Focal Point - 2011/05

72 MODEL AVIATION
Focal Point
Vincent Pollizzotto (1605 Twin Ledge Ct., Lavergne TN 37086;
e-mail: [email protected]) presents this model of his
favorite airplane: the P-51 Mustang.
Sport Aviation Co. Ltd. manufactured this aircraft, which is
powered by an O.S. FS-70 Surpass engine. Vincent uses a Futaba
FASST system for guidance.
He wrote:
“It has a sister ship, Dallas Doll. They both fly fast, and as if on a
rail. Great model; too bad it is not produced any longer.
“I don’t use a standard muffler. I use a brass tube with a pressure
tap. I get more RPM and a great four-cycle sound with a Graupner
12.5 x 6 propeller.”
Ed Holt (5707 Sierra Vista Dr., Riverbank CA 95367) built this
E-flite Piper L-4 250 ARF.
It is powered by a RimFire 250 motor, using a Great Planes
Silver Series 12-amp ESC and APC-E 6 x 5 propeller. The model
spans 38.2 inches, its overall length is 23.7 inches, and the flying
weight is approximately 9 ounces.
“I had to reinforce the landing gear due to the rough field,”
wrote Ed.
My Favorite Airplane
Grasshopper
James Waugh’s (Box 818, West Ossipee NH 03890; e-mail:
[email protected]) 1975-1980 Prather Panther ARF features
a fiberglass/epoxy fuselage and a foam-core balsa-and-plywood
wing.
“This does not fit the intent of ‘new built,’ but I thought this
would be of interest to the ‘oldies and collectors’!” he wrote.
The 60-90 Panther was powered by an Enya .60 and currently
has a Ross .60. Guidance is via a Futaba FG Series radio. The 9-
pound airplane’s 63-inch-span wing has a slight amount of anhedral,
and the fuselage length is 65 inches.
James wrote:
“This model was finished by Cliff Fox of Montgomery,
Pennsylvania, who was a prolific modeler, an illustrator for
Lycoming engine, and builder of models of his own ‘unique’ style
including his ‘lifting body, stealth design Futura.’”
Oldies and Collectors
Matt Knowles (1000 S. Gilbert St. #168, Hemet CA 92543; email:
[email protected]) built this Pinion Variant from a
modified Kool Kanary that his father constructed from Leon
Shulman plans.
Matt modified the lower wing of the Kool Kanary biplane and
scratch-built the fuselage and empennage to go with it. His design
weighs 9 pounds, spans 62.5 inches, is powered by an old C.F. Leemodified
K&B .61, and is covered with MonoKote.
“Really the only new components are the glue, covering, fuel
tank, landing gear, and radio system,” wrote Matt. “Everything else,
including the Ken doll pilot figure are from pre-1991.”
Pinion Variant
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Bill Kirby (2818 Fisk Rd., Howell MI 48843; e-mail: gray
[email protected]) constructed this Eindecker from an SR Batteries
kit.
The model spans 100 inches, weighs 15.5 pounds without fuel,
and is powered by a Zenoah G-26 engine turning an 18 x 8 Zinger
propeller. A Futaba FASST radio system with Hitec servos provides
guidance.
Bill covered his Fokker with Coverite. The markings are Polish
Air Service vintage from roughly the 1920s.
“The pilot is from Aces of Iron finished with acrylics and clear
plastic sheet for the goggle lenses,” wrote Bill. “This took a lot of
time … almost as much as jewelling the cowl and forward fuselage.”
Daniel Mitchell (1027 Bradley Sq., Sparks NV 89434; e-mail:
[email protected]) built this early-1940s MiG-3 from his own
plans.
Construction is all wood, except for the fiberglass-and-foam
wing fillets. Approximately 60% of the fuselage consists of planks.
The gun ports, exhaust stacks, oil cooler intakes, and canopy were
vacuum-formed.
The MiG spans 67 inches and weighs 101/2 pounds. A Futaba
five-channel radio system provides guidance, and retracts are by
Spring Air.
Daniel wrote:
“A SuperTigre G-20 turns the 18 x 8 propeller. This combination
pulls the plane with authority.
“Even at our 5,000-foot airfield elevation, this scale warbird has
very gratifying vertical performance. All the scale stuff creates gobs
of ‘built-in headwind,’ so it glides like a brick.
“Almost no trim changes were required on first flight and it is
very well behaved throughout the speed range. It looks very
aggressive in a low-level, high-speed pass.”
Black 12
Fokker Eindecker
Peter Moore (9040 SW 91st Cir., Ocala FL 34481; e-mail: mau
[email protected]) built this Tower Hobbies Uproar for use with
electric power. Nearly the only modifications he made were to
exchange the spars for lighter wood and alter the fuel-tank
compartment to accommodate a battery.
A Hitec radio controls the Uproar, which is equipped with an
AXI 2820/10 motor, Jeti 40-amp ESC, and Thunder Power 4200
mAh battery pack. The model spans 48 inches and weighs 23/4
pounds.
“The plane flies beautifully,” wrote Peter. “It has plenty of power
and will perform any maneuver the pilot is capable of.”
Tony Kameen (11045 Silver Run, Moreno Valley CA 92557)
built his Henschel Hs 132 V-1A using only three-views. It spans 45
inches and is 55 inches long.
Power is provided by a 90mm WeMoTec fan with a Screamer
motor. An Airtronics RD8000 radio system provides guidance.
Tony wrote:
“In its final form, the ship will have flaps and retracts. In the first
version I have mounts for the retracts, but I am using a fixed gear to
save weight. The ESC is a Phoenix 80.
“So far I’ve done some engine runs and runway tests. Looks like
it will go well.”
Henschel Hs 132 V-1A
Uproar
See page 167 for submission guidelines
Focal Point
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