Focal Point - 2012/06

Drake II
Sterling Hart (507 Raintree Tr., St. Augustine FL 32086; email:
[email protected]) built this model from Ken Willard plans.
Sterling wrote: “I have always admired the Drake II and when it
was featured in Model Aviation some months ago, I decided to order
the plans and build it. It was a collaborative effort between me and
the ‘Dean’ of our club’s scratch-builders, Robert Colpitts.
“I wanted a larger model than the 48-inch span version, so Bob
expanded the wingspan to 60 inches and added ailerons, each with
its own servo. We powered it with a two-stroke Tower Hobbies .40.
I covered it with MonoKote and automotive trim stripes for accent.
Guidance is provided by a Futaba 6EXAP transmitter and a R1566F
receiver powering Futaba S-3104 servos all around.
“The result came out much better than I hoped for as did its fl ying
qualities.”
Tcopter
Chuck Stasek (email: [email protected])
submits his homemade RC helicopter known as a Tcopter
or Tricopter.
This model consists of three brushless motors (480S-
1000 Kv) driving 10 x 4.5 fi xed-pitch propellers, three
30-amp ESCs, and a T-shaped frame constructed from
PVC components. It weighs 32 ounces without the battery.
The fl ight controller (inside the T box) consists of a
microcontroller called an Arduino Pro Mini, a three-axes
electronic gyroscope from a Wii Motion Plus adapter, and
free downloadable, open-source software.
The fl ight controller constantly monitors the gyro
inputs as well as four receiver channels: throttle, aileron,
elevator, and rudder. Motion detected in any axis that
does not correspond with command inputs from the pilot
is compensated with software-coordinated changes in
motor RPMs and/or tilting of the rear motor mount (yaw),
making this aircraft much easier to fl y than a conventional
helicopter.
Mustang
David Schneider (1410 17th Ave. SE, St. Joseph MN 56374; email:
[email protected]) built his P-51 from a Great Planes 40-
size kit.
The entire model is fi berglassed and painted with epoxy paint. It
spans 57 inches with a fuselage length of 50 inches. The power plant
is a Saito .82 and it has mechanical retracts.
Fiesta 45
Dave Kirkman (3695 Seneca Ct., Redding CA 96001; email:
[email protected]) shares this almost-ready-to-cover Pattern
model from Scorpio in Trento, Italy.
“I’ll bet that not very many people have seen a Fiesta 45. I thought
it might generate some reader interest,” wrote Dave.
Dave’s model was purchased at a club swap meet in 2009 and was
fi nished by modelers Garry Heitman and Dan Joseph. The Fiesta 45
is covered in UltraCote and features the colors of the Italian fl ag. It
has a 62.5-inch wingspan and weighs six pounds.
“This Pattern ship fl ies great with no unexpected or negative
characteristics and looks as pretty in the air as it does sitting on the
tarmac,” wrote Dave.
Seagull
Charles Moulder (email: [email protected]) wrote:
“Having a spare electric motor and ESC for a Pattern plane,
I wanted to put together a great-fl ying sport model using the
components I had on hand, and Seagull’s 71-inch wingspan version of
the Miles Sparrowhawk turned out to be just the ticket.
“The most tedious task was cutting into the brand-new fuselage
to create a battery access hatch, but after that, everything else was
relatively easy. The model weighs 12.5 pounds and fl ies like a dream,
landing surprisingly slowly. It is a great break from Pattern when I
need to get away from structured fl ights, but not too far away.”
The model is powered by a Himax 6330-200 motor, Castle Creations
Phoenix Ice 80 HV ESC and two Zippy 5000 mAh 5s batteries in series.
It sports Hitec servos throughout.
Alfaph
David Schwin (640 S. Broadway, Medina OH 44256; email: sarge58@
msn.com) shares his scratch-built Alfaph.
This model spans 26 inches and is 26 inch in length. It weighs 12
ounces ready to fl y. David’s model has an E-fl ite 300 outrunner, a T-Bird
ESC from Castle, and a Graupner 7 x 3 folding propeller. A Berg fourchannel
receiver guides four microservos controlled by a Futaba 6XA
transmitter. The Alfaph is covered with UltraCote transparent red and
yellow and some old Black Baron transparent blue.
David wrote: “The name [of the model] came about as a joke. I took
the partially built model to a club meeting and was asked what I was
going to call it. I jokingly said it was the Alfaph (accident looking for a
place to happen).
“Nothing could be further from the truth though. The plane has
uncounted fl ights and has become one of my favorites. I wish I had
plans to satisfy the numerous requests I’ve had since I started fl ying it.”
Three Models
Carl Pierce (email: [email protected])
wrote: “These planes are made from photographs of full-scale
plans blown up to roughly 22 to 24 inches. Construction is simple
and straightforward with 5 mm Cellfoam 88 used throughout. The
fuselages are made of three pieces of foam sandwiching the submicro
servos.
“The wings are slightly cambered and span 36 inches, allowing
them to fl y slowly enough to be fl own indoors as well as out. These
lookalike planes have been weighing between 10 and 12 ounces
ready to fl y. The models are built according to the plans in my e-book
‘Picture Perfect Planes.’ One motor, receiver, battery, and ESC can
be used on all models. I use E-fl ite and Futaba hardware with an 8 x 3
propeller.
“Anyone wishing to build a model of a full-scale plane can get more
information at pictureperfectplanes.com or email me.”
Extra 300LP
Sixteen-year-old Bailey Blair (email: [email protected])
submitted this model on behalf of his father.
Bailey wrote: “My dad, Shannon Blair, was involved in an accident
at work in 2009. Before his accident he had been fl ying for about eight
years. His was hit on the head with a medicine ball that was released
by a crane and it messed up his right arm. He has limited function in
his arm, but this year I have got him fl ying again. He is an amazing
pilot.”
Shannon just fi nished his Extra 300LP from Aeroworks. It spans
86 inches and uses a G62 engine. A Futaba T8FG controls the model.
Shannon fl ew the Extra 300LP on its maiden fl ight shortly before this
picture was taken.