Ebenezers

Ebenezers were created many years ago by Bert Streigler. I guess that the aim was to make a model that was fun to design, fun to fly, and easy, and therefore quick, to build. The original designs included a Tiger Moth look-a-like, a Flying Flea, a Flying Boat, and an canard called, appropriately, a Rezenebe. The plans were published in Aeromodeller, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Since then, (the early 1950's, I think) there have been many plans published, but recently the genre has been given added impetus by the publicity given to ebenezers by the illustrious editor of R/C Model Flyer, Ken Sheppard. This has resulted in the annual mass launch, now happily sited at Old Warden, growing in popularity to the extent that almost each year there have been more models than you can shake a stick at. By that I mean more than 100, which is an incredible number, but then Mr Streigler intended the style to be easy to build, fun to fly, etc, etc.

So I think it safe to say that the Ebenezer style is a success, and will last for many years to come. Below you will find most of the ebenezers that I have built over the years, and most, if not all, have been easy to build, fun to fly, and generally great entertainment.

Ebenezer Triplane

One of Bert Streiger's original designs, which incorporates the principles incorporated in all ebenezer models - maximum fun, with minimum effort. It flies under power very well, but the drag from the three wings means it has the glide angle of a proverbial brick!

The engine is a John .5cc diesel, with a 6x4 prop.

Even though it is a profile model the triplane shape is very distinctive in the air. There is just nothing quite like it.

I built this so that I could join in the mass launch of ebenezers at the Midland Rally on 23 June 2002. Lets hope it is not windy, as it was in 2001.

Well it was rather windy, but the mass launch was great fun. There were no mid-airs, just loads of planes in the air at once.

Look closely at the amazing variety of models, including an autogyro, and the winning Blohm and Voss Bv 141 asymetric plane.

Lots, and lots of Ebenezers.	Notice the Starship Enterprise in the bottom left

Rezenebe

The original Rezenebe was designed around the first of the Cox TD 010's that came with a flat metal propeller, that could be bent either way to suit tractor or pusher configuration. Just the thought of a three inch metal prop whizzing around at 26,000 rpm only inches from the throwing hand was enough to make my friend Mike Parker, from Hull, relocate the position of the engine a safe distance away from any hands.

As you can see the engine is in a safe place, and the Rezenebe is none the worse for this, flaying very well for an all sheet model. It is quite stable, and copes well with blustery conditions, just so long as you give it a good firm launch.

This is the model I launched during the Ebenezer mass launch in 2005 at Old Warden. In such situations you can easily overfill the tank, and so I did. The Rezenebe flew off gamely, avoiding all the other Ebenezers, and began to climb and circles, drifting towards the road. It crossed over the road and into the wheat field, and I struggled to find a way through the thick hedge. I kept looking up at the model to make sure I did not loose it. Fighting my way through the hedge, and by now covered in seed heads and leaves like the old man of the woods, I looked up to see the Rezenebe circling down and landing in the field from where I launched it. Good grief, all that effort with the headge for nothing, and the headge won! Don't you just love flying model aeroplanes?

Probably the best glide of all the ebenezers I have built

Flying Diamond

This is a design by Ken Willard, and as you can guess is very sensitive to rudder adjustments, However, it flies well enough, and certainly looks different. It likes calm conditions, and like the Rezenebe has a good glide, which is surprising considering that there is no aerofoil section to be see anywhere!

Opticanezer

Built from a line drawing I found on the internet, for the mass launch at OW in May 2006. There was a world record number of models there, the atmosphere was great, the weather reasonable, and the mass launch as mad as ever. Roll on 2007.

I should mention the pusher prop. Three inch pushers are as rare as rare can be, so I was left with only one option, to carve one. Now that is a tall order for me, as I have no skill at all in that department. However, I set about the task and produced a prop of sorts. It was rather coarse, as straight as a die, and although the Opticanezer flew, the prop torque meant it flew in very tight right-hand circuits under power, and would only just climb. So I spoke to a retired carpenter, Mr Tony Thorn. Just look at the result of his efforts, it is a real work of art, almost too good to use. It means that the engine will rev to its full potential, I can't wait to try it on Salisbury Plain, where there is a bit of space to fly. Many, thanks Tony.

I was pleasantly surprised that from only a very rough line drawing a flying model could be built

About 80 of the models at Old Warden in 2006

So what to build for 2007?? Watch this space, as they say.

The view of Old Warden through my hatchback window	These are the Darts I would have flown

There is little to say about the Darts at the moment, except that one is electric powered and the larger one Cox 010 powered. The electric one is ideal for OW in that it has a glide like a brick, and usually only reaches about 40 foot altitude, so should not get lost. Famous last words, as the saying goes.

As for the larger Dart, the engine backplate was broken, and so I was unable to fly it on the only occasion I had before the OW meeting.