairbrush, youmaybeabletouseaPrevalsprayerwhichisavailablethroughBrodakorinmanypaint stores. Eachtimeyoupaintthewingsandtail,placetheminajigtodrywithoutwarps.Maskthe fuselagedesignwithmaskingtape.Youcancutthemaskingtapeeasilybyapplyingitface downonglassandcuttingitwitharazorguidedbyametalruler.Youcansealtheedgesof themaskingtapewithcleardopebeforesprayingtopreventthecolorfrombleedingunderthe tape.

Decals
Ihaveprovidedartworkthatyoucanscanandprintontodecalpaper,whichisavailablefrom MicroMark.Aninkjetprintercanprintthemontothedecalpaperinadarkbrowncolor.Seal thedecalswithclearsprayandfollowingdirections,applythemtothePacer.

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ThecompletedPiperPacershowsthepaintdesignandtheplacementofdecals.Anonflyingpropellerwasusedinthephoto.

Flying
UsingtheCGshownontheplans,adjustthebatterytoachievethebalance.Ifyoucannot properlybalanceit,tryusingasmallbitofclayinthetailornose. Checkyourrudderandelevatorcontrolmovementtomakesuretheymoveintheright direction.Isuggestusingatransmitterwithdualratesandsetthethrowstominimal movement. Chargethebatteryanddonotusefullpowerforthefirstflight.Flyonacalmdaythesesmall modelsareextremelylightweightandtheslightestbreezewillaffecttheirflight.

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The38gramPacerlooksbestwhenflowninascalelikemanner.

Adjustthemotorforwhatyoufeelisenoughpowerforittogainaltitudeafterhandlaunching. Lateryoumaywanttotrytakeoffsifyouhaveasmoothsurfaceforthosetinywheels. Shouldyoulackconfidenceforthesefirstflights,doasIdidandhaveanexperiencedRC pilotflyandtrimthemodel.ThisPacerisnotmeantfor3Dflying,andlooksbestflownina scalelikemanner.Onceairborne,thetinyPacerlooksremarkablylikeitsfullscalebrother. RobertDance rbdance@robertbdance.com[2]

Specifications
Modeltype:Semiscaleelectric Skilllevel:Intermediatebuilderintermediatepilot Wingspan:18inches Length:125/8inches Power:ParkZoneP51motororBSDGWJ7mmGBRedmotorwithgearbox Receiver:ParkZoneBrick Battery:1S150mAh Weight:38grams Construction:Balsa

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Finish:PaintedJapaneseEsakitissue

DownloadFreePlans

[3] Orclickwww.ModelAviation.com/images/article/plans/PiperPacerPlan.pdf[4]

DownloadDecals

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[5] Orclickwww.ModelAviation.com/images/article/plans/DecalsPacer.jpg[6]

BonusPhotos

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Sources
ParkZone (800)3384639 www.parkzone.com[7] HobbyZone (800)3384639 www.hobbyzonerc.com[8] BSD (417)3589521 www.bsdmicrorc.com[9] A2ZCorp (877)7547465 www.a2zcorp.us[10] BrodakManufacturing (724)9662726 http://brodak.com[11]

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SourceURL:http://modelaviation.com/piperpacer Links: [1]http://modelaviation.com/./piperpacer [2]mailto:rbdance@robertbdance.com [3]http://modelaviation.com/images/article/plans/PiperPacerPlan.pdf [4]http://www.ModelAviation.com/images/article/plans/PiperPacerPlan.pdf [5]http://modelaviation.com/images/article/plans/DecalsPacer.jpg [6]http://www.ModelAviation.com/images/article/plans/DecalsPacer.jpg [7]http://www.parkzone.com [8]http://www.hobbyzonerc.com [9]http://www.bsdmicrorc.com [10]http://www.a2zcorp.us [11]http://brodak.com

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