08-01-2017, 12:26 AM
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Old Fogey
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 57
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by al_packer
Let's start with (3), because that's where the design started. I free-handed that shape on the nose cone lathe in Vern's garage, probably a year earlier, just making a shape that I liked. Then when the call for a new beginner's model came down, I picked the nose cone up off my kitchen table, grabbed an 18" length of BT50, and (1) cut it in half (shipping considerations for the final kit limited me to 9"). and stuck the nose cont on one end. The fins (2); well, I wanted the CP back fairly far for max stability, so a swept design was the logical choice. Straight tips meant the fin would be easier for the builder to cut from the balsa sheet, and the taper was for appearance and structural considerations. I drew a shape, then changed it to get the look I wanted and poof--I had something Vern would like.
Jerry, I rather liked being Double Double O Seven. That's one double up on Bond, though at my age it's more like to be dribble.
Bill
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Bernard pointed out to me that the body tube length is/was 7.75" Further proof that after 50+ years I don't remember everything perfectly. Also, as Bernard noted, the kit was first advertised in the April, 1966 issue of the MRN (see picture illustrating the article on model finishing on page 1 of that issue). Doing the photo interpretation thing, I see that the body was indeed 7.75" even on the prototype models, so it didn't change over the years. I have no idea as to why that particular length was chosen except for my suspicion that I was dealing with some packaging/shipping issues.
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