What is Outerzone?
Outerzone is a database containing model RC aircraft plans from vintage or defunct plans. Since 2011, Outerzone is an RC-community-backed site that started mainly as a repository for free flight, control line, radio control, and Round-the-pole airplane plans for balsa models to keep those plans from being lost in time and for future pilots to enjoy. Outerzone.co.uk now has over 13,000 plans for download and regularly receives new plans from the community.
What do they mean by "Vintage Plans"?
The plans refer to instructions on how to create a flying model airplane ranging from free flight all the way to RC. Many of these plans can be from as early as the 1940s or from recent community submissions because these plans can be redesigned and redrawn years later. The plans usually contain detailed information of the airframe, dimensions, materials used, and how the parts fit together to complete the model. Most of the plans are available as a PDF (or zip) along with a JPG thumbnail image, and an entry in the database. The site also provides instructions on how to download them and create printed plans if needed. Despite the plans being updated or redrawn, the plans generally focus on creating model airplanes using traditional techniques such as balsa stick and tissue-style construction.
How are Vintage Plans Added to Outerzone?
When they first started, volunteers would find a vintage plan online and upload the plan to Outerzone along with details about the plan and its history. Based on the information provided, the Outerzone administrators review the submissions and only reject plans that are not in the public domain, inappropriate time period, or uses a nontraditional construction style. Once it is uploaded, volunteers from the community will work on updating plans with additional information, contributing images, or finding new plans for the site.
I Like What They're Doing...How Can I Help?
If you're interested in sharing a vintage airplane model plan, make sure paper copies of the plans are scanned in high-quality and emailed to the Outerzone admin email or via WeTransfer along with relevant details. Please note that this is a volunteer and community-driven project with all plans available as free downloads, and free registration to be a contributor. If you like what they're doing, please feel free to support them with a donation here.
If You Like Outerzone...
In addition to creating Outerzone for collecting vintage model airplane plans, the same community also created RCLibrary, which is an online repository for vintage modeler books and magazines available for free download as PDF files. For a more comprehensive vintage plan, you can also visit VinPlanDex, which catalogs nearly all the vintage plans shared on RCGroups.
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