Topic: Paper Aviation Regal Eagle

Just cleared my shed and workbench to start building a Regal Eagle.  The Paper Aviation Regal Eagle was designed by Cab Richardson and is made from foam board and cardboard with a few balsa and ply bits.  It has a wingspan of 84” and is loosely based on racers from the 1930s.

I first saw them fly at Woodspring Wings many years ago now, but could not afford one.  When I could afford one, Cab stopped making them!  A couple of years ago I managed to find an untouched kit.

So, tonight I start….

way to go that man ...good find.pictures please

mmm, pictures please...

I saw them flown at Goosedale when they had shows there.  I was only just getting vaguely interested in RC but I really fancied one.  That's why I bought one of Ian Maher's Thunderbirds because he confessed he was inspired by the Regal Eagle.

Sounds like a good find.  How are you intending to power it?

Geoff

Geoff

A RCGF 26cc petrol engine is favourite at the moment, but I also have an ASP FS1.80, decisions decisions.

Brogue

Excellent, pictures of the construction please.

Petrol is the way to go.

Use to love them racing figure of eight at the Haverfordwest show.

Geoff

A RCGF 26cc petrol engine is favourite at the moment, but I also have an ASP FS1.80, decisions decisions.

Brogue

I'ld opt for the petrol. cheaper to run, maybe less power but you'll have plenty. And the airframe will stay cleaner...

But those 4 bangers do sound good.

As you say, decisions...

Watch out tho- petrol melts the plastic formers! Make sure you seal ALL plastic foam that is open to the air in the model, the vapours 'burn out' the plastic. We used to use Moki 180s in the ones Geoff mentioned at Goosedale, the only one we had on petrol suffered badly from the petrol vapours! One of the nicest flying aeroplanes you will find....

One of my favourite models    Not seen a kit since the Cranfield shows.

Started tonight.

Will post photos later.

Looking forward to the build pickies    If it were me building I think I would go with the petrol for 3 reasons.

1) price of fuel
2) less mess
3) no need for starting equipment

Thanks for the headsup re the petrol fumes melting the foam!

Ok, this is what you get in the box, lots of foam board, cardboard and bags and bags of bits and pieces.  All good quality stuff.

Details

The instructions consist of several pages of A4 notes and these A3 Sheets:

Details

The foam board components are like this:

Details

Then I came to a grinding halt.  The kit was originally supplied with a pin wheel to emboss rivets on the underside of the cardboard.  However this was missing from the kit I bought.  

Details

I have tried a dressmaker’s tracing wheel, having removed every other tooth; however it is embossing slots as opposed to domes.  Will tour the haberdashery shops for an alternative style tomorrow!

I have tried a dressmaker’s tracing wheel, having removed every other tooth; however it is embossing slots as opposed to domes.  

Have you tried filling each tooth to a rounded shape?  you may be able to build each point up with silver solder if it's not wide enough to file into a round.  failing that cut a wheel of your own from 1/16" steel and profile the points to your taste?

The wheel is made of very thin plate, however I found one today made of thicker material.  Hopefully, I can grind the teeth to a more spherical shape.

Got one you can have. PM me your address and I shall pop it in a jiffy bag for you.

Bobt

What a gent, PM sent.

Thank you

Bobt

What a gent, PM sent.

Thank you

No problem mate- on its way. I love Regal Eagles. My mate and me considered buying the rights and tooling from Cab Richardson when he retired, but it was just a bit beyond us at the time. The other one we loved was his trainer, the Eazy Peazy, more fun than you could shake a stick at....

A big thank you to Bobt, the embossing tool has arrived.  Hopefully will be able to continue tomorrow.

Brogue,

You may already be aware of this, but I recall when Cab and co were doing the demos at Sandown all those years ago, they stated that the covering (usually solarfilm) was applied to the card surfaces before embossing and construction. 

It stuck in my mind as I've since used solarfilm on a card surface, where it went on a treat and stuck like the proverbial (just about the only thing it does stick to...)

Sorry if that's not news - it may be mentioned in the instructions? 

rgds

Mike

Brogue,

You may already be aware of this, but I recall when Cab and co were doing the demos at Sandown all those years ago, they stated that the covering (usually solarfilm) was applied to the card surfaces before embossing and construction. 

It stuck in my mind as I've since used solarfilm on a card surface, where it went on a treat and stuck like the proverbial (just about the only thing it does stick to...)

Sorry if that's not news - it may be mentioned in the instructions? 

rgds

Mike

Err- we used to always use a paint finish, never thought about using Solafilm! Paint of choice was Japlac- light as a feather and fuel proof. (Just brush it on- brushmarks disappear!) Not so easy to get these days, B&Q were the last suppliers I found. The film idea is quite interesting....

Thanks guys, I was intending to use a paint finish, such as Klass Kote.  Colour scheme yet to be finalised, am  thinking along the lines of a silver/aluminium and black fuselage with silver/aluminium wings

No construction progress, as have been waiting for the embossing tool which arrived today from Bobt .

However, have not been wasting time and have finished painting the two candidate pilots, both from Aces of Iron.  They are 1/4 scale and painted according to the site's excellent painting guide using Warhammer paints.  Both pilots are probably better suited to WWI models but probably won’t look that out of place in a 1930’s racer.

Details

Details

Cracking paint job on the pilots, used to have a regal eagle about 8 years ago,was fitted with
a zenoah 38 and painted with japlac. Fantastic model to fly, sold it on to a guy in my club
 big mistake have missed it ever since, would love to get hold of an original kit
   tim

I made the same silly mistake and sold mine. It had silver solarfilm on edges and wingtips them British racing green japlac. The paint was then lightly abraded with scotch bright over the film to give a weathered effect .I had a ST2500 in it which was adequate .I would go for a Z 26 if I could get another.

Alan

Good to see someone else has one.
I bought mine 10 years ago at a LMA show, built it, but stopped model flying for some years so its still hung on the ceiling (see picture)
I am back into modelling now and although I have ventured into electric, I intend to motorize the Regal with a petrol engine.
I just need to see if I can get it into my car as we have downsized.
Anyway have fun, I shall keep an eye out for your finished a/c
Herri

Nice one Herri.  I like the colour scheme, similar to what I had in mind however I was going to use silver where yours is cream.

I'm intending to power mine with a RCGF 26cc petrol engine.

I have made progress and will post photos of the nearly completed left wing tonight I hope

More progress.  Having embossed the card board with the pin wheel the cardboard/plan is then loosely pinned down.  The foam board ribs are then glued to the spars (using Copydex), trailing edge and the cardboard.  All very similar to building over a conventional plan except you are gluing the spars and ribs to the plan itself, as it were. 

Details

Once all the ribs and spars are in place, I added the sheer webs, riblets for the ailerons, servo mount, various reinforcing ply and balsa bit and pieces and the construction is over.

Details

Next stage to pull the wing top over the plan/covering and glue it down.

All very similar to building over a conventional plan except you are gluing the spars and ribs to the plan itself, as it were.

You did remember not to lay down an anti-stick covering over the "plan", didn't you? 

Good progress - keep it coming 

Mike

Hi Broque,

Thanks for the Regal Eagle build pics. I have one that I started (one wing half and fus frame)some time ago but I lost the instructions so your build detail will be very useful.

Clive

Clive

If you PM me I'm happy to scan the instructions and fire them back to you or drop them in the post.

Brogue

Hi Brogue,

That is a very kind offer a scan of the instruction would be a great help when I start the build again this winter.

Apologies for my ignorance, only just started using forums, how do I send a personal message?

Thanks

Clive 

Clive

If you PM me I'm happy to scan the instructions and fire them back to you or drop them in the post.

Brogue

Clive, no problem.

Look at the bar above with the  headers as follows:

Home, Classifieds, Forum , Extras , PM centre...

Click on PM centre , then find 'New message' on the top of the left hand menu and follow the dialogue boxes.

Hope it works for you.

Brogue

Left wing construction complete apart from the vac formed wing tips; to be added later.  The cardboard/plan is pulled around the leading edge and glued to the ribs, spars and trailing edge.  It then just needs to be tidied up.  However the Copydex does not sand well!  Learning point, on the right wing all raw edges ie TE, root and tip ribs will be glued using PVA and Copydex on all inboard structures.

Details

Hopefully you can see the rivet detail created using the embossing tool and note to self to remember to put the root rib at the correct angle for the dihedral.

Details

I love the slight ripples you get in this cardboard looking very much like a well used ali riveted surface.

You're too kind, others might say he didn't do a good job in pulling that cardboard tight!

I have had three Regal Eagles. Each powered by a Laser 150 (adequate but thats all). They all flew "off the board". The first went through a tree and came out as confetti. The second I sold and I missed it so I got another one which I still have.
The only criticism I have is using Japlac paint. Went on very easy but over the years became brittle and easily punctured.
The best thing is, if you puncture the skin you cut a suitable size piece of cardboard. Rivet and paint it and stick it over the hole. Looks like an inspection hatch.
The only thing you have to watch is make sure the cowl blisters are stuck down properly. They do come off.
I intend to re engine it with a 180fs
Some years ago I saw one at Old Warden covered in thin ply and the undercarriage moved into the wing on seperate legs. It looked great.

Dave P

Dave

The patching idea is a great feature of the model. The undercarriage in the wings would certainly improve the looks (if you could)... almost give it a Percival Mew Gull look.

Details

Brogue

Hi Brogue,

Great to another Regal Eagle thatt will take to the air.

I've got two, one bare airframe in the loft in need of a repaint and one that just needs radio installing and painting. I've got a chinese 26cc petrol in the new one and the old one has flown on OS 300 Gemini, Laser 200V, Laser 180 and all performed well.

Just one word of warning................ don't be tempted to use really cheapo ''sport'' servos i.e. 3001's etc. Whilst they will fly it safely in a scale manner I experienced serious ''blow back'' on my old one when pulling out of loops and stall turn downlines and they just don't have the holding power for such a large airframe. As you know the elevator is pretty big and one 3001 just isn't enough.

I've got Hitec 5645's in my new one just because I had them lying around.  Better safe than sorry as you cannot overpower a surface but you can certainly underpower them 

Keep us informed with the build 

Cheers
Paul

I agree with that. All of mine had 645s  (two) on elevator and one on rudder. Ailerons dont seem to have the same stress. Oh, and use metal gear versions!

Thanks for the advice regarding the servos.

Well back on with the build after a 2 week delay with  some emergency DIY repairs that necessitated using my building board!

I have started building the right wing and as you would expect, it’s identical to the left except all the instructions for building it are on the inside of the left hand wing!  

Progress so far as below:

Details

I have found a new product in Deluxe Materials’ Super’Phatic glue.  This is a thin aliphatic with a micro dispenser.  It is fantastic for this model, as it wicks well between the foamboard and the cardboard, as you can just see in this photo.

Details