Focal Point
Model Aviation, 5161 E. Memorial Dr., Muncie IN 47302
Chieftain
Tom Alden (509 Ridgeway Dr., Bellingham WA 98225; E-mail: [email protected]) built this 300-inch version of the Orr Chieftain, a 1940s free-flight rubber model.
It has two microservos and a 110 mAh battery, and it weighs 12 ounces.
Spirit of Africa
Walter Eiler (6311 Failane Dr., Oakland CA 94611) built this 1/6-scale Sikorsky S-39—the Spirit of Africa—using plans, vacuum-formed parts, full-scale photo documentation, and the all-view drawing "Spots" (for the giraffe-spot locations) from Classic Aero.
The model uses a nine-cylinder Technopower engine, and Walter designed the S-39's air retracts.
Spirit Elite
Timothy Mattsson (24898 Nebula St. N.E., Stacy MN 55079; E-mail: [email protected]) built this Great Planes Two Meter sailplane with the straight, nondihedral wing option.
It has flaps and ailerons, rudder, and elevator. Timothy uses Hobbico Command CS-12 servos for the flaps and ailerons and Futaba servos for rudder and elevator. Flaps and ailerons are all on separate channels, which allows numerous programming adjustments.
Timothy covered the model with UltraCote, and a friend painted the canopy with Harlequin paints that change color in different lighting conditions.
Extra 330LX
Curtis Miner (466 E. 900 N., Springville UT 84663; E-mail: [email protected]) purchased his 33%-scale Extra 330LX from RadioCraft as an Almost Ready-to-Cover kit.
This model spans 104 inches, weighs 26 pounds, and has a Desert Aircraft DA-100 twin-cylinder gasoline engine and uses a Menz 26 x 10 standard propeller.
The radio system comprises one JR 8411 servo on each aileron and elevator and two on the rudder; the throttle and choke are each controlled by a JR 517 servo. Two JR 950 receivers, two 6-volt batteries, and two switches are used for redundancy, and the entire radio system is monitored by two onboard voltage meters.
A 4½-inch carbon-fiber spinner and an Ohio Models carbon-fiber landing gear were used for reduced weight.
Focal Point - 2003/08
El Diablos
Tex Newman (Box 68, Culdesac ID 83524) is shown with his young friend Dustin Wing, who built a half-size model of Tex's old control-line El Diablo built from 1957 Model Airplane News plans.
Tex's model is powered by a Fox .35 engine, and Dustin's model spans 21 inches and is powered by a Cox Babe Bee .049.
"The little one flies very well," wrote Tex. "Dustin entered his model in the Nez Perce County Fair as his 4-H project. He won a Purple Ribbon Best of Show."
Not a Hangar Queen
Dick Hansen (10807 S.E. Stacy Ct., Portland OR 97266) built a Macchi M.7 single-seat Italian Navy fighter that spans 79 inches and is powered by a Saito 180 FS engine.
The model was built from an Almost Ready-to-Fly kit from 3 Sea Bees Models in Lake Stevens, Washington, and it weighs 16½ pounds.
"This was Italy's entry in the 1921 Schneider Cup races, which they won," wrote Dick.
S.E.5a
Dean Monticelli (525 N. Abrego Dr., Green Valley AZ 85614; E-mail: [email protected]) built his aircraft using the Duncan Hutson kit from England for the basic construction and the Dennis Bryant plans to produce all of the model's details.
The markings represent a 56 Squadron aircraft that Captain James McCudden used in the early months of the World War I air war in France.
Dean retired the model and donated it to the Pima Air & Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona, where it is on permanent display.
A-26 Invader
Jerry Russell (63510 Gold Spur Way, Bend OR 97701; E-mail: [email protected]) built his 1/10-scale Douglas A-26 from his own CAD (computer-aided design)-drawn plans.
The model spans 82 inches and has two O.S. 52 Surpass four-stroke engines. It features retractable landing gear and operating two-position flaps. Top and bottom gun turrets were left off to simulate the A-26K version.
The fiberglass engine cowls were made from Jerry's own mold. Simulated radial engines were built into the front of each cowl. Retracts are servo-powered, and the aircraft uses a total of 11 servos. The Invader was painted with Perfect Paint.
Heath Super Parasol
Lloyd Gibbs (659 Chalk Hill Rd., Solvang CA 93463; E-mail: [email protected]) built this 1/5-scale Stand-Off Scale Heath Super Parasol from plans he drew from a color three-view drawing that had a scale bar.
The model is powered by a Saito 60T engine with a McDaniels onboard glow booster to replicate the Bristol Cherub engine installed in some full-scale versions of the aircraft.
The Super Parasol spans 60 inches, weighs 7¼ pounds, and is covered with MonoKote.
"The cream portion of the wing is coated with flat clear to give the illusion of the original cloth covering," wrote Lloyd.
Mr. Mulligan
Ron Fay Sr. (19607 161st Ct., O'Brien FL 32071) built his long-nose Mr. Mulligan from a kit by Bud Nosen.
The model has a 108-inch wingspan and is powered by a Zenoah G-38 engine.
Ronnie Fay IV is standing behind the model.
"The Red Baron Flies Again"
Ernie Jones (4913 Steeplechase Dr., Macungie PA 18062) built his Fokker Dr.I from a Flair Products Ltd. kit.
The Dr.I spans 48 inches, is powered by an O.S. 52 four-stroke engine, and uses a Futaba four-channel radio that Ernie's "good friend and master builder" Dick Eimert of Monsey, New York, built.
The model is covered with 21st Century Fabric and has a TopFlite Flat Clear LustreKote overspray.
"This is my pride and joy," wrote Ernie.
Cessna 310
Steve J. Byrne (166 Gnau Ave. S.W., Massillon OH 44646) built this Cessna 310 from a Bud Nosen kit.
The model spans 120 inches and weighs 25 pounds. It is all wood, covered and painted with Sig Supercoat dope. The trim is UltraCote.
The engines are MDS .68 two-strokes with 13 x 6 propellers.
"The airplane flies really well, but needs more power," wrote Steve. "The .68s have to work too hard."
Moth Minor
James H. Johnson (2650 Rolling Oaks, San Marcos TX 78666) built this 1/4-scale de Havilland D.H.94 Moth Minor from Jerry Bates plans.
The model spans 109 inches, weighs 16 pounds, is powered by a Saito 150 engine, the finish is Koverall with Randolph dope, and the radio is a Hitec Prism 7X PCM.
"The prototype was introduced by de Havilland in 1937 and only slightly more than 100 were built due to the start of World War II," wrote James.
Curlew Mark II
Clyde Norel of Rochester, Minnesota, built Ken G. Mann’s (72 E. Shore Rd. S., Grand Isle VT 05458) Curlew Mark II from Radio Control Modeler plans, and Ken finished it.
The aircraft is covered with 3/4-ounce fiberglass cloth and painted with Hobbypoxy. It is powered by a Tower .40 engine and controlled with a Futaba radio.
"It has excellent water-handling characteristics," wrote Ken.
Big Bingo
Stan Grett (2775 Plantation Pl., Enterprise AL 36330) built an Ace R/C model with an 86-inch wingspan that weighs 20 pounds.
The engine is a three-horsepower Quadra 42. The radio is a JR 783 with an Airtronics air pack with four 75-gram servos and one standard servo. Dual batteries—1,100 mAh and 1,700 mAh—are used, and the propeller is an 18 x 8.
The cowl is from a 60-size Extra 300, and the covering is MonoKote.
Grumman Avenger
Tom Wolf (566 Windsor Ave., Goleta CA 93117; E-mail: [email protected]) and his son Greg spent three years building this 1/8-scale TBM-3 Avenger from a set of plans and a fiberglass fuselage from Bob Holman.
The airplane is powered by an O.S. 1.60 FX two-stroke engine, weighs 23 pounds, and has a wing loading of 54 ounces per square foot.
It features two receivers and 19 servos driving the flight controls, retractable landing gear, flaps, an operating gun turret, bomb-bay doors, a selectable bomb release for four bombs, and a torpedo release. The wings fold in a scale manner with scratch-built hinges. The scale retractable and shock-absorbing tail wheel is also scratch-built.
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 submissions, or photocopies, please), with an 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.
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Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
