Focal Point - 2012/12
Ryan STA
Dick Lalley (Bend, Oregon) submitted this Sig Craftsman kit Ryan STA, a Christmas gift from his wife.
- Kit: 72-inch wingspan, 1/5-scale (1973)
- History: Dick saved the kit to build later; the following Christmas he received the same kit again and built it so he wouldn't get it again.
- Power/Radio: Craft .61 four-stroke; Futaba radio
"When I unwrapped it, it was the same kit. I built it so I wouldn't get it again. It flies just as good as it looks."
The Twin Robins
Jessy Hannon (100 Fenwick Ct., Lexington, SC 29072) drew the plans for these two twin-engine airplanes and scratch-built both from the same plans.
- Wingspan: 60 inches
- Fuselage: 45 inches
- One model power: two O.S. .25 engines with 9 x 6 propellers
- Other model power: two electric motors with 10 x 6 propellers
Jessy wrote, "I named these airplanes 'The Twin Robins' after my middle name, Robert. Both airplanes fly real well."
Flyin' King
Rick Arrowood (563 Prentiss Way, Avon, IN 46123; email: [email protected]) took Best of Film Finish at the 2012 Toledo Expo with his 81-inch Flyin' King.
- Wingspan: 81 inches
- Weight: 10.75 pounds
- Engine: Saito Golden Knight 100
- Propeller: Xoar 14 x 8
- Covering: MonoKote (Cub yellow, royal blue, dark red, aluminum); vinyl graphics by Kirby's Kustom Vinyl Graphics
- Radio/servos: (not specified)
Custom work and features Rick added:
- Hand-carved wingtips
- Flaps that go to 40°
- Converted to a taildragger
- Custom bowed aluminum main gear; wheel hubs anodized (gold)
- Anti-collision double-strobe beacon and inside cabin lights
"I chose the Flyin' King because Bruce Tharpe, president of BTE (Bruce Tharpe Engineering), hand cuts all his kits. I have built several of his planes and all of them have been superb in quality and outstanding in craftsmanship."
Eindecker Times 2
Steve Mayfield (700 Pine Bluff Rd., Rock Island, TN 38581; email: [email protected]) presents two Balsa USA Fokker Eindecker IIIs built by himself and his buddy Nick Shrone.
- Wingspan: 80 inches
- Length: 56.5 inches
- Propellers: 14 x 6
- Landing gear: custom-fabricated
- Dummy engines: custom-fabricated to simulate the Fokker's rotary-type engine
Steve's model (left):
- Engine: O.S. .91 four-stroke
- Radio: Hitec Flash 5 radio system
- Finish: Cream Coverite fabric with hand-painted graphics
Nick's model (right):
- Engine: Magnum .91 four-stroke
- Radio: Futaba transmitter and servos; Hitec receiver
- Finish: Cream Coverite with vinyl Iron Cross decals
Big Stik
Eight-year-old David Daniel (Westlake, OH; email: [email protected]) built this Big Stik from an old kit with help from his dad, Rich.
- Engine: O.S. .65 LA
- Configuration: Converted to a taildragger
- Awards: First place in the Westlake RC Club’s build contest
"David is very proud of his plane having won first place in the Westlake RC Club’s build contest. He has been flying and building since age 5. The Big Stik is very fast—just the way David likes it! He is proud to be an AMA member, too!"
Snow White
Rich Minnick (7016 Overlook Dr., Santa Rosa, CA 95409; email: [email protected]) spent seven months building this 1938 Joe Raspante–designed Snow White.
- Construction: Scratch-built; fuselage planked with 1/8 x 1/4 balsa
- Plans: Purchased from AMA’s Plans Service
- Event: Photo taken at the 2011 SAM Champs; won Best in Show and Best RC in the Spirit of SAM Concourse
"It was a joy to build."
Ultimate 20-300
Don Held (email: [email protected]) and his brother Dick scratch-built this 42% Ultimate 20-300.
- Materials: Balsa, plywood, spruce, carbon, foam
- Covering: UltraCote
- Weight: 38 pounds
- Engine: DA-150 with a canister muffler
- Servos: JR 8711 on the surfaces
- Wing: One-piece wing with two main spars (spruce and carbon)
- Canopy: Vacuum-formed
- Cowl: One-piece laid-up fiberglass
"It flies great."
SeaCruiser 2
Warren Garoutte (7340 Rooks Dr., Wesley Chapel, FL 33544; email: [email protected]) converted a SeaCruiser 2 kit (Hangar Designs) to an electric twin—his "Duet."
Modifications:
- Deleted the center pylon
- Designed new motor nacelles
- Deleted the "spontoons" and added wing floats
Power system:
- Motors: PowerUp 32 Sport outrunners
- ESCs: EMAX 50-amp
- Batteries: EZ Flite 4-cell, 2600 mAh, 35C LiPo
- Propellers: 9 x 7 APC, turning at 10,000 rpm
- Performance: Thrust-to-weight ratio greater than one
"It is very nimble and very fast, and sits low enough on the water that windy days are not a problem."
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
