Piper Pacer


Written by Robert Dance. Build your own Short Wing Piper Featured in the October 2013 issue of Model Aviation. Download free plans of the Piper Pacer.

The full-scale Piper Pacer appeared in 1949 and falls into the Short Wing Pipers category which started with the Piper Vagabond in 1948, and continued with the Clipper, Pacer, Tri-Pacer, and Colt. They are referred to as Short Wings because Piper deleted three feet from root of the basic Cub wing, giving these aircraft a 29.3-foot wingspan. The Pacer was the most handsome of these Short Wings, although the Vagabond has the cute charisma of a scaled-up model airplane. I was 15 years old when the Pacer was introduced, and I have built several versions of the Vagabond, Pacer, and Tri-Pacer. They are perfect subjects for a fine-flying model, perhaps because of their low-aspect-ratio wing, large stabilizer, and force arrangement. My first RC Scale model was a Sterling Tri-Pacer trainer, which utilized my kit-built Controlaire reed transmitter. Shortly after that, I designed and built a small, single-channel, rudder-only Vagabond using the Ace Pulse Commander components powered by an Anderson Baby Spitfire engine. This little model also flew beautifully. The Piper Pacer with its 18-inch wingspan, is the smallest Short Wing Piper I have built and it is the result of buying a ParkZone Ember. I was so impressed by the Ember’s amazing micro-components that I started thinking of using them in a small Scale model similar to the old Comet models I built as a boy in the 1940s. This Pacer’s construction is similar to those Comets and to the small models designed by Walt Mooney during the 1950s and 1960s, which were offered as full-size plans in model magazines. Those who have built stick-and-tissue models should have no problem building this Pacer. Builders with a creative bent might want to convert it to a rubber-powered FF model. The Pacer has large, balanced elevator and rudder areas, and I would recommend dual rates to lessen the throw on these surfaces. Otherwise, the model may be sensitive to control. I did not use dual rates, but to lessen the throw, I made the control horns longer than normal.


A top view of fuselage shows the Ember motor. Do not cover the top until the components and control rods are situated and the center stringer is in place.


A BSD GWJ 7mm GB Red motor with gearbox was easily mounted using two carbon-fiber rods. It also uses a very small propeller adapter.

Spektrum and ParkZone have several tiny receiver/servo bricks that can be used in this model. ParkZone’s PKZU2164 brick features AS3X artificial stabilization which might be interesting to try although I have never used it myself. This brick is also aileron capable, if you want to modify the Pacer for ailerons. The HobbyZone Champ’s components, including the motor, could be used for the Pacer. The first motor I tried had insufficient power, so I installed a Bob Selman Designs (BSD) GB Red motor and gearbox. It mounted easily using two carbon-fiber rods. The plans show the ParkZone P-51 motor, which should have more than enough power for this model. You can look on the ParkZone, Spektrum, and HobbyZone sites for parts lists for these motor and receiver components. For the flying propeller, I trimmed 3/8 inch from each tip of a ParkZone P-51 propeller and rounded and balanced it. ParkZone also offers control rods for these models.

 

 

Fuselage

I generally use original Titebond glue because it gives you time for adjustments and after it dries, it is easy to sand. The entire model is built from balsa, unless otherwise noted. This is a simple model, and I have drawn the basic 1/16-inch square structure in heavy black to avoid confusion. Note that two 1/16 square pieces are used at the bottom nose area to strengthen the landing gear. I have drawn perspective views of the cowling and motor mount to aid in their construction. Make the cowling frame using lightweight balsa, and then plank it with damp 1/32 sheet balsa. A paper pattern for the planking could help determine its shape. The motor mount is constructed of lightweight 1/16 sheet balsa, as noted on the plans. If you decide to use another type of motor, adapt it to a mount of your own design. I did not use acetate on the model’s side windows to assist in cooling the components. I used tiny spots of Titebond glue in four places to hold on the cowling. When I want to remove it, I carefully slice through these glued areas with a thin, double-edge razor. Patterns are shown for the wheels and wheel pants construction. Glue the laminations and let them dry. The wheels have an aluminum tube center. I used a Dremel tool to carefully shape the wheels. A safer option would be to lightly glue a 1/16 wire in the center of the wheel, shape it on the Dremel, remove the wire, and glue in an aluminum tube.


This opening will contain the battery door hatch.


In order to determine the correct dihedral, the author made this jig from a cardboard box. He spot glued each wing to the fuselage and after drying, attached the struts.

After shaping the wheels, shape the outside of the wheel pants, then take a Dremel drill with a round carbide bit and hollow the wheel pant until the wheel has adequate clearance. Hold the wheel pant up to a light bulb to make sure you do not penetrate the balsa. Use a 1/32-diameter wire for the landing gear. For access to the battery, I used a 1/32 sheet-silk, hinged door on the bottom of my model as shown in one of the photographs. Depending on balance, you may want to hinge your door in a different section of the bottom. The full-scale Pacer had side stringers as shown on the J.M. Triggs three-view, but I chose not to include them because the paint scheme I used would hide the absence of side stringers. This classic paint scheme and color were taken from a Piper Pacer advertisement. If you want to see other paint schemes, search the Internet and you will find several images.

 

 

 

 

Wing

The wing is constructed in a manner similar to the open-rib design that Walt Mooney used on his small, rubber-powered Scale designs. This design makes for a lightweight wing and the upper and lower portions of the ribs are strengthened by the spars that are glued to each rib. Make a plywood pattern for the upper curved ribs and cut them from 1/16 sheet balsa. The lower rib is 1/16 square stock. If you want a true scale rib placement, follow the placement shown on the Triggs three-view.’


The Pacer’s simple structure is reminiscent of early rubber-powered models. The wing root diagonals were eliminated on the final plans.

The tips are laminated from four 1/32 x 1/8 balsa pieces. Wet, bend, and glue them on a form using Titebond glue. Let it dry overnight before removing. You can make the center of the wing and glue it to the top of the fuselage after you have decided where to place the brick receiver and battery. I mounted the receiver/servo brick to 1/16 sheet glued to the 1/16 square lower window frames. After covering and painting, I spot-glued the wings to the center section in two places. You may want to construct a jig to hold the wings to the proper dihedral while gluing the wings and struts, then let the assembly dry.

 

 

 

 

Tail Surfaces

Construct the tail surfaces as shown on the plans. I used a slightly different method for hinging the rudder and elevator. I wanted to use hinges that offered the least resistance to the tiny servos. I am a fly fisherman, and I decided that my fly line leaders (or tippets) might be ideal for this purpose. Cut a length of light leader material and draw it through a folded piece of black 400 weight emery sandpaper to give it a bit of tooth for gluing. Then take a hand pin vise with a micro drill and make holes at the hinge locations. After the tail surfaces are covered and painted, cut a proper length of the leader and use CA glue to anchor the hinges. Be sure and use the gussets shown on the rudder and stabilizer, because without them the tissue covering may form a wrinkle on sharply angled corners.

 

 

 

 

Covering

I am from the old school and I prefer models such as this to have a finish similar to the full-scale aircraft. This model was covered with Japanese Esaki tissue, which is still available from various suppliers including A2Z Corp. Brush three coats of nitrate dope on all of the balsa surfaces that will touch the covering, sanding lightly between each coat. A good choice of tissue color for this model would be yellow or white rather than a dark color, which would require more coats of final opaque color. Determine the grain of the tissue and apply it lengthwise to the wings. Cut sections slightly larger than the wing area you will cover. Apply a dab of 50/50 thinned nitrate dope to the center root section of the top wing rib and to the center section of the last rib (not the tip of the wing). The dope will sink through the tissue and attach it to the wing.


The fuselage is covered with yellow Esaki tissue. A hinged door will be attached to the open area aft of the firewall for the battery.

Pull this area until it is nearly wrinkle free. You can loosen it with a brush and thin nitrate if you see an obvious wrinkle. Attach the tissue to the outside perimeter of the LEs, TEs, and the end ribs, giving the tissue a smooth appearance. You don’t need to attach each rib at this time because the first coat of clear dope will do that. Cut a section of tissue to cover the area from the tip rib to the tip itself. This needs covered separately because tissue does not cover smoothly on a compound surface. Once again, get the tissue as smooth as possible, but not drum tight. Cover the bottom in the same manner. You now have covered the top and bottom of one half of the wing. Carefully trim off the overlapping tissue with a double-edge razor. Using a fine atomizer, lightly spray the top and bottom of the wing with water. Some builders use a mixture of water and alcohol, but I prefer water. While it is wet, place the wing in a jig of raised 1/8-inch square stock and pin the wing down to prevent warps until it dries. You may want to give the wing’s TE a 1/16-inch washout. To pin it down, I slant the angle of the pins rather than pierce the balsa. Cover the other half of the wing using the same process. After drying, paint the wings with three coats thin nitrate dope, each time placing the wings back in the jig to avoid warps. Cover the tail and the fuselage, making sure the grain runs lengthwise and remembering that tissue does not do well on compound curves. Place the tail surfaces in a drying jig. The fuselage needs no jig for drying, but the RC components and control rod placement need to be determined for proper access and balance before covering the fuselage and the center of the wing. Cover the cowling with tissue and sand lightly between coats of nitrate. If an area needs sealer-type filler, you can mix a bit of baby powder with the nitrate dope, but not on the open areas of covering.

 

 

 

 

Final Painting

My model was painted using thinned Brodak butyrate color dope for the final coats. I applied that dope with a basic Paasche H airbrush. You can use butyrate dope over nitrate dope, but you cannot use nitrate dope over butyrate dope. I used Brodak Piper Cream and Brodak Brown for my Pacer. If you do not have an airbrush, you may be able to use a Preval sprayer which is available through Brodak or in many paint stores. Each time you paint the wings and tail, place them in a jig to dry without warps. Mask the fuselage design with masking tape. You can cut the masking tape easily by applying it face down on glass and cutting it with a razor guided by a metal ruler. You can seal the edges of the masking tape with clear dope before spraying to prevent the color from bleeding under the tape.

 

 

 

 

Decals

I have provided artwork that you can scan and print onto decal paper, which is available from Micro-Mark. An inkjet printer can print them onto the decal paper in a dark brown color. Seal the decals with clear spray and following directions, apply them to the Pacer.


The completed Piper Pacer shows the paint design and the placement of decals. A non-flying propeller was used in the photo.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Flying

Using the CG shown on the plans, adjust the battery to achieve the balance. If you cannot properly balance it, try using a small bit of clay in the tail or nose. Check your rudder and elevator control movement to make sure they move in the right direction. I suggest using a transmitter with dual rates and set the throws to minimal movement. Charge the battery and do not use full power for the first flight. Fly on a calm day—these small models are extremely lightweight and the slightest breeze will affect their flight.



The 38-gram Pacer looks best when flown in a scalelike manner.

Adjust the motor for what you feel is enough power for it to gain altitude after hand launching. Later you may want to try takeoffs if you have a smooth surface for those tiny wheels. Should you lack confidence for these first flights, do as I did and have an experienced RC pilot fly and trim the model. This Pacer is not meant for 3-D flying, and looks best flown in a scalelike manner. Once airborne, the tiny Pacer looks remarkably like its full-scale brother. —Robert Dance rbdance@robertbdance.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

Specifications

Model type: Semiscale electric Skill level: Intermediate builder; intermediate pilot Wingspan: 18 inches Length: 12-5/8 inches Power: ParkZone P-51 motor or BSD GWJ 7mm GB Red motor with gearbox Receiver: ParkZone Brick Battery: 1S 150 mAh Weight: 38 grams Construction: Balsa Finish: Painted Japanese Esaki tissue

 

 

 

 

Download Free Plans


Or click www.ModelAviation.com/sites/default/files/PiperPacerPlan.pdf

 

 

 

 

 

Download Decals


Or click www.ModelAviation.com/sites/default/files/Decals-Pacer.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bonus Photos







 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sources

ParkZone (800) 338-4639 www.parkzone.com HobbyZone (800) 338-4639 www.hobbyzonerc.com BSD (417) 358-9521 www.bsdmicrorc.com A2Z Corp (877) 754-7465 www.a2zcorp.us Brodak Manufacturing (724) 966-2726 http://brodak.com

 

 

 

 

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10 comments

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR INCLUDING "SMALL" AIRCRAFT IN THIS ISSUE. MY INTRODUCTION TO BUILDING MODEL AIRPLANES WAS RUBBER POWERED FREE FLIGHT SIXTY SEVEN YEARS AGO. WHAT MEMORIES!

This idea of a construction article with a free plan is great. It will certainly benefit the hobby in a big way. Keep them coming please!

I really enjoyed the Free Plans and hope there are more coming in future issues. Construction articals with simple plans that can be printed at home or local copy center. This was a very well done issue.

I just sold my Piper Colt (full size) in which I put about 500 hours. Terrific plane. Looks almost identical to the Pacer, except the Pacer has flaps and four seats to the Colt's two seats and no flaps. Looks like I have found my winter project, or one of them. Thanks for the memories.

I was thinking of the Colt compared to the Piper Tri-Pacer. Both are tricycle versus the Pacer taildragger. Mea culpa.

In my country the r/c forbedin when dectator Gadafi life but nwo we can do this sport I have small model airplane club and i modeler today I well make nice moedl of Piper

Mr. Mansor, fellow modeler, may the Creator Of Life and Flight and Human Ingenuity Bless You and Your Nation. All the world hopes that the Creator will soon bring all Good People of Libya much peace, freedom and prosperity under Heaven.

Very nice plane, though too small for my liking. I intend to enlarge it and make it rubber powered.

Hello. Greetings from Colombia. What a beautiful Piper Pacer. Only one constructive criticism. The fuselage had two stringers on each side. But they can be installed easily. Apart from that, it is really very attractive. Mine will be converted to a Tri-Pacer. Congratulations. EDUARDO

I hope I can built it from the plan which does not seem to break down the struts etc. for ease of building !

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