A037 - The Baker McMillen Cadet 1:12 Scale

SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THE BUILD LOG

The A037 is a 1:12 scale version of the Cadet designed in 1929 by Dr. Gross, a former member of the Akaflieg Darmstadt. Jack O'Meara, a demonstration pilot for Baker McMillen, flew a Cadet off South Mountain at Elmira, NY for 1 hour and 38 minutes in the summer of 1930. Here is a video of one of the last remaining Cadets: The Baker McMillen Cadet has been adapted by Tom Martin for construction at 1:12 scale and the kit includes both detailed plans and laser cut parts. This kit costs USD$39.99 plus shipping and handling. Click the button directly below to order.

PRICE: $39.99

SHIPPING: $4.99 USPS - USA

SPECIFICATIONS
Span: 37"
Length: n/a
Aspect: n/a
Area: n/a
All up weight: n/a
Wing loading: n/a
Airfoil: n/a
Scale: 1:12
Servos Req'd: Optional rudder, elevator.
   
FUNCTIONS: Free flight or RC

SKILL LEVELS:

Build - Beginner/intermediate

Flying - intermediate

PARTIAL KIT CONTENTS: Kit comes complete with laser cut parts and plans.

OPTIONAL HARDWARE PACK: n/a

NEEDED TO COMPLETE MODEL: Building the A037 is a fairly basic project that will be a quick build for intermediate builders. The A037 can be built by beginners but will be challenging.

The A037 - History of the Baker McMillen Cadet

Specifications and Performance
Span: 11.43 m./ 37.5 ft
Area: 15.05 sq. m. / 162 sq.ft.
Aspect Ratio: 8.7
Empty Weight: 104 kg. /230 lb.
Payload: 82 kg. / 180 lb.
Gross Weight: 186 kg. / 410 lb.
Wing Loading: 12.36 kg. / sq. m. / 3.1 lb. / sq. ft.
Structure: Steel tube fuselage, wood dual spar/
dual strut wing, wire braced wood tail,
all fabric covered.
L/D: Max. 20
Min. Sink: 0.97 m/s / 3.2 fps / 1.90 kt
Country of Origin: USA
Designer: Frank R. Gross
No. of Seats: 1
No. Built: At least 30
No. in the U.S.: 1
History: The Cadet was designed in 1929 by Dr. Gross, a former member of the Akaflieg Darmstadt, as an improvement offering some soaring capability over the existing primary gliders. Jack O'Meara, a demonstration pilot for Baker McMillen, flew a Cadet off South Mountain at Elmira, NY for 1 hour and 38 minutes in the summer of 1930 starting what was to become Harris Hill as the home of American gliding. One Cadet even flew on twin floats, and three of them (along with a Sky Ghost, another Gross design) were towed at on time by a Goodyear Blimp over Akron, OH. One remains airworthy.

Acknowledgments: Special thanks to the Soaring Society of America (SSA), www.ssa.org, for permission to use text and specs from their publications. More information on vintage soaring craft may be found at their pages and in their publications and those of the
Vintage Sailplane Society, www.vintagesailplane.org.

BUILD LOG

Step 1: Layout the plans - prepare your work surface. Make sure you have a flat work surface. Secure your plans to the work surface using pins or or a spray adhesive like 3M's Super 77. Use wax paper over the plans to keep the parts from being glued to the plans.

 

Step 2: Start with the wings. Punch out the ribs and the spars and trial fit.

Step 3: Laying out the 1/8" by 3/16" strips I'll cut down for the trailing edge parts.

Step 5: Trailing parts rough cut and trial fit.

 

 

Step 6: Trial fitting the ply dihedral wing joiner braces. Make sure you identify the top and bottom and correctly orient the brace. The bottom edge of each brace has a slight angle cut into it which creates the dihedral.

Step 6: You'll need to slightly enlarge the rib notches on ribs "W1" to allow for the dihedral braces to pas through.

Step 7: All the major parts are tacked down and ready for bonding.

Step 8: I'm now going to cut the 1/16" x 1/8" balsa truss members.

 

Each truss member has a notch - this is a little jig I assembled to make the notches.

 

Step 9: I'm now fitting the trusses in place and bonding - I'm using thin CA for most bonding.

Step 10:  basic wing structure is complete.

 

Step 11: Framing the fuselage

 

 

 

 

Step 13: Framing the tail group

 

 

 

Step 14: First dry fitting of all major structural parts

Comments

[Tom Martin]

I'd like to add that a commercially available flying model kit of this glider has never been produced as far as I know. It's my hope that this 1:12 version of the Cadet will serve as a test-bed for larger scale at several scales for those who like the vintage looks, scale realism and simplicity of build.

[Bolt 55]

Comments on the wing build. The basic wing structure went together quickly. Just a couple of comments - the section at the wing tip where "W8" intersects the trailing edge is a touch fussy. I'll probably add a small gusset to strengthen and tie everything together. The ply dihedral pass through should have a top/bottom marking on them - I can see inexperienced builders putting them in upside down.

I think we should offer the trailing edge parts and the notched braces laser cut. This model at this small scale needs to be as beginner friendly as possible.

Next step sheet the wings and attach the leading edges.

[Tom Martin]

Nice work Mike. How is the parts fit?

[Bolt 55]

Tom,

The parts fit perfectly. Your "egg carton" design went together quickly and was solid. No slop anywhere - great design and Alex did a nice job cutting the parts.

[Jim Weinberg]

I was speaking with Tom and am following this build. It looks great so far. I am curious, what covering are you goingt o use?

I have a 1/6 scale Schweizer SPG 1-1 I have been slowly building over the course of a year, and am ready to cover it. In keeping it scale, I was considering Stits Lite. What covering do you plan to sue on the little B/M? With all these scale kits, I have a lifetime of builing satisfaction.

Jim

[Jim Weinberg]

I forgot to mention. This a primary glider. And I chose to make the extended wing version, per TMRC plans plans. A little more wing area for this glider couldn't hurt.

Jim

[Bolt 55]

Hi Jim, I'm using Litespan to cover the Cadet. I like the feel and appearance of Litespan. I'll be doing a silver fuselage with white wings and tail components.

[Steven Sutherland]

Steven Sutherland
Grandfather Eugene "Bud" Sutherland Flew With Jack O'Mera. Sutherland Record 72 Loops In A Glider.
http://eugenbudsutherlandegp.blogspot.com/

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Still-He-Walks/Steven-Sutherland/e/9781424169061/?itm=1&USRI=still+he+walks
FYI Steven Sutherland Glad I Found You.
How much would it cost to build that glider in your video today?
sutherlands@katewwdb.com
Thank You!
Steve Sutherland