Well I printed the plans out, bought some lumber, and started stripping the wood. This is a rather compact little airplane so I plan on it being a park flyer type model in weight and performance. I'm going full size to the original with slight modifications to the structure in the nose to take an electric motor of course. I just love the shape of the wing. The article says the model was red with yellow trim....which happens to be my favorite colors, so I may finish it the same.

It's a model I have always liked EC, will be following with interest. I have posted your link to the build off thread.

Originally Posted by ECBoehm

Well I printed the plans out, bought some lumber, and started stripping the wood. This is a rather compact little airplane so I plan on it being a park flyer type model in weight and performance. I'm going full size to the original with slight modifications to the structure in the nose to take an electric motor of course. I just love the shape of the wing. The article says the model was red with yellow trim....which happens to be my favorite colors, so I may finish it the same.

Lovely model, you`ll be well pleased. I`ve built a couple of these in several different sizes and they`ve always flown well. Good luck with your`s.

Bob,
I really like that massive one! You flew that on RC right? What did you use for power?

Eric

The Wren's designer also prepared a beautiful large FF model called the "Phoenix". It has 72 inches wingspan and it was published also in Aeromodeller. The Phoenix is very similar to the Wren but much larger and perhaps more difficult to build.

Yes, I see Outerzone has that plan as well. Looks like a Wren on steroids!

Originally Posted by ECBoehm

Bob,
I really like that massive one! You flew that on RC right? What did you use for power?

Eric

The larger 108" span I seem to remember flew on a 32 cc. spark ignition engine. The smaller one 54" span is still flying on a 400 series can motor and 3/1 gearbox
, originally with 8 NiMh cells but later and still on a 3 cell LiPo with a suitable Esc.
I was attracted to this model when I first saw one flying free flight in very windy conditions at Middle Wallop. Very impressive!

Originally Posted by ECBoehm

Yes, I see Outerzone has that plan as well. Looks like a Wren on steroids!

It does seem to be a sized up Wren. The outlines are very similar. I didn`t know about this one when I built my big Wren; I might have been tempted to build a twice size one !

Originally Posted by imp.bob

Lovely model, you`ll be well pleased. I`ve built a couple of these in several different sizes and they`ve always flown well. Good luck with your`s.

Just come across a couple more pics. of big Wren. It does look the part, even if I say so myself!

Just a couple days into this one and making some nice progress. The fuselage is shaping up with many engineering changes to suit RC electric. There's a long way yet to go.

Wow Eric, that's quick work! Looks like a classic structure.

Nice work Eric. I would probably add some gussetry at all the transition points between sheet and stick to reduce the differential in strength, i.e. weak points.

sparks

Originally Posted by sparks59

Nice work Eric. I would probably add some gussetry at all the transition points between sheet and stick to reduce the differential in strength, i.e. weak points.

sparks

Yes! Actually, I don't like the 1/8" stick main fuselage. I'm rebuilding to 3/16" square. The original plan is 1/8" but with 1/16" sheet all around. I want to keep it open.

OK, I was busy this weekend. I completely rebuilt the back end with 3?16" firm square. Its much better. I also made progress with the cowl (part of a really light hollow block I had been saving for 25 years) and the tail feathers. I may have to modify that elevator a bit to prevent interference with the rudder. It looked good on paper but I'm not sure now.
I should also mention that the weight as pictured, just the fuselage, tail group, landing gear wire, only weighs 3.9oz. I'm shooting for 25 to 28 ready to fly.

Originally Posted by ECBoehm

OK, I was busty this weekend...

I'll be the first to say 'to each his own'......!

Glad that you also fitted in time for some balsa bashing