82 MODEL AVIATION
Focal Point
John Epley (4260 S. Tucson Estates Pkwy., Tucson AZ 85735;
E-mail: [email protected]) purchased plans for the Kimbrel
Dormoy Bathtub from his friend Al Lidberg 15 years ago. They
were for a CO2-powered FF model spanning 22.25 inches.
John enlarged the plans to yield a 60-inch wingspan and 450
square inches of wing area. He also changed almost all the internal
construction.
“The only thing I could save is the recognizable outline,” he
wrote.
The fuselage connecting the “tail to the tub” is three 5/16-inchdiameter
wood dowel rods. The 4-pound model is covered with
white Worldtex covering.
John powers his unusual model with a .40-size engine but
suggested that it would probably fly fine with a .25.
Frank George (1320 Humboldt Dr., Nipomo CA 93444; E-mail:
[email protected]), a retired aerospace engineer, is busy building and
flying the stable of kits he acquired while full-time employment
limited his RC hobby time.
He built the Thunderbug from a discontinued Balsa USA kit. It
spans 83.5 inches and weighs 10 pounds. Covering is red, white, and
blue UltraCote. A Saito 120 pulls the model through the air with
authority, and control is via a Futaba F8U radio and Hitec 545BB
servos.
Bob Shadroui (2060 Marilyn St. #107, Clearwater FL 33765; Email:
[email protected]) built his Advanced Scale Models
C-130 Hercules and painted it in Coast Guard colors.
The model features a carbon-reinforced fuselage with built-up
wings and tail components. It spans 100 inches and weighs 17
pounds ready to fly.
Four O.S. .25 FX engines provide the thrust, and the two
outboard power plants are equipped with onboard glow devices. The
C-130 is equipped with split flaps. Control is achieved via a
Spektrum DX7 radio system.
“The first flight was on the day this photograph was taken,”
wrote Bob.
C-130 Hercules
Thunderbug 120
“Bathtub”
Bob Nelson (4604 Gladiola Ln., Fort Worth TX 76123; E-mail:
[email protected]) scratch-built his 7-pound Supermarine
S.6B from old Model Airplane News plans he received from John
Poulos and documentation he received from Ted Hodges. Bob scaled
up the plans’ 40-inch wingspan to yield a 60-inch wingspan.
The wings and tail are covered in MonoKote. Matching Top Flite
LustreKote Insignia Blue and Aluminum spray paints were used
elsewhere.
The fuselage cowling is made from hollowed-out balsa blocks, the
sides are sheeted, and the top rear deck is made from nested stringers.
Power is provided by a ringed O.S. .50 SX engine. The S.6B is
flown with a JR XF622 transmitter and a Hitec Micro 555 receiver.
The ailerons and rudder are coupled, and the floats are equipped with
dual water rudders.
Jan Perkins photo.
Supermarine S.6B
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“I read Bob Hunt’s editorial in the May issue of Model Aviation
... about being on a building high,” wrote Jim Levell (27421 Harlan
Ln., Highland CA 92346; E-mail: [email protected]).
“Well, I get the same way often and just have to build something.”
Jim built a Cessna 182 Skylane from a Top Flite kit. He started it
just after the 2007 AMA Convention (in January) and finished it in
April.
The Cessna spans 81 inches, weighs 11.5 pounds, and is powered
by a SuperTigre G-90 engine. It features full interior detailing and
landing lights, and the finish is Certified dope over .2 carbon mat.
Jim uses a Hitec seven-channel Eclipse radio system for guidance.
Quickly Built Cessna 182
Jerry Kraft (109 S. Deerbrook Dr., Oregon City OR 97045) built
his Dick Hansen-designed Staudacher and dedicated it to his
grandchildren.
It spans 76 inches and weighs 13.5 pounds. For power Jerry
chose the Saito 1.80 four-stroke engine, and he uses an 18 x 6
propeller.
The top of the cowl has two silhouettes: one of a little boy and
one of a little girl. The caption around the silhouettes reads,
“Grandchildern are very special.” His grandkids’ names are
stenciled onto the side of the model.
Fred J. Ewing (130 N. Second St. Apt. B3, Souderton PA 18964)
calls his sport-scale version of the Whitman Tailwind a “model of a
model.” He built a Peanut Scale version of this design in 1980 and
liked it so much he decided to scale it up for RC use.
The model spans 38 inches and weighs 15.5 ounces Power is a
GWS EPS 350C motor with a GWS EP 9070 propeller. An 8.4-volt,
750 mAh NiMH battery is used, and 10- to 12-minute flights are
possible with this combination.
“A brushless motor will be tried after initial testing,” wrote Fred.
He has informed MA that the first flights went fine.
Tailwind
Dedicated Staudacher
Ed Sealand (835 Capp Hill Ranch Rd., Ozark MO 65721; Email:
[email protected]) scratch-built his 1/5-scale model
of the F4U-4 Corsair and rendered it in the color scheme and
markings of VMF 312.
The model spans 94 inches and weighs 35.5 pounds. A Zenoah
G-62 engine provides the power, and it is fitted with an exhaust
system that Ed designed and built to scale using two expansion
chambers. He also designed and built the retractable landing gear
and tail-wheel systems.
The canopy and cowl flaps open when the gear goes down. The
wings fold via radio control and are fitted with positive manual
downlocks. The Corsair uses 10 servos, six air tanks, and eight air
cylinders! The air intakes are functional, and the cockpit is fully
detailed.
Impressive Corsair
See page 191 for submission guidelines
Focal Point
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