Focal Point
Quarter-Size Grasshopper
Tony Farmer (1711 Spanish Trace Dr., Saraland, AL 36571; e-mail: [email protected]) and Wayne Boudreaux present Tony’s L-4 Grasshopper Cub.
It started life as a Balsa USA 1/4-scale Cub kit that Richard Moore framed. Configured by Wayne and piloted by Tony, the kit was bashed into an L-4 military version of the aircraft.
Tony added a rear observation cockpit area along with custom landing gear, cowl, wing-attachment and landing-gear strut covers. He covered the Grasshopper with Solartex olive-drab iron-on fabric with painted trim and insignia. A detailed cigar-smoking pilot graces the cockpit interior.
The model turns an 18x6 propeller mounted to an SPE 26cc gas engine, and a Futaba 9C radio provides guidance. Tony painted his wife’s name on the Grasshopper as nose art.
Replica Replica
Irwin Weisbrot (6 Starlight Dr., Norwalk, CT 06851; e-mail: [email protected]) built his S.E.5a replica from a 24-inch-wingspan Guillow’s rubber-powered model that he modified for electric flight.
He sheeted the metal-clad surfaces of the full-scale version with 1/32-inch balsa and covered the open bays with Polyspan. He laminated the tail outlines with balsa strips for a more realistic scale effect. Irwin modified the wing spars for scale ailerons and ensured the rib spacing and riblets were correct.
An E-flite Park 370 motor, Castle Creations ESC, and a 480 mAh, three-cell Li-Poly battery drive the propeller. A Hitec mini receiver commands the servos.
Irwin painted his model with a base of nitrate dope under aqueous/acrylic paint. The S.E.5a weighs 13.1 ounces, giving it a wing loading of 8.7 ounces per square foot.
Mister Mulligan
Michael Wharton (905 Liberty St., Weatherford, TX 76086; e-mail: [email protected]) built his Mister Mulligan from a laser-cut short kit redesigned by Laser Works in Wichita Falls, Texas.
This Bud Nosen design is 1/4 scale with a 108-inch wingspan. Fiberglass Specialties provided the wheel pants and cowl. The model weighs a hefty 31 pounds ready to fly, with a Sachs 4.2 gas engine up front. The airframe consists of aircraft plywood, light plywood, and balsa. All stringers are basswood.
Michael’s granddaughter, who is eager to learn to fly, sits in Mister Mulligan.
Blue-Sheet-Foam Flyers
Ed More (Box 329, West Ossipee, NH) presents this electric-powered fleet of blue-sheet-foam flyers, all of which are his original designs. There are two trainers, a diamond-tadpole airfoil pizza-box flyer, a 3-D flyer based on the F4F Wildcat, an indoor flyer, and a CLB ("cute little biplane").
Construction incorporates the use of:
- 1/4-inch foam insulation
- arrow shafts
- self-adhesive shelf edging
- bamboo skewers
- lauan underlayment
- foam meat trays
- soda straws
- fishing line
- used dryer antistatic cloth
The nontraditional modeling materials keep Ed’s costs down. "All have flown well and are used in youth programs," he wrote.
The "B" Fleet
Kent Nelson (9757 Portofino Dr., Orlando, FL 32832; e-mail: [email protected]) presents his B-25, B-17, and B-24.
- B-25 Mitchell (Royal Quality Kits): twin O.S. .50 two-stroke engines; 70 7/8-inch span.
- B-17 Flying Fortress (Royal Aircraft kit): four O.S. .26 four-stroke engines.
- B-24 Liberator (Jack Stafford Models): four O.S. .40 four-stroke engines.
Starfighter
Lee Miller (412 Swiss Dr., Crowley, TX 76036; e-mail: [email protected]) spent most of his life looking for plans he could use to build an F-104 Starfighter.
"Even when I was a child growing up, I would go to Mott's five-and-dime store and get a model of the F-104 Starfighter," wrote Lee. "Back then it only cost 29 cents."
Roughly a year ago he found the plans through eBay that he had been seeking. Lee built the Starfighter even though the plans were in German. He noted that it doesn't have a stinger on the nose for safety, but he did add flaps that were not on the plans.
According to Lee, his next F-104 will have ducted-fan power. "Thanks to Ted Hodges (recently deceased) for my building skills," he wrote.
Old Dawg, New Trick
Bill Welle (1720 Kilpatrick Rd., Nokomis, FL 34275) used lightweight foam board to scratch-build this scale rendition of the Aeronca C-3.
"After 75 years building models with balsa wood, I have learned to work with this new material which is 3/16-inch thick with paper on both sides," wrote Bill.
Once cut to shape, the foam board is sanded, curved, bent, grooved, scored, and painted to produce the airplane you see. This model has no balsa framework, ribs, formers, or stringers.
Bill’s electric-powered Aeronca spans 52 inches and weighs a very light 16 ounces. He claims that it flies realistically at a scale speed.
Wonderful-Flyin' WACO
Jim Nelson (Box 87, Hayfield, MN 55940; e-mail: [email protected]) built his Waco SRE from enlarged Walt Mitchell plans.
"The little one flew so well that I had to build a bigger one," wrote Jim.
Increased in size by 30%, the model is powered by a Desert Aircraft 3W-150 twin-cylinder engine that turns a 32-inch propeller. Jim uses Spektrum electronics throughout; throttle management is definitely needed.
"It has about a dozen flights and flies wonderfully," he wrote.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
