Focal Point
Tiger Moth
Gordon J. Dey (6805 Devonshire Cir., Pensacola, FL 32506; e-mail: [email protected]) built this de Havilland Tiger Moth using a D&L Designs plans set and rib kit with a fiberglass cowl.
The model uses a Magnum .52 four-stroke engine, and control is via a Futaba seven-channel transmitter with aileron/rudder coupling. The airplane weighs slightly more than 10 pounds.
Gordon wrote: "It's a realistic flyer. Loops and rolls are no sweat with the Magnum at 3/4 throttle. I use power on landing approaches and it comes down the slot very nicely."
Inspired Mew Gull
An article in the February 1981 MA about the full-scale 1930s British racer inspired Charles R. Smith (243 Cater Ln., Libertyville, IL 60048; e-mail: [email protected]) to create the version shown from plans and molded plastic parts from Tom Hunt's Modelair-Tech.
The 53-inch-span, built-up, fully sheeted wing has split trailing-edge (TE) flaps and a few degrees of washout at the tips. Charles built the fuselage frame in left and right halves, joined them, and then sheeted them.
The molded plastic wheel pants were scanned to create patterns for more durable fiberglass-resin-over-balsa versions. Covering is MonoKote. The G-AEXF registration marks were made from lower-temperature TowerKote. Logos and other details, including a replica instrument panel, were produced using ink-jet printed water-slide decals.
Power is a six-cell, 4350 mAh pack and a Hyperion HP-Z4020-14 brushless motor spinning a 14 x 7 propeller. Guidance is via a Futaba 12FGA FASST system with Hitec HS-5245MG digital servos.
Scaled-Down Four-Star 40
Dan Sobieralski (8933 Simmons Rd., Redding, CA 96001; e-mail: [email protected]) built this 85% version of a Sig Four-Star 40.
It uses an E-flite 480 motor, 40-amp ESC, and a three-cell, 2200 mAh Li-Poly battery pack for power, and is equipped with Hitec HS-81 and HS-55 servos along with a Hitec Neutron 6S receiver.
The model is stick-built and covered with Coverite Microlite.
Dan wrote: "The one and one half-pound Four-Star 40 flies just like the Four-Star, easily doing snap rolls and flying inverted almost as well as upright. A fun plane to fly for 15-20 minutes on a charge."
El Engone
Lee Hunt (19600 Singing Hills Dr., Northridge, CA 91326; e-mail: [email protected]) built this model from plans he obtained from the AMA Plans Service.
OCCA of Omaha originally kitted the El Engone in 1952. The 5-ounce, shoulder-wing, 1/2A free-flight design is powered by an Atwood Wasp engine.
Covering and decorations are Japanese tissue. The timer is a Spitfire pneumatic, which still works after nearly 60 years.
"The model is legal for early nostalgia," wrote Lee.
Monocoupe D-145
Walt Wilson ([email protected]) submitted this photo of Les Richman's (12243 Prinster Dr., St. Louis, MO 63146; e-mail: [email protected]) 1/4-scale replica of Charles Lindbergh's Monocoupe D-145.
The full-scale aircraft is hanging on display in Lambert-St. Louis International Airport. Walt conceived of the project and researched and photographed the D-145, and then he modified an Ikon Northwest Monocoupe 90A kit to build the basic airframe. He then sold the unfinished project to Les.
Les engaged Jim Rawlings to help him finish the model, which took nearly a year. It has a SuperTigre 3000 engine with self-starter and a modified muffler to dispense smoke.
The Missouri Historical Society arranged a cherry-picker ride for Les so he could photograph the original Monocoupe's interior. He engineered the engine/starter installation and designed a full lighting system. He also had a scale instrument panel built and custom decals made.
The D-145 is covered with Coverite 21st Century material and finished with matching paints. It weighs slightly more than 20 pounds and had yet to be flown as of this writing.
Margolin Original
Paul Zing photographed this model that Larry Margolin (70-12 Kissena Blvd., Flushing, NY 11367) built from plans that he drew more than 25 years ago.
"When E-power became available, I decided to try building it," wrote Larry.
He uses a 28-30-1100 kV motor and four A123 cells turning a 10 x 5 propeller. The aircraft spans 44 inches, and its wing loading is 16 ounces per square foot.
"The plane is great to see when flying and it feels great as well," wrote Larry. "So much so that I am drawing plans for a larger version that will carry an inverted four-stroke engine."
Repurposed Pawnee
Tim Bann (238 W. 23rd Pl., Yuma, AZ 85364) assembled this Piper Pawnee 40 ARF from Hangar 9.
It spans 80 inches, with an overall length of 55.8 inches. Tim spent more than 840 hours reworking the aircraft to turn it into the N4440Y glider tow you see here.
"It is now a scale replica thanks to Bob's Aircraft Documentation that was worked from," wrote Tim. "Most scale details had to be hand built!"
Golden Age Jeep
Tony Corvino (471 Christian Herald Rd., Valley Cottage, NY 10989; e-mail: [email protected]) built his Art Chester's Jeep from Wendell Hostetler plans.
The model weighs 30 pounds and is powered by a ZDZ 60cc gas engine.
Tony wrote: "I always loved the Golden Age racers. I saw an old Coverite Art Chester Jeep at the Rhinebeck event three or four years ago and that's when the bug bit me. When I found out that Wendell Hostetler had plans for a 42.5% version, I was all over it.
"This is my first attempt at building from plans. It flies great!"
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
