W hen I started fl ying electric
aircraft approximately 10
years ago, one of my fi rst
was a Mountain Models Dandy Sport
purchased at the Southeast Electric
Flight Festival (SEFF). I would later own
a Switchback,
Switchback
Senior, and a
Tantrum.
I got
to know
Mountain
Models’
original owner,
Doug Binder,
quite well
and then the
current owner,
Brian Eberwein. I would later fi nd out
that three friends, who worked together
at Estes Rockets—Dave Meyers, Doug,
and Brian—collectively are responsible
for Laser Arts and Mountain Models.
But before I jump too far ahead in the
story, let’s fi nd out a little more about
both companies’ current owner.
Brian was interested in aircraft from
the age of two and built his fi rst Comet
kit at age eight. It was a gift from his
father who was also a modeler. His fi rst
RC fl ight would come at the sticks of a
Gentle Lady
sailplane.
Brian
designed his
fi rst aircraft
when he was
in high school
and shared this
story: “It was
a two-channel
plane using
a Cox Black
Widow with
a foam wing.
I would get
in trouble in
German class
for designing
the airplane instead of listening to the
teacher.”
In college, Brian became heavily
involved in Slope Soaring and after
college went to work for Estes and Cox
models as a designer.
In 2004 Brian bought Laser Arts from
Dave Meyers at Estes. Laser Arts was
producing laser-cut sailplane kits and
doing custom cutting. The company also
provided laser-cutting services to Doug
at Mountain Models until Doug invested
in his own laser.
Brian was eager to design his own
model for the new company. His goal
was to provide a warbird that fl ew well
while providing the thrill of fl ying an
electric fi ghter. A P-51 Mustang became
his fi rst project.
The Mustang was a success with
scores of model builders enlisting into
the park fl yer Army Air Corps with the
ever-popular fi ghter. To date, under the
Laser Arts brand, it is still the best seller.
The Little Bogie holds that distinction
for Mountain Models.
When Doug decided to sell Mountain
Models in 2006, Brian was a logical
choice to purchase it because he worked
with Doug. Brian told me he saw it as an
opportunity for increased kit sales and
the challenge of taking the popular and
growing kit company to the next level.
Owning both companies provided
an inventory of approximately 18
kits; however, to stay engaged and
competitive, Brian wasted no time on
working on his fi rst design for Mountain
Models. The Switchback Senior
was a larger version of the popular
Switchback, and became a joint project
between the old and new owners of
Mountain Models.
I was fortunate to be chosen as a
test builder/pilot on this project, since
I already owned the smaller version. I
built mine and covered it to match one
fl own by my close friend, Wayne Leynse,
who had recently passed away. The beta
build was done without instructions or
Doug Binder (L) and Brian Eberwein proudly
display the Switchback Senior at the Northeast
Electric Aircra Technology Fair in New York.
Brian Eberwein at this
year’s National Electric
Fly-In in Muncie IN, with
some of Mountain Models
latest releases.
plans; Brian imparted some tips along
the way on a thread on RCGroups.
Typical of Mountain Models aircraft,
the airplane was of good design, fl ew
well, and was a success.
I was curious about the process of
deciding on a model and its design. Brian
shared that normally the designs come
from customer requests or what seems
to be a popular trend, such as micro
models and Old-Timers during the last
couple of years.
The time it takes for Brian to bring a
model to market is roughly two months.
He must ensure that the customer
has a positive experience from build
until fl ight. Components are carefully
chosen for the best balance between
cost and performance. In most aircraft,
Hitec servos and Scorpion motors are
recommended.
Today, modeling is fi lled with ARF and
RTF aircraft, so kit manufacturers have
a larger challenge fi nding an audience
of modelers willing to take the time to
build. Brian is aware of the trend and
relies on his customers to get the word
out. He lets the airplanes demonstrate
their abilities by letting interested
customers fl y them at RC events. He
summed it up by saying, “You can have
fl ight videos, but it just doesn’t convey
how good a model is ’til you fl y it.”
Most of Brian’s time is spent
weighing and grading every piece of
wood to ensure that it is used and cut
appropriately. A small kit can be cut in
roughly 20 minutes. An aircraft such as
the Hyper Bipe takes more than an hour
to cut just one! All of the hardware is
included with every kit.
Brian has built and covered a large
number of aircraft, so I asked him for
any tips on the process. He said, “Read
the instructions. Don’t use too much
glue. I see it over and over that people
use more CA than is needed for a joint.
Be gentle in your sanding and use tape
over ribs when sanding a leading edge.
Nice sanding gets you a better fi nish.”
What is it like to see people ying your
models at events?
“It warms your heart to see other
people enjoying what you worked so
hard to design and put out.”
What would you say you are most
proud of?
“Honestly I am most proud of being
able to run my own business and have
interactions with everyone in the RC
community. It is a really enjoyable group
of people.”
We ended the call discussing some
interesting projects Brian has in mind
to release during the next several
months. Drawing from my own person
experience with Mountain Models, they
should be worth the wait.
—Jay Smith
[email protected]
SOURCES:
Mountain Models
(920) 840-6036
www.mountainmodels.com
Jay Smith
[email protected]
AMA
5161 E. Memorial Dr.
Muncie IN 47302
(765) 287-1256
www.modelaircraft.org
For an opportunity to win one of three prizes from Mountain Models—a complete Little Bogie, a Tom-E-Boy kit,
or a SpookE kit—submit your answer to the following question: Which Mountain Models kit was named a er the
owner’s son? You can nd the answer on the company’s website.
To submit your entry via email, send your answer, full name, postal address, and telephone number to MA
Editor-in-Chief Jay Smith. Please put “About Us” in the subject line. To enter via postal mail, send the preceding
information to MA at AMA, to Jay Smith’s attention. Contact information is in the “Sources” list.
Entries will be accepted through November 30, 2012. The winner will be selected on or before December 3. One
entry per person is allowed. Those that are lost, late, misdirected, garbled, or incomplete for any reason will be
ineligible.
The winner will be selected in a random drawing from among all eligible entries with the correct answer by an
Academy employee or employees. The winner will be noti ed by telephone or email and his or her name and state
of residence will be published in a future issue of MA and posted on the AMA website.
This contest is open to legal residents of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and US military members with
APO/FPO addresses. AMA employees are ineligible.
Win merchandise from MA and Mountain Models!
Edition: Model Aviation - 2012/11
Page Numbers: 65,66
Edition: Model Aviation - 2012/11
Page Numbers: 65,66
W hen I started fl ying electric
aircraft approximately 10
years ago, one of my fi rst
was a Mountain Models Dandy Sport
purchased at the Southeast Electric
Flight Festival (SEFF). I would later own
a Switchback,
Switchback
Senior, and a
Tantrum.
I got
to know
Mountain
Models’
original owner,
Doug Binder,
quite well
and then the
current owner,
Brian Eberwein. I would later fi nd out
that three friends, who worked together
at Estes Rockets—Dave Meyers, Doug,
and Brian—collectively are responsible
for Laser Arts and Mountain Models.
But before I jump too far ahead in the
story, let’s fi nd out a little more about
both companies’ current owner.
Brian was interested in aircraft from
the age of two and built his fi rst Comet
kit at age eight. It was a gift from his
father who was also a modeler. His fi rst
RC fl ight would come at the sticks of a
Gentle Lady
sailplane.
Brian
designed his
fi rst aircraft
when he was
in high school
and shared this
story: “It was
a two-channel
plane using
a Cox Black
Widow with
a foam wing.
I would get
in trouble in
German class
for designing
the airplane instead of listening to the
teacher.”
In college, Brian became heavily
involved in Slope Soaring and after
college went to work for Estes and Cox
models as a designer.
In 2004 Brian bought Laser Arts from
Dave Meyers at Estes. Laser Arts was
producing laser-cut sailplane kits and
doing custom cutting. The company also
provided laser-cutting services to Doug
at Mountain Models until Doug invested
in his own laser.
Brian was eager to design his own
model for the new company. His goal
was to provide a warbird that fl ew well
while providing the thrill of fl ying an
electric fi ghter. A P-51 Mustang became
his fi rst project.
The Mustang was a success with
scores of model builders enlisting into
the park fl yer Army Air Corps with the
ever-popular fi ghter. To date, under the
Laser Arts brand, it is still the best seller.
The Little Bogie holds that distinction
for Mountain Models.
When Doug decided to sell Mountain
Models in 2006, Brian was a logical
choice to purchase it because he worked
with Doug. Brian told me he saw it as an
opportunity for increased kit sales and
the challenge of taking the popular and
growing kit company to the next level.
Owning both companies provided
an inventory of approximately 18
kits; however, to stay engaged and
competitive, Brian wasted no time on
working on his fi rst design for Mountain
Models. The Switchback Senior
was a larger version of the popular
Switchback, and became a joint project
between the old and new owners of
Mountain Models.
I was fortunate to be chosen as a
test builder/pilot on this project, since
I already owned the smaller version. I
built mine and covered it to match one
fl own by my close friend, Wayne Leynse,
who had recently passed away. The beta
build was done without instructions or
Doug Binder (L) and Brian Eberwein proudly
display the Switchback Senior at the Northeast
Electric Aircra Technology Fair in New York.
Brian Eberwein at this
year’s National Electric
Fly-In in Muncie IN, with
some of Mountain Models
latest releases.
plans; Brian imparted some tips along
the way on a thread on RCGroups.
Typical of Mountain Models aircraft,
the airplane was of good design, fl ew
well, and was a success.
I was curious about the process of
deciding on a model and its design. Brian
shared that normally the designs come
from customer requests or what seems
to be a popular trend, such as micro
models and Old-Timers during the last
couple of years.
The time it takes for Brian to bring a
model to market is roughly two months.
He must ensure that the customer
has a positive experience from build
until fl ight. Components are carefully
chosen for the best balance between
cost and performance. In most aircraft,
Hitec servos and Scorpion motors are
recommended.
Today, modeling is fi lled with ARF and
RTF aircraft, so kit manufacturers have
a larger challenge fi nding an audience
of modelers willing to take the time to
build. Brian is aware of the trend and
relies on his customers to get the word
out. He lets the airplanes demonstrate
their abilities by letting interested
customers fl y them at RC events. He
summed it up by saying, “You can have
fl ight videos, but it just doesn’t convey
how good a model is ’til you fl y it.”
Most of Brian’s time is spent
weighing and grading every piece of
wood to ensure that it is used and cut
appropriately. A small kit can be cut in
roughly 20 minutes. An aircraft such as
the Hyper Bipe takes more than an hour
to cut just one! All of the hardware is
included with every kit.
Brian has built and covered a large
number of aircraft, so I asked him for
any tips on the process. He said, “Read
the instructions. Don’t use too much
glue. I see it over and over that people
use more CA than is needed for a joint.
Be gentle in your sanding and use tape
over ribs when sanding a leading edge.
Nice sanding gets you a better fi nish.”
What is it like to see people ying your
models at events?
“It warms your heart to see other
people enjoying what you worked so
hard to design and put out.”
What would you say you are most
proud of?
“Honestly I am most proud of being
able to run my own business and have
interactions with everyone in the RC
community. It is a really enjoyable group
of people.”
We ended the call discussing some
interesting projects Brian has in mind
to release during the next several
months. Drawing from my own person
experience with Mountain Models, they
should be worth the wait.
—Jay Smith
[email protected]
SOURCES:
Mountain Models
(920) 840-6036
www.mountainmodels.com
Jay Smith
[email protected]
AMA
5161 E. Memorial Dr.
Muncie IN 47302
(765) 287-1256
www.modelaircraft.org
For an opportunity to win one of three prizes from Mountain Models—a complete Little Bogie, a Tom-E-Boy kit,
or a SpookE kit—submit your answer to the following question: Which Mountain Models kit was named a er the
owner’s son? You can nd the answer on the company’s website.
To submit your entry via email, send your answer, full name, postal address, and telephone number to MA
Editor-in-Chief Jay Smith. Please put “About Us” in the subject line. To enter via postal mail, send the preceding
information to MA at AMA, to Jay Smith’s attention. Contact information is in the “Sources” list.
Entries will be accepted through November 30, 2012. The winner will be selected on or before December 3. One
entry per person is allowed. Those that are lost, late, misdirected, garbled, or incomplete for any reason will be
ineligible.
The winner will be selected in a random drawing from among all eligible entries with the correct answer by an
Academy employee or employees. The winner will be noti ed by telephone or email and his or her name and state
of residence will be published in a future issue of MA and posted on the AMA website.
This contest is open to legal residents of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and US military members with
APO/FPO addresses. AMA employees are ineligible.
Win merchandise from MA and Mountain Models!
