Fizz-Wizz CO₂-Powered model Airplane Article & Plans
March 1962 American Modeler

March 1962 American Modeler Table of Contents Aeromodeling has seen significant changes over the decades both in technology and preferences. Magazines like American Aircraft Modeler, American Modeler, and Air Trails were the best venues for capturing snapshots of the status quo of the day. All copyrights are hereby acknowledged.

CO₂ power for model airplanes gained a lot of popularity in the 1950s and throughout the 1960s and then waned for some reason in the 1970s. The same trend was exhibited in Jetex type engines. CO₂ engines run off a cylinder of compressed carbon dioxide gas, which were and still are readily available due to their use in air rifles and pistols. A metal tube feeds the top of the engine cylinder where a metal ball under pressure from the gas seals off the cylinder until the piston pushes up on it. When the port opens, gas pressure forces the piston down to the point where the gas is ejected at the exhaust port. Momentum from the propeller mass swings the piston back to the top of the cylinder where it once again opens the ball valve to start the cycle all over again. CO₂ engines are very reliable and easy to start since no ignition is required; however, the power-to-weight ratio is fairly low. This 1962 American modeler magazine article presents plans, and building and flying instructions for the "Fizz-Wizz."

See the "Push-Air CO₂-Powered Free-Flight" article from the February 1970 American Aircraft Modeler and "CO₂ Power Is Coming Back" in the April 1969 American Aircraft Modeler. Here is a link to my DP-03 CO₂ motor.

Fizz-Wizz CO₂-Powered model Airplane

Clever approach to real ''gas'' flight designing utilizes Herkimer's CO-2 motor

By Aubrey Kochman

With Herkimer Tool & Model Works' CO₂ engine again in production here's a plane designed expressly for this novel powerplant.

The challenge of CO₂ designing is as rewarding as the flights attainable with this engine. Shallow climbing turns and graceful glides to perfect three-point landings bring back the realism so long missing from free flight. And no noise to bother your neighbors!

The engine maker offers rough limits for a suitable model suggesting wing area be between 115 and 165 square inches - our Fizz-Wizz has 135. Allowable "bare" model weight of up to 5 ounces (less engine, metal fuel cartridge, cartridge holder, fuel line tubing and propeller) in our opinion is too high. Structurally Fizz-Wizz has more than adequate strength yet weighs in at a low 2 1/2 ounces (5 with engine and accessories ready to fly).

Since air temperature plays a part in the power output of this engine hot performance in cold weather is not to be expected. Fizz-Wizz is meant to be a realistic sport model rather than a high performance contest flyer. Test flights indicated, however, that under ideal conditions (3 to 5-mph winds, temperature above 80 degrees) Fizz-Wizz with a little additional trimming should turn in some really respectable durations.

Before starting construction bear in mind the weight and temperature factors. Cold weather operations call for the use of the lightest possible balsa. For those who year-around enjoy warm temperatures some additional weight can be tolerated ... although it is not recommended.

If you use light balsa your model should balance as indicated. The cartridge holder location and its angle keep the plane's C.G. from shifting as the cartridge empties. There is slightly over an ounce difference between a full and an empty cylinder.

Build the tail surfaces last as a means of balancing the model. Should the model turn out nose heavy, use a heavier grade of balsa for the rudder or stabilizer or eliminate the cutouts in either or both surfaces. For tail heaviness reverse the procedure ... use very light balsa, make the cutouts larger and apply a minimum amount of dope.

Begin fuselage construction by cutting the two side pieces to shape; 4" wide sheet balsa was used. With some careful planning both sides can be obtained from a single sheet. Cut off the "power-pod" section and put the pieces aside where they won't be used by mistake for formers. Cut out all formers and check that F1 through F6 are all the same width ... F10 and F11 should also be of this same width. F1, F2, F10 and F11 should also be set aside with "power-pod" sheets.

Assemble fuselage by cementing both sides to F5 and F6. Draw tail together, check that fuselage is true along center line seen from the top. Cement tail together, add remaining formers. Sheet cover top and bottom with grain running lengthwise - moistening underside of top sheet with water between F6 and F7 will make this bend possible. Water moisten outside of side pieces between F3 and F5 and apply a coat of cement to the inside. As cement dries and with a little assistance on your part the side sheets should assume their proper curve. Cement F3 in place, trim side sheets so they butt together. Cement in appropriate lengths of 1/16" x 3/16" so half their width extends into the "power-pod" section. These strips act as guides or keys to hold pod from shifting.

Before constructing the "power-pod" ... a word of explanation. The standard way of loading a CO₂ cartridge has been by pulling the holder down through a hole in the fuselage bottom. Because the brass tubing through which the CO₂ flows, although flexible, is quite stiff we felt that the less bending required during the loading operation, the less chance there would be for a kinked or fractured tube. Our "power-pod" eliminates these possibilities. Since the lower end of the cartridge holder and thumbscrew extend outside the fuselage, the cartridge may be replaced and plane assembled for flight without your having to launch the model immediately.

Then, too, the cartridge can be pierced properly but the thumbscrew not backed off enough so that gas flows to the engine. With cartridge completely enclosed, it is necessary in such designs to disassemble the model to make the necessary adjustment.

This powerplant can operate clockwise or counter clockwise. Should the engine fire up backwards you don't have to grab the prop with your hand, just stop it by tightening the thumbscrew.

But enough of this ... back to construction. Make F10 by cementing the two pieces together - with grain crossed at 90 degrees: Bend landing gear to shape as shown on front view and bind it to F10 using strong thread and plenty of cement. Mounting holes for engine should be drilled in F1 and mounting nuts secured to rear of former. "Devcon" 2-ton epoxy glue does a good job of holding metal to wood, eliminating the need of soldering the nuts to a metal plate. This glue takes overnight to harden. An alternate method would be to mount the engine with small wood screws. With no glow fuel to slosh around the engine compartment, and barring hard knocks, this latter type mounting should prove adequate.

Make cartridge holder bed F11 and assemble "power-pod." Check that it mates properly with the main fuselage. Water condensation forms on the outside of the spent cartridge so waterproof the inside of the pod by applying at least 3 coats of clear dope. The cartridge holder is bound to the 1/8" x 14" strip and F11 with strong thread and cement. Lower end of holder was cemented to the bed using the 2-Ton glue.

Our wing, quite simple, is built in halves. It is assembled with a dihedral brace and short lengths of spar stock to form the flat center section. The 1/16" sheet tip outline should be level with the top spar. Light construction dictates that all parts fit properly before cementing. Don't rely on cement to fill spaces between poorly fitting parts. As cement dries and shrinks over a period of days, it could pull misshapen parts out of alignment. And this type of built-in warp is the most difficult to eliminate.

With construction completed go over entire framework with fine sandpaper, then make sure all joints are strong. Apply a coat of clear dope to all framework and allow to dry. Another light sanding may be necessary to take down the fuzz raised by the dope.

To keep weight low entire model is covered with colored Jap tissue. Remove any warps that occur during the covering-doping process. The stabilizer requires constant vigil; should it show a tendency to bow or curl, pin it to a flat surface until thoroughly dry - preferably overnight.

The tail surfaces may be cemented permanently in place or held to the fuselage with light rubber bands. Latter makes flight trimming easier.

First flights should be on a calm day. Make test glides with the cartridge in place. Stalls can be dampened out by adding some positive incidence to the stabilizer. However, if more than 1/16" positive is required add weight to the nose instead.

For warm weather testing (above 75 degrees) don't launch the model until the initial burst of power has subsided. Then if all goes well, subsequent full power flights are okay.

Cold weather requires that the model be launched as quickly as possible, even on first flights. Hold the model in launching position and have a helper flip the prop so that no time is lost in the plane getting airborne. The CO₂ engine develops most power as soon as the prop is flipped and diminishes thereafter so considerable altitude can be gained by this quick-launch method.

Fizz-Wizz CO2-Powered Model Airplane Plans

"Fizz-Wizz" Materials (Balsa unless otherwise noted)

Two pieces 1/16" x 4" x 36"; (1) 1/32" x 3" x 36"; (1) 1/16" x 3" x 36"; (2) 1/8" x 1/8" x 36"; (2) 1/16" x 1/16" x 36"; (1) 1/16" x 1/8" x 36"; (1) 1/8" x 5/8" x 36" tapered trailing edge stock.

Also: 1/8" plywood; 1/8" dia. birch dowels; 1/16" dia. music wire; 1/32" dia. music wire; 1 pr. #3 Trexler wheels; cement; clear dope; colored Jap tissue; celluloid.

Posted January 15, 2024
(updated from original post on 9/2/2013)