Reproductions of the JASCO Free Flight Beginner Models

A very major contributor to the world of model aviation was Frank Zaic. His contributions began in the 1930's and continued for many years. He is noted for his year books and for the various kit companies he founded and operated during his long and significant period of contributions.

Frank's later evolution of his kit company was the Junior Aero Space Company known as JASCO. The kits produced by all of Frank Zaic's companies were all of top quality. Included in the JASCO line of kits were models intended to introduce people to the world of Free Flight model aviation. Presented here are reproduction drawing packaged for three of these kits. Many thanks go out to Stan Huyge who loaned me his kits to use in developing the reproduction drawings. Each drawing package includes scanned images of the kit plan and CAD drawn parts based on scans of the original kit parts.

If you are working with younger people or someone new to the world of Free Flight model aviation these designs are really worth considering. They are fairly simple to build and will yield great flying models. Performance of each model is just right to stimulate the interest of someone new to Free Flight.

I do hope that if you decide to build any of these models, you will receive much enjoyment.

Paul Bradley

All drawing not identified as coming from another source copyright 2002-2015, Paul Bradley, All rights reserved

JASCO Free Flight Beginner Models
Flash X-12. This is a rubber powered model intended for spirited climb performance. It has a 12" wing span. Construction is mainly balsa with a spruce tail boom. The original kit came with a made up prop assembly consisting of a plastic prop hanger and a 5.5" diameter prop. The plastic prop hanger fit over the nose of the balsa motor stick. A simple alternative to the plastic prop hanger is provided in the drawing package. The alternative design uses some 1/64" plywood, some balsa, and a Peck thrust bearing.

Please note that the dihedral joints on the wing are angled when viewed from the top. This is part of the built in trim for the model. It is set up for a right spiral climb. The rudder is set for a right turn and the angled dihedral joints help set up the model for a flat turn to the right.

Thanks to Carl Dowdy who provided scans of his X-12 kit contents for the development of this reproduction drawing package.

The CAD drawn plan package including a scan of the original kit plan is here (407 Kb). Parts laid out for printing on letter size sheets of T-shirt transfer paper (18.3kb).
Flash X-18. This is a rubber powered model intended for spirited climb performance. The kit box indicates it has an 18" wing span but the measured parts show the actual span to be 17.5". Construction is mainly balsa with a spruce tail boom. The original kit came with a made up prop assembly consisting of a plastic prop hanger and a 7" diameter prop. The plastic prop hanger fit over the nose of the balsa/spruce motor stick. A simple alternative to the plastic prop hanger is provided in the drawing package. The alternative design uses some 1/64" plywood, some balsa, and a Peck thrust bearing.

Thanks to Stan Huyge who loaned me his X-12 kit for the development of this reproduction drawing package.

Please note that the dihedral joints on the wing are angled when viewed from the top. This is part of the built in trim for the model. It is set up for a right spiral climb. The rudder is set for a right turn and the angled dihedral joints help set up the model for a flat turn to the right.

The CAD drawn plan package including a scan of the original kit plan is here (626 Kb). Parts laid out for printing on letter size sheets of T-shirt transfer paper (35.3kb).
Fling-Hi G-12. This is a 12" span model used as a hand launched glider or a catapult glider. Construction is balsa and a spruce tail boom. The kit plans shows the set up for each glider option and provides good flight trim instructions.

Thanks to Stan Huyge who loaned me his G-12 kit for the development of this reproduction drawing package.

Please note that the right dihedral joint on the wing is angled and that the rudder has a built in left turn offset. This is part of the built in trim for the model. It is set up for a left turn during the glide phase of a flight. The angled dihedral joint helps control the turn so the model will not spin in to the left.

The CAD drawn plan package including a scan of the original kit plan is here (614 kb). Parts laid out for printing on letter size sheets of T-shirt transfer paper (17 kb).

Hi-Start G-24. This is a larger glider, but still small enough to be flown in smaller flying sites. The kit box shows the wing span to be 24". Measurement of the parts show the actual span to be just a bit more than 23.5"

Thanks to Stan Huyge who loaned me his G-24 kit for the development of this reproduction drawing package.

This model is flown by using the hi-start method or by hand towing using a special towing set up. Hi-start glider launching uses a length of rubber strip that is attached to a tow line. The model is attached to the tow line with a slip off hook. The rubber is anchored to the ground with a stake. The model is pulled back stretching the rubber. When the rubber is fully stretched out the model is released. It is then towed to a height determined by the tow line length. After the apex is reached the model slips off the tow hook and begins its gliding flight. The instructions for setting up the hi-start system, launching the model, and flight trim techniques are covered on the provided kit plan. The adaptation of the hi-start system to hand towing is also covered on the kit plan.

The CAD drawn plan package including a scan of the original kit plan is here (715 kb). Parts laid out for printing on letter size sheets of T-shirt transfer paper (91 kb).

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