Focal Point - 2004/05

10 MODEL AVIATION
Loves His Biplanes
Sal Casa (35 Sodom Ln., Derby CT 06481) built this Pica
WACO as an early modeling project because he loves biplanes.
The 1⁄6-scale model is powered by an O.S. 120 four-stroke
engine, weighs 9 pounds, and is covered with UltraCote. It uses a
Futaba radio for guidance.
“The 60 inch bipe flies very well and is light on its feet for the
power to weight ratio,” wrote Sal’s friend Andy Figlar, who
submitted the photo and information. “Sal now has many other bipes
in his crowded Derby, Connecticut, cellar, and still looks for more to
build.”
First RC Model
Marco Ginsburg (2222 Stuart St., Berkeley CA 94705; E-mail:
[email protected]) was 10 years old when he
assembled this Hangar 9 ARF Cherokee with some help from his
dad.
This was Marco’s first RC model, but he practiced extensively
with a simulator before taking it to the field. Now he’s hooked on
RC flying!
Desert Hurricane
Gordon J. Dey (6805 Devonshire Cir., Pensacola FL 32506)
crafted this Hawker Hurricane from a Bob Holman plans, rib kit,
and laser-cut-parts package.
The model is powered with a YS 91 four-stroke engine and
guided with a Futaba 6XA radio. Gordon programmed nose downtrim
when the flaps are deployed. He applied the desert finish
scheme using automotive paint over Coverite.
“The model is very stable in flight and looks like the real WW II
airplane in the air,” he wrote.
Breezy!
George Yewell (524 Bayside Rd., Bellingham WA 98226)
scratch-built this 80-inch-wingspan Breezy from a small three-view
drawing furnished by Aircraft Documentation.
A Cub wing is used as on the full-scale airplane, and power is
provided by an O.S. .46 FS engine. Wood doweling was used to
simulate the fuselage’s tubing structure. The battery and ballast are
hidden under the pilot’s seat, and the receiver and servos are under
the passenger’s seat. Rudder and elevator control are via pull-pull
cabling.
“This may be the only Breezy model,” wrote George.
Model Aviation, 5161 E. Memorial Dr., Muncie IN 47302
Focal Point
May 2004 11
Pica Fw 190D-9
Chuck Sundt (Box 893, Silver City NM 88062; E-mail:
c&[email protected]) built this Focke-Wulf Fw 190D-9 from a Pica kit
he purchased from Hobby Barn.
It has a wingspan of 63.5 inches, a wing area of 730 square
inches, and a length of 57 inches. It weighs 7.5 pounds and is
powered by an MDS .68 engine fitted with a J-Tech in-cowl muffler.
The Fw 190 features Spring Air retracts and has split flaps. It is
covered with Coverite 21st Century Fabric.
Winter Monocoupe
John G. Giles (3240 NW 14th St., Oklahoma City OK 73107; Email:
[email protected]) sent this photo of his fourth scratch-built,
72-inch-wingspan Monocoupe.
It is powered by a Saito 100 engine swinging an APC 15 x 6
propeller, and it weighs 9 pounds. The model features fully
functional flaps. It is guided by a Futaba radio.
“This is the kind of airplane you always take to the field, no
matter what else you take,” wrote John. “Building this was a winter
well spent.”
Tribute Kadet
Nick Galetta (145 Signal Hill Rd. N., Wilton CT 06897)
purchased a Sig Kadet Seniorita kit September 7, 2001—just days
before the terrorist attacks in the US. He decided to finish his model
in a red, white, and blue scheme and put the date of the attacks on
the wing as a tribute to those who were lost that fateful day.
The Kadet is covered with MonoKote and weighs 4.75 pounds.
An O.S. .40 LA engine powers it.
“I am 72 years old and it’s taken me at least 60 years to get back
into the great sport of model making and flying,” wrote Nick.
Skymaster-Inspired Original
Jerome C. Wroblewski (391 N. Wolf Rd., Des Plaines IL 60016;
E-mail: [email protected]) scratch-built this Cessna
Skymaster-inspired design. It has a wingspan of 68 inches and a
semisymmetrical airfoil.
The 10-pound model’s overall length is 46 inches, an O.S. .65
two-stroke engine powers it, and a 16 x 6 Zinger pusher propeller is
used.
“It took me about two months to build, and I used only one
photograph of a Cessna Skymaster as a guide,” wrote Jerome.
For more great Focal Point photos, go to: www.modelaircraft.org/mag/index.htm
12 MODEL AVIATION
Model Aviation, 5161 E. Memorial Dr., Muncie IN 47302
Focal Point
Patriotic Joss Stick
William Robertson (3127 State Route 130 S., Morganfield KY
42437) built this colorful and patriotic-looking Joss Stick and
modified it by adding side covers around the engine. It is powered
by an O.S. .91 engine.
“I am a 61-year-old retired school teacher,” wrote William. “I
have been in the hobby for 11⁄2 years and love it. Should have started
40 years sooner!”
Free Flight Cub
Richard M. Tucciarone (447 Prospect St., Brockton MA 02301)
constructed this Piper J-3 Cub from a West Wings kit. He built it
according to the instructions except for the removable nose plug that
he added.
He covered the model with Japanese tissue, painted it with
colored dope, and then added a Krylon clear coat. It is powered by
15 feet of 3⁄16-inch Tan rubber.
“I would like to hear from other Free Flight modelers in the
Brockton, Massachusetts, area,” wrote Richard.
Zero Is His First
Joe Harris (417 Bluff Dr., Troy MO 63379; E-mail:
[email protected]) built this Mitsubishi A6M5 Zero from a Yellow
Aircraft International kit.
It has an 80-inch wingspan and weighs 25 pounds. It is covered
with 3⁄4-ounce fiberglass cloth and epoxy resin and is painted with
Benjamin Moore exterior acrylic house paint. The engine is a Moki
1.80 with an 18 x 8 propeller. The model features custom retractable
landing gear.
“This is my first large-scale warbird,” wrote Joe.
Feature-Rich Cub
Jimmy T. Daughtridge (8551 SE Bristol Way, Jupiter FL 33458;
E-mail: [email protected]) built this 1⁄4-scale Piper J-3 Cub from
a Balsa USA kit and added several features, such as scale landing
gear, seats, actuated sticks and throttles, an instrument panel, door
latches, simulated rib stitching, and an engine air cleaner.
He covered his Cub with Sig Koverall and painted it with Sig
dope.
“This is my first scale model and I have really enjoyed building
it,” wrote Jimmy.
May 2004 13
Anything-Goes Extra
Wes Missler (1138 W. Main St., Bellevue OH 44811) built this
Great Planes Extra 300S 60 as his first kit at age 15.
It spans 64 inches, weighs 9 pounds, and is powered by an O.S.
120 four-stroke engine. The radio is a Futaba T6XAS six-channel
type with six standard-size servos. Covering is MonoKote, and the
cowl, pants, and landing gear were painted with LustreKote paint.
“Performance is great and unlimited vertical is achieved with the
big engine,” wrote Wes. “This is an ‘anything goes’ airplane.”
Tribute to Fred Reese
AMA District V Associate Vice President Nancy H. Riley (105
Cumquat Rd. NW, Lake Placid FL 33852) submitted this photo of
Jack Sears’ (Zolfo Springs FL) fleet of Fred Reese-designed Cloud
Dancers.
The fleet consists of a 60-inch-span version powered by a Saito
50 engine, a 72-inch-span version powered by a Saito 65, and a 98-
inch-span version powered by an O.S. 91 four-stroke. Jack wanted
this photo printed here as a tribute and as thanks to the late Fred
Reese.
“I personally feel that this is the most graceful, nicest-flying,
most agile airplane I have ever flown,” wrote Jack. “They were all
built from Fred Reese plans.”
Attention-Getting Lightning
Charles F. Vettes (8732 Westminster Blvd. Suite 5, Westminster
CA 92683; E-mail: [email protected]) built this Lockheed P-38
Lightning from a Marutaka kit he purchased from Hobby Barn.
He covered the 13-pound model with fiberglass, painted it with
water-based exterior latex paint, and then sealed it with a coat of
satin water-based clear. It is powered by two O.S. .61 engines.
“With the engines in sync, it tracks straight down the runway on
takeoff,” wrote Charles. “It is a real attention getter at the local
field!”
Proud of your latest building/flying effort? Share it with MA’s
readers and/or visitors to AMA’s Web site (www.modelaircraft.org)!
Send us a glossy color print or digital photo on CD-ROM (minimum
300 ppi) with an appropriate description of the model, and we will
publish or post the best submissions.
No E-mailed photos, laser copies, ink-jet copies, or photocopies
will be accepted. Restrict content to the model with or without the
owner/builder. Inappropriate photos will not be published.
Supply your full address (and E-mail address if available) so that
interested parties may contact you directly. Send all submissions to
Bob Hunt, Box 68, Stockertown PA 18083, ATTN: Focal Point.
Because of this section’s popularity, it may be several months
before your model is featured.
Graceful Gamma
Jack Wilder (50 Barque Ln., Port Ludlow WA 98365) built this
Northrop Gamma from an Aero Classics kit.
It has a wingspan of 72 inches and is powered by an O.S. 70
four-stroke engine. The wings and tail are covered with MonoKote,
and the fuselage is painted. The fuselage is covered with 3⁄64-inchthick
Sitka spruce.
“The airplane flies beautifully,” wrote Jack. “Not real fast, but
very graceful and stable.”
For more great Focal Point photos, go to: www.modelaircraft.org/mag/index.htm