Focal Point - 2011/06

62 MODEL AVIATION
Focal Point
SUBMISSION INFORMATION AND GUIDELINES
Proud of your latest building/flying effort? Share it with MA’s readers! Send us a glossy color print or digital photo on CD-ROM (minimum 300 ppi) with an appropriate description of
the model, and we will publish or post the best submissions.
No Emailed photos, laser copies, or photocopies will be accepted. Restrict content to the model with or without the owner/builder. Inappropriate photos will not be published.
Supply your full address (and Email address if available) so that interested parties may contact you directly. Send all submissions to MA Editor Jay Smith at 5161 E. Memorial Dr.,
Muncie IN 47302, Attn: Focal Point. Because of this section’s popularity, it may be several months before your model is featured.
Two Hots to Handle
Randy Powell (2687 Logan Dr., Valdese NC 28690; email:
[email protected]) presents his two Hots.
The blue model is powered by a Rossi .45 and the orange
airplane uses an O.S. .46. Both have been tweaked a little from
the kit. Randy wrote that each one is fast and agile.
“The blue Hots is probably more than 10 years old and the
orange one was built through May and June of 2010,” wrote
Randy.
B-25Js
Jim Tausworthe (Box 253; Houston MO 65483; email:
[email protected]) shares with MA readers his two B-
25Js.
The B-25 on the right is a Wowplanes model kit powered
by two SuperTigre 10 electric motors, two 30-amp ESCs and a
2100 mAh battery with elevators and ailerons for control. The
B-25 on the left is a BH model with flaps, retractable gear,
elevator, ailerons, and rudders. It is powered by two KMS
2814-08 electric motors with a 4800 mAh battery and two 35-
amp ESCs.
Jim wrote:
“Both airplanes have green dragons painted on their noses
as did my old wartime squadron, the 5th Air Force’s 405th
Bomb Squadron, 38th Bomb Group. I am also on the Hobby
Lobby waiting list for its newest B-25, the Apache Princess,
which will also be converted to a 405th Bomb Squadron green
dragon bomber.”
Der Fledermaus
Mark Swigart (639 Winding Way, West Milton OH 45383;
email: [email protected]) scratch built his Der Fledermaus
from AMA plans number 652.
It has a 55-inch wingspan and weighs four pounds. A
Scorpion 3008-20 motor with two 2200 mAh 3S Li-Poly
battery packs provides power. The Der Fledermaus is flown
with a Hitec Aurora 2.4 GHz radio and Hitec servos.
Mark wrote:
“Flying this model with a polyhedral wing makes it a very
stable aircraft to fly. With ailerons it is capable of rolls and
inverted flying. Landings are solid, with no bouncing.”
Kadet Senior
Dwayne Hillegas (8 Kenwood Cir., Quakertown PA 18951)
built this Tower Hobbies Sig Senior Kadet, his first model after
a 20-plus-year hiatus.
The Kadet uses a .61 engine and a Futaba FASST radio
system. Covering is Top Flite MonoKote.
Dwayne wrote:
“I bought it from a friend for $10 partially built. I had to
build the fuselage and tail feathers. I split the wing and added a
five-inch flat center section with wing bolts. It spans 83 inches
now. I also cut off the trailing edges and turned them into
ailerons. It flies fantastic. A great way to relearn RC.”
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Focal Point
Zlín Z-50
Dr. Don Bauer (14970 Big Horn Rd., Huson MT 59846)
received the plans and accessory kit for this Zlín Z-50 from his
family as a gift in the 1980s.
“I finally built it in three months last winter from the old
plans. The finish is UltraCote and Klass Kote epoxy paint,”
wrote Don.
“It flies very well with guidance from a Futaba T7C 2.4
GHz FASST System and a DLE 55cc gas engine for power.”
Preserving the Past
Bill Hickey (305 White Oak Dr., Naperville IL 60540;
email: [email protected]) found this 96-inch
wingspan, 101-inch long 1909 Antoinette at a swap meet. Its
covering was loose and stained and its structure weakened by
many repairs.
The 25-year-old model flew, but lacked control authority in
the air. Bill took off the old covering and rebuilt the airframe,
gusseting the fuselage, replacing many ribs, and adding shear
webs to the wing spars. Custom brass fittings were fabricated
for the hard points and 0.028-inch stranded steel CL wire with
Du-Bro ¼-scale turnbuckles were used for rigging.
The airplane was re-covered with Sig Koverall and butyrate
dope, one part cream to three parts clear to give a translucent
color. The forward fuselage was veneered with walnut and
coated with flat clear dope.
“The ship flies well and is quite the stately presence in the
air,” wrote Bill.
Boomer Torpedo
Hernan Paulet (222 Ranchview Dr., Vandalia OH 45377;
email: [email protected]) submitted his scratch-built
Boomer Torpedo dedicated to his wife’s rescue greyhound,
Bailey. (His former racing name is Boomer Torpedo.)
Influenced by the Sig Senorita’s stick-and-sheet
construction, this aerobatic aircraft remains light for its size.
The double-tapered wing is fully symmetrical allowing for all
classic aerobatic maneuvers. It also has a wide, 16-inch
midpoint cord giving the airplane stability at slow speeds.
Originally outfitted with a O.S. .46 (pictured), Hernan installed
a SuperTigre 51 for extra power in the summer months. It is a
great airplane from takeoff to landing.
Taylor Craft
Dan Gillespie (Box 55342, Portland OR 97238; email:
[email protected]) submits this Ace RC ¼-scale
clipped-wing Taylorcraft kit.
The Taylorcraft is a stick-and-glue kit. It has a wingspan of
90 inches and weighs 17 pounds. Power is supplied with an Eflite
160, a Phoenix Ice HV 160 ESC from Castle Creations,
and 10S 5000 mAh Turnigy Li-Poly pack. It is turning an 18 x
10 Master Airscrew propeller.
Dan wrote:
“I modeled it after the Sid Nelson Air Show’s T-Craft based
in Illinois. I flew it in the Molalla Oregon Scale Masters
Qualifier (Team Scale) with respectable performance. Very
cool to have a plane that no one else has. It’s amazing what
you can do with a little balsa, ply, glue, and a set of plans.”
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