VC10 K mk3 RAF air to air tanker
Model is 16ft (4.88M) span and 18ft 10ins (5.73M) length and is powered by 4 turbines supplied by Wren, (Super Sports 18.2 lb thrust) It is built using conventional construction methods from balsa and ply and finished using Bucks-Composites materials glass fibre woven cloth and finishing epoxy resin. Flaps have 10 individual sections that run on tracks and are driven by shafts via numerous gearboxes. Landing gear has been machined using an engineer's lathe/milling machine. Tail plane is movable in flight for trimming purposes.
I was pleased with how the cloth would ‘blend’ on to areas like the engines which are a funny shape in that respect – I managed to lay one piece of cloth across both engines and the stub (on one side) and smooth it down without wrinkles – on the underside of the engines that is quiet a complicated shape.
The radio system is all Futaba based on their 12Z radio and includes 4 12 channel receivers.
It has now completed 21 flights including it’s first public display at the LMA show at Elvington in August. Since then it has been painted in the RAF tanker colour scheme and will, over the winter period, have the under wing and fuselage refuelling units fitted.
Our thanks go to Bucks-Composites and Wren Turbines for their support on this project, and also to Jeti for assistance with batteries and controllers.