The FIRST plan set is on the HALL SPRINGFIELD "BULLDOG", which I believe competed in the national Air races at Cleveland, Ohio in 1931 or '32. This airplane is very pleasing to see but was not very competitive due to engine problems which were mostly caused by the carburetor. On its' first test flight it almost crashed due to an undersize rudder and fin, but was very docile after a new and larger rudder and fin we designed and installed. After the National Air races a new cowling was designed but the plane was never raced again.

This set of plans for the Hall Springfield "BULLDOG" was drawn by Don Neill, IMAA 4633, and spans 97 inches. It is a large, very pleasing model. With each wing panel having 26 ribs, all different, with the wing being sort of elliptical. Wing is constructed first as it is needed during fuselage construction. There are two main spars which are mounted on jigs after the ribs are made and slipped on. The leading edge is made of four laminations of eight sheet balsa, with two of the laminations covered by leading edge sheeting. The tips are made from balsa sheet as is the trailing edge. Ailerons are sheet core with ribs on both sides. Airfoil is a very slender symmetrical shape. The wing is gull shaped and fairs into the top of the fuselage. Wings struts are from 1/2 inch aluminum tubing, faired with balsa shape with large streamlined airings covering the attachment points, which are made from fiberglass.

The fuselage is constructed on what appears to be a lite-ply box, though it really isn't. The box goes from the firewall to the rear of the cockpit. The box is fastened to the plane and the bulkheads are cut out and slotted and slipped over the crutch or box if you will and glued in position, stringers and the rest of the bulkheads are added along with the fin bulkheads, wing panels are mounted and the gull fairings are made and the whole fuselage is sheeted and planked. Landing gear is a three piece sheet aluminum structure heavily faired over with glass fairings at the fuselage and wheel pant mounting. Wheel pants are two piece glass, with the inside half stationary on the landing gear and the outside half bolted to it. A very novel idea! Power is suggested as a Sachs-Dolmer 3.7. Oh yes, after the top half of the fuselage is built, you turn it over and the bottom bulkheads are added and sheeting and planking completed on the rest of the fuselage. The engine is mounted, then a bracket built and put on the crankshaft with the fifteen and one-half inch cowling clamped to it and mounted. The radial cowling is mounted internally with no screws showing.

Stab, elevator and rudder are built conventionally of balsa and spruce. The whole fuselage and tail assembly is glassed with .6 ounce cloth and finishing resin. The tail cone is shaped from aluminum Litho sheet and a pattern is on the plan. The whole aircraft is painted red with black trim outlined with a white pin-stripe. It's is unusual to say the least and very streamlined. The plan which comes in four sheets is very well engineered. Weight is given as 24 pounds and it should be an excellent flier. This set of plans can be purchased from Don Neill, Lincoln, NE., shipped rolled in a tube.