Gee Bee MODEL-A BIPLANE

The first aircraft built by the Granville brothers!

Of all the colorful biplanes that have flown throughout the years, one in particular has been overlooked by the modeling world: the Gee Bee Model-A. I decided to model the Gee Bee biplane (registration no. 3086) for several reasons: I had many good photographs of it; it's historically significant; and I like its color scheme.

My model is a 1/6-scale reproduction, and I power it with an old Enya .60 engine, which does a very nice job. With its 60-inch top wingspan, the Gee Bee biplane is IMAA-legal. The full-size airplane flew frequently during the winter, so I built a set of scale skis for my model. The details are on the plans, as are patterns for a set of scale Kinner engine cyclinders.

CONSTRUCTION HIGHLIGHTS

The Gee Bee biplane is similar to other models I have designed and uses fairly simple construction techniques. The fuselage is nothing more than a box structure made of solid sheet-balsa sides with formers and crosspieces added. The aft turtle deck uses top formers and stringers; the forward section is sheeted, and I carved balsa blocks to shape to make the engine cowl.

The plans include all the full-size patterns needed to build the model, including details to make scale Kinner engine cylinders. All cabane-strut and landing-gear music-wire patterns are also included. The tail surfaces are shown in scale size, and an enlarged outline is also available for sport modelers who are less concerned about scale appearance. The plans show details for the prototype aircraft (shown in this article) and for the production version.

WINGS

The wing construction is very straightforward, and all the rib patterns are shown on the plan. Note that the rib spacing is scale, and the distances between them vary from bay to bay. The top wing is flat, and the lower wing has dihedral (the ply dihedral braces are shaped to produce the proper amount of dihedral). Though the model looks as if it has four strip ailerons, only the bottom wing has them. The top wing has full-length flaps that can be adjusted to alter the wing's shape. You could operate these with a servo, but I simply adjust them by hand using the scale linkage at the center of the wing. The ailerons are built using a bottom sheet with ribs and leading-edge pieces glued on top. This is also how the tail surfaces are constructed. The technique is quick and produces light, strong results. (Detailed construction notes are available to be downloaded; take the Model Airplane News "Click Trip.")

I used Pacer Zap CA and epoxy throughout the construction. To finish the model, I used Coverite's 21st Century painted covering material. I cut all the trim work and the markings out of fabric of different colors and ironed them directly onto the base fabric. The plans show all the trim and marking patterns.

You can build the model with as much or as little detail as you like; its outline is scale, and with a little extra effort, you can produce a competition-worthy scale model. (You'll find scale drawings in the Click Trip.)

FLYING

I had never designed a biplane before and wanted someone with biplane experience to check it over and test-fly it for me. I asked my good friend Nick Ziroli, and he was happy to help out. We met at his club field, where he checked the model thor- oughly. We moved the CG forward a bit, and I fueled it up. I started the engine, and Nick taxied into takeoff position. After a short run, the model left the ground, and Nick reported that it needed downtrim but was flying nicely. It was a beautiful sight in the air. Nick made several low passes so that I could shoot some pictures, and then he brought it in for a flawless smooth landing.

I adjusted the elevator linkage so that we had some downtrim with the trim lever centered. On the second flight, Nick did a few maneuvers and then handed me the transmitter. I flew it around for a few laps, and then I tried a loop and found that it does better loops than any model I have ever flown. We knew the stabilizer needed a little positive incidence, and we discussed what else might make the model even better. We felt that enlarging the tail surfaces a little would be an improvement, as would adding a little engine downthrust. After we had made those adjustments, its flight performance was perfect; there wasn't any need for us to make trim adjustments anywhere. The plans show these improvements.

CONCLUSION

So the modeling world is no longer devoid of this historically important and colorful biplane. No. 3086-the first Gee Bee aircraft-inspired the Granville brothers to get into the airplane-building business! The last production model of this plane is the sole survivor and is now on display in the New England Air Museum in Windsor Locks, CT. I hope you enjoy building and flying the Gee Bee Model-A biplane as much as I have!

Coverite; distributed by Great Planes.

Enya; distributed by MRC (732) 225-2100; modelrectifier.com.

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