Author: papermodels4rc

We have decided to abandon the X-type foamboard motor frame due to a problem with lateral rigidity. We are now replacing the X-type with a new Twin Rail design – the ‘TR2’. The Eagle download will be available as soon as the new motor frame is ready. Further updates will be posted ASAP.

The final version of the Eagle is now complete and nearly ready for download. The new fuselage is lighter and incorporates fully detachable leg pods to compliment the already removable landing gear. The new Eagle also features a new fully enclosed blade guard design which more closely resembles a transporter pod – an improvement over the prototype version.

There will also be a ‘static transporter pod’ Included for display purposes.

We have to test a new redesigned motor frame which also has some weight reduction. If all proves well then the Eagle will be available by the end of August. Meanwhile, here are a few pictures of the new fuselage.

Back in February 2020 we designed a foamboard motor frame for the Blade Inductrix 200 quad with the ability to fly various paper model fuselages including two science fiction models and a harrier jet fuselage. And, at just 13.5g (without motors, board and switch) the foamboard frame is not only ultra light-weight but also torsionally rigid with a natural density that eliminates any vibration – making the foamboard frame very stable in flight.

This first design is based around a ’90 degree interlocking’ system where the motor mounts are secured in the centre of a right angle to provide the best possible rigidity.

However, during the two years development of the paper Harrier fuselage, the overall weight had to be reduced by the removal of the landing gear. This meant that the motor frame required further modification to allow the sides of the motor frame to double as landing skids making this particular frame design unsuitable for our scifi fuselage designs. Furthermore, the 90 degree interlocking frame is limited to a total flying weight below 200g to enable a five minute flight time (the Harrier’s flying weight is around 195g including a protective coat of clear enamel sprayed onto the Harrier’s fuselage). As soon as the Harrier project was completed (September 2022) we concentrated on designing our first scifi model (the Space 1999 Eagle) and it soon became apparent that the flying weight would exceed 200g. As a result, we have designed a new prototype foamboard motor frame that successfully exceeds the 200g weight limit with a five minute flight time.

This design is based on the usual ‘X’ type quad design with interlocking frame parts consisting of vertical supports on the underside of the motor mounts to provide rigidity in the absence of an interlocking 90 degree construction format. At 10.8g (without the inductrix components) this motor frame is nearly 3g lighter than the Harrier’s ’90 degree interlocking’ frame and also has a more efficient thrust output enabling the new motor frame to carry even more weight and still fly for the standard five minutes. As previously mentioned, our first science fiction model for the new motor frame, is the ‘Eagle transporter’ from ‘Space: 1999’. Below is the prototype 22 inch (1/48 scale) paper Eagle which has a total flying weight of 206g (including an 80g battery) while still flying for over five minutes.

This model is over 10g heavier than the Harrier, and although the flight handling is still good, it is not as precise as the Harrier – so a few grams will have to be taken off and hopefully we can reduce the total flying weight to around 200g – in our experience even 5g of extra weight makes a noticable difference to the flight handling. After removing a few parts we tested the Eagle at 202g and this is indeed the magic number for the flying weight – enabling the Eagle to handle in small spaces just as precisely as the Harrier even though it is still actually 7g heavier. The Eagle is relatively easy to build as all of the ‘tubular framework’ is made from flat 160 gsm card – no requirement to roll any paper – you just need a sharp scalpel to cut out the holes in the framework. The Eagle’s fuselage is constructed from 75 gsm paper (not 80 gsm as with the Harrier – as this too saves 3g to 4g in weight), 160 gsm card and 5mm foamboard. Without the motor frame this Prototype Eagle fuselage weighs in at 56g (the Harrier’s fuselage net weight is only 41.5g!) which demonstrates the improved efficiency of the new motor frame.

The Eagle has a split top card framework (which is not load bearing) to allow for battery fitment. This centre section is magnetically attached on the underside of each end using tiny magnets which contact staples fixed into card sections of the underside foamboard spine – the part that is load bearing. In order to Keep the weight down the motor frame is also a ‘stressed’ member taking most of the weight so the Eagle will not fold in half while in the air. At present the engines, cockpit, side blade guards and landing gear are removable. The engine bells are made from six parts printed on 75 gsm paper and then sprayed using plastikoat brilliant silver metallic spray paint before being glued to the rear engine plate.

This prototype Eagle is still being flight tested and it also requires a few ‘tweeks’, including, increasing the rigidity of the top spine framework, making the four leg pods removable (and also making them mount a little more level too) and hopefully some weight reduction before we are happy to make it available for download. The finished version has been designed and will be assembled and flight tested soon. Pics of the final version will be posted when complete.

Papermodels4rc would like to mention that this design is only available due to the immeasurably creative genius of people like Brian Johnson, Nick Allder, Martin Bower and the rest of the FX team of Space 1999, and of course, also with thanks to one of the greatest visionaries of science fiction – Gerry Anderson.

After 2 years work the Harrier is now available for download.

Just a quick note to preview the new projects. 3 new models are in the pipeline and we decided to start with the hardest one to model – the Harrier. The frame has passed the flight tests better than expected as the high mounted props and the top mounted battery provide excellent stability with very little ground effect when landing – now we can manage pin point landings with no ‘bounce’ also thanks to the lightweight foam suspension. Everything is made from paper, card and foam board with just a small piece of 2mm diameter carbon rod for the nose gear suspension pivot and kitchen foil for the inner tubes of the landing gear for that polished metal effect. This frame will also be the same basic standard for the other 2 science fiction models – only the landing gear mountings will differ. The final version of the harrier frame will not have the horizontal part visible at the rear (the bit that holds the outer stabilizers) as the finished model will have the stabilizers mounted in the wings as with the real aircraft.

Within the next couple of weeks some pics of the prototype paper fuselage fitted to the final version frame will be posted if the completed fuselage actually proves the ‘calculated’ all up flying weight (including battery) of 200g, and, of course if it also passes the vitally important flight tests. More pics and details will be posted soon.

Recently, work commitments have been taking most of my time and I just want to say thanks for the very encouraging comments the website has received. And, ironically, due to the current corona virus pandemic, we will have more time to develop more models. However, let’s all stay safe during this awful time and consider those who have been cruelly affected by this outbreak and also take time to appreciate the dedication and bravery of all medical personnel in every nation that has fallen under the shadow of the covid 19 virus.

To finish on a lighter note – the new models that we are currently working on are three designs for the Blade inductrix 200 quad. The prototype frame (made entirely from 5mm foam board and weighs just 8.5g!) has successfully passed the initial flight tests. The three models that will fit this frame are the sci-fi dropship (based on the dropship from aliens), the sci-fi transporter (based on the eagle transporter from space 1999) and a harrier jump jet design.

All three models will share a similar frame design to mount the motors & props, control board, switch and the flight battery with only a slight difference between them to accommodate the different styles of landing gear or wheels. These new models will be replacing the Blade 200QX prototype dropship which will now, unfortunately, not be made available due to the sheer size of the model (720mm long @ 270g weight) – concerning recent regulation regarding RC aircraft registration above 250g and also the resulting large page count of 26 pages.

The decision was made to resize all parts to fit the inductrix200 thus producing a smaller, less page intensive model that will be approximately 500mm long when assembled and weigh well under the 250g limit. The harrier jump jet design will be slightly longer at around 600mm but still weigh less than 250g. Pics of the frame and the models will be posted when nearing completion.

Take care everyone and thanks again for your kind comments & encouragement!

The 90’s high skids are made from 2 cotton wool bud sticks glued to the cross-tubes – the instructions contain all the necessary information and the step by step guide to making them. These will be the lightest option of skids and provide the free repaint of the ‘T2’ L.A.P.D. ranger with a more authentic look. The floats will be available in the full download of the ranger which will also contain an option for black floats – ready for the free repaint of Macready’s ranger from the movie ‘the thing’.

With work commitments and a few problems with the MCPX test rig (main motor and both aileron servo failures) the launch of the MCPX ‘Ranger’ has been delayed by a couple of months.
However, all has now been fixed and with an improved design for both the Ranger’s tail motor mount and tail mount in the aft section – all previous tail vibration has also been completely eliminated.
The T2 LAPD paint scheme has also been tested and looks pretty good too – with only 4 extra parts for the nose mounted search light. It flies very well for the ‘standard’ 4 minutes with the weight under 49 grams. The part numbers have changed so the instructions are currently being edited – and the ‘Ranger’ and the free repaint/sample pages will be available very soon.

The Ranger will be available to purchase in two colours – 80’s retro blue and 80’s retro red. To keep the file size to a minimum every download will contain just one paint scheme – blue or red. So, if someone wants a different colour from the one they have purchased – both paint schemes will be made freely downloadable – however, just the two fuselage PDF pages. The foam board page, the card page and the instructions will not be included with the free downloads – which means that the model can’t be properly assembled…but this would also make the free pages suitable as downloadable sample pages. We have decided to produce some free Ranger ‘repaints’ including the ‘L.A.P.D.’ paint scheme from ‘terminator 2’, MacReady’s ranger from ‘the thing’ and the ranger from the 70’s show ‘chopper squad’. Pics will be posted here as soon as they are ready.