Focal Point-2011/09
Super Sportster
Jim McCorkle (221 Fox Run, Jackson TN 38305; email: [email protected]) built this model from plans based on the Great Planes Super Sportster 40.
This model has a 102-inch wingspan with an overall length of 80 inches. Jim powers the Sportster with a Bennett Built Quadra .52 turning a 20 x 10 propeller. An Airtronics RDS8000 radio system provides the control.
Jim wrote: "I have been scratch-building and flying giant-scale Super Sportsters since getting into the hobby. The Sportster is one of the best all-around flying planes I have ever built."
Piggyback Planes
George Farmer (1445 Applewood Cir., Mukwonago WI 53149; email: [email protected]) wrote:
"A Great Planes PT-60 Tug carries a Carl Goldberg Gentle Lady aloft piggyback-style during a 2009 fun-fly demonstration at the Lakeland RC Club in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin.
"Built and piloted by the author with its SuperTigre .91, the Tug easily hauls the two-meter Gentle Lady, built and piloted by Randy Farmer, the trusty older brother. The reliable launch cradle and release mechanism is a joint design project by both pilots."
Macchi C.202
Babe Caltabiano (158 Teralba Ct., San Jose CA 95139; email: [email protected]) built this 1/7-scale Macchi C.202 from RCM plans circa 1967.
Babe wrote: "My Macchi C.202 Italian World War II fighter is built in two variations: scale and race. This is a scratch-built plane that I made the plug and the molds for the fiberglass fuselage layup.
"The wingspan is 62 inches. This scale version is a built-up wing without retracts and the race version is a foam wing with retracts."
An O.S. .75 provides power for the scale model and the racer is fueled by a YS 120sc. Both sets of wings are sheeted with 1/8 balsa and fiberglassed. Babe used a water-based paint with automotive clear.
Kaos
Ted Hoffman (402 Oak St., Thibodaux LA 70301; email: [email protected]) built his Kaos from an old kit from Direct Connection RC.
"I had a Kaos in the early '80s. After it crashed, I always wanted another one," wrote Ted.
An O.S. .61F powers the model with control from a Spektrum DX7. The wings and tail are covered with Coverite fabric and the fuselage is finished in silk and dope. The Kaos is finished with LusterKote.
Tiger Moth
Milton Woodham (3091 Avondale Dr., Colorado Springs CO 80917; email: [email protected]) presents his 400-size Tiger Moth from GWS modified to operate on floats.
The Tiger Moth is controlled by a Spektrum DX7 radio with an E-flite motor and ESC for power and speed control.
Milton wrote: "The unique custom tiger-stripe paint job was done by the painter, Miss Shelby-Ann Sharpton, granddaughter of the builder and flier. Note carefully the lower wing. She snuck in her name amongst the tiger stripes."
Buttercup 80
Ted Bozanich (3320 E. Anaconda Rd., Rapid City SD 57701; email: [email protected]) built his Buttercup 80 from plans designed by Fred Reese and featured in the June 1985 issue of MA.
Ted's model is scaled up to have a wingspan of 82 inches. He proportioned the side view and the wing rib accordingly. With some modification to the tail feathers and inverting a .90 four-stroke engine, the basic Buttercup design was retained. The Buttercup weighs 11.5 pounds with 1,155 square inches of wing area.
Ted wrote: "The simple joy of flying that Fred Reese designed in his little Buttercup has carried over into the Buttercup 80."
P-47D
Jonathan Mandell (24 Bateson Dr., Andover MA 01810; email: [email protected]) painted this color scheme on a Great Planes Combat P-47 Thunderbolt ARF to match the P-47D "Hairless Joe" flown by Colonel David Schilling, CO of the 56th Fighter Group, Eighth Air Force in World War II.
The cowling art is printed from Internet research onto adhesive paper. Additional color was hand painted and then sealed with Top Flite LusterKote flat clear spray.
"I had an O.S. .40 four-stroke engine that needed a home and this seemed like a perfect fit," wrote Jonathan.
The model uses a Futaba radio for guidance.
Lite Chinn Yak
Jeff Austin (421 Walnut St., Baraboo WI 53913; email: [email protected]) wrote:
"Here's my 'mini,' or lite Chinn Yak. I purchased an Extreme Flight Jeremy Chinn Yak 55 SP and am having a blast with it.
"I wondered how a smaller version of the plane would perform, and I had several O.S. .40FPs available. I was able to purchase an original Chinn Yak kit and scaled it down exactly 87% of the original size, resulting in a 41-inch wingspan. I was hoping to get the plane at or under three pounds.
"I put a fiberglass tube in the fuselage for strength as well as carbon-fiber reinforcing on the fuselage bottom. Radio gear consists of a Berg 7P transmitter, JR 3421 and 3121 servos, and a 1,000 mAh, six-volt NiMH battery pack. The covering is Trans Blue and Pearl White UltraCote. The final weight came in at two pounds, thirteen ounces—well under the three pounds I was shooting for!
"The first flights were a blast and I was extremely pleased with the plane. The Mini C/Y is a joy to fly and holds to the Chinn Yak qualities well."
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
