CAP-231 BUILD

Fuselage Construction

Fuselage is a simple box design built

upside down over plans. Except for the

firewall and fuselage doublers, balsa is

used for construction

R/C Aircraft Insight From Low Altitude

John W. Blossick Tail Slide Haven johnb@tslidehaven.com November 2023

Wing Construction

Wing halves are ready to be

joined together and sheeted.

Plywood spar joiners were used

and wing center section joint

was fiberglassed with 6 oz cloth.

Wing Fillet

Fillet was constricted with balsa.

Filling material used was finishing

resin and micro balloons.

Front View

Wheel pants were constructed using foam cores and covered with fiberglass and finishing resin.

Covering in Progress

Ultracote yellow and Corsair blue

were used. Superb Breitling and

lettering graphics from Callie

Graphics.

Fuselage Deck Formers

Rear deck formers and stringer is

added once main fuselage sides and

bulkheads are assembled.

Wing Servo Bay

The wing servo is attached to a

removable wing panel. The wire guide

tubes were constructed from file

cabinet hangar paper.

Wing Assembly

Both panels are joined awaiting

glassing and final sanding. The 72”

wing takes up a lot of workbench!

Assembled Airframe

Note wing servo wire tubes.

Canopy from Fiberglass Masters.

For those of us who

have been around RC

for a few years--like over

30-- the CAP series of

aircraft by Mudry/CAP

Aviation's (Constructions

Aéronautiques

Parisiennes) are not

new. These World

Champion aircraft were

very popular with R/C

modelers.

Modeled in just about every size imaginable, the smaller versions were affectionately known as the SNAP 21! At low airspeeds the CAP’s had a tendency to drop a wing when least expected--on landing--and too much elevator throw applied abruptly would cause a snap/stall at any attitude or airspeed. It was great for intentional aerobatic maneuvers requiring a snap roll but not good if unintentional. The larger CAP models weren’t as twitchy and are generally easier to fly--which is why I built this version. Plus, I like the color scheme--even though I can’t afford a genuine Breitling watch...excuse me...chronograph! Later variants of the CAP 231 fitted the wings from the EXTRA 260.. Various improvements to the airframe of the 231 evolved into the 232EX. Airplane was constructed using the Mark Sirianni plans drawn for RCM Magazine back in 1994. They can be downloaded at Outerzone.co.uk.

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Engine View

A Super Tigre .90 fitted with a Bisson or Slimline muffler is fitted (I can’t remember which place I bought it from!) Split cowl was easy to construct.