10 M ODEL AVIATION
Model Aviation, 5161 E. Memorial Dr., Muncie IN 47302
Focal Point
skycrawler
The May 2001 slow/park flyer issue of Model Aviation came
along at the right time for Russ Gritzo (77 Mesa Verde, Los Alamos
NM 87544; E-mail: [email protected]).
“I was looking for a project to take on after a five year hiatus
from modeling, and looking for something to use as a trainer for my
10 year old son to learn to fly on,” he wrote.
The photo shows Russ’s take on the SkyCrawler, which was the
May 2001 construction article and cover subject. He stretched the
wingspan to 53 inches, reduced the dihedral, and added ailerons.
Power is a Speed 480 with a Master Airscrew gearbox, an eightcell
1100 mAh battery pack, and an ElectriFly speed controller.
According to Russ, even at 6,500 feet of elevation the model
takes off from grass with roughly 10 feet of ground roll. “Definitely
a big change from my usual Open-class Sailplanes!” he wrote.
World War II Buff
David A. Zagnoli (7876 Fairchild Ave., Canoga Park CA 91306)
built his Mitchell B-25 from a Wing Manufacturing kit.
It has MonoKote covering, Saito 65 engines, Robart retracts,
Glennis wheels and brakes, and a Hitec radio and servos. The total
dry weight is 17.7 pounds, and the model spans 84 inches.
“My passion is anything from WW II,” wrote David. “The B-25
is the latest addition to my inventory, which currently consists of a
P-51, F4U, P-47, and a T-6. All the kits are TopFlite with the
exception of the bomber.”
sopwith Pup
Tom Zalonski’s (168 Parsonage Hill Rd., Northford CT 06472;
E-mail: [email protected]) 1⁄4-scale model is from Balsa USA.
He built the airplane the best he could to resemble the original
N6181 model, which was flown in 1917 by Flight Lieutenant Lloyd
Samuel Breadner.
The model is powered by a 91 four-stroke engine, and Tom uses
the JR 631 radio. This was his first Scale project, and he is very
happy with it.
F8F Bearcat
Tom Jackson (4414 Lentell Rd., Eureka CA 95503) built his F8F
from an American Eagle kit.
The model spans 86 inches, weighs 33 pounds, and is powered
by a Zenoah G-62 engine. It has Robart retracts, a Futaba 8UAF
radio with eight servos, and the basecoat and clearcoat are PPG
automotive paint.
“It is a little underpowered with the present engine-weight
combination,” wrote Tom.
January 2003 11
Fokker D.VIII
Ted Kolesnik (1803 Paddock Ct., Grayslake IL 60030) built
his model from a Hobby Hangar balsa-and-plywood kit.
The Fokker’s upper wing spans 51 inches and its lower wing
spans 42 inches. It’s powered by an O.S. .46 FX engine and has a
Futaba SkySport radio with four servos.
Covering is 21st Century Fabric, and the model has Williams
Bros. 43⁄8-inch vintage wheels. Decals are from Sig
Manufacturing.
young enthusiast
Mitchell Heller (3110 Harrison, Glenview IL 60025) took this
photo of 13-year-old Control Line flier Nick Andren with the Tucker
Special he and his father Rick constructed.
The model was built from the RMS kit, finished with 21st
Century covering and paint, and has an O.S. .40 engine.
A classic
Michael Morse’s (Box 296, Garrett Park MD 20896; E-mail:
[email protected]) Classic built from the CheckerboardAir laser-cut
kit designed by Allan Flowers was a “dream to assemble,” and
Michael made no significant changes from Allan’s instructions.
The engine is a Thunder Tiger .46 Pro, and the covering is Pearl
Copper and Metallic Plum MonoKote.
Michael was planning to wait until he was a better flier to fly the
Classic, “but our club experts took it up and it flew as good as it
looks,” he wrote.
cessna L-19
Wayne Fussell (2901 S.W. Lakemont Pl., Palm City FL 34990;
E-mail: [email protected]) built this 1⁄4-scale Cessna L-19 Bird
Dog from plans supplied by Vailly Aviation.
Powered by a Zenoah G-62 with working scale exhaust, the
model spans 108 inches and weighs 26 pounds. Covering is orange
and white MonoKote. All doors and windows function, and a Futaba
radio provides the control.
“With about 50% flaps deployed, the Bird Dog lands like a
trainer,” wrote Wayne. “What a joy to fly.”
12 M ODEL AVIATION
Model Aviation, 5161 E. Memorial Dr., Muncie IN 47302
Focal Point
homer’s skybolt
“Can you tell I work for The Home Depot and love watching
NASCAR racing, cheering on my favorite driver Tony Stewart?”
wrote Jerry Evans (6217 Brevard Cir., Magalia CA 95954).
Jerry and his two sons are proud of this Great Planes Super
Skybolt that they built. It weighs 8.8 pounds and is powered by an
O.S. .91 FX engine with J’Tec Pitts muffler and a Futaba T6XAS
radio. They put four working ailerons on the model.
Jerry measured and hand-cut the black-and-white checkered
MonoKote design underneath the wings. The final touch was to add
a nine-inch Homer—The Home Depot mascot—to the cockpit.
“What fun my boys have watching their dad and learning to fly
these magnificent flying machines,” wrote Jerry.
“Made for each Other”
Dan Szarmach’s (5017 Hialeah Dr., Pittsburgh PA 15239) glider
is an Easy Answer, and the PT-40 is a replacement for the beloved
“flying epoxy” original carrier that crashed on landing when it lost its
landing gear and coughed up its fuel-soaked firewall, complete with
engine, tank, and battery.
The PT-40 is powered by an O.S. .46 FX engine, the radio is an
Airtronics six-channel, and covering is MonoKote. The Easy Answer
has a Hitec four-channel radio and MonoKote covering.
“I felt the Easy Answer deserved a more regal presentation, so the
PT-40 was done up in the same color scheme as the EA,” wrote Dan.
super sportster
This Great Planes Super Sportster 90-120 was the first kit Hugo
Quintana (201 Betz Ave., Jefferson LA 70121; E-mail:
[email protected]) put together. He bought it on the Internet
since it’s not distributed anymore.
The model was powered by an O.S. 120 Surpass four-stroke
engine swinging an APC 14 x 10 propeller, and was covered with
MonoKote. Hugo used a Futaba TX6 transmitter and Tower Hobbies
receiver and BB servos.
“My biggest lesson was to be very careful when flying inverted,”
wrote Hugo. “I lost it by pulling the elevator while inverted at about
20 feet above the ground. It was a sensitive loss.”
super Decathlon 40
This Great Planes model was Matt Field’s (Box 201, Castlewood
VA 24224; E-mail: [email protected]) first attempt at a Scale
aircraft and at a kit.
It is covered with True Red MonoKote, and the cowl is done in
matching LustreKote. The starburst trim scheme was done in white
MonoKote and trimmed in blue striping.
The model is powered by a Tower Hobbies .46 BB ABC engine
and controlled by a Futaba 6AS radio. It weighs 61⁄2 pounds and has
a 64-inch wingspan.
“I have always built ARFs [Almost Ready to Flys] because of the
short time to build,” wrote Matt. “After building this kit … I will
stick to kits.”
January 2003 13
Proud of your latest building/flying effort? Share it with MA’s
readers! Send us a glossy color print (no digital photos under
300 dpi, E-mailed photos, or photocopies, please) with
appropriate description (no handwritten submissions, please),
and we’ll run the best submissions as space permits.
Please include your full address (including E-mail, if
available) so that interested parties may contact you directly.
Send to: Model Aviation, 5161 E. Memorial Dr., Muncie IN 47302;
Attn: Focal Point.
Because of this section’s popularity, it may be several
months before your model is featured.
Double Diamonds
Greg Myers (4502 Patoutville Rd., Jeanerette LA 70544; E-mail:
[email protected]) and fellow Radio Control (RC) flier Phil Oubre
each built a Diamond Dust.
The models are almost identical; both have Futaba gear, are
covered with MonoKote, and have O.S. .45s for power. According
to Greg, the airplanes are “incredibly fast” and the checkerboard
patterns on the top show up very well.
“The Diamond Dust is a blast to fly,” wrote Greg. “It’s great for
sharpening your RC skills!”
Kloud King
John J. Symborski’s (12114 Cliftondale Dr., Silver Spring MD
20904) model was built from B&M plans.
It spans 72 inches and is powered by a MaxCim brushless 15-
13D motor geared 4:1 on 14 cells with a 15 x 10 propeller. John uses
an old single-stick Ace transmitter.
“Flight is majestic,” he wrote. Funk 85c
John Ericksen (616 Salem Heights S., Salem OR 97302; E-mail:
[email protected]) built his model from Reid’s Quality Model
Products plans.
The model came out so light that John added a full cabin interior,
which weighs approximately one pound. The wing loading is still 23
ounces per square foot, and power is provided by an O.S. 70 fourstroke.
“After more than 36 years building and flying all sorts of RC
models except Scale, I retired from the newspaper business and
finally had time to try it,” wrote John. “This Funk 85C is the latest
and I love it dearly.”
Duster
Jack Kibbey (3493 Wilex S.W., Wyoming MI 49509) built his
Duster from Model Aviation plans number 871.
The model is covered with MonoKote, powered by an “old”
K&B .60 engine, and has a Futaba six-channel radio. Lettering was
provided by one of Jack’s fellow club members.
With help from Jack’s flying instructor—his brother Bruce—he
soloed in the summer then built the Duster the following year.
“I am very proud of my Duster,” wrote Jack. “It always gets full
attention while just sitting in the pits or during its flights. I
recommend it to anyone who has soloed and is ready to try building
from plans.”
