Focal Point
Aerobatic P-40
Don Herdman (1656 Maquam Shore Rd., Swanton, VT 05488; E-mail: [email protected]) wanted to build a 60-size CL aerobatics model of the P-40 Warhawk after having built a few 35-size versions. He constructed this new model around the wing and aerodynamic numbers of Randy Smith's popular SV-11.
The foam-core wing is covered with 1/16" balsa. The stabilizer is made from balsa ribs and sheeted with 1/16" balsa. The elevators are open-bay ribbed units, and the flaps are made from light balsa sheet.
The entire model is covered with 00-grade silkspan and finished with Brodak modeling dope. The stars and numbers were painted on, and the Disney tiger is a 1/8-scale decal from Northeast Screen Graphics (East Longmeadow, MA).
"A SuperTigre .60 powers the 65-ounce model through the pattern with ease," wrote Don.
- Wing covering: 1/16" balsa over foam core
- Tail: balsa ribs and sheeting
- Covering/finish: 00-grade silkspan, Brodak dope
- Decal: 1/8-scale Disney tiger from Northeast Screen Graphics
- Power: SuperTigre .60
- Flying weight: 65 ounces
X-Wing Biplane
Lon Enloe (8234 Turkey Run Dr., Colorado Springs, CO 80920; E-mail: [email protected]) wanted to build a biplane that was different from the norm, so he designed this retro/modern hybrid using a symmetrical airfoil (Eppler 168).
"This model is just as happy upside-down as right side up," he wrote. It's also comfortable in knife-edge flight because of the 45°-angled sections of the wing and the large interplane struts.
- Span: 30 inches
- Wing area: 312 sq in
- Flying weight: 22 ounces
- Power: Ultrafly D/13/32 motor with 3.89:1 gearbox
- Battery: 3-cell, 2000 mAh Li-Poly
Relaxing Citabria
Valdis Sustko (1 Park Pl., Elmira, NY 14901; E-mail: [email protected]) is originally from Latvia. He started modeling when he came to the United States, with help from members of the Flying Sparks RC Club in Elmira.
"I am primarily into 3-D flying, but once in awhile I like to go for a relaxing flight, which made me build this 9-foot-wingspan Citabria," wrote Valdis. It took him about five months to build and it was the first kit he had put together.
The Citabria has operating doors, a bomb drop, and a homemade smoke system. It is powered by a Quadra .35 gasoline engine and is covered with MonoKote.
- Wingspan: 9 feet
- Features: operating doors, bomb drop, homemade smoke system
- Power: Quadra .35 gasoline engine
- Covering: MonoKote
T-34B Mentor
Tom Getz (1898 Walden Way, The Villages, FL 32162; E-mail: [email protected]) built his T-34B Mentor from a Top Flite Gold Edition kit.
The model spans 80 inches and is powered by an O.S. 1.20 four-stroke engine. A Futaba nine-channel radio system is used for guidance, and the operating features include flaps and Robart retracts. The flying weight is 13 pounds, and the model is painted with LustreKote.
"The airplane flew beautifully in a scalelike manner with a Master Airscrew 16 x 6 propeller shortly after this photo was taken," wrote Tom.
- Wingspan: 80 inches
- Power: O.S. 1.20 four-stroke
- Radio: Futaba 9-channel
- Features: flaps, Robart retracts
- Flying weight: 13 lb
- Finish: LustreKote
Westland Lysander
Brian Clifton (269 Mack Rd., Leonard, MI 48367; E-mail: [email protected]) constructed his Westland Lysander from Dennis Bryant plans and finished it in the same scheme as the full-scale Lysander on display at the Royal Air Force Museum at Hendon in London.
Power for the 81-inch-span model is provided by an RCV91-CD engine. The outer skin is Solartex fabric covering, and the finish is latex paint from The Home Depot.
"This airplane flies very nicely and looks great in the air!" wrote Brian. "It acts like a slightly heavy Cub, but with fully functional flaps for smooth landings."
- Wingspan: 81 inches
- Power: RCV91-CD engine
- Covering: Solartex fabric
- Finish: latex paint (Home Depot)
- Features: fully functional flaps
Spartan Executive
Bob Greaves (2581 Centennial St., Las Cruces, NM 88011; E-mail: [email protected]) built his 1930s Spartan Executive from Ken Sheppard plans.
TDL Model Systems cut the model's foam wing cores, which were covered with 1/16" balsa skins. The fuselage was planked with balsa, and then the entire airframe was covered with fiberglass and nitrate dope. UltraCote paint was used for the finish, with a bit of Dunn-Edwards green trim to match the numbers provided by Northeast Screen Graphics.
The model features Robart retracts and is powered by an O.S. .62 FX engine. The flying weight is 9 pounds, which yields a 32.7 ounce/square-foot loading on the 64-inch-span wing.
- Wingspan: 64 inches
- Wing cores: foam (cut by TDL Model Systems), 1/16" balsa skins
- Fuselage: balsa plank, fiberglass, nitrate dope
- Finish: UltraCote with Dunn-Edwards green trim
- Power: O.S. .62 FX engine
- Landing gear: Robart retracts
- Flying weight: 9 lb (32.7 oz/sq ft wing loading)
Sweet Sportster
Noah Shlaes (435 N. Scoville Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302; E-mail: [email protected]) received a Great Planes EP Sportster from his wife as a holiday gift and decided he wanted a different trim scheme from the stock stripes.
He scaled up a candy-bar wrapper to achieve the "sweet" trim scheme. It is UltraCote over the original red MonoKote. The re-covering job took roughly two weeks.
Noah removed the original motor and replaced it with an E-flite 15. A 45-amp Castle Creations ESC and a four-cell, 4000 mAh Li-Poly battery pack are used.
"This combo is about an ounce lighter than the stock system, and the performance is astonishing," he wrote.
- Covering: UltraCote over original MonoKote
- Motor: E-flite 15 (replaced stock motor)
- ESC: 45-amp Castle Creations
- Battery: 4-cell, 4000 mAh Li-Poly
Mr. Ed P-51D
Robert Terry (1661 CR 4700, Kempner, TX 76539; E-mail: [email protected]) assembled his 18-pound P-51D Mustang from a Hangar 9 kit.
It has a wingspan of 80 inches and 1,100 square inches of wing area. Robert powers his World War II fighter replica with a Saito 1.80 four-stroke engine fitted with a Pitts-style muffler and a smoke system. He chose a seven-channel Futaba radio for guidance duties, and the model requires 11 servos.
"This airplane is named Mr. Ed after Ed Cournoyer from Harker Heights, Texas," wrote Robert. "Thanks to Ed for introducing me to model airplanes."
- Wingspan: 80 inches
- Wing area: 1,100 sq in
- Flying weight: 18 lb
- Power: Saito 1.80 four-stroke with Pitts-style muffler
- Radio: Futaba 7-channel
- Servos: 11
- Features: smoke system
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
