Focal Point
Model Aviation, 5161 E. Memorial Dr., Muncie IN 47302
Great-Flying Laser
Charles E. Castaing (814 Prioux St., New Iberia LA 70563; E-mail: [email protected]) is shown with his 34%-scale model of the Laser 200.
The model spans 98 inches and weighs 22 pounds. A 3W-70 Twin provides the go power. It is covered with MonoKote, and the cowl, forward deck, and wheel pants are painted with PPG urethane paints.
The model was only a week old when the photo was taken, but according to Charles, "It flies great!"
Free Flight Cessna
Harvey Pastel (802 Bolton Rd., Vernon CT 06066) sent this photo of his rubber-powered Free Flight Cessna CR-3, which he constructed from a Mike Morrow kit.
Harvey covered it with Japanese tissue and, instead of model dope for trim colors, opted to use water-based acrylic paint. He builds in his kitchen and writes that the dope fumes are unacceptable in the house!
Even though he has flown this model in the FAC (Flying Aces Club) Nationals in the Thompson Trophy Mass Launch event, he wrote, "I build what interests me; I don't build to compete."
Gee Bee Profile
Tom Srpan (3918 E. 365th St., Willoughby OH 44094) scratchbuilt this large profile Gee Bee. It is covered with UltraCote and weighs 13 pounds.
The 66-inch-span model has 1,485 square inches of wing area and is powered by an O.S. .91 two-stroke engine.
"It took six months building time and it flies good and stable," wrote Tom.
Kit-Bashed Kadet
Steven Bullock (1321 E. California Ave. "A," Glendale CA 91206; E-mail: [email protected]) kit-bashed a Sig Kadet Senior into this Fun Scale Air Tractor AT-602.
The 13-pound model is equipped with fowler-type flaps and is powered by a Magnum XL 120 four-stroke engine swinging an APC 16 x 6 propeller. It is guided by an Airtronics Vision eight-channel radio control system and is covered with Bright Yellow UltraCote with Deep Blue UltraCote trim.
"I have had many Kadet Seniors, and wanted something semi-scale with all of the great flying characteristics of the Kadet," he wrote.
Twin Tiger
Robert Hannon (100 Fenwick Ct., Lexington SC 29072) submitted this picture of his neat kit-bashed Goldberg Sky Tiger. "I took the canopy off and built a cabin, and I extended the end of each wing panel two inches," wrote Robert.
He also built up the nose with balsa blocks and mounted two O.S. .25 two-stroke engines in custom-built nacelles. He calls this model the "Twin Tiger."
Two Wild Amphibians
Jack Scheider (9519 Anchusa Tr., Austin TX 78736) sent this photo of two of his models. On the left is a Northstar, which is more than 10 years old. A Magnum .53 engine provides power. It is a veteran of many flights from land and water. The finish is Coverite and Hobbypoxy paint.
The other model is an original ducted-fan design that borrows some design elements from the Northstar. It has also flown from land and water. A NovaRossi .81 powers the Byron fan unit in this model. The finish is 21st Century Fabric and Hobbypoxy paint.
"It really accelerates on the step!" wrote Jack.
Patriotic Lady
Homer Davis (16411 Farnell Ct., Spring TX 77379; E-mail: [email protected]) built a colorful and patriotic ModelTech Dragon Lady finished with MonoKote and LustreKote. This was his "first attempt to do anything out of the ordinary with MonoKote."
The model weighs 9 1/4 pounds and is powered by an O.S. 1.08 FSR two-stroke engine fitted with an APC 16 x 8 propeller. Control is provided via a Futaba 8UAF radio.
"It flies very well, but is a bit difficult to slow down and land on my club's short runway, even with flaperons," wrote Homer.
Foam Stealth Fighter
Bob Holmes (7644 N. 1800 E., Charleston IL 61920; E-mail: [email protected]) is shown with his own-design, scratch-built, giant-scale F-117.
It is made from blue building foam, light plywood, and balsa, and is covered with TopFlite's low-temperature EconoKote. The model spans 84 inches, is 108 inches long, and weighs 25 pounds. It is powered by a Moki 1.80 engine and is fitted with 1/4-scale Spring Air retracts.
"This airplane flies somewhat unstable, so you have to be on the controls all the time," wrote Bob.
One Bright Bridi
John J. Seaton (1857 8th St. #102, Las Vegas NV 87701; E-mail: [email protected]) wrote, "Yes, Bridi kits are alive and well and fly just as well as they used to."
John's neighbor is holding his colorful and bright Bridi Sun Fli V. Power is a SuperTiger .61, and it is covered with TopFlite MonoKote. A Futaba flight pack is used with a Pro-Line single-stick transmitter.
"Joe Bridi used to fly single-stick also," wrote John.
Alaska Pete 'n Poke
Mark Bendersky (12901 Trent Cir., Anchorage AK 99516; E-mail: [email protected]) photographed his Great Planes Pete 'n Poke against the backdrop of the Chugach Mountains in Anchorage.
Mark admired Great Planes' suggested covering scheme and copied it using UltraCote and MonoKote. According to him, the checkerboards on the tail were "fun."
He wrote that construction stretched out for six months. Power is an O.S. .46 FX engine, and the radio is a Futaba four-channel unit.
Buddy-Built Jr. Falcon
Rob Jenkins (7437 S. Union Mill Ct., Midvale UT 84047; E-mail: [email protected]) submitted this photo of a Carl Goldberg Products Jr. Falcon that was built from a kit purchased in 1964.
Jay Ostler is holding the model with Rob at his side. He and Jay "have built several airplanes together." They decided that although the original model was designed for a single-channel radio, this one could be outfitted today with a four-channel system with microservos. They used a throttle-equipped .12A Norvel engine for power.
Tribute Bonanza
Francis Keating (700 E. Dunn Ave., Muncie IN 47303; E-mail: [email protected]) purchased the kit for this 1/5-scale Beechcraft Bonanza with his dad Daniel in mind; Daniel owned a full-scale Bonanza in the late 1960s.
The model took 11 months to complete, and Daniel, who had been in poor health, passed away just a week before it was finished. Francis dedicates this model to his father's memory.
It is outfitted with Robart retracts, a .120 four-stroke engine, landing light, navigation and beacon lights, and a Futaba nine-channel radio system.
Long-Term Hawk
Tony Prieboy (625 N. Heathrow Dr., Lecanto FL 34461) bought a Royal kit of this Curtiss P6-E Hawk for a friend in roughly 1990. His friend started building the kit, but was unable to finish it because of health reasons. Tony was asked to complete the model.
"It took awhile, because in the meantime I moved to Florida," wrote Tony. "After 11 years it is finally finished."
The Hawk is powered by a Saito 91GK four-stroke engine and has a JR radio for guidance. It is covered with 21st Century Fabric, and Ultra Paint was used for the trim colors.
Flying Skylines
Debra Justice (7878 Southerland, Moody TX 76557) and her husband Scott built and finished Gremlins featuring city skylines on the wings. Scott's model (orange fins) has the Chicago skyline and Debra's (aqua fins) has Chicago's Michigan Avenue. The scenes are from posters.
"A member of the club we belonged to in Illinois worked for a printing company and gave our club choices on the posters," wrote Debra. "We were among the first to finish our airplanes with them, and it even surprised us how well they turned out."
"Doctored" Airwolf
Dennis Statler (1752 Wedgewood Dr., Green Bay WI 54303) sent this puzzling photo. Can you tell which is his model Airwolf? Is it the one in front of the group or the one behind? If you picked the one behind, you're correct!
Dennis made 10-inch-tall cutouts of his dad, his brother, and himself and placed them in front of the radio-control model. The smaller Airwolf by their feet is an 8-inch-long plastic model. Dennis's Airwolf was built from a Vario Helicopter kit and has a NovaRossi .60 engine.
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.
Because of this section's popularity, it may be several months before your model is featured.
1940 Lanzo Stick
Dick Strang (310 E. Suntree St., Oro Valley AZ 85737; E-mail: [email protected]) sent in this shot of him and his 1940 Lanzo Stick Wakefield model, which is covered with Icarex kite fabric.
The model's all-up weight, including 90 grams of rubber, is 9 ounces. The 21-inch-diameter propeller is hand carved, and it folds back after the rubber motor has wound down for less drag during the glide.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
