Kamco Kadet high wing sport / trainer plan 56” span

Here is a reprinted plan made available from the archive of a collective of fellow aero-modelling enthusiasts. The archive contains older and hard to find RC and free flight model plans as well as rare, or out of production, kit plans.

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The plan offered is a high quality print and does not fade in strong sunlight like the traditional dye-line prints used by the majority on plan suppliers in the past

THIS LISTING IS FOR A PLAN ONLY – YOU ARE NOT BIDDING FOR A KIT OR AN AIRFRAME

Classic plan Kamco “Kadet” high wing sport / trainer plane 56” span

Here is your chance to bid on an unused copy of the building plan for the original, classic, Kamco “Kadet” high wing sport or trainer power plane kit. This is a reprint of a restored original plan that has been developed by “Yesterday’s Aero Modelling Plans Service” to include full-size details of the fuselage formers.

Also included are notes by “Yesterday’s Aero Modelling Plans Service” that give an overview of the model, design, and construction of the Kamco Kadet. These notes (25 pages) are intended to act as a guide for beginners and novice plan builders so that they can approach the task of ‘scratch building’ an airframe in a logical manner and with greater confidence.  

The original Kamco Kadet kit was a simple design intended for absolute beginners. This plan and notes set is intended to encourage those people who would like to have a go at building from scratch. As such, it makes an ideal ‘first scratch build’ project, as well as providing you with a pleasant handling sport model.

A carefully built airframe will outlast most modern commercial ARTF offerings, and can be built for a modest financial outlay. Building from this plan, will also enable you to make repairs, or new spare parts for the airframe during your training programme, providing further cost savings. You are not dependant on ‘spares availability’ when you can make your own in a few evenings of work !

The ‘Kadet’ was designed by A L Ellis, and was kitted by Kamco (Knowles Aircraft Model Company) Ltd in 1973. It was a well respected sport and training model in it’s day, with a comparatively light structure, with good low speed handling and only requiring modest power units for good sport performance. Ideal as a first model - high wing trainer, but nowadays even a potential candidate for a good electric conversion ! The recommended engine range was 2 stroke 0.19cu in to 0.30cu in.

The original publicity material described the Kadet as ;-

The ideal club trainer and general sport model. The KADET has positive and smooth control with first class low speed handling characteristics. Care has been taken to provide a tough light structure which is quick and very easy to build.

The original book “Radio Controlled Model Aircraft” by Adrian Vale (As published 1979-1986) described the Kamco Kadet as ;-

The first, and still one of the best, trainer kit designed specifically for the beginner with absolutely no knowledge of aircraft or aeromodelling is the KAMCO KADET (56 inch span). For its purpose the design could hardly be bettered. It has a thick semi-symmetrical wing, generous tail areas and a fixed tricycle undercarriage. The all-balsa structure is simple and light, resulting in an exceptionally low wing loading, and its flying characteristics can only be described as superb.

Going on further to say :-

An aileron wing kit is available for later conversion to aileron flying and even with a plain bearing 19 engine this version can be used as an aerobatic trainer. The engine mount provided (in the kit) suits the Enya 19, OS20, and HB20 and, with Solarfilm covering, all these give adequate power, although the HB20, being more powerful, will give more scope later. The plan is good and shows the servos, pushrods etc.

The Kadet went out of production for about six months when Kamco’s proprietor was taken seriously ill, and more than one British manufacturer introduced a new trainer kit to fill the gap.

Those words from Adrian Vale are an independent testimony of both the superb design of the model, and the high manufacturing standards that Kamco set for rival companies at that time (Late 70’s). The Kadet remains a fine trainer and makes a great nostalgic sport plane (Ideal for electric conversions).

THIS LISTING IS FOR A PLAN ONLY – YOU ARE NOT BIDDING FOR A KIT OR AN AIRFRAME

This is a high quality unused copy of the plan that has been developed by “Yesterday’s Aero Modelling Plans Service” from a restored original Kamco Kadet kit plan. It now includes full-size details of the fuselage formers to supplement the existing details to facilitate easier ‘scratch-building’ of the airframe. The plan is approximately 33” x 48” and has crisp black print on white paper. It will not fade in sunlight like the traditional “dyeline” prints.

The parallel chord wing and straightforward fuselage offers a “simple” build to those that enjoy some traditional balsa bashing. This simple build would suit  novice builders from a construction point of view. This plan has been developed from a copy of the plan that was supplied with the Kamco Kadet kit. It does now show full details for all four fuselage formers, for the original design. The fuselage is a basic box shape with a sheet fin & rudder. The horizontal stabiliser (tailplane) is built from strip with a one piece sheet elevator. The wing rib detail is shown on a general section, then as a separate component (W1). The tip rib (W2) is again shown as a full-size component. This gives the full detail for all of the ribs.

The wing and tailplane assembly are shown as separate units that are secured to the fuselage with rubber bands. This can be useful in the early training stages as it can minimise component damage (and/or simplify repairs).

This is an easy to build model for a builder of reasonable experience, and should not present a problem to a novice builder taking care (and advice where necessary). The plan is drawn “full size”, with the wing panels (overlaid for LHS & RHS), fuselage, fin, rudder & stabiliser details.

This model is constructed entirely from stock wood. There are no special or “custom” parts required with this design. The hardware is all from typical “off the shelf” items. The plane has tricycle undercarriage for which you could use commercial components. The main legs could readily be bent up from piano wire (the exact ‘full’ pattern is not shown on the plan – but the general details are clear to see other than the actual width of the track). The original kit had a fixed (non steerable) nose wheel, but you could easily incorporate a steerable leg if you wished.

If the model is built as shown on the plan it provides a three channel (Rudder/Elevator/Throttle-or ESC ! ) control machine, which makes an ideal trainer. You could, quite easily, do an aileron conversion on the wing structure, remembering to reduce the dihedral. You may prefer to stick to the plan for an initial trainer, then build a second (spare) aileron wing to use after gaining some basic flying skills. That offers a gentle progression with a “familiar” airframe.

An aileron ‘wing kit’ for the Kadet was offered by Kamco as an ‘upgrade’, but details of this are NOT shown on the plan. A strip aileron conversion can be done relatively easily with only a minor modification to the basic structure. (No problem for an experienced model builder. A novice may need assistance from a club member to do this). The aileron wing option is reviewed in the “Yesterday’s Aero Modelling Plans Service” notes.

Treat yourself to a classic “retro” build project, and have the satisfaction of creating your own version of this British “Classic” sport/trainer power model at the fraction of the cost of an ARTF, or kit (You save money when you make all those parts – BUT it does cost your time ! WHICH can lead to more satisfaction as you have built the entire model “from scratch”).

The design review and build guidance notes by “Yesterday’s Aero Modelling Plans Service” are provided with this plan to further assist your build.

(25 page document – dispatched as an ‘e’-file).

Bidding for this plan starts at £7.50.   OR – ‘Buy it now’ for £9.99

UK postage & packing will be £2.00 First Class, with plan folded in large envelope.

Will post abroad at cost of  £3.00 .