Race Cat
Race Cat
A radio control pylon racer model designed for electric power, equipped with a Speed 400 motor and a wingspan of 800 mm.
Overview
Introducing the Race Cat, a member of the "Schnuppi Class" of electric model aircraft. Have you heard of Schnuppi? It’s not a new fragrance; it originates from a country famous for its holey cheese, delightful chocolate, and the Militky Cup. About five years ago, a Swiss model aviation enthusiast created a simple, small, and fast electric model powered by seven NiCd cells, naming it Schnuppi. This model sparked interest among those who previously only linked electric flight to heavy batteries.
While electric aircraft enthusiasts existed elsewhere, many were constructing similar models without ever knowing the Schnuppi name. However, when the inaugural Schnuppi pylon race took place in Pfäffikon during the Militky Cup in 1981, it established a new competition class, leading to similar races hosted in various locations afterward.
Annual Schnuppi races are now organized in Pfäffikon (Switzerland), Freistadt (Austria), Munich, and during the electric flight winter meet in Bad Nauheim. The dates are published in FMT magazine well in advance, along with race procedures.
Construction Guidelines
There are no specific construction restrictions for these models, but to retain the Schnuppi essence, you can use a maximum of seven 1.2 Ah cells. This freedom in construction excites Schnuppi flyers, as it opens up countless possibilities for creating a truly hot electric racer. By reducing wingspan and employing modified laminar airfoils, the competition is stunned when a "hot rod" is unleashed. But would you have the nerve to fly such a finely tuned model?
If you're looking for something a bit more manageable, the Race Cat is the perfect option—it flies with the ease of a taxi but a bit faster and much quieter, as electric power is ultimately the way to go!
Construction Instructions
You can take the shape and dimensions of the components from the building plan. Be sure to follow the specified cuts and the hardness requirements for the balsa wood listed in the parts list.
Fuselage with Tail Assembly:
Begin by gluing the fuselage bottom piece (1) with the corner strips (2).
Once that’s set, glue in formers (3 to 6) and ensure they are aligned at right angles.
Fit and glue in place the cross spar (4).
Later, insert the Bowden cable tube (9) into the vertical stabilizer (8) and glue it in place, using the thinner inner tube of a standard Bowden cable as the outer tube.
After attaching the vertical fin along with the two-part bulkhead (7), glue on the fuselage side panels (10).
Cut parts (11) slightly oversized and glue them on along with the corner strips (14).
Once everything is thoroughly dried, your Race Cat will be ready for action! Enjoy the thrill of electric pylon racing!
