Scratch Built Blanik @ Camperdown 2026

This scale model was scratch built by the late Colin Collyer (ex VARMS president) around 2018 and has a 1.8m wing span. It has a very nice full wooden construction and 4 channel control including full span ailerons, elevator, rudder and aerotow release. A 4.8v 2000mah Eneloop NiMh receiver battery pack ensures correct CG. The model flew very well at the point and can be flown fast or slowed down to a hover! Here is the little story of how the little Blanik came about from Colin: "I was thinking about a small scale model that could be towed with a fun cub or a big I/C powered tug. The Blanik was somewhat aerobatic and I happened to have a plan in American Modeler in about quarter scale. Out with some butchers paper, a calculator, a multiplication factor and some lines started to appear. I start with a datum line, normally through the tailplane zero line then I used the multiplication factor to give me an outline. Join up the dots, bypass any bumps and we have a fuselage and fin outline. As for structure, the wing and tail sat on top of the sides then 10 and 20mm blocks bottom and top. A cirrus canopy set it off. Wings are foam Clark Y making full use of the balsa length. Strip ailerons, the fittings in the wing, inside the fuse. Tailplane has a pushrod to each side owing to dihedral..... flew great from the get go.... loops rolls, not so good inverted but does great stall turns...." Thanks Col, RIP mate.