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Building the Mauboussin Flying Tandem

An All-balsa Flying Scale Model that Is Unique in Its
Design, Easy to Build and Which
Offers Opportunity for Interesting Experiments

By HERBERT K. WEISS

It is a remarkable flier.

THE famous "Flying Flea" isn't the only successful light plane nowadays with tandem tendencies. M. Pierre Mauboussin has turned out a big‑tailed job of more conventional design than the "Flea" which is attracting much favorable comment among French sporting pilots. The performance of this little ship is not to be sneezed at. Powered with a 40 hp. Train engine, the Mauboussin Hemiptere steps along at a top speed of 99.4 m.p.h., cruises at 84 m.p.h., and lands at the very low speed of 28 m.p.h. Cruising range is 335 miles, so that the owner of the "Hemiptere" can do a little more than puddle jump around airports. Service ceiling is 12,464 feet.

The model is of very simple construction and can be assembled in a few hours.

Fuselage

Begin the fuselage by using carbon paper to trace the outline of the sides on 1/32" sheet balsa. Make two sides. Cut out bulkheads C, D, E and F, from 1/32" sheet balsa, and A and B from 1/8" sheet balsa. Note that the 1/16" sq. balsa cross‑pieces at the bottom of the fuselage are placed directly below each bulkhead and are the same width as the bulkhead. To assemble, cement the two sides together at the tail post which is 1/16" sq. Cement bulkhead C and the cross‑piece below it in place. Add the remaining bulkheads and the nose piece which is carved to fit after assembly. Add the top and bottom stringer. 

Wings and Tail

The wing may be laid out on the plan. To make the left sides simply transfer dimensions with a ruler. The stabilizer is built in one piece and cemented in place before covering. Trace the twin rudders on 1/32" sheet balsa and cut them out. Raise each front wing tip one inch for correct amount of dihedral.

Covering

Bend the rear hook and cement it in place. The reason for the projecting prong is to simplify rubber installation. Cover the model carefully with white tissue. Spray it lightly with water to tighten the tissue. The landing gear should be attached to the wing before covering. Use three-quarter inch balsa or celluloid wheels. Add tail skid, cockpit covering, windshield, rudder lettering and paint a black band around the nose as shown. Cement the wings and rudders in place.

Propeller

A ready formed five inch prop was used on the original and was entirely satisfactory. For those who wish to carve their own, the block size is given.

Flying

The model flies on two strands of 1/8 rubber. If weight is required on the nose to balance the ship, give the propeller a coat of dope, sanding it smooth again after the dope has dried. This will produce the required weight and strengthen the prop. The original ship, as might be expected from the size of the tail, showed amazing inherent stability. Performance is very high because of the lightness of the design. And for those of you who want something new in gas model design, build a rubber-powered model of "Hemiptere" and after you've seen her perform with rubber, imagine what a bigger gas-powered ship would do!

Scanned From May, 1938
Model Airplane News

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